Two For Sympathy Shauna walked along the evening beach...dry warmth against bare feet. Her toes sifted the sand. She let her body relax in the motion as she walked. Bryce will worry when he comes back and I'm not there, she thought. He'll worry, and maybe he'll be sorry. She walked the stretch of beach between the water and the jagged cliff walls of Dana Point. She watched the tide. Far out, the great waves came crashing, grew less bold as they reached the shore, and finally licked the sand and drew away, leaving a quick, white foam. A sunset after-thought hung its faint color over the water, and, beneath it, the water deepened and grew more angry. Shauna felt the constant tempo: roar and whisper and the sea air breathing in rhythm...the same rhythm that pulsed all the days and nights of the honeymoon summer. Shauna and Bryce had treasured the hours and squandered them and spent so many together they were greedy for more. All but tonight. High above her, a yellow car streaked along the cliff road, silent because of the sea. Bryce shouldn't have left her alone tonight, not for even the few hours it would take to see the boat display in San Clemente. The beach stranger with whom he'd had so much in common wasn't that important. Even if he were, they could easily have taken an afternoon to go looking at boats. He shouldn't have left her, but he'd get worried when he found her gone. He'd get scared. Shauna had been a little hesitant coming down the twisted cliff path from the house, but now the footing was sure, the space wide, the air rich with salt. She shivered a sudden tingle of reckless excitement. Her arms swung easy, brushing and lifting the towel robe in delighted naughtiness. She had put on a fresh swim suit, Bryce's favorite, and she had planned a perfect ending. When Bryce came home and found her gone, he'd worry, but he'd know she was on the beach. Where else could she go without a car? Then, Shauna knew, he'd come galloping and sliding down the trail, breathless with concern. He'd run and call her name and let the black hair fall across his forehead into his eyes. He'd be sorry he had left her alone, and they'd make love on the beach. Shauna felt the sand slowly losing its warmth, and she suddenly grew anxious for the hours to pass. Bryce had said he'd be home early, though, so she shouldn't have to wait too long. Besides, the walk felt good. She loved the beach at night. Just ahead of her, a large rock jutted out from the cliff. She walked close to the water as she started 32 around it. Her hands reached up to smooth the long, damp hair away from her face, but it blew forward again as soon as she let go. She tasted salt and mist. Part way around the rock she stopped, leaned back against its jagged surface, and looked out to sea. The waves were lapping just a yard away from her bare feet here, and she debated whether or not to go wading. Then a low voice from somewhere close to her said, "Hello, baby." She jumped as fear shot through her and froze her body. She looked around blindly, and the voice came again. "I'm right over here, honey, but I didn't mean to scare you." Now Shauna's tight muscles liquified, and she began to run, shoveling the sand. She rounded the great rock, and in an instant a strong hand covered hers and pulled her down into the sand. Terror raced through her struggling body, causing it to grow rigid. She was lying on the sand, her head spinning from the fall, her shoulders pinned beneath great weights. His voice was young and close. "Hey, baby, just take it easy. Now you're what I'd call a tasty bunny! So let's just be friends, okay?" A hundred wild pictures spun Shauna's head before she looked up at him. Then surprise and relief calmed her. His young face glistened bronze, and his eyes were blue and playful under the long, white-blond hair. His smile flashed, and Shauna thought how it looked strangely more friendly than dangerous. The weights lifted slowly from her shoulders, and his hand touched her hair. She'd seen him before. Now she remembered. He'd been on the beach playing a wild game of volleyball with a bunch of boys. She had been facinated with the play of sun on sun-bleached bangs and well-built, agile bodies making sandstorms and laughter in the afternoon. Shauna felt her body calm and a coolness lift in her throat. He wasn't touching her now, just kneeling, a little bent over, watching her. Her voice came out in a hoarse whisper. "What do you think you're doing?!" She was angry and fascinated, but not frightened any more. The bare, broad shoulders twitched a little. His smile flashed, and he drew closer. "I'm just sittin' here, looking at you, honey, waitin' for you to realize we might not be too bad for each other." His eyes were steady, confident, his face a question. Shauna liked the handsome face, the definite cheekbones, the blue eyes. "Who are you, anyway?" Her voice, not a whisper any more, sounded strangely like an echo against the rush of ocean. She suddenly felt guilty, lying there, so near to a stranger, under his gaze. She raised her head and felt the sand clinging to her damp hair. Then she sat up quickly. He raised up with her, staying close. "My name's Dan. What's yours?" "Shauna." She had to admit he was smooth and very, very good-looking...the kind she had loved to flirt with...before she got married. He suddenly sounded a little shy. "Shauna...well, how about makin' this a party night? I mean, I know where there's a good one... lots of guys and bunnies...a real swinger. No kiddin'," His smile came 33