"I'm sorry," he said, shaking his head. Then he turned and left the place.

"I'm sorry, too," Amber said under her breath. Then, sighing and finishing her drink, she got up, picked up her shopping bags, and left the room.

She thought about him as she drove home. Pity, she reflected sadly. He was certainly a good looking guy. He had a good body, too-broad shoulders, well-developed chest. He would probably be fantastic in bed. It was a shame she had had to turn him down.

Amber drove up the driveway to her house, picked up her bags, and entered the house through the kitchen. She set down the bags and began emptying the groceries onto the kitchen table. In twenty minutes, she had everything neatly stored away. Then she sat down at the table, lit a cigarette, and thought about the young man once again.

You could've swung it, baby, she told herself. Hal won't be back till tonight. You could've swung it. He could've followed you home, stayed two or three hours, and left an hour or two before Hal even got home.

No. She shook her head and killed her cigarette. Sighing, she got up and began to unbutton her blouse. Then she headed for the bathroom. She stripped naked, stepped into the shower, and turned on the spray. The cool water felt heavenly. She just stood there and let the cool water pour down on her for the next ten minutes.

Later, she turned off the water, stepped out of the shower, and dried herself off. Before she went into the bedroom, she brushed her teeth and her hair.

Afterwards, she entered the bedroom and threw herself on the bed. Lying on her back and squirming into a more comfortable position, she closed her eyes and began to drift to sleep.

Then the doorbell rang.

Jesus Christ! she thought angrily, getting up and putting on a bathrobe. Can't even lie down without some asshole comin' to the door…

She opened the door and watched him as he smiled at her bathrobe.