She ducked her head in case her thoughts were written on her face.

"It's...nothing for you to look at," she stammered, pressing the Velcro tab on the bag closed and setting it on the ground beside her chair. She needed to get something to clean up the spilled wine, but somehow she couldn't make herself move. Her body seemed disconnected from her brain.

"You look like you need a little help," Mack teased. "Hang on."

He vaulted lightly over the fence, pulling a rag ...