Under the Covers by Rita Herron Page A

innermost secrets. Admiration stirred inside Hunter, but he fought the feeling. He did not want to like any aspect of her, yet professionalism emanated in her demeanor.
    "Both in and outside the bedroom," she said softly. "Improving a couple's love life also helps improve other aspects of the marriage, and vice versa."
    A balding man from a local cable show elbowed Hunter. "I keep telling my wife that, but she don't buy it."
    "If you note the chapter headings, each one incorporates the male and female viewpoint as well as ways to enhance the relationship and open communication. There's 'The Art of Seduction,' 'Fun Foreplay,' 'Body Language to Lure Your Lover,' 'His-and-Her Erogenous Zones,' 'Massaging Your Man,' 'Passionate Positions,' 'Fantastic Fantasies.' "
    A heavyset woman in a bright orange dress waved her pen. "So are you advocating group sex?"
    "Not at all," Abby said smoothly. "My book is designed to help couples improve intimacy in their relationship—their monogamous relationship." She suddenly stood and clutched her purse to her side. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm tired. And I'm going home."
    The bookseller stepped forward, thanked Abby, and took her elbow, guiding her to the door. Customers stared. Cameras flashed again. The man from the Atlanta magazine followed, earning a back-off glare from the bookseller.
    Hunter grimaced when he realized he'd hidden his face in a book on impotency.
    "My husband had trouble, too, honey," the woman next to him said, giving him a sympathetic look. "Try Viagra. It worked wonders for us."
    He grimaced, stuffed the book back on the shelf, then slid from behind the display and watched the doctor walk out into the mall. In spite of his skepticism and dislike for her, Dr. Jensen had sounded intelligent, sincere, confident, and very professional. In fact, once she began speaking, he barely noticed her hesitation in addressing the group.
    But what was she hiding?
    * * *
    Abby collapsed into a dark corner booth beside Chelsea, accepted the glass of wine Victoria offered, and slowly sipped it. Though Chelsea and Victoria didn't even remotely resemble one another in their looks and styles, tonight they'd managed to put their differences aside. Thank God. The three sisters had developed a strong bond through the dark stages of their youth—a bond she certainly needed now.
    "How'd it go?" Chelsea asked.
    "Okay until the press arrived." Abby shivered. "Oh, and there was this one weird woman... I mean man in line."
    "What do you mean, weird?" Victoria asked.
    "A man dressed like a woman; I'm almost sure of it. And he kept watching me as if..."
    Chelsea licked her lips, her tongue piercing glittering in the light. "As if he was into kinky?"
    Abby nodded. "He gave me the willies."
    "Did anyone ask about Lenny?" Victoria asked.
    Abby cut a frown toward Chelsea. "Can't you keep anything to yourself?"
    "Don't be mad at Chelsea. She's worried about you, and so am I." Victoria hesitated, concern lacing her voice. "I'm sorry about Lenny, sis. What a creep."
    "I didn't want you to know. It's so humiliating."
    "It's not your fault," Victoria said in a stern voice. "So don't apologize—you have nothing to be ashamed of."
    "Yeah, Lenny's the one who should be ashamed," Chelsea mumbled. "If I could find that son of a bitch, I'd cut off his balls and make a pouch out of them."
    Abby chuckled, grateful her baby sister had dispelled the tension. Her shoulders and neck were one big knot.
    Chelsea raised her glass for a toast. "Here's to castrating Lenny."
    The sisters laughed and clinked their glasses. Silence fell while the waitress delivered a tray of appetizers and they all dug in.
    "Chelsea said you've been trying to reach Lenny," Victoria finally said, after polishing off a buffalo wing.
    Abby shrugged. "I need some closure to all this. If I confront him, I can have that."
    Chelsea chomped on chips and avocado dip. Victoria snatched a fried oyster. Abby scanned the tray for chocolate. Where were those