“The woman wears metal underwear!” Jude said. “I’d swear it on a stack of bibles. I’m tellin’ you, Tempest, that woman right there is the reason God made whores.”

“Jude, what the hell is wrong with you tonight?” She picked up the bottle and peeked down into it. “You must have somethin’ in that bottle other than whiskey.”

“Tempest, if I’m lyin’, I’m dyin! She called it a chastity belt.”

“A chastity belt? Oh yeah, I’ve heard of them things. I didn’t think they still had ’em around, though. You know what a chastity belt is, don’t you? The knights back in the medieval days locked their ladies up in ’em. You know, to make sure they stayed faithful while they was out fightin’ wars and goin’ on crusades and such.”

“Locked?”

“Yeah. With a key and everything.”

“My God, it’s just like she said.”

“I have a key.”

Jude remembered seeing the key swinging to and fro in front of his unbelieving eyes. He’d seen it earlier, but he’d thought it was some kind of jewelry. He even thought it was rather attractive. Now, in an effort to get the woman and the experience out of his mind, he looked around.

“I don’t see much goin’ on. Business doin’ okay?”

“So-so. Not bad, but it could be better. It’s Sunday night, though. You know how business is on Sundays. The wives are draggin’ their husbands to church and such, so we don’t get many customers. We really should close this place down at least one day a week, anyway.”

“Tempest, that reminds me. You got everything set up for tomorrow? She’ll only be here for a few hours, so you and the other ladies dress up like respectable women and just sit around drinking tea and eating them little sandwiches, okay?”

“Jude, baby, why don’t you forget all that? Hell, we’re not gonna fool her. She don’t even have to come in to know what kind of place this is.” She looked around at the walls and furniture. “Look at the way this place is decorated. We could sit here and make nice until the cows come home, but unless she’s a complete fool, she’s gonna see right through it. As a woman, I can tell you right now, if she thinks you’re tryin’ to trick her, she’ll cut out your heart and serve it to you for lunch.”

“Maybe, but give it a chance, Tempest. She’s a Boston gal, so she probably won’t even notice. You’ll do it for me, won’t you? Just long enough for her to come through here and look around?”

Tempest shook her head and laughed. “All right, sweetie, but I’m tellin’ you right now. Boston women ain’t no different than any other. If you ain’t up front with her, it’ll make her madder. I know what I’m talkin’ about, Jude.”

“Women,” Jude mumbled.

Tempest lifted her long hair and began fanning her face and neck. “Hot tonight, ain’t it?”

“Yeah, and I have a feelin’ it’s gonna get hotter.”

“Hey, don’t worry so. No matter what happens, you still got little ol’ Tempest here.” She rose from her chair and straddled him. “I feel like a wild woman tonight. How about lettin’ me give you a ride on the house?”

“On the house? What’ll Sadie say about that?”

“I can handle Sadie,” she whispered and leaned down to kiss him.

Jude tried to get into it, but the face of that metal-wearing she-devil kept flashing across his mind when he remembered the way he felt when she was bouncing up and down on the bed. He’d been ready then. If she’d let him, he would have had her right there. And then he learned about that goddamned chastity belt. Suddenly, he pushed Tempest away and got up.

“Sorry, Tempest, I’m just not up to it.”

“What’s wrong, baby?”

“Got a lot of things on my mind, that’s all. See you later.”

“I know what’s on your mind,” she said angrily. “You gonna let that prissy little cunt come between us, Jude?”

“Hey, I’m sorry.”

“You’d better not be savin’ it for her. You know how unhappy I can get.”

“I ain’t savin’ it for nobody.”

“You’re my man, Jude. I don’t let no woman take my man and live.”

The words she said sent a chill up his spine. “That ain’t funny, Tempest. This gal ain’t done nothin’ to you.”

“Yeah?” she said, looking at him with steely eyes. “You just make sure she don’t.”

Jude just stared at her for a moment and then slammed out.