"Yeah, but I keep thinking, what if that guy's a real stud? What if he's the best thing she ever got into bed with? Wouldn't that be a kick in the head for her? Beating him all this time when he was the best lay this side of the Mississippi?"

"Speaking of good lays, what about that guy? The small guy sitting over there by himself? There's something about him that sort of sends shivers up and down my spine."

Susan pointed out a man in his mid-thirties dressed entirely in black.

In spite of the hot summer day and the none-too-good air conditioning in the pool hall, he didn't appear hot. He was watching several of the girls as if sizing them up before the kill.

"I doubt if he's all that good. But who knows? He might actually be able to play pool, too!" Cat laughed and slapped Susan on the back. "I pass on him. But if you think he's your type, go get 'em! The other girls and I will cover for you. Your old man can't see very much of what happens in the pool room. Just stick to that table back by Cyndi."

Susan smiled and quickly went over to the man dressed in black. She saw he was wearing black silk. She resisted the impulse to reach out and run her hands up and down his sleeve. It looked so cool. And he looked so aloof.

"Want to try a game or two?"

"Rates?"

"Oh, we might try the five-dollar game instead of the dollar-an-hour if you're feeling lucky. Or good." She licked her lips with just the tip of her tongue. She felt like a seductress in a movie. Another Marlene Dietrich. A Garbo. A Raquel Welch. She was the perfect woman giving a come-on to a man she found strangely exciting.

He didn't appear the least bit excited at the prospect. His voice was calm, level, as he said, "All right. I guess you'll do."

"Now look," Susan flared, "If I'm not good enough for you, forget it!

I'm not doing you any favors." And she wasn't. At least to her way of thinking. She'd been getting lessons in pool from Cat and the others and thought she was pretty good.