She watched Sergeant ravenously gulp at the entire remainder of the roast she'd cut up for him while she sat at the table with coffee, for the first time in her life enjoying one of Mark's favorite drinks, coffee royal. How he loved it, invariably smiling at her as he splashed the cognac into the cup and reminding her that she didn't know what she was missing. Very soon, all of those little splendors would be happening between them again… and they would be so happy. Oooohhhh… what was this uneasiness eating at her concerning the one man she loved and wanted with all her heart! God! She'd love him as much even if he were the nation's number one wanted criminal! Wouldn't she? Yes! Yes! Then why was she letting this ridiculous bit she'd built up in her mind gnaw at her so? Damn… she wouldn't… She absolutely would not! Mark Keller meant too much to her to toy with! He was her whole life… and now, there was Kye to think of…

The curvaceous, blonde young wife made herself a second, then a third coffee royal before returning to her room carrying it. Through the living room window she glanced to see Kye and Olaf, a little thrill of excitement rippling through her at the sight of her ward's handsome, teenaged smile. Sergeant's almost silent treading behind her reached her ears and she smiled back at him.

"You coming with me, darling? Well… okay, but I'm going to take a shower… Guess I did make a lifelong friend after all with that roast, eh?"

Dianne paused to pet him, pleased at his warm, loving whimper for her. She laughed and entered the room, setting the coffee cup in the adjoining bath before coming back and quickly slipping out of her robe and tiny nightie. She moved to the right of the open window to catch its draft, a sense of well being filling her with the refreshing breath of clean, cool air brushing over her satiny nakedness. At first, Sergeant seated himself to watch her, then dropped prostrate, stretching out his front paws and she smiled down at him as his eyes rolled up at her.