I swam and paddled around a little, enjoying the feel of the cool water on my hot skin, easing my spent satisfaction after a hard run. I took off my s...horts, wrung them out in my hands, and placed them on the patio at the lip of the pool, where I could easily retrieve them to put them back on. After a couple more laps I swam over to the pool steps and sat on the bottom step in the chest-high water and relaxed.In a few minutes, Connie came out through the French doors from her bedroom with Babs. "If I'm going to have anything to wear after we're done it is," Nina replied.The vamps were confused about the casual attitude of the two young women but eyes brightened at Nina's actions."Well, perhaps if you are a VERY good girl there might be a possibility of you being here to wear something ... after," the leader said with a smirk, even as he appreciatively eyed Nina's body. He cocked one eye over at Buffy. "Going to join her?" Join her?" Buffy asked, wide-eyed in pretended embarrassment.. I didn’t say anything, of course. I tried very hard to keep my feelings to myself. But it wasn’t just me. I was well aware that for some reason he was always uncomfortable around me, too. Now that I think about, maybe that was the problem!In a very good example of very bad timing my parents died not long before I graduated from high school. The official version of the accident report said that dad probably fell asleep at the wheel one night on the way home from a night out with mom and he ran. " She ignored my frown, and reached out to touch my shoulder before I could avoid it."How about if you go to my dressmaker to get something that suits? Mrs. Haversham has been known to condescend to outfitting a gentleman before, and she has that individual touch. I suspect you two will get on famously. And, eccentric though she is, I trust her judgment. If you can get her to approve of your choice I will pay for it, whatever the cost."Eccentric? Despite myself I was intrigued. After all I.