PART ONE

********

Brushing back a long, curly blonde lock of hair, she sipped her coffee and leaned back in the chair, pondering. How ironic, that after all the time she had spent looking for a way to casually bump into Chris, she should happen upon him in an al-fresco New York deli munching on a sandwich and reading what she could only assume to be the trade paper. A shiver went down her spine as she made a promise to herself.

No way are you ever getting away again, Chris Varick. NO WAY.

The waiter stopped at her table and she motioned for him to lean closer as she whispered conspiratorially.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Chris ran a hand over his head as he finished reading the business section of the newspaper.

In the wake of the unfortunate J.T. Marlin incident, James G. Young has grown even more prosperous than before. Mr. Young, a Vice - President at J.T. Marlin, escaped indictment after an investigation proved to offer little to no evidence as to his involvement in the now-famous scam scandal that crushed the once profitable trading empire.>

Shit, he hissed to himself as he tossed the paper aside and pushed away the remainder of his food. Fuckin' figures. Everyone takes the fall and Jimmy comes through without so much as a mother fuckin' blemish. Life officially SUCKED. He felt, rather than saw the figure beside him, still engrossed in his thoughts.

"No more beer for me, baby," he said, eyes still on the paper as his hand reached for the half full tall neck. "I'm working."

Musical laughter met his ears. "Oh yeah, Chris. Looks like a really tough life, downing philly cheeses and beer."

His head whipped up as dark eyes met blue eyes. She was as beautiful as he remembered. A slow grin spread across his face.

"Suzie - Q!" he said laughingly as he jumped to his feet and pulled her into a bear-like embrace.

The name brought back a myriad of feelings to her entire being. To all of her brother's friends she had been a pesty little girl. Chris was the only one who had ever treated her with friendship and compassion. She slid into the seat next to his. "How are you, Tiger?"

He chuckled as he leaned forward, his elbows on the table, and loosened his tie even more. "Shit, Suzie - Q ... you look GREAT." His eyes trailed her form. "What's it been ... three ... four years?" Two years, six months, and three days. He had known exactly how long it had been since Jim had asked Chris to take his little sister to the air port. It had been the day that Mike had given the the boys at JT Marlin a little thank you present. Chris had carefully scanned the group of working women that were housed in a few upper level rooms at the hotel. Ironically, he had chosen one who very much resembled the woman that he had just put on the plane to study abroad. He pulled his mind back into the present, realizing that she had been talking while he had traveled down memory lane.

"I'm sorry. What?"

She laughed. "I was inviting you to dinner, Chris. You ... me ... Antoine's? Eight o'clock?" Her eyes were alight with life and mischief. Mischief that was too much to resist.

"Never let it be said that Chris Varick refused a beautiful woman."

Her smile turned suddenly smarmy. "Remember that, Tiger." She stood and leaned in to hug him. "It's a date, then. See you tonight." She kissed his cheek, breathing in his scent. Aramis for Men ..... she loved that cologne. Always reminded her of him. She patted his cheek and, with one last look his way, moved to walk down the street. After all this time, she finally had her chance.

Chris watched the gentle stray of her hips as she walked. Damn! He had just begun to get her out of his head and she materializes from out of no where. This was going to be trouble. Exciting trouble. But trouble, non the less. He grinned, shaking his head. Fuckin' A. Trouble was his middle name!

********

Suzanne Young walked quickly into the large, comfortable waiting room and moved straight to the secretary, bypassing the receptionist. Leaning on the desk in a casual manner, she smile brightly at the sensually dressed buxom brunette behind it.

"Hello, Brigette. Is he in?"

"He is," came the reply. "He's clear for about 45 minutes."

Suzanne nodded. "Got it. Won't be but a few."

Walking into the lavish office, she settled into the large leather chair in front of the contemporary desk. She never tired of watching her brother, especially when he was in his element. Cordless phone in his hand, he waved to acknowledge her presence without skipping a beat in conversation. As usual, she felt a twinge of pity for the person on the other end of the line as he continued his tirade. She smiled as he ran a hand though his neatly cut, thick dark hair ... the movement so like Chris' nervous habit. Finally, the call was ended and she received his personal attention.

"Jimmy, why can't you take it easy on those poor people?"

The familiar crooked smile touched his face as he thumbed through his mail.

"Fuck 'nice,' sis. You give these people an inch, they dig your grave by morning." He sat in the elaborate desk chair and swung it around a bit as he smiled. "So ... what's up?"

"Well," she began, straightening. "I just came by to tell you that I'm bailing for dinner tonight." She grinned. "I have a date."

His protective nature almost visibly enveloped him. "Oh, yeah? With who?"

A brightness radiated from her. "Chris Varick!"

The silence that followed was deafening.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

5:00. Quitting time, Chris thought as he quickly straightened his desk in preparation to leave. But before he could escape, his door was thrown open as a familiar figure strode in.

FUCK!

"Hey ... Jim!" Standing, he moved to the man, hand extended for an obligatory shake.

Pacing around the room, taking in every detail, Jim finally sat, stretching out his long legs casually.

"So ... Chris. This is where you've been working, huh? A fucking tax accountant?" He shook his head with an almost disgusted sneer.

"For corporate businesses, J-man. The big guns ... and the promotion opportunity is phenomenal. Besides ... we couldn't all come out rose scented like you did." He settled back in the desk chair, masking his face with a smile. "So what gives? What are you doing here?"

With a cleansing sigh, Jim ran a hand through his dark hair and leaned forward. "Cards on the table, man?"

Chris grinned, assuming the same position. "Wouldn't have it any other way ... buddy."

Jim stood, trying to intimidate with his height. "I understand you have a date with my sister." He noted the nod of the sheared head. Walking close to him and pausing for effect, he continued. "Just one thing, Varick. You hurt her and I'll crush you so fucking badly you will NEVER recover. Got it?"

A long moment of silence followed before the room filled with sarcastic laughter. "You pompous little prick. Do I need to remind you that I don't fucking work for you any more?" Now he stood, his height just as impressive ... just as formidable. "I put up with this monarchy type bull shit at Marlin, Jim, but not here." He stepped forward, invariably forcing Jim a few steps back. "Let's not forget that I knew you way back when ... the old neighborhood ... remember? This is my domain, big guy. The one place, since we were kids, that you have no say." His finger poked forcefully into the chest of his life-long adversary. "And, another thing, pal. Your sister asked ME. So turn your ass around and back the fuck off!"

Jim's eyes narrowed. "Remember the pact?"

Another chuckle. "We were KIDS man. What, fifteen? Sixteen?" He fell back into the seat, looking at Jim with a calm he never knew he possessed. "Dinner man. It's just dinner."

Jim's voice was low and sinister. "And what about fucking dessert?"

Another round of annoying silence. "Well, I guess that depends on what the lady and I are hungry for, now doesn't it?"

For the first time in his life, Jim was speechless as he slammed out of the room. Chris leaned his head into his hands and sighed.

"SHIT, FUCK, DAMN!"

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Dressing took Suzanne longer than she expected, but as she looked in the mirror, she realized that the extra effort was worth the wait. Her long blonde hair feel in heavy curls around her shoulders and the deep blue of the sensual cocktail dress complimented her sapphire eyes perfectly. She stared at her reflection for a long moment before grabbing her keys and running out the door. Once in her car, she breathed the mantra that she had begun since she saw Chris earlier that day.

"Don't fuck this up . Don't fuck this up."

Igniting the engine, she pulled out of the parking space and sped toward Antoine's.

Suzanne whispered into the ear of the regal looking hostess who walked toward an intimate table in a cozy corner of the restaurant. She held her breath at her fist sight of Chris, as had been the case since she was a youth. Dark blue Armani with a pinstripe Dior shirt ... he was the epitome of style and animalistic sensuality. Touching the chiffon scarf that hung loosely around her neck and down her back, she moved toward him and leaned in, kissing his clean shaven cheek and inhaling his cologne. God, she loved the smell of Aramis.

"Hello, handsome," she said as he stood and expertly adjusted her seat. "I hope you haven't been waiting too long." She grinned impishly as she pushed aside a long blonde curl. "I just washed my hair and I couldn't do a thing with it!"

A soft chuckle sounded from inside him. "Yeah, hair's hell, isn't it? Takes me forever to get mine right sometimes."

With the slightest nod of his head, Chris signaled the waiter who appeared producing a linen covered bottle of chilled champagne for his inspection. "Dom Perignon, 1992 ... as you requested, sir."

Another nod and a minute amount of the bubbly liquid was poured into the crystal flute. Chris lifted the glass to his lips, tasted, swirled the champagne slightly in his mouth, and signaled for the waiter to fill both flutes. He winked at Suzanne, who looked more than a little surprised.

"What's the matter, Suzy-Q?" He slid the pristine napkin onto his lap. "Think that big brother is the only one who can put on the Ritz?"

"No," she said, eyes shimmering as she lifted her glass. "I guess I'm just surprised that you went to all this trouble just to impress me." She spared him a coy glance and smiled.

A deep, throaty chuckle rolled from his throat. "You're worth impressing, beautiful." He lifted the the flute and raised it in a toast. "To old times?"

Lifting her own glass, she slowly shook her head. "To new possibilities."

Two intense gazes locked over champagne glasses as the words floated in the air, a promise of what may come.

Lowering the crystal, Chris lifted the menu. "So, what's your pleasure this evening?"

It was her turn to chuckle as she continued to sip the champagne. "You sure you want to know the answer to that, Tiger?"

His eyes cut to hers over the elaborate menu. A smarmy smile crossed his face. "Make sure to leave room for dessert," he said huskily.

* * * * * * * * *

Dinner and dancing made way to the moonlit walk down the quaint street. The night had turned breezy, prompting Suzanne's acquisition of his tailored jacket. The scent of him wafted to her as they ambled. Finding a bench along the way, he took her hand, tugging it to the seat and pulling her beside him. She settled beside him as their gazes lifted to the sky. The moon was full and bright. Even in the flickering lights of the city, the stars twinkled like diamonds on a bed of black velvet.

His arm was outstretched over the back of the bench. Pulling the jacket tighter to her body, she snuggled her shoulder into the warm crook he created. Taking a deep breath, she brought up the one subject she knew they must get past to continue any sort of relationship.

"I heard about everything that went down at J.T. Marlin." She felt the tension that enveloped him and turned her face up, her breath warm against his cheek. "It was unfair. Unfair that Jimmy was untouched and others were used as scape goats." her hand went to his cheek, turning his face to meet her gaze. "But look at yourself now, Chris. You're successful and legitimate." She smiled, almost shyly. "And you're minus one Armani jacket." She saw the slight grin that tugged the corners of his mouth.

"Think I won't get it back?"

Her smile turned teasing. "You'll have to rip it off me."

His eyebrow raised. "Reading my mind now, Suzy-Q?"

She slowly shook her head, her eyes never leaving his. "Mental telepathy. Willing my thought to yours."

His gaze turned on hers for what seemed like a life time. Just when she thought she would go insane from the anticipation, he lowered his face to hers, his lips softly caressing hers until desire and intensity took control. His arms moved to wind around her as his tongue delved into her mouth, her lips parting to allow the slow, erotic plunder the kiss created. A rich, romantic frenzy was created in the moments that followed.

Passions ignited, neither potential lover noticed the couple walking mere feet from them. A slight twitch of the jaw in the man brought a look of concern to the woman at his side.

"Who is it, Jimmy?" she whispered into his ear.

"My sister," he replied in a softly controlled tone that belied the anger in his eyes. "Come on." Pulling the woman with him, his eyes glared at the oblivious couple until they were out of sight. That was it. Chris was fucking dead.