4.

"Whoa!"
Sam was standing in front of his car, looking down the long and dangerous drop at the end of Peg's driveway.
"I really should put some kind of barrier there."
"I'll say," he said. "There's quite a lot of room to accelerate toward certain death." He looked back at her house. The first floor extended out and down the hill. The second floor was smaller but with the same shape, a square within a square. "This place is beautiful. You live here by yourself?"
"Yep." She was searching for her keys. "Coming in for a drink?"
"Yes ma'am." She unlocked the door and went in. He followed her. Closing the door, she clicked on the lights.
The downstairs was one large room. With plants all around, a high ceiling, and walls white with brass and silver shiny surfaces, the room gave the immediate impression of space. To the left was a long black dining table, and beyond it, a kitchen area. To the right, a staircase with hanging steps ran up the wall and above the front door. The carpeting was thick, comfortable, and white.
"Nice," said Sam. He walked to a large ornamental compass in the center of the room. It marked a corner of the sunken living area across from the door. "Very cool. How could you ever afford this place?"
Peg walked to the kitchen. "Daddy built it. Vodka alright?"
"But of course. Got any tunes?"
"Look down."
Below the compass was a sliding glass panel. Behind it were several components of a stereo system. "Where's the music?"
She gave him a drink. "It's all upstairs. There's something in there now." She picked up a remote from the top of the compass and pressed a button. Sweet slow violin sounds filled the room.
"Incredible," said Sam. "Where are the speakers?" She pointed at each corner of the ceiling. Four small white speakers were aimed at the center of the room.
"No way," he said.
"Those are just the treble." She patted the top of the compass. "The bass is inside here. You can feel air come out of this hole when it gets wicked loud."
He took a sip from his drink. "I'm impressed."
"Here wait." She pressed a button on the remote. Another started, louder than the first. Rhythmic tapping on wood. Staccato synth pulsing. Peg sang on cue. "Think about it..."
Sam brought her close and they danced. With her elbows on his shoulders, her arms hanging free behind his head, Peg relaxed to the movement of Sam's firm hold on her hips. The song broke into a looser rhythm and they danced freely, eyes locked as they mouthed the words to each other.
The song ended. Silent seconds followed.Sam said, "You really are a lot of fun, you know." He was breathing hard.
"I love the way you dance." Another song started and she clicked it off.
"I know just what I want to hear." She ran quickly up the long staircase. He followed her to the bedroom. While Peg looked through her music, Sam slid open the terrace door. Warm wind rushed in.
"My heavens." He went out. Watching the sparkling white moonlit water he said, "This is unreal."
"I kinda like it," she said, from inside.
"I can't imagine living here." He walked to the terrace wall. He picked up the drink tray. "The moon is bigger than I've ever seen it."
She came out and sat on the wall. "It's risen since before."
Pressing the tray between his palms, still looking at the sky, he walked back a few steps. "You know," he said. "Sometimes there's a feeling that wells up inside me. Like I can do anything." He lifted the tray into the air and held it up to the moon. "Anything at all."
Peg was sitting back on her hands, legs apart, a silhouette against the line of moonlight on the water. "I know that feeling," she said. "Like
being in love."
He brought the tray to his left shoulder and made a slow gesture as if to throw it. "Like I could even..."
She stood up. "So why don't you?"
He watched the moon intently for a few moments, then looked down the hill. "Well, because I could kill someone. This thing would probably go crashing through someone's picture window."
She took the tray and put it on the table. Standing close, she brushed her hair back and said, "That's not what I meant."
"Ah Peg." He walked away. After some silence he asked, "Do you mind if I sack out on your couch?"
"No, I... no, of course." She looked down. "Not at all."
"I'm real beat."
She went inside. "I'll get you a blanket and a pillow."
Following her he said, "C'mere." He pulled her shoulder back. "I need a hug." She turned and they embraced.
'Tropical wind,' he thought as he smelled her skin. 'Wild flowers and all things clean.' He breathed in her hair. 'Our bodies fit well.'
Later downstairs with the lights out alone, he stared at the ceiling and thought: I'm a fool.