THE START OF THEIR 10-YEAR LOVE AFFAIR ...

..."Immaculately groomed, custom tailored gray suit, shirt pale yellow, silk tie and handkerchief a light plum. The man had a feel for color. She could smell his cologne. Reminded her of Valentino, maybe? Olive skin, but lighter. Same height, almost six foot, but stocky, the body of a wrestler.

Not nearly as handsome as Valentino, of course. Except the eyes. Power.

Like looking into the eyes of a tiger.

He was holding a pearl gray fedora and a bouquet of red roses. Roses? She looked up at his eyes."

AL DUBS GLADYS "QUEEN OF TWO BUNCH PALMS" ...

..."It felt glorious, blood warm, silky. Another step and it was up to her shoulders. She moved her hands through the water. The bottom was lined with the same melon rocks, the water so clear in the moonlight she could see her toes. She did a slow dog paddle, felt the warmth on her belly, between her legs, delicious. She held her breath, did a dive, arms to her sides, legs moving like a mermaid tail. She circled the pool twice, and when she came up, Al was there, catching her into his arms, laughing.

“Look at you,” he said, “a water nymph. I knew it. You were made for this place.”

He lifted her above his head, and she gasped at the cold air.

“I crown you princess, no queen. Queen of Two Bunch Palms. How’s that?”