Wind kicked up off the ocean, bringing the sharp scent of a coming blast of bracing rain. Ben Wade turned to look in the direction the wind was heading, picturing the swirl of pine needles amongst the far-off stand of swaying trees. With the car's windows only partially up, he could hear the whine of the wind over the muffled bass of music coming from the nearby apartment, its doors thrown open as family and friends spilled out, leaving the holiday celebration at long last.

"How many more?" He glanced at Donnie, sitting behind the wheel of her car staring straight ahead at the ground floor apartment. The building only held four units; two on each floor. Not the best neighborhood but the edginess of it seemed softer to Ben on this Thanksgiving night than the last time he'd been here.

"Besides Del, y'mean? With this group of six leaving, there'd be six left. There's his grandmother, his cousin, three women I don't know and a dog." Donata Vecchio, or Donnie as her friends called her, stretched out the kinks. It wouldn't be long before she'd need to be limber and on her toes.

"Yeah. Gotta really worry about that dog." Ben frowned, watching as the six departing guests split up into two cars and roared away. "We'll count on Del and his cousin being armed. What about the women?"

"Look, y'can't take it lightly when someone's got a dog. The dog'll give 'em warning before we get to the door. And I think we should count on at least one of the women having a gun. His grandma's probably gonna try to gut us with her carving knife."

Ben chuckled at the image. "Doubt she's going to be too happy with us interrupting the family celebration. Best we wait, get Del on his way to his car like we planned."

They sat in silence, waiting on everyone else to leave. Waiting especially on the man they were tracking to leave. Del would be a big haul; Ben and Donnie's employer, Louie, was out a half million dollar bail on Del, who was wanted in a rape and murder case. Judge set the hefty bail on account of Del's prior drug conviction and his nasty habit of threatening witnesses. Louie'd only agreed to float Del's bail after his sister put up her house to secure it. Even then, Louie had a bad feeling about this one. So when Del took off about six months ago, Del had started taking steps to claim the sister's house as payment for the skipped bond. She was fighting him tooth and nail.

Ben had figured the sister, Ruthie, was likely angrier at her wayward brother than she was at Louie. So he'd gone to visit her, to chat with her, to help her see reason. To flirt with her, exert pressure on her, make her see it was her or her brother. And it had worked; it was Ruthie who'd told Ben if there was anyone left in the family who'd give his brother aid and comfort, it'd be their grandmother.

Later, back at Louie's office, Ben was looking at a calendar and seeming far away. Distracted even. Then when he was leaving, he'd looked back at her and said, "Thanksgiving's next week."

Donnie hadn't said anything in return, just looked at him, waiting for it. That's when he said he figured Del might've been running just long enough to miss his grandmother - but not long enough to be totally invested in staying hidden. Then he'd said he figured Del was going to pay his grandmother a visit for either Thanksgiving or Christmas, to fill up on her home-cooking and tender loving care. Figured Del was missing his family and his friends; maybe even more so since he'd missed the last five holiday seasons by reason of him being in prison on that drug conviction.

Donnie had been surprised Del's sister, Ruthie, had told Ben anything helpful. Ruthie'd never even given Donnie or Louie more than a few curse words. But Ben had charmed Ruthie - and he did it blatantly. It hadn't mattered that Ruthie knew he was turning on the charm just to get some information on her brother. She had just enjoyed the attention of this man who exuded confidence and a calculating callousness to back it up. Not to mention being sex on a stick.

Glancing at Ben on this Thanksgiving night, Donnie allowed herself to reflect on how Ben Wade had even tried to charm her, too. He might have been a lot more subtle with Donnie that he was with Ruthie, but Ben was definitely out for something from Donnie and she knew what it was. It was the only thing Ben seemed to want from her: knowledge and tricks he needed to pick up if he was really going to make it here as a bounty hunter.

His resume and credentials said Ben Wade had prior experience with a high level security firm and every license needed to be a bond enforcement agent. His previous employer had given him a rave recommendation, citing his ability to psychologically profile individual criminals was so good it kept him several steps ahead. Donnie'd checked out this security firm, TOL Risk. Talk about a place that had it all going on. Donnie couldn't figure out why anyone would leave a joint like that just to come to lowly Monterey County to track bail jumpers for Louie. But Ben had told her he'd dropped out of the rat race for a woman. That he wanted to settle down here, where she lived.

Even that, Donnie thought to herself, had been calculated to charm her. Other men might have tried to put the make on her, flirting her up to try to get into her good graces. But Ben Wade had figured her out right off, Donnie told herself. He'd known she'd never fall for that. So he'd set himself up to be this "nice guy" with a dangerous streak who just wanted to be her partner. He even tried hard to pretend he respected her; but he didn't - at least not in the way that said he counted her as an equal. In fact, Donnie thought to herself, she was a lot more than his equal - she was his superior in every component of this job. Only Ben Wade had this subtle way of showing that he might need to learn the ins and outs of the job of bond enforcement agent from her, but she was just a minor stepping stone toward his quick ascension to the heights of this profession.

Like he honestly thought the years of things Donnie knew about this job were things he could pick up in a few weeks at most. Donnie figured once he felt he didn't need her help anymore, he'd show his real hand. She figured Ben Wade would eventually try to take over. She'd seen it before. It was always the damned Alpha men; they'd get big ideas about expanding their job and maybe branching out - and then they'd be gone from Louie's employ. They'd work as free agents, taking only the biggest bail cases, working for whoever was willing to pay the normal percentage plus an incentive.

She'd seen it before. 

Ben did give off slightly different vibes, though, Donnie admitted. More dangerous; like the rules and conventions were going to be entirely different to him. Like just when she thought she was a few steps ahead, she'd find out she'd never even known what the real game was.

"Nice job putting this together," Ben said softly, giving Donnie a look. "Figuring out Del wasn't going to make this a quiet dinner with just him and his grandmother. That he'd want to make it a real festival for all the people he'd missed."

Donnie shrugged. "Lucky guess."

"I never thought of it. I was the one figuring he'd maybe sneak in for some leftovers." 

Now Donnie chuckled. What was it Ben wanted? Because he sure as hell had been the one saying Del would want the whole enchilada, that if he came, it'd be right on the holiday because he'd also figure it'd be the day when everyone else, meaning them, would be too busy with their own families. Well, she could play along with Ben's game, whatever it was.  "Yeah, well, one of us had to be out here staking this place out. Didn't figure it'd ever be you. Not considering how your head was totally on your little cookie today, wasn't it?"

Ben pressed his lips together; his eyes hardened. His voice was cold. "Don't start thinking you know anything about where my priorities are."

"Struck a nerve, did I?" Donnie turned in her seat, studying Ben. "And exactly what did I interrupt when I called you to come over here? Because you sounded like a man on a mission when you answered the phone. Was she on her knees or were you?"

"Why is it you weren't gathered around some table today, Donnie? No friends or family wanted you on this holiday?" Ben's words were calculated to shove Donnie away from what he considered private. And he knew they were going to punch her in the gut. That's exactly why he said them. He was rewarded with an instant narrowing of her eyes.

"One of us had to be thinking with something other than libido today." Her voice was coal black. "Or we'd be out a damned good chunk of change if we'd let this go by."

Ben turned to study the apartment. His voice held no edge; it was flat as if nothing had just happened between him and Donnie. "You thought about the back door yet?"

Donnie's heart was pounding. How could he attack her like that and then just calmly think she'd switch instantly into work mode again? Bastard. And why did that just turn her the hell on? Dammit! "It's not a factor if we're waiting on Del to get to his car, is it?"

"The music's stopped." Ben lowered the car's window. "His grandmother's retired for the evening."

"And what's that got to do with ... What, you think he's gonna have a little party with his cousin and three girls while his grandmother's in another bedroom?"

"No. I believe his guests are about to leave."

"What makes you so sure he's not leaving, too?"

"Because he wants to stick around for leftovers. He's spending the night." Ben glanced over at Donnie, who was glaring at him. "He has no respect for either the cops ... or you. None of you have even come close to catching him. Why wouldn't he stick around for a little more loving care by his grandmother? Ruthie said he loves her cooking. He's been on the run for many months now, right? He's forgotten he needs to be careful. It'd have been one thing if this dinner was just him and his grandmother. But there were, what, fifteen people here today? Does that speak to you of a man who's not grown over-confident that he's not going to be caught?"

"He thinks I'm too stupid to catch him? That's what you said?" Her voice was hot, like she was holding herself back from striking out.

Ben chuckled. He cupped Donnie's cheek but she shook off his touch. "Your pride gets in the way too easily, Donnie. But, yeah, that's what he figures. He just didn't figure on me. That's his real mistake."

Now Donnie rolled her eyes at Ben.

At just that moment, the apartment door opened again and four people spilled out. Three women. One man: the cousin. Standing just inside the doorway, Del waved at them as they left his grandmother's apartment. Donnie did a slow burn, hating Ben's smug sigh over being right.

"Now what?" Ben asked her.

"You're the one with all the answers, big boy."

Ben huffed an irritated breath. "Unless you've got something that can see inside the apartment, we'll have to take some calculated risks. We should assume he's sleeping on his grandmother's couch since it's a one bedroom. We wait until fifteen minutes after the front lights go out before we move. That way he's just settling in for his nap but we won't be rousing him from a dead sleep either, which'll mean he'll still be in the mellow mood he's in right now. I'll cover the back door; you knock on the front door. When he shuffles to the door, let's hope all he sees at first is a beautiful woman. You do your finest imitation of a sexy woman who needs a man's help with car trouble. I'll be waiting on him when he runs out the back door."

"Because he won't buy my routine, is what you're saying? You think he'll make me that fast?"

"That's exactly what I figure."

"You've got, what, two apprehensions - easy ones - under your belt and suddenly you know more than I do what makes this guy tick? " Donnie tapped her chin and studied him, working to get herself into the right mental state to mount this take down. "Well, I say he'll never make me for a bond enforcement agent before I'm able to get him on the ground and cuffed. In fact, let's put a bet on this, Ben. I say I can get him to invite me in. And while I'm cuffing him and walking him out to my car for his trip to jail, you'll be twiddling your thumbs at his backdoor."

Ben chuckled. He took in Donnie's quick breaths, the tension between her eyes.  "Now there's a bet I can't pass up. Let's make this bet one that we'll long remember. How about the winner take the whole recovery fee? Loser gets nothing tonight?"

"Deal." As soon as she said it, Donnie knew Ben was right about her and her pride. Then she decided she didn't give a damn about anything but winning so this was fine. She turned to stare diligently at the apartment; in five minutes, the lights went out in the front room. Fifteen minutes later on the dot, she opened her car door and stepped out. Ben moved just as quickly. She gave him a count of thirty to give him time to get in position before she walked toward the apartment and knocked at the front door.

Donnie had just finished her the first part of her tale of woe - about how her boyfriend and her had a big fight, and how she'd told him to just let her out because she didn't want to be anywhere around him until he apologized. Now she was eyeing up Del, as if she'd begun to realize she'd gotten very lucky knocking on his door; she even reached up to twirl her hair a bit. "And he ... he let me out and then he ... he just took off! And he hasn't come back! I didn't think he'd really leave me here! And I don't have my purse or my phone! Do you think I could ..."

Del finally dragged his eyes off Donnie's chest and looked behind her toward the street, like he was checking for her boyfriend to come back. When she paused, he looked at her, taking in the black leather jacket, the black cargo pants, the black running shoes. Del said, "What? You wanna come in? Call somebody to come get you?"

Donnie grinned most becomingly and nearly whimpered. She got a bit closer to Del, lounging there in the doorway. She reached out to run a finger down his ribs, ending at the top of his sweatpants. "Yes. Oh, you have no idea how much I need to! Could I, please?"

"Nope." Del took one step back, then slammed the door in her face. 

Donnie cursed under her breath as she heard him lock the door and set the deadbolt. And then she heard him pounding down the hall. She raced around to the back of the apartment building and got there just in time to watch Ben putting the cuffs on a prone Del. Ben's knee was planted firmly in the smaller man's back; Del wasn't even so much as moving. Ben looked up at her. He gave her a think smile.

Ben yanked Del to his feet and marched him around the front of the building.  As they passed her, Donnie caught a glimpse of Del's face and noted the stream of blood coming from his nose and a small gash in his cheek. Ben said to Donnie, "Would you mind getting my car door? Keys are in my front pocket."

She heard not a peep out of Del, not even when Ben tossed him in the back seat and fastened him in. When Donnie was driving away, following Ben to the county prison, she realized that it had all happened so quietly and so fast that Del's grandmother apparently didn't even know they now had her boy. Well, wasn't that just lovely - an entire Thanksgiving afternoon and night blown right to bits.

Later, at the jail, with the processing of Del complete, Ben studied the receipt for his prisoner and then studied Donnie's sharp glare and crossed arms. Folding the receipt carefully, he said to her, "I may sleep in a bit tomorrow. But if you get to the office before me, let Louie know I'll be by with this as early as I can. Wouldn't want to delay too long before he can notify the insurance company."

"Or for you to get paid," Donnie muttered to him. "You're not really going to take all of it, are you? After all, if I hadn't been sitting out there for ..."

"Yes. I am going to take it all. When I bet, I expect the bet to be honored." Ben turned to leave but then stopped and looked back at her. "However, I'm willing to pay you a finder's fee. Two percent."

"Two percent? But that's chicken feed, Wade, and you know it! That means you'd get eight percent! Be serious - you get $40,000 just for being my back up?"

"You wouldn't have been there in the first place if not for me. Besides, we had a bet. And it's what I'm offering. A one time offer. I won't be so generous next time."

"Five percent. Or you're on your own from now on, Wade."

"Three and half percent." Ben stuck out a hand; Donnie grasped it to shake on the deal. "I do try to be fair with my friends, Donnie. But if you ever bet me again..."

 "You won't be so generous. I got it."

They walked out together. Fingers of light were just beginning to streak the sky. Few other people were up and out on the roads at this time of the morning. Donnie almost asked Ben if he'd like to get some breakfast with her. But something stopped her. Maybe it was that she'd enjoyed her time with him -- especially once it'd gotten competitive on bringing Del in.

Hadn't she had her fill of men like this? And besides, there was the matter of this woman, whoever she was, who'd somehow got him to give up his cush position in San Francisco and move down here to the backwaters for this mangy job.

She watched him drive away, his eyes scanning his surroundings before focusing on the road ahead. She figured he was heading to his girlfriend's place, to finish whatever it was Donnie'd interrupted when she'd called about Del.

As his car sliced through the stillness of the dawn, Ben knew he hadn't even hesitated on the direction he took. He was heading for the compound. He just had to see if maybe Ann'd let him in. He could use it, the way it'd feel to be welcomed inside. He wanted to smell her skin to wipe away the smell of rank garbage out back of that apartment building. If he could just celebrate this victory, this achievement, by finally being with her, it'd be right. More than right. They'd been so close last night and he didn't want to give her the chance to back away.

But when he got to the compound and parked, he sat watching her apartment for almost a half hour before he saw the first light go on. It was just enough time to remind himself he'd come too far to go too fast now.

There's still plenty of time, Ben told himself that morning. His whole life, in fact.