Leanne was adamant. "No one sits at my table with dirt on their paws." She looked directly at Rio. "Wash your hands." As Rio trudged off to the bathroom, Leanne grabbed Hank by an arm and dragged him into the kitchen.

"You can use this sink," she said, turning on the tap full blast. She used the sound of running water to mask the words she spoke. "I don't know why Milton gave Rio his dog, but I think he gave her you for the same reason."

Hank hadn't felt mousy in a while, as he was getting the hang of meeting so many new women. But Leanne was intimidating. She stood in a spot where he had to look at her.

"Ah…" he muttered. "If you say so."

"I don't know you, Hank, but I know about you. You seem nice, and Rio's needed someone nice in her life for a long time."

Hank gulped. He reached to turn off the water, but Leanne wouldn't let him. "She and Milton were looking for someone, and now I know why."

Hank held his breath to keep from speaking, so Leanne continued, looking tired. "I'm gone all the time, and it breaks Rio's heart. I have to leave again tomorrow, and I just got home today."

Hank released his breath, relieved that Leanne didn't mention bad guys or RMing. "That doesn't seem fair," he said. "Don't you get a day off?"

She leaned against a counter. "Yeah, that's what I get. Exactly one day off." She stared deep into him. "I leave tomorrow afternoon."

"And Rio doesn't know." Hank guessed.

Leanne approached and stood an inch away. Everything about her was amazing—her clothes, her makeup, her manners. Her perfume was intoxicating, like champagne and strawberries.

She searched the irises of Hank's eyes. "I don't know how to tell her. She's going to freak out. You know how she is."

"Oh gosh! Do I!"

Despite Leanne's bold personality, Hank felt more at ease. He was sure all she wanted from him was to be a friend. Rio returned with her hands clean and her hair combed. She kept her eyes cast to the floor until Leanne approached and lifted her head with a gentle hand.

"Let's have dinner with our guest," Leanne said with kindness. "Dōi shimasu ka?"

"Sōda ne," Rio replied with a smile, taking her seat at the table.

Leanne clasped her hands. "Good! You sit here," she said to Hank, gesturing at the chair next to Rio. She slipped into the kitchen before calling to her roomie. "I've made your favorite!"

"Egg rousong?" Rio asked with anticipation.

"Nope! Chicken and dumplings!"

Leanne brought out three steaming bowls and three glasses of soy milk. Rio chose to eat with chopsticks, while Leanne and Hank used fork and spoon.

"So tell me what you do," Leanne asked of Hank.

"Well, um… I used to work at Asok's," he said, after hemming and hawing.

Leanne twisted her lips in disapproval. "I see. I think I've heard of them."

"He is now a Genius!" Rio blurted, her face in her bowl.

Leanne brightened. "Ah! And is that good?" she asked Rio, recalling Hank's dismay about getting a PEP Test.

"Yeah, I guess," Rio said. "You know. Sōda ne."

"I'm not sure I want to be different," Hank said in his defense.

Rio menaced him with her chopsticks. "You had better," she said.

"Rio!" Leanne scolded. "Be nice!"

"Hai. I am. Things are changing. Fast."

Leanne lowered her head, looking submissive as Rio often did. "I suppose they are," she said. She raised her eyes to beg Hank. "Things are changing? Right?"

"Sōdesune," Rio said into her bowl, while Hank ate to keep from answering.

As Leanne cleaned up the dishes, Rio convinced Hank to walk Bumbles again.

"I want to use the car," he said. "We can take him someplace he hasn't been."

Leanne intervened. "She wants to smoke a cigarette. She knows it'll stink up your car."

"Ā na," Rio said, self-consciously with a crooked grin. She peeked at Hank from the space between her black bangs and red glasses.

"I thought you were out," he said.

"I may have one more."

Leanne spoke again. "Go to your shop and buy some, and I'll send Hank and the dog in an hour."

Rio picked up her purse and put on shoes. Because the weather had grown cold, she grabbed a long leather jacket. Sensing Rio's departure, Bumbles decided to go nuts.

"I'm taking him with me," Rio said of the dog, as if she had a choice. As she cracked open the door, Bumbles shoved his way through and raced down the stairs.

Rio tore after him. "Come back, damu dog!"

Leanne closed the door. "Good. She's gone."

Leanne's tendency to take control made Hank think he may have been better off with Rio. She eyed him up luxuriously on her way to an easy chair. But after having sat, she rubbed her weary eyes and hid her face in her hands.

"Please sit down," she said into her hands.

Hank did as he was told, choosing the center of the sofa. Leanne kept her eyes closed as she spoke.

"The first thing I thought when Rio said we had guests was that she had met some men. You know. One for her and one for me."

Hank struggled to find words. None came. Leanne opened her eyes, smoldering him with electric blue. The light from the kitchen shone through her hair, creating a golden glow.

She heaved a monstrous sigh, blowing out huge air. "I'm sorry," she said. "I'm tired."

He smiled, seizing common ground. "I know. I'm pretty tired, too. It's been a long day."

Leanne smiled back. Her lips spread wide to show perfect teeth. "I'm glad my guy's a dog. I'm too pooped to party!"

Hank breathed with relief. Just like it had been with Aika, he knew he'd be powerless if Leanne chose to have her way with him. But unlike a tiny Asian in a Neko cat costume, where Aika was submissive, Leanne would dominate. She'd claim him as her prize, possessing his mind and body.

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She tittered timidly, as his eyes roamed the room. Her observations were keen.

"You thought I was gonna… you know. With you."

He avoided her gaze. "Well… it had occurred to me."

Leanne sat up straight, strong and beautiful. "Yeah. I know. It occurred to me, too." She started swaying, side to side, hypnotizing her prey. "I mean, Rio doesn't…"

Leanne's sudden hesitation reminded Hank of the conversation they had in her car. Again, waves of hair flew everywhere as she shook off what she wanted to say.

"Rio's more the dog type," she said instead. "You know what I mean?"

"She's been with Bumbles all day. Ever since we got him."

"Yes. Exactly. So anyway, I think, even though that's true, you should still be hers."

Leanne stared intently. "Uh… okay," Hank managed to utter.

"Tonight."

"Uh," he said again. "Okay."

She clasped her hands, as if their chat was over. "Good! It's settled."

Hank found the balls to speak. "No. It's not."

"How so?"

"Now wait a minute. I'm here because…"

He didn't know what to say, but refrained from shaking his mane of hair the way Leanne liked to do. She leaned forward to rest her clasped hands on her inner thighs while waiting for him to speak. Her business top opened at the neckline, revealing deep feminine bounty. Sinew shone in her arms as she squeezed her fingers hard.

Again, Hank had to gulp. "Look here," Leanne said as she took over the conversation. "Let's not pussyfoot around. We both know what kind of person Rio is."

"We do?" Hank mumbled, so quiet only he could hear it, as Leanne spoke over him.

"Rio doesn't much like men. Not from what I've seen. And I've never known her to want a pet. Now I've been gone for days and days, and she's been freaking out about something, and when I'm finally home, she brings me a man with a dog."

"It's not my dog," Hank manage to insert when Leanne took a breath.

"That just makes it weirder. She's scarcely said one word to me." Leanne paused for the briefest moment, to see if Hank dared speak.

He didn't. "There's something wrong," Leanne concluded. "I know it. Tell me what it is."

Hank lowered his head into his hand, rubbing his sore brain. It may have been exhausting spending the afternoon with Rio, but these last few moments with Leanne were becoming a chore.

"Everything bothers Rio," he said. "You say you know her…"

"I do."

"Then you know it's true. She always complains."

"So how do you fit in?"

Hank became perturbed. He was sick of dealing with Rio and her problems. "I met her through Milton, and I met Milton through Bumbles. Now Milton's gone and I'm stuck with Rio, and she has his dog."

Leanne rose from her chair. Taking a wide arc, she approached Hank from behind. Before he spoke again, she began massaging his shoulders. He'd been sitting far forward on the cushion, and when she leaned into the back of the sofa, it creaked from the pressure.

Her technique was expert. He couldn't resist her as she spoke sweet words. "I'm really happy Rio has you. I know she's going to like it."

"You do? I mean… like what?"

Leanne tittered with delight. "Oh, you don't think she will?"

"Well…"

"I think she will go gaga. I can't wait to see."

Hank tried to look up at Leanne's face, but she wouldn't let him. "I'm kidding!" she said. "But I'm sad, I suppose, that she didn't bring someone home for me."

With Leanne rubbing him all the right ways, Hank contemplated offering himself to her. "Perhaps if you like, we could team up and teach her a lesson."

"Mmm. Maybe." After a pause, she asked, "So. You gonna make out with her?"

"Ah… What?"

"Yeah. Probably. That's what I'm thinking."

Hank shook off Leanne and turned to face her. She rested her elbows on the back of the sofa, placing her chin in both hands. Her top opened wider than it had before as she bore her full weight on the sofa, giving Hank a bird's eye view of tan, bra-covered breasts. Her smile grew dreamy as her eyes slowly closed.

She dozed off for a while. "I'm so damn tired," she said. "I can hardly see."

Maneuvering his lithe body, Hank eased around the sofa, taking his turn at approaching Leanne from behind. He reached around her with long arms, using his big hands to lift her elbows off the sofa.

"Hmm?" she muttered, surprised and sweet and sassy. "Where are you taking me?"

When her shoulders pressed against his chest, scents and textures attacked. Her flesh was glorious, baked in hot steel with myrrh. Coffee and cream rode on her breath. Her hair engulfed his face and he enjoyed it fully, drowning in her waves.

Leanne was so drowsy that she acted drunk. "Now, what are you doing? You behave, young man."

He laughed into her hair, for she looked no older than Sue Marie. "Come with me," he said. They stumbled around to the front of the sofa, and he made her lie upon it.

She shook her finger at him. "Don't be funny with me," she scolded, her blue eyes twinkling merry beneath an ocean of hair. "I can make you stop."

"I'm sure you can."

He found a pillow for her, and laid out her hair upon it. She purred loud and happy, like a tiger, as he made her comfortable.

"Mmm. If Rio doesn't want you, come get me instead. We'll show her what she's missing."

Hank kissed Leanne's forehead as she closed her eyes. "Nobody's getting me," he said, smiling at her body.

Leanne woke up enough to speak clear. "Don't take crap from her."

"I won't."

"Take charge. Be a man."

Hank only smiled at that.

"I'm depending on you," Leanne said into Hank's eyes, before hers fluttered shut.

"Just tell me where she is," he said to his sleeping beauty.

Rio had been chatting with the owner of the tobacco shop when Hank drove up in Milton's car. She came outside and stood by the door of the building to watch him park. Upon seeing who it was, Bumbles ran in playful circles. The chilly evening was becoming a cold night, and Hank shivered in his grey and black hoodie. Even so, he smiled into the dark eyes that peered at him again between black bangs and bright red glasses.

He surveyed the area. "So… Where are we going?"

It was the command Bumbles had been waiting for. He tore off down the sidewalk.

Rio's grin grew cute. "That way, I suppose."

As Bumbles performed his run-and-wait routine, Hank struck up a conversation. "Can you please tell me again why I'm doing this with you?"

Rio spoke politely. "Milton's gone and despite my loathing, you are Man's best hope. I'm not letting you out of my sight."

Hank grimaced. "Oh. So then, it's cuz you like me?"

Rio kept her eyes on Bumbles, so Hank wouldn't think her smile was for him. "I'm sick of being scared every fucking day. Do you have an idea of what it is like?"

"Well, you do keep telling me."

She grabbed his arm and hung on him like a schoolgirl. "There's something about you that annoys the crap out of me. You're so damn calm and centered."

"And you need someone to cuss at?" he furthered sarcastically.

Rio played along. "Yeah! I'm not afraid when you're with me. Like, not even at all. You're better at it than Milton."

"I suppose that's your version of a compliment."

"It is. You teach me to be patient."

"If you say so."

She snorted on a giggle. "It's the difference between us."

"I am not like you, Rio-chan."

"Yes you are. We're both diligent. We do what is right. The difference is you're kind, where I'm a basket case most times."

Hank laughed while making sure he didn't speak.

"In the end," she concluded, "we both know effort and hard work will bring what is right. No matter what the outcome is, we will be rewarded."

He thought about her words, and relaxed to the claim she had on his arm. "Reward?" he asked. "Who's going to reward us?"

"Why, Hank-sama. God will. The reward for being diligent is to be with God."

Hank made Bumbles wait while he and Rio kissed.