…Brooke drew a shallow breath and then caught her plump lower lip between her teeth. She lightly clasped her hands together in an effort to tamp down the nervousness and apprehension welling inside before asking the dreaded question. After slicing her gaze down the bar through the haze of the room, right and then left, to insure their conversation was still private, she ventured in a hushed voice, "So…do you have someone in mind?"

"Yep." Jilly paused, wearing an amused look and apparently enjoying her friend's discomfort.

"Well?"

"Trent will be perfect." Jilly halted again. "He's a nice guy and is a total professional."

Trent. Brooke rolled the name over in her mind, as if weighing and testing it for fit.

"I'll set up the date for you. How about tonight?"

"What!" Brooke's shriek caused several heads to turn in her direction. She forced a public smile, leaned forward and continued in a lowered tone, "So soon?"

"No time like the present, sweetie. This is your idea, so fish or cut bait." Seeing her friend's blanched expression, Jilly laid a comforting hand on Brooke's arm. "Trent is a graduate student, he's a regular customer and I know he'll be in tonight. I also know he needs the money. Tuition's due."