“Zeroth, but I always called him Atady.”“Hmm, they are both from the old language. Atady is daddy and Zeroth means the End, am I right?”Slidin...g closer, she hugged his arm and laid her head on his shoulder before she answered.“Ghania, Eyna, Zeroth; the Beginning, the Way and the End,” she said.No sobbing or trembling, but he could feel the wetness of new tears on his shoulder.“Stop crying, little one, this isn’t your fault and no one is angry at you. You asked if He loves Menja too and the. You might be spending days at the Castle or The Waterfront.” Shani used it as a threat. I considered stopping, but Bethany pushed away her blush. She let the natural color suffuse her cheeks. I hadn’t noticed her light freckles until now.“I’ll be the best I can be.” She smiled a bright, honest smile. So much nicer than the false customer service smiles I’d expect from a hairdresser. “C’mon, have a seat.”Let’s fast forward the fumbling attempts at flirtation I tried with Bethany. She was about. " He shook her hand and dismissed her while seated at his desk. I would stand, but I don't want to scare her with my hard-on.Angie walked into the Ready Room looking for Sergeant Cook. Both deputies watched her as she entered. They weren't used to seeing female deputies, much less one as fine as Angie. The only other occupant was a tall, black sergeant reading dispatches. Angie walked over to him, the deputies heads bobbing as she did. The sergeant looked with distain at the antics of the two. But more than that was Ken's hand on hers, holding her a little tootight, pulling her along a little too fast. She had to hurry on her heelsto keep up. He looked back with a sexy grin and she returned it,breathing hard from the exertion but excited too. They made their waydown the street, walking almost a block to where Ken had parked histruck.Letting go of her hand for a moment, Ken hopped up onto the side andclimbed into the pickup bed. "Come on," he said eagerly, "I've got someblankets." He.