The event tonight in the “great meadow” of The Plains in Virginia was a grass-field charity polo match that broke into the series of Saturday night twilight polo matches traditionally held throughout the summer. This charity match was an annual fundraiser for arts education in the tri-state DC area and for the Foodbank in DC.   Polo enthusiasts among Capitol Hill bold-faced names, Wall street financiers who maintained equestrian estates in the area, and other heavies along the Washington-New York corridor were squaring off in grassy field in the annual match that was normally friendly, but could get testy, given the A-type, highly competitive combatants.  The marquee match-up between “all-stars” that included a sprinkling of Argentine and English polo pros was well underway, with Peter and Brom selected to play in competing teams.

“We guessed that you were probably making this get-away while everyone was distracted by the polo game,” Jules added, cocking her head to one side. “Turns out we were right!”

Bette continued to hesitate, and checked her watch. She was wasting time debating over this with her two well-meaning friends.

“C’mon Bette, let us help,” Tom asked.

“Yeah, Bette,” Jules added.

The brunette let out a long breath. These two would likely follow her anywhere she went now anyway, and that could make matters worse. Two cars instead of just one pulling up to a museum that was normally deserted, especially during a beautiful weekend summer night like this was one car too many.

She pursed her lips, picked up her things and walked around the sexy bonnet of the Italian “dream,” as Tom just described it. She pulled lightly on the car door to shut it after she got in, shooting both Tom and Jules a last pretend frown as she drew the seatbelt across her.

“Wooh! Let’s rock!” Jules whooped as Tom gunned the car with a laugh, skillfully piloting the gleaming supercar down the gravel road that led out of the temporary parking space into the narrow two-lane country road, sending a few loose pebbles flying.

After Bette completed a call, she signaled to Tom that she wanted to keep the music volume low, which he’d adjusted while she’d been on the call. She noted his hand shook slightly again when he reached out to tap the screen that controlled aspects of the car.