She was in the middle of her cereal when Evan stormed into the kitchen, grabbed a mug, dumped some coffee into the coffee maker, slammed his arms across his chest, and leaned back to wait. All the time keeping an impressive scowl on his face.

"What kind of bug crawled up your shorts?"

His scowl deepened. "I'm in a perfectly good mood."

"Nice snarl. You sound like an ornery Rottweiler."

He narrowed his eyes. "I'm fine."

"And I've been asked to do next month's Playboy centerfold." She took a bite of her cereal and tried really hard not to let his bad mood bother her. What had she done? Last night, he'd been in such a good mood on the way home from her parents' house, even after her dad had hauled him off to the den to talk behind closed doors. She'd been the one in a bad mood, because she was starting to like him. No longer a problem, unless she yearned for moody jerks.

"If you ever modeled for Playboy, I'd shoot you."

She lifted a brow. "Since when do you have any say in what I do?"

He glared at her. "Don't start with me. It's not worth it."

"Why not?" It might be very worth it if she could stop liking him. Of course, having him mad at her wasn't exactly doing wonders for her self-confidence and self-esteem. But what was more important? Self-image or some great sex for the first time in her life? It depended on her long-term goals. Self-esteem probably gave her a more solid foundation to carry her through the next fifty years of her life. "Fine. You win. I won't bug you."

Evan grunted, then silence fell over the kitchen.

Hoohee, not goading him was sure a hell of a lot of fun. Sitting around in awkward silence, waiting for Mr. Grouchy to get over his attitude.

She looked at her watch. It had been almost six and a half seconds since she'd stopped talking. That was long enough. "So, what did my dad talk to you about last night?"

Evan jumped ever so slightly. "Nothing."

"Really? He just dragged you into the den, locked the door, and then you guys sat in silence? Is that a male bonding ritual or something? Maybe I should incorporate that into the New Josie emotional fitness regime." Darn it. Why was she so upset Evan was mad at her? He'd been a jerk since they'd met, so why was his grouchiness suddenly bugging her? "Dammit, Evan. I've had enough of this."

He had the gall to look surprised. "Enough of what?"

"You and this attitude. I did nothing to you and I don't appreciate being treated like cow dung." She pushed back her chair so she could face him. "I'll have you know that just because I let my ex-husband and Buddy treat me however they wanted to, it doesn't mean that you can do the same thing. I don't do that anymore. You can't make me feel bad without being accountable. I hereby declare my refusal to let this nonsense continue. Shape up and be nice or..." Or what? She was so pathetic she couldn't even knock out a credible threat.

"Or you'll shave my chest while I'm asleep and write love poems on my forehead with a permanent marker?"

She stared. "Did you just make a joke?"

"No." His face was deadpan.

"Was that your way of apologizing?"

"No." The coffee machine beeped, and he levered himself off the counter to pour a cup. "Want some?"

"No. I don't do caffeine."

He lifted a brow "Why not?"

"Because it's the one thing about my emotional state that I can control." Dang it. Why did those truths slip out of her mouth like that? Those were secrets, you numbnut.

"On the contrary, I think you keep it together very well. You've been through a lot lately."

At least he was being civil now, even if he wasn't looking at her. Maybe now he'd talk about last night. "So, what happened with my mom? Whatever you said worked, because she didn't make one mention about being married. Just asked me a few questions about school and they weren't even derogatory."

Evan choked on his coffee, promptly spitting the entire mouthful into the sink. "I have to go."

"Without breakfast? Don't you watch those kids' cereal commercials? Breakfast is the most important meal of the day." Keep it light, Josie. Don't let him see your self-confidence waning just because he wouldn't even look at you this morning.

"I'll see you later."

"Want me to make dinner tonight?" She immediately smacked herself mentally. What kind of offer was that? The kind you'd make to someone you are dating, which they weren't.

He looked horrified for a moment. "No!" He recovered quickly, donning a bored look she didn't believe. What was his problem? "I'll be working late all week. Eat without me."

"Oh." That was better. If he ignored her all week, then she could classify him as an insensitive workaholic like Tom, and then she could hate him, and her emotions and heart would be safe once again. "Good. Work."

Still dodging eye contact, he grabbed his keys. "You can use the SUV today if you want. I'll take the truck."

"All right."

She doubted he heard her words, since he bolted out of the kitchen so fast.

And men complain that women are moody.

Evan was like two different men. Jerk and jerkier. She smiled at her own joke. As long as she amused herself, what did the rest of her life matter?

Perhaps that was how people descended into insanity. Would that be so bad, living in a fictional world of her own creation, oblivious to the nightmare reality her life had become? She believed she was a sexy movie star who made thirty million dollars per movie, and who married a rugged cowboy with two days of stubble who had just come back from two days of riding non-stop to rescue an orphaned baby from the jaws of death at the hands of his evil brother.

Phew. What a fantasy.

She was going to have to sit down for this one.

* * *

Blasted Harper woman was going to be the death of him. "Hi, Bertie."

His admin said something to him as he stormed by her, but he didn't hear her. How could he? He was too busy recounting all the reasons why Josie was evil incarnate. And her family. Not to mention her killer cat.

He dropped his briefcase on the floor, parked himself on his chair, took one glance at his computer screen, then spun the chair so he could look out over the Boston skyline. "She really isn't my type. And that family is crazy." Who played whiffle ball until dark on a weeknight? He'd actually managed to convince himself that he was enjoying himself, that he belonged to a family for the first time in his life.

Until he woke up this morning in his same bed, in his same empty house, with a missing brother. He didn't even have any plants, for crying out loud. And it had never bothered him like it had this morning.

And it was because Josie was evil incarnate.

Obviously, that was the only explanation.

The door slammed open, startling him back to the present. Bertie was in his door, hands on hips, chin raised, eyes flashing.

He was definitely in trouble. Birthday? Anniversary? One of her kid's birthdays? What had he forgotten?

"How dare you march by me and ignore my polite inquiry into how your evening was?"

"That's it? I thought I'd forgotten your birthday?"

"What do you mean, 'that's it?' Haven't you learned anything I taught you? When someone from your professional circles address you, you always respond. Always. Even if it's me. I have a lot of control over your professional life, you know. I could royally interfere with a lot of things."

Evan grinned at the threat he'd heard before. Bertie would never mess with him. But she was right. "Fine. I apologize. I'm a little distracted this morning."

"Her? Is it her?"

"Who?" He stalled while Bertie ensconced herself in his client chair.

She rolled her eyes even as she crossed her ankles. "I had to rearrange six meetings to get you out of here at five o'clock yesterday. What more do I need to hear? You went out with her and I want to hear about it."

There was no avoiding her. "It was nothing. I went to her family dinner to get them off her back, and she's going to dinner with Dr. Black and me this weekend to see if she can connect with him. A business trade."

Bertie widened her eyes. "You trust her with Dr. Black?"

"She can't do worse than I've done."

"Huh." She leaned forward. "So tell me about dinner."

Evan obligingly ran through a quick description of the evening, which stretched into a twenty-minute monologue before he realized it. By the time he finished, Bertie was nodding sagely. "So, her family sounds like a treat."

He scowled. "They're okay."

"Just like the family you've always wanted."

"No." Josie's family wasn't his and they never would be. Sure, being around them underscored the lack of family in his own life, but he wasn't going to dwell on it. Someday he'd find someone, and he'd get married and have a kid or two. It wouldn't be like Josie's family, but it would be more than he had now. "Just because her family's pretty good doesn't mean anything. I'm not interested in her and she hates me. So get that look off your face."

Bertie blinked innocently. "My, my, aren't we grouchy this morning?"

"Women. You all accuse me of being in a bad mood just because I'm not skipping through the halls singing some pop tune."

"Josie noticed too, huh?"

"I don't know."

"Is she the reason you're being so annoying?"

He glared at Bertie. "Why are you asking so many questions?"

"Because I want to know, obviously. Why else would I ask?" She leaned forward in the chair. "Did you kiss her last night? And now you're upset because you like her and her family? Why be upset? Embrace it. It's about time you found a woman. And if she comes with a big family, all the better! You could start filling up those rooms at your house with her family until she starts pumping out all those kids you want."

"Stop it!" He snapped so fiercely that even unflappable Bertie looked startled.

But only for an instant, after a while she recovered nicely. "Why does it bug you for me to speak the truth?"

He scowled at her. "She belongs to Buddy."

Bertie laughed, so hard she actually snorted. So hard she couldn't even apologize for being so unladylike.

"I fail to see what's so funny."

"You!"

At least that's what he thought she said. Kinda hard to tell between the guffaws. "Bertie!"

She waved her hand, pulled a tissue out of her pocket and blotted her eyes. "I'm sorry, Evan. You know I love you. It's just that this martyr thing is really going too far."

"What are you talking about?"

"Sacrificing your future with a woman because you think Buddy liked her at one point. It's not heroic. It's just plain stupid. He wouldn't save you from death if he had five dollars to gain from you dying, and you're willing to give up this woman because you think he liked her? Grow up, Evan."

White anger bubbled inside, but he counted to ten before he responded. "First, he loves her. Second, he would give his life for me. I know it. Third, I will not give up on him. Josie is my key to bringing him back into my life."

"And maybe she's also your key to eternal happiness. Then what will you choose?"

"Buddy."

"And what if Buddy never shows up? Are you going to keep this woman for him forever?"

With his promise of tuition to keep her around, he had four years to find him. Except Josie would never wait for four years. Sure, she'd sworn off men, but she was too passionate and loving to remain undiscovered for long. He had to find Buddy soon.

"You're ignoring me," Bertie said.

"I'm thinking."

"Fine." She stood up. "Don't spend your whole life suffering because you regret telling your brother to shape up. You had to do that, and the fact he never showed his ugly mug again isn't your fault. Forgive yourself. Being an enabler wouldn't have done him any favors anyway."

"Maybe not, but it would have kept the family together." He lifted a brow. "Are you going to try to convince me that there are things more important than family?"

"No," Bertie sighed. "But that's not the whole picture."

"It is for me." He eyed Bertie. "And this conversation remains confidential."

"I know. You don't want the rest of the world to know you're a big softie who yearns for love and family."

"I don't yearn."

Bertie winked and stood up. "Of course you don't. You're a cold, heartless financial advisor who can bully his way through any wall."

"Damn right."

She tossed a note on his desk. "By the way, a Flora Harper called and left you a message."

Josie's mom? He barely noticed Bertie slip out of his office, as he stared intently at the note. What did Flora want? After a long moment, he picked it up. In Bertie's handwriting was neatly written. "Flora Harper called. Enjoyed meeting you last night. Offered to help shop for a ring for Josie. Invited herself and the family to your house this weekend for a barbecue so they can get to know you better."

A glimmer of warmth flickered inside him, then he shut it out and scowled. This was getting way out of control. Time to stop it. Now.