"W-What…? A hundred… what do you mean, Earl?"

"A deal," he'd answered, grinning over at her. "Big things are in the making… complicated things… but we'll talk about that later, eh?" He'd let his eyes race quickly over her. Christ, she was even more desirable than he'd remembered… those fucking legs and hips… those tits and that ass… Jesus, he had a hard on that wouldn't quit? "Goddamn, you look terrific!" he had said, licking at his lips.

"T-Thanks, Darling… But… but I don't understand what you mean… about a deal… what deal, Earl?"

"Hey now, come on! After two years, you're not going to start picking at me, are you, Baby? Look, leave the finances to Daddy, eh Sweetheart? I engineered this didn't I? Trust me, Rabbit… Now, come over here closer and tell me how much you've missed your daddy." She had, but he'd hardly listened. It'd always amazed him how he could carry on two trains of thought at the same time and never miss a word. Rachel had been in his mind for hours, maybe longer, but he'd held her just a hit off, until he could give himself to thoughts of her fully. He loved her… and it wasn't right to devote a half of mind to the girl you loved? He'd even been thinking of the kid they'd had a lot lately… Earl, she'd named him… shit… his very own kid! He'd marry her, not that she'd push it, but he would. She was the most wonderful thing that had ever happened to him… even her old man had wanted to take him into his business… investments, stocks… What the hell did he know about that jazz? Be sides, he wanted to go back to her like the hero who went off to make his fortune, like the books he had read when he was a kid… And she was waiting for him now… almost eleven months… but it was damn near over! In two days, he would call her, tell her he was on his way. Someplace like Majorca… that's where he'd take her and set them up! He wasn't sure yet, but somewhere like that…