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was considered poison, a joke. “You’re too kind, Major.” To change the subject, she pressed the cigars into his hand. “I hope you still like these.”
    He grinned and held the box up for the others to see. “She knows a good thing when she sees it. Thank you, Carmen.”
    The others agreed, gathering around, and quickly drew the retiring man back into their conversation. It was a good time for her to think about leaving the scene.
    A waiter hoisting a tray loaded with champagne came toward her. She stopped him. “I’ll have one of those.”
    He nodded, holding the tray down for her. The guy was in a hurry, but she didn’t miss his male perusal of her legs.
    The night wasn’t a total loss. Score one. Tipping the flute up to take a sip, her good mood froze solid.
    Genonese stood in a corner with his arm around the waist of a redhead in a green dress.
    No, oh no. You’re not going to let this slide by.
    She pasted on a smile and worked her way to where he leaned against a wall. He didn’t notice her for several seconds, wrapped up in a bragging session, no doubt.
    The redhead saw her first and moved closer to Don’s side, a smug little smile on her puss.
    Carmen itched to push the chick aside but kept a tight rein on her temper until he caught sight of her.
    “Carmen.” He dropped his hand from his date’s waist and turned red under his tan. “I thought you weren’t coming.”
    She faced him, taking his arm in a firm grip. “That’s right, partner. I came over here to see if it was the same guy that lied in my face after we’d fucked all night.” The idiot touched her shoulder in a flirtatious way, a grin curving his lips. She brushed at his hand and lowered her voice. “Don’t do that again, Genonese.”
    He mumbled some kind of lame apology to the girl he was with, and stepped away from the group. “Redstone, I forgot I’d set this up weeks ago.”
    “For a cop, you have a short memory.” Carmen smiled at him and whispered, her comments for his ears alone. “You’re a liar and a special kind of pig.”
    “Redstone, you’re flying off in all directions.” He reached for her arm. Her glare obviously changed his mind, and he withdrew his hand.
    “Go back to your lady friend. She looks like she’s just been mugged.” Carmen glanced around before verbally slashing him again. “I’ll see your sorry ass at work. Oh yeah, you’ll find your damn jeans on the trash heap.”
    It was hot in the crowded room, and all she could think about was that snake in the grass. She felt like a fool, never considering Don would already have a date. The idea infuriated her all over again. He didn’t have enough balls to tell her.
    He was like every other man she’d known. She couldn’t trust him.
    Hell with it. The music sucked, the champagne warm, and the man who jerked her around was following her.
    “Redstone, wait a minute.”
    “I don’t have a minute, Don.” She let those little moonbeam feelings creep in while he gazed intently at her. “I have somewhere to be and I’m late.”
    “That’s bullshit.” He curved his arm around her waist. “You’ll just have to sleep with me after you hear my side of this.” He grinned. “Kind of makeup sex.”
    “Go have it with the dumb chick whose eyes are glaring a hole in your back.” Carmen hated the turmoil of jealous hurt that knotted her stomach. “I don’t like being lied to.”
    Damn him! He didn’t even try to make up some lame excuse, or follow her as she moved away, weaving her way back to where Major Green stood.
    If she hadn’t been so caught up in her miserable self pity, she’d have paid more attention to the man who pushed her aside, running straight toward the major.
    The flash of exploding powder jolted her into action. Her hand went into the silly evening bag she carried to yank out her snub-nosed thirty-eight. She ran to kneel by her friend who lay wounded. “Is there a doctor here?” She checked the Major’s pulse, relieved to