‘‘You’re a mother, for God’s sake. What are you doing serving drinks, wearing that outfit, getting hit on? That guy in there practically had his face down your blouse.’’

‘‘Oh, he did not.’’ Torn between amusement and exasperation, she shook her head. ‘‘For heaven’s sake, Ethan, he was just being typical. And harmless.’’

‘‘Curtis had his hand on your ass.’’

Amusement was veering toward annoyance. ‘‘I know where his hand was, and if it worried me, I’d have knocked it off.’’

Ethan took a breath. He’d started this, wisely or not, and he was going to finish it. ‘‘You shouldn’t be working half naked in some bar or knocking anybody’s hand off your ass. You should be home with Aubrey.’’

Her eyes went from mildly irritated to blazing fury. ‘‘Oh, is that right, is that your considered opinion? Well, thank you so much for sharing it with me. And for your information, if I wasn’t working—and I’m damn well not half naked—I wouldn’t have a home.’’

‘‘You’ve got a job,’’ he said stubbornly. ‘‘Cleaning houses.’’

‘‘That’s right. I clean houses, I serve drinks, and now and then I pick crabs. That’s how amazingly skilled and versatile I am. I also pay rent, insurance, medical bills, utilities, and a baby-sitter. I buy food, I buy clothes, gas. I take care of myself and my daughter. I don’t need you coming around here telling me it’s not right.’’

‘‘I’m just saying—’’

‘‘I hear what you’re saying.’’ Her heels were throbbing, and every ache in her overtaxed body was making itself known. Worse, much worse, was the hard prick of embarrassment that he would look down on her for what she did to survive. ‘‘I serve cocktails and let men look at my legs. Maybe they’ll tip better if they like them. And if they tip better I can buy my little girl something that makes her smile. So they can look all they damn well please. And I wish to God I had the kind of body that filled out this stupid outfit, because then I’d earn more.’’

He had to pause before speaking, to gather his thoughts. Her face was flushed with anger, but her eyes were so tired it broke his heart. ‘‘You’re selling yourself short, Grace,’’ he said quietly.

‘‘I know exactly how much I’m worth, Ethan.’’ Her chin angled. ‘‘Right down to the last penny. Now, my break’s over.’’

She spun on her miserably throbbing heels and stalked back into the noise and the smoke-clogged air.

THREE

‘‘ NEED BUNNY, TOO.’’

‘‘Okay, baby, we’ll get your bunny.’’ It was, Grace thought, always an expedition. They were only going as far as the sandbox in the backyard, but Aubrey never failed to demand that all her stuffed pals accompany her.