Long Beach, California Ricky and Lisa had made love three times in just as many hours. It was unbelievably hot in their bedroom, as usual, and their late night activities served only to add to the thermostatic reading in the room. Lisa's glistening shoulder sparkled in the yellow light from a street lamp that was situated just outside the open window near the foot of the queen-sized bed. Turning to face one another, their breathing and pulse rate slowly returned to normal.
"I just can't believe what's happening," she whispered. She blinked when a lock of her frizzy blond hair fell across one eye.
Ricky swept the recalcitrant hair aside. "I know. That was awesome. Three times in one night."
"No. I mean this game you're in. The million dollar prize, and the ten thousand dollars you already got. It's so weird. Don't you think?"
Ricky flopped onto his back again, slightly insulted that she was not making reference to his recent performance. "I know. The upfront money makes it real. You know?"
"I know."
She ran her fingers gently over his new tattoo. "You didn't have to do that," she told him. "All you had to do was tell me about the money."
"I know, but I wanted to make it big."
"I love it." She giggled.
"What about Australia?"
"I have a job, Ricky. I have some leave time built up, but it has to last. I could go for a week or so, but…that wouldn't be any fun."
"A job?" he scoffed. "Hell, just quit. I got one million dollars."
"You only have the ten thousand so far," she reminded him. "What if this mad man hunts you down and kills you?"
A raucous laugh burst from Ricky's throat. "No way. It's just a game. He's not actually gonna hurt anybody."
"And I'm just trying to be realistic. Besides, I happen to like my job."
"I know you do, and I won't ask you to quit-at least not right now." He shrugged his bare shoulders. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see if this guy comes after me. We just won't answer the door for the next thirty days."
"Think that'll do it?" she asked doubtfully.
"Got any better ideas? Trey told me to just hang out and be cool about it. What's this old guy going to do, anyway? Beat me to death with his cane?"
Lisa snuggled closer and slipped her arm around his waist. "I'm still going to worry about you for the next month."
Ricky laughed again-before he noticed that she was serious. "I know you will, baby. You thirsty?"
She looked up at him with a dubious expression. "No, but I know you always are after we do it."
"I'm gonna go see if Trey got any beer." He sat up, swung his legs over the side of the bed, and stood. "It is definitely hot."
