Her green eyes shifted back to the door, and her breath caught in her throat at the sight of the tall blonde man that entered. Her eyes met his, and even despite the distance between them, she could tell that he had the bluest eyes she had ever seen. The way his muscles moved underneath his leather jacket made her hands ache to roam over his sexy body. She had to remind herself to breathe as he smiled at her.
        Trent was pole-axed the very second he stepped into the store. He had never seen a more beautiful woman than the one that stood behind the counter. Her eyes met his, and he felt himself drowning in her vivid, green eyes. Her long, red hair seemed to flow around her beautiful face, and his fingers itched to run through its silky strands. The way her dress molded to her luscious body had him thinking thoughts that he had never dared think before when meeting a stranger. He swallowed hard and fought to keep from blushing as she returned his stare. His lips pulled up into a shy smile, and he was rewarded when she granted him a dazzling smile.
        Realizing that her brother had left her side, Trina glanced over her shoulder to see what was keeping him. Her blue eyes widened in surprise as she found him simply standing there, staring at the clerk behind the counter. Looking back at the other woman, Trina smiled as she realized that the redhead was also checking her brother out. She smiled politely at the redhead before turning around and walking back to Trent. Reaching him, she whispered softly enough that the redhead could not possibly even hope to be able to hear her, "Stop drooling, Virgin Boy."
        "Trina, I --" Trent started to protest only to not be given a chance to finish his sentence.
        "I know you're blown away by her, but do you know that she's checking you out too?"
        Trent finally managed to pull himself together at that question. "You're kidding," he whispered back. "What would a woman like that see in a guy like me?"
        "I don't have time to list all the reasons," Trina gently told her twin, "but trust me, there's plenty of them. We're here for a reason though, Trent, so either get your butt going in that direction or let me drag you along with me."
        He turned flashing blue eyes on her, and she smiled innocently up at him. He shook his head but couldn't help grinning as he turned back and continued on his way. Trina silently followed him, never taking her eyes off her brother and the clerk. She could tell that there was a mutual physical attraction between the two and could understand it, but she did not even have the first clue of whether or not the woman was worthy of her brother.
        {Pull yourself together, girl,} the redhead instructed herself. {For God's sake, he's already got a girlfriend!} She managed to shake herself back to reality with that thought just in time to greet him. "How may I help you?" she asked, beaming at him.
        "Hum, o-our c-computer has a prob-problem," Trent managed to stutter out, still stunned by the beauty before him. {God, why do I have to sound like such a dork?!} he thought, a light pink tinging his cheekbones.
        Trina gently elbowed him in the side as she reached the desk. "What Trent means to say," Trina informed the woman, "is that we're having problems with our Windows 95 on our Compaq computer."
        "Have you tried calling Microsoft?" the clerk asked Trina though she could not tear her eyes away from Trent long enough to look at the other woman.
        "Our whole system's already out of warranty. It kind of slipped up on us," Trina admitted rather embarrassedly though she did not blush.
        "Well, what happened?" the clerk asked as she again continued to try to focus her attention on the problem at hand rather than the hunk before her eyes.
        "I-I was trying to open a file," Trent finally managed to speak again, "when the power flickered. It didn't last long, but it was enough to cause the computer to reboot. When it booted back up, though, it wouldn't boot Windows. I was at first able to access Windows through MS-DOS but that quickly stopped. Now, I can't get into it no matter what I do."
        "We have a friend," Trina added, "who's a bit of a computer whiz. He thinks it was probably hit by a lightning spike but can't tell us what to do to fix it."
        "Well, if it was lightning," the clerk spoke, finally managing to divide her attention more evenly between the problem and the hunk who had brought it to her, "there may not be anything I can do for it, but I can take a look at it. Did you bring it with you, or do you want me to make a house call?"
        "Would you do that?" Trent asked hopefully. He again swallowed nervously as he quickly clarified, "I mean, make a house call?"
        She smiled at him and fluttered her eyelashes. "Anything for you," she said before she could stop herself. She then froze as she realized what had slipped out of her lips. "Oh my God!" she exclaimed. "I am so sorry! You must think I'm a total --"
        "Whoa! Whoa! Slow down!" Trent and Trina exclaimed simultaneously.
        "What do you think you did that's so wrong?" Trent asked her, his face full of deep concern.
        The redhead hung her head in embarrassed shame. "Your girlfriend is standing right there!" she explained.
        Trent and Trina looked at one another for a long moment, and then Trina burst out laughing. The clerk's head snapped up, a dark red coloring her cheeks. "What's so funny?" she demanded.
        "Trina!" Trent admonished before turning back to the beauty before him. "I'm sorry, miss, that my sister thinks it's so funny."
        "Your," the woman had to pause to consider the information before finishing, "sister?"
        "Yeah," Trina answered, her laughter finally ceasing. "We're twins."
        "Oh!" was all the startled but relieved clerk could think to say.
        "I'm Trent," Trent offered, "and she's Trina. And you would be . . . ?"
        "Embarrassed," she admitted with a soft chuckle.
        "There's no reason for that," Trina gently assured her with a shake of her head. "You wouldn't believe how many people make that same mistake!"
        A slow smile began to creep back over the redhead's features as her blush faded. "I'm glad I'm not the only one. My name's Mary Jane Watson, but you can call me MJ." She smiled beguilingly back up at Trent.
        Before the two could become lost in one another's eyes again, Trina quickly asked, "When do you think you can come by and take a look at our computer, MJ?"
        "Well, I suppose Mitch can close up," MJ said. "Just let me get my things."
        "Are you sure?" Trent asked.
        Mary Jane gifted him with the most beautiful smile he had ever borne witness to in his entire life as she told him softly, "Absolutely." She then turned and headed into the back, calling back to them from over her shoulder, "It'll take me only a couple of minutes."

        It was at five o'clock that the Malloys' computer was officially determined dead. MJ sighed defeatedly as she leaned back in her chair. Her green eyes drifted to Trina's blue ones, and she shook her head solemnly.
        "There's nothing you can do?" Trina asked disappointedly.
        "I'm sorry to break it to you," MJ admitted in a hushed voice, "but there's really nothing any one can do. Your Windows is completely dead, and the rest of your computer is not going to last much longer. The hard drive was hit."
        Trina's face fell. Although she had known for quite some time that they were going to have to buy a new one, she had still hoped that Mary Jane would be able to resurrect their old friend.
        "I'm sorry," MJ said softly.
        "It's not your fault," Trina assured her as she pushed her blonde hair back. "You tried."
        MJ smiled sadly. "How do you think your brother will take it?" she asked, her voice soft.
        Trina shrugged. "It's a computer. It's not like it's Moses."
        "Moses?"
        "Our family's dog."
        "I haven't seen any . . . " MJ started to say only to already have her question answered.
        "He doesn't live with us, but we grew up with him. He lives with our mother and younger siblings."
        "You have a big family?" MJ smiled. She had always longed for a happy family life but had never been gifted with one.
        "Our blood family isn't really that big, but when you consider our extended family . . . Huge," Trina answered, smiling fondly. "You?"
        "No," MJ said hesitantly. "I haven't spoken to my parents in years." She started to mention that she had tried to create a happy family life with her ex-husband but that his job had always kept him too busy for her, but she quickly stopped herself.
        "I'm sorry," Trina spoke sincerely.
        Mary Jane started to open her mouth to answer just as Trent swept into the room, carrying a glass of sweet tea in one hand and two glasses of soda in the other. Trina shook her head at him as she commented, "Carrying an overload again, I see." She stood and met him half-way into the room. She carefully took one of the sodas from him and sipped it as she headed back to her seat. "Thanks," she told him with a smile over the rim of her glass.
        "No problem." Trent nodded to his sister before approaching Mary Jane. "For you, my lady," he said, holding the glass out to her and bowing.
        MJ smiled, her green eyes sparkling in delight, as she accepted the drink. "Thank you, kind sir," she said, winking at him as he straightened.
        MJ had barely lifted the drink to her lips before Trent asked her, "How's the computer coming?"
        "Oh . . . Hum . . . " She paused, taking a sip of Coke to cover her hesitation. "Well, Trent, it's like this . . . "
        He saw it in her eyes and sighed heavily before she could even say one word. "Sis?" he asked, looking at Trina with pleading eyes.
        "I use it as much as you do, Trent," Trina answered his unspoken question. "It's no problem, and I'm sure MJ won't mind helping you pick out a new system."
        MJ watched the two of them curiously. She had never before met a man and a woman who thought so much alike and could so easily know what was going on in the other's head.
        "Would you?" Trent asked her, turning back to face Mary Jane.
        "It would be my pleasure," MJ answered with a smile. "I'm just sorry I couldn't save your current one, but when the hard drive's fried by lightning, there's really little you can do other than buy a new drive. Your computer's already out of warranty and rather out-dated, so it would probably be better in the long one -- not to mention cheaper, as well -- to just buy a new computer."
        "It's not your fault," Trent said as he sat down on the couch and finally took a sip of his tea. He swirled the sweet liquid around in his mouth before swallowing and speaking again, "We appreciate all your help. How much do we owe you?"
        "It's on the house," she told him.
        "Are you sure?" Trina asked. "We can pay you with no problem. I make good money."
        "I know," MJ said. "There was a time when I always wnated to hit it big like you have, but it never really worked. Any way, yes, I'm sure. I didn't have to use any of the store's tools or other resources. All that I gave was my time, and I've enjoyed hanging with you two."
        Trent smiled. "We've enjoyed being with you, as well." He didn't know if it was true for Trina, but it certainly was for him.
        "Maybe we can do it again sometime," MJ suggested, her eyes meeting Trent's.
        Trent smiled shyly. "I'd like that."
        MJ continued to smile as she felt herself becoming lost in his baby blues. He was already swimming in her enchanting green eyes when Trina spoke, shattering the mood, "MJ, do you mind if I have a word in the kitchen with my brother?"
        "Hmm?" was the first thing out of the redhead's mouth. Realizing what Trina had said, Mary Jane shook herself and forced her attention away from Trent. Looking back over at where Trina was curled in a recliner, she said, "Not at all."
        "Thanks," Trina said with a smile before standing and heading out of the room. "Come on, Trent," she said, her voice shattering his daydream.
        "What?" he asked, clearly confused as he had not heard a word she had said since having become lost yet again in Mary Jane.
        "Kitchen," she repeated. "Now."
        "Oh." He stood, smiled apologetically at MJ, and then hurried into the kitchen after his sister. She closed the door as soon as he entered, then turned to face him with her hands on his hips. "What?" he asked. "What did I do?"
        "It's not what you did," she told him. "It's what you didn't do."
        Trent looked at her in complete confusion. "Trina, I usually have absolutely no problem understanding you, but what in the world are you talking about, sis?"
        "I'm talking about your bubbling ignorance in there, Virgin Boy!" Trina exclaimed, fighting to keep her voice low so that Mary Jane would not overhear her.
        "Trina, what . . . ?" Trent started to ask again.
        "Hello! Earth to VB! The woman's crazy about you! She wants you as badly as you want her! Ask her out! See if she's got plans for tonight. If she doesn't, invite her to come with us!"
        "Oh," Trent finally comprehended. He then paused before asking, "But why should I ask her out when you're so damned determined to ignore your feelings for Carlos?"
        Trina's mouth fell open, but she closed it in the next second, her blue eyes blazing with quiet, deadly fury. "I don't believe you're back to that again!"
        "Trina, you're a wonderful undercover agent, but you have never been able to lie to me. I know you love him."
        "Yeah, as a friend!" she retorted fiercely.
        "Stop lying to me, damn it, and stop lying to yourself!" Trent exclaimed angrily, his voice rising a notch as his blue eyes flashed furiously.
        "Don't take that tone with me, little brother," Trina nearly snarled. "You have no idea what's going on in my head or in my heart. You don't understand how I feel. We have a close bond, but you still don't know everything about me."
        "That's where you're wrong, Trina. I do know. I do understand, and I'm telling you to stop being afraid and go for it. I want you to be happy."
        "Maybe happy isn't one of the things I'm meant to be!" Trina suddenly exclaimed, tears filling her eyes. She turned, planning to flee, but Trent grabbed her shoulders before she could run out on him.
        "Trina, please, listen to me," he said, his voice gentle and compassionate again. He turned her slowly to look at him. She didn't want to, but she would never hurt him. Keeping one hand on her shoulder, he gently lifted her chin. "Trina, I know you. I know you're scared, and I know Markus isn't the only reason why. He was a heartless asshole that never deserved you."
        "I'm over him," she insisted.
        "Over him, yes, but not over the fear of being hurt again like that. Carlos isn't that type of man; we both know that. Maybe he has been a bit of a ladies' man, but he loves you and would never do anything to hurt you, no more than I would. Markus did just about everything in town, but Carlos isn't that type. He'd never have more than one woman at a time. We both know that."
        "I know," Trina admitted, her voice hushed and only a notch above a whisper, "but that's . . ."
        " . . . not the reason why," Trent finished for his sister. "I know that, too. You're afraid of what will happen if it doesn't work out. You're afraid that we'd lose his friendship, but that wouldn't happen. You can still be friends with some one you break up with."
        "But things would never be the same," Trina protested.
        "I know that. We all know that. But it's a risk you need to take. You can't keep living a lie, sis," he said softly, hugging her gently. "Think about it," he told her in a voice as gentle as the hug. He then brushed his lips across her forehead in a brotherly kiss before releasing her. "I'm going to take your advice. You should really think about taking mine."
        Stunned and afraid, all Trina could do was watch her brother disappear back into the living room.

        The very second Trent reentered the room, MJ looked up at him with deep concern written clearly in her eyes and face. "Is everything okay?" she asked him worriedly.
        "It will be," he reassured her, "but nevertheless it's nothing to worry about."
        "Is there anything I can do to help?" she asked hopefully.
        "Not at the moment, but thanks." He smiled down at her, and his charming smile immediately eased her worry. He returned to his glass of tea, and they both took a swallow of their drinks.
        "Where's Trina?"
        "Off thinking," Trent replied honestly.
        "Ah. Guy problems?"
        "It's really not my place to say."
        "I'm sorry," MJ apologized. "I shouldn't have asked. It's none of my business. I was just concerned."
        "I know," Trent told her with a reassuring smile, "and it's okay. I appreciate your concern."
        Silence reigned for a few more moments before Mary Jane stood. "Well, I suppose," she said disappointedly, "I should be going."
        Trent immediately jumped to his feet. "MJ?" he started.
        "Yes?" she asked, turning back to look at him, her long, fiery red hair whirling around her shoulders.
        He opened his mouth to say one thing, but instead another came out, "May I walk you to your car?"
        "Oh," she said, carefully hiding her disappointment that that was all he had asked her. "Certainly." She smiled up at him before turning for her coat. She didn't know how he moved so fast, but he was suddenly standing behind her with her coat in his hands. He helped her into her coat, and his fingertips brushed against her palms, sending sparks shooting through both of them.
        They smiled adoringly at one another but walked in silence. It was only when Mary Jane slid into the driver's seat of her car that he finally managed to speak again, "Hum . . . MJ, I know it's kinda sudden, but do you have plans for tonight?"
        She shrugged. "I was just planning on handing out candy."
        "Oh." His handsome face fell, and she immediately felt a stab of regret.
        Thinking quickly, she hastily added, "I really wish I had something funner to do tonight."
        Trent immediately brightened. "I know it's short notice, but I'm going with Trina and another friend of ours to a masquerade ball at CD's Bar and Grill tonight. Would you like to come?"
        Her beautiful face lit with instant joy. "I'd love to!"
        "Can you be ready by 7?" he asked.
        "I can," she immediately assured him. {I'll have to run like crazy, but for him, I can,} she thought to herself.
        "Where can I pick you up at?" After Mary Jane had given him directions, Trent answered, beaming happily, "I'll see you then, then."
        "I can't wait, tiger," Mary Jane nearly purred. She then shut the door and drove off.
        He watched her go as butterflies danced in his stomach. "Down, boy," he said with a glance downwards. "It's way too early yet."

        The doorbell rang at 6:30. The blonde man's cape rustled behind him as he swept quickly to the door and opened it. "Good evening," he said with a devilish grin, his fangs peeking through his mouth as he spoke. He took one look at his partner, and they both burst out laughing.
        "Nice costume," Carlos complimented his best friend, his own fangs flashing as he spoke.
        Trent chuckled. "Leave it to us."
        "Yeah," Carlos agreed as Trent stepped back and he entered. "Partners in life . . . "
        "Partners in work . . ." Trent continued.
        Both men's eyes glittered with humor and joy as they finished together, " . . . and partners in blood-sucking!" They laughed again and were still laughing when Carlos suddenly froze and hushed completely in mid-chuckle. Trent turned to follow his best friend's eyes only to find him, as he had suspected, staring at his sister.
        Trina stood in the doorway, leaning against her left hand that pressed against the edge of the doorway. From underneath her black, pointed hat, her long, blonde hair flowed freely behind her back, and its golden strands seemed to glitter against her long, black cape. Black cats with glowing, yellow eyes peeked out from her ear lobes, appearing almost as if they were there to ward away those men who would take their lives in their hands by trying to nibble at her ears. The bodice of her silk, black dress was cut in a low, jagged V and granted tantalizing glimpses of her creamy busom. A blood red amulet winked at Carlos from between her perky breasts. A simple, black belt wrapped tightly around her waist, and a silver skull with gleaming, red eyes stared out from the position of her belt buckle. Her dress continued to sweep downwards in front, but her long legs, clad in fish-net stockings, stretched out from the long, tempting slits on either side of her dress' skirt. Her feet were clad in simple black high heels.
        Despite herself, Trina was no more capable of tearing her eyes away from Carlos than he was of tearing his away from her. She swallowed hard as her blue eyes slowly traveled up his body. Although both his boots and pants were simple and black, his pants hugged his legs in all the right places. Her fingers itched to stroke his sword even as her body ached to feel its majestic strength inside her. A white pirate's shirt clung to his muscles but hid the stomach she knew but didn't care that he had. Like her own bodice, his shirt's collar was cut in a V-neck that appeared ripped and gave her tempting views of his delicious skin. Her tongue nearly whimpered to be allowed to roam over his body at the tantalizing sight. She was surprised but delighted to find that he had the foresight to add a few drops of fake blood to his shirt, making it appear as if he had just had a somewhat messy meal. His silken cape reached to the heels of his boots, and its collar was turned up around his neck. Her eyes continued to slowly travel up his handsome face until reaching the top of his head. His black curls were swept back in a suave, debonaire appearance. "Dear God," she groaned, "you look good enough to eat!" She moved to him, swaying one hip at a time, and then conquered his lips with her own. She kissed him long and deep, and his tongue slipped into her mouth, freely exploring its depths.
        "Do I really?" Carlos' hopeful question startled Trina out of her daydream.
        Trina blinked in confusion, and then it hit her. {Oh God,} she thought, the color beginning to fade from her cheeks, {I didn't just say that aloud!} "I didn't say anything," she hastily denied. "Now let's get moving before we're late for the party."
        Trent bit back a chuckle even as Carlos' grin faded in disappointment. "Trina, you --" Carlos attempted to say only to be cut off.
        "Said nothing," she insisted. "Absolutely nothing," she added as she breezed past them both and out into the cool night air.
        "She did, didn't she?" Carlos asked Trent, looking at his partner in confusion.
        Trent grinned and winked at his friend. "She did indeed."
        Carlos paused as he looked out after Trina. As she slipped into her car, he turned back to Trent. "Trent, I need to ask you something."
        "It's about time you did," he answered before Carlos could continue, "and the answer is yes. Just treat her right like I know you will, Carlos, but don't push her. She'll come around. Now I've got to go pick up Mary Jane."
        "Mary Jane?" Carlos asked, surprised.
        Trent's smile grew, and his fangs winked. "My date," he explained.
        "Date?" Carlos repeated. "I thought you were going with us tonight."
        "I'll meet you there," Trent quickly assured his partner, "but yes, I actually do have a date. I met her this afternoon, and man, I have to tell you -- she completely blew me away!"
        Carlos grinned. "Good. It's about time somebody did. Where'd you meet her?"
        "She's the computer store manager that we got to take a look at our computer."
        "Oh. How is it, by the way?"
        "Dead. She's going to help us pick out an entire new system tomorrow."
        "Trina paying?"
        "Of course."
        Both men's heads snapped up as Trina honked the horn. "Sounds like your sister's getting impatient," Carlos commented.
        "I've got to get going too," Trent admitted.
        "Go on, and have fun. I'll see you there. Just remember one thing."
        "What?" Trent asked, looking back at his partner as he stepped off onto the porch.
        "Don't do anything I wouldn't do," Carlos told him with a wicked grin and wink.
        Trent chuckled, his blue eyes dancing. "Well, that just leaves the field completely open now, doesn't it?"
        "Precisely," Carlos agreed with a laugh as he followed his friend out, closing and locking the door behind him.
        "I'll see you there!" Trent called to his best friends as he hopped onto his motorcycle and Carlos slid into Trina's passanger seat.

        The gentle rap on her door came at exactly 7 o'clock. She rushed to it, pausing only to check her appearance in a nearby mirror and straighten her veil one last time, and opened it. Both were instantly lost, their eyes slowly and admiringly traveling over the other's bodies.
        The way her pink harem outfit clung to her every curve brought his sword instantly to alert. He would have prayed that she would not notice if he had not been so completely lost in her beauty. Gold bracelets dangled at her delicate wrists, and a diamond winked from her belly button. Her bodice drew her breasts together even more tightly, and his disobeying hands ached to caress them. His mouth could already taste her sweet nectar, and he silenced the groan that rose in the back of his throat. A gold chain winked from around her neck. He had not noticed how beautiful her neck was before, and if he had been a real Vampire, he would have had no choice than to sink his fangs into her delicate, tanned flesh. Her long, red hair swept freely down her back and around her beautiful face, and his fingers longed to run through her fiery, silky strands. Emerald earrings winked from her ear lobes, and his teeth pleaded to be allowed to nibble at her ears. Despite her breath-takingly sexy body, however, it was her emerald eyes and beautiful face that Trent found the most appealing.
        She had always secretly had an admiration for Vampires and cowboys, and the two combined was quite nearly more than she could take. His black jeans and shirt molded his sexy body so perfectly that her hands unmercifully itched to caress his muscles. Her experienced eyes could easily tell how much he loved her outfit as they again drifted downwards, and she longed to be able to simply jump him and ride his steed throughout the rest of the night. She had to force her hand to still before it could reach out and caress his massive sword. His long, black cape swept out behind him, and she wondered what it would feel like to make mad, passionate love to him with only his silky cape to slide over their flesh in the place of a sheet. Even his blonde hair seemed to beg her fingers to run through its golden strands.
        Mary Jane was still drowning in his baby blue eyes when Trent finally managed to speak. "I vont to suck your blood," he said in a fake Romanian accent.
        "Please do," she breathed huskily before she could stop herself.
        For a moment, he thought of pretending to do just that. However, he quickly reminded himself that he had just met her that day and that a lady of Mary Jane's caliber deserved to be courted before they approached anything near the level of neck-nibbling. "Huh . . . " he stuttered helplessly at first.
        Realizing how uncomfortable he was, MJ quickly smiled reassuringly at him as she said, picking up her purse, "I'm ready." She slipped out, her luscious body brushing against his hot body until he stumbled back. She never took her eyes from him as she reached behind her to lock the door and bring it a silent close.
        "L-Let's go," Trent stuttered with a grin.
        "Lead the way, tiger," she purred huskily to him, causing him to groan silently as his sword eagerly responded to her sexy voice.

        "Have you rode a bike before?" Trent asked as they walked to his waiting motorcycle.
        "A few times," she replied. "I can manage," she hurriedly assured him before he could ask.
        He handed her one of the helmets that hung on his handle bars. "I wouldn't want anything to happen to that beautiful head of yours," he told her with a charming smile.
        They slipped their helmets on, and then he mounted his bike. She slid on behind him, and as she leaned into him, her arms wrapping around his waist, her perky breasts pressed against his back. {Down, boy. Down!} he pleaded silently as his sword pressed hard against the tight fabric of his jeans.
        {Oh my!} Mary Jane breathed silently as she felt his bulging muscles through his shirt. She had known he was muscular, but she would have never guessed that he was as muscular as she could feel he was. She had never met a man that was built so well.
        "Hold on tight," Trent called to her as he started his bike. He then peeled away from the curb, and she clung even more tightly to him.

        "I need to have a talk with you, Trent," were the first words out of Trina's mouths as her brother and his date approached Carlos and herself near the entrance of CD's Bar and Grill. Her blue eyes cast a glance at the redhead on his arm. "You don't mind, do you, MJ?" she asked.
        "No. Not at all," Mary Jane assured her. Despite her words, she couldn't help feeling a silent stab of regret. She was so eager to get to dance with him and feel his arms around her that she could hardly stand to wait.
        "Good," Trina said as she walked straight to her twin and pulled him abruptly away and deeper into the parking lot before Trent could even manage to get one word out.
        "Good evening, miss," Carlos, speaking with a fake Romanian accent, greeted the redhead with a smile. "I'm sorry ve veren't properly introduced. Trina's not exactly the patient type. I am Count Carlos Sandoval, and who is this lovely blood donor before me?"
        "Mary Jane Watson. You can call me MJ as long as you don't try to pull anything, and I'm a blood donor for Count Malloy only," MJ added in a gentle way of letting the Mexican know that she was not interested in any one other than her date.
        To Mary Jane's surprise, Carlos grinned at her words. "I vas hoping you'd say that," he said with a flash of his fangs. "I'm Trent's partner."
        Mary Jane smiled as she realized that he had only been testing her. "Well, you don't have to worry for your friend, Carlos. I'm not out to harm him, and just between me and you, I'm already beginning to think that he's the most wonderful man I've ever met."
        As Carlos and MJ began to chat, Trina glanced from Carlos back to her beloved brother. "Are you sure?" she asked again, her eyes searching his.
        "Trina," Trent said, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder, "I am absolutely certain. If he's what you want, go for him, sis. I want you to be happy."
        "And you honestly don't mind?"
        "Yes!"
        "Even if it hinders your friendship in the future?"
        "It won't," he again insisted, "but even if it does -- which it won't -- I still wouldn't change my mind."
        Trina's eyes sparkled at her brother's words, and she hugged him tightly. "Thanks, bro," she told him softly.
        He returned her hug, squeezing her slightly, before asking, "Now, are you ready to go back?"
        She nodded her agreement as she slowly released him.

        Slowly, the strains of a song with a wilder beat gave way to the classic "Spooky", and Trent drew Mary Jane close at long last. His hand gently cupped the small of her back, and their bodies pressed heatedly together as they slow-danced. MJ had never felt a more wonderful feeling nor more secure than she did as she danced with Trent's arms wrapped gently around her, and he had never known that dancing slowly could also be so erotic. With a soft sigh of contentment, she leaned her head against his shoulder, never realizing that she was giving him a perfect view of his sister dancing with his partner.
        "So how'd it go?" Trina asked Carlos, still trying desperately to fight the feelings that enveloped and burned her soul and were all caused by being so close with him and his delicious aroma filling her senses.
        "How'd what go?" he asked, confusion creasing his brow as he gazed adoringly down into her beautiful baby blues. How long had he waited to be allowed to dance like this with her? Not even he could remember.
        "MJ," Trina reminded him as she gazed up into his chocolate brown eyes.
        "She's crazy about him," Carlos assured her, "and I don't think we have to worry about him."
        Trina grinned up at him and, with a wink, asked, "You mean she was oblivious to your charms?"
        "Yeah. Can you believe it?" he asked kiddingly with a charming smile.
        "Actually . . . " Trina paused and took a deep breath. {Dear God,} she prayed silently, {please don't let Trent or me or even Carlos regret this. Please let this work out right. I beg you -- please. Amen.} Then, she gazed into his eyes, and her grin transformed into a beautiful, adoring smile. " . . . no."
        "No?" he asked, clearly puzzled.
        "No," she repeated. "Not when that charm -- your wonderful charm even captured me a long time ago."
        "Trina, what are you . . . ?" Carlos started to ask, his heart pounding. Was he dreaming, or was this really happening?
        "I'm sick of pretending, Carlos," she told him sincerely, shaking her head in a movement that sent her long, golden hair shimmering over his hands. For the first time, he allowed his fingers to reach up and stroke her hair, and his fingertips thrilled at its silky feeling. She leaned into him, and his heart soared, its pounding filling his ears yet still allowing him to hear her softly and huskily spoken words. She reached one hand up and gently caressed his cheek. She leaned closer to him, her eyes never leaving his, as she breathed, "I love you, Carlos Sandoval." Her lips then lit upon his, and the rest of the world instantly ceased to exist for both. A joy stronger than any he had ever felt or even imagined before filled his heart to overflowing as he gently pulled her closer and returned her kiss. Their kiss began gently but soon grew into a heated passion that none of their friends could ignore.
        Trent's smile nearly glowed, and his blue eyes shone as he watched his two life-long best friends. Walker and Alex watched the couple as they continued to dance as did Gage and Sydney; the four of them looked to each other with smiles that clearly spoke their gladness for their friends. From behind the bar, CD's mouth froze in mid-syllable. "Well, it's about dang time!" he whooped happily, sending Trivette's head snapping up and the Ranger's eyes following his friend's gaze. He instantly broke out in a grin. Carlos and Trina never realized that the others were watching as they ceased dancing and simply continued to kiss, their hearts flooded with joy and love beyond their wildest imaginings.