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backs is in the king-size Jacuzzi tub that’s a standard feature in every one of the resort’s master suites. You see what I mean?”
    “The beast with two backs?
That’s
a nice one. Maybe I’ll save that for the interview with the nationalnews.” Pres shook his head, stubbing out his cigarette in the overflowing ashtray. “Like it or not, I’m going to have to do these interviews, aren’t I?”
    Dom nodded. “The reporters are going to follow you around until you give in. Short of getting married tomorrow, I don’t see what else you can do.”
    “That’s a handy solution. Talk about out of the frying pan and into the fire.”
    “I was kidding.”
    “They’re going to ask all kinds of questions about Merrilee, aren’t they?” Pres asked.
    “Probably.”
    “And it’s not going to stop there, is it? After the interview airs, I’m going to be besieged by desperate single women.”
    Dom snorted. “We should all have such terrible problems.”
    “When you go to bed with a woman, do you have any trouble figuring out whether she’s sleeping with you or the things your money can buy, including Hollywood contacts?” Pres asked sharply.
    “Well, I don’t have the kind of money that would make a difference, so …”
    “Until you do, until you know what that’s like, don’t make light of my problems, okay?”
    Dom was silent. “I’m sorry,” he finally said. “I shouldn’t have—”
    Pres rubbed his forehead. “No,
I’m
sorry. I didn’t mean to sound so—”
    “I stepped over the line, boss.”
    “Don’t start with the ‘boss’ crap. Yeah, you work for me, but so what? We’re friends. You should be able to say anything—I don’t want that to change. I’m just … I’m not having a very good day. The new owner of the Kirk Estate isn’t going to sell for the figure I offered, and now this
Fantasy Man
thing …” Pres swore under his breath. “I need a shower and a beer—not necessarily in that order.”
    Dom opened the door of the car but then turned to look back at Preston. “You know this friends thing works both ways, pal. You should be able to say anything to me, too, you know.”
    Pres had to look away from Dominic’s perceptive gaze. “Yeah,” he said. “I know.”
    I met this woman today. Molly Cassidy. I
haven’t been able to stop thinking about her. She doesn’t seem to give a damn about money and she has the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen. …
    But he couldn’t say it. He couldn’t give even that much of himself away. He just shrugged.
    “I’ll have your secretary set up the interviews for tomorrow,” Dom told him.
    Pres nodded. “Thanks.”
    The morning sun was hot and the air was already humid. After the previous night’s rain, it should have been clear and much cooler. At least it
would
have been if they were still living in the New York suburbs.
    “Toto, we’re not in Katonah anymore,” Molly murmured.
    Zander looked up. “You talking to me or yourself?”
    “Myself,” she said cheerfully, giving him a big smile as he helped her carry the laundry basket inside the Laundromat.
    “Can I go next door to the pizza place? I saw some video games through the window.”
    Molly nodded. “Sure. Just help me get thewash started, and I’ll go over with you to scope it out, okay?”
    “Okay.”
    “What did you think of your new school?” Molly asked as they sorted the laundry into two loads.
    Zander looked up at her. “What?”
    She repeated the question while he watched her lips and she signed the word
school
. His blue eyes were huge behind his glasses, and he gazed at her very seriously for several moments before answering. “It was pretty small,” he finally said.
    Molly nodded. “This town is a whole lot smaller than Katonah. There’s gonna be only about twelve kids in your class—and that’s both the fifth and sixth grades combined.”
    “So I’ll be in a class with
sixth
graders?”
    Molly nodded. “Yup. That’s what your teacher, Mr. Towne,