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； to another table。
〃The only thing worse than three Spanish guitars；〃 Hoke said； 〃is one violin。〃
〃That's right。 Three are okay； but one violin sounds screechy。〃
〃How's business； Loretta？〃
〃Not all that good； lately。 It should be good； but it isn't。 There're too many street people on corners selling old cheap flowers； and the prices I have to pay are ridiculous。 I have to sell roses for five dollars apiece； and people just won't pay that much for roses。 I'll be glad when summer's over and the season starts。〃
〃I guess you have to borrow money before holidays？〃
Loretta nodded。 〃At sixteen percent。 And it's always a guessing game。 For Mother's Day I bought too many carnations。 For some reason； no one wanted any this year； so even though I was busy for three days； I had to eat the carnations。 I just barely broke even。 If I could find a buyer； I sometimes think I'd sell the shop。〃
〃Then what would you do？ It might be hard to work for someone else after you've owned your own business。〃
〃But I wouldn't have the headaches。 A good designer； and I'm a good one； can work anywhere in the country。 And people in the business know me； too。 I put on design demonstrations at the last two floral conventions in Miami Beach。 And I'm not so crazy about Miami that I want to stay here forever。 If I wanted to； I could go to Atlanta like that！〃 Loretta tried to snap her fingers； but they wouldn't。
〃Why don't you； then？〃
〃What？〃 Loretta laughed。 Her face was flushed from the wine and the food。 〃And give up my own shop？ I'd be crazy to give up my shop in Coral Gables to work in Atlanta。 At least we can still walk down the street in the daytime。 The last time I was in Atlanta； I was afraid to walk down Peachtree by myself at high noon。〃
〃Do you want an after…dinner drink； a post…prandial？ A short Presidente brandy maybe？〃
〃We can have a drink back at the house。 I've got beer arid a bottle of bourbon at home。〃
Hoke grinned。 〃Sure you don't want to go out to a disco first？〃
〃Please！〃
Although Hoke had to pay another dollar for valet parking； and the attendant had stolen his toll change from the ashtray； he thought he got off lightly for the evening。 The wine had been good； but Hoke had poured most of it for Loretta。 She was feeling the effects of it； too。 On the drive to her house； Loretta gripped his arm with both hands and once in a while rubbed her face against his shoulder。
When they got into the house； Hoke took off his jacket and tossed it on the couch。 Loretta went into the kitchen and came back with an unopened bottle of Jack Daniel's。 Black label。
〃I usually don't buy bourbon；〃 she said； 〃because no one ever drinks it。 I've had a few parties here； but most people want Scotch or vodka。 Miami's mostly a vodka town； isn't it？〃
〃Or a pot town； a coke town； and a 'lude town。〃
〃Do you want some pot？ Being you're a policeman and all； I thought…〃
〃No； no pot。 I'll just have a short Jack Daniel's with a little water。 If I have too many drinks； I can't perform； and I can feel the wine a little。 I'm mostly a beer drinker； but what I want most right now is you。〃 Hoke pulled Loretta into his arms and kissed her。 She tasted like wine； and she forced her hard； hot tongue between his dentures。
Hoke unbuttoned his shirt and tossed it on top of his jacket on the couch。 He unbuckled his belt in front and unclipped his holstered pistol。
Loretta looked at the picture window and the opened draperies； and laughed。 〃The neighbors across the street can see you。 Maybe you'd better undress in the bedroom。〃
〃I understand。〃 Hoke grinned。 〃You want the neighbors to think you're after me for my money。〃
Loretta； carrying the bottle； led the way to the bedroom； and Hoke followed her。
Loretta switched on the bedside lamp。 The unmade bed was a mess。 While Hoke undressed； she swept the longlegged dolls to the floor； removed the crumpled quilt and top sheet； and pulled the flowered bottom sheet tight。 Hoke plumped up the pillows； stretched out on the round bed； and clasped his hands behind his head。
Hoke's erection throbbed with anticipation。 Loretta went into the bathroom； Hoke listened to the water run in the sink and thought he could hear his heartbeat above the sound of the running water。 He sat on the edge of the bed and picked up the bottle of Jack Daniel's from the bedside table。 He unscrewed the cap； took a mouthful of whiskey； and swished it around for a moment before he swallowed it。 He took another； shorter drink and recapped the bottle。 He felt fine now。 Because of his dentures； he always worried a little about his breath。 A man never knows for sure whether he will get laid or not； Hoke thought； even if he's married。 Especially if he's married。 The woman； finally； always selects the man； the time； and even the place。
Once； when Hoke had thought he had a sure thing； he had driven the woman home； locked his car； and walked to the front door； expecting to spend the night。 She had unlocked her door； stepped inside； said goodnight and slammed the door right in his face。 He had been astonished。 The next time he took her out…and he had called her again…everything had worked out well。 He asked her why she had slammed the door on their first date。
〃You locked your car；〃 she said。 〃And when you locked your car； so damned confident and macho； I said to myself； the hell with you； boy。〃
Women； sometimes； were hard to understand。
Loretta had scrubbed the makeup off her face； removed the barrettes from her hair； and brushed it out。 Her thick hair was fluffy around her shining face。 Her breasts were fuller than he had thought they would be； with prominent pink nipples。 The triangle of pubic hair was darker than her long blonde mane。
〃Should I switch off the lamp？〃
〃No。 I like to see what I'm doing。 And you've got a damned nice figure。〃
〃Lay back；〃 Loretta said； 〃the way you were before； with your hands behind your head。〃
Hoke stretched out again； clasping his hands behind his head。 Loretta； on her knees； crawled between his spread legs and sat back slightly。 She reached beneath Hoke's balls； searching for his anus with a greased forefinger。 She found it and shoved her finger in。
〃Don't！〃 Hoke said。 〃I don't like that。〃
〃It got you hard； didn't it？〃
〃Hell； I was already hard。 I've been hard all day。〃
Hoke reached for Loretta； but she ducked below his hands and buried her face in the hair on his stomach。 She bit into it； sucked up some skin； hard； very hard； and made slobbery sounds。 This is what she did to Jerry Hickey； Hoke thought。 She put those hickeys on his neck the night he died。
Hoke's erection collapsed suddenly and； he thought； irrevocably。
〃That'll do；〃 Hoke said。
〃What's the matter？〃 Loretta laughed。 〃Don't you like love bites？ You can give me one if you want。〃
〃Turn over。〃
〃What？〃
〃I said； turn over。 On your stomach。〃
〃Why？〃
〃I want to put it up your ass； that's why。〃
〃Oh； no you won't！ I'll do anything else you want； but not that…〃
〃Why not？ Haven't you ever had an anal orgasm？〃
〃No； and I don't want one； either。 Why don't you just let me suck you off？ I'm very good at it； I really am。〃 She licked her lips and smiled。 〃I'll give you a