JOE MOLINARI was facing me, and the bed sheets were rum-pled in a mess around us. I was noticing that he was even bet-ter looking up close. His eyes were deep blue and had a nice sparkle to them.

It was hard to describe how good I felt, how natural this seemed, how right. The little tremors rippling down my spine were unexpected, but definitely pleasant. It had been two years since I had felt anything like this, and that was, well... different. I didn't know everything about Molinari. Who was he away from the office? What did he have going on back home? Truth was, I didn't care right now. I just felt good. It was enough.

"This may seem like a strange time to ask this question," I said, "but just what is your personal situation back East?"

Molinari took a breath. "Not complicated...Usually I just mess around with interns and subordinates I meet on the case." He smiled.

"C'mon." I sat up. "It's a legitimate after-sex question."

"I'm divorced, Lindsay. I date now and then. Time per-mitting." He stroked my hair. "If you're thinking, does this happen very often...?"

"What do you mean, this?"

"You know. This. Where we are. On assignment."

Molinari turned and faced m............