The fifth book in the Simply series, 2002

A book in the Heat series

EMMA MONTGOMERY STOOD by the window in the newspaper offices and tapped her manicured nails impatiently. Snowflakes told her Christmas was around the corner and she adored the holiday, the cheer, the parties. She had no patience for imbeciles, a thought which reminded her to look back at the road. Still no sign of her driver. The man came and went on his own schedule. She wished she still had her license but those days were gone. Thank goodness she had other skills that hadn't dwindled with age. Matchmaking was her specialty and obviously Corinne, the present publisher of the Ashford Times, had recognized her talent.

Emma was now the columnist for the Ashford Times's "Meet and Greet" column. And she couldn't forget that this job had also saved her elegant behind from a nursing home. Her son, the Judge, had had it with her parties and antics, and if she didn't get busy with something, he'd threatened to put her in an old-age home.

She shivered, blaming the cold seeping in from the window. But the Judge's bellowing had done her a favor. She loved this job and the people here appreciated her talent and humor.

"Oh, Rina!" Emma called out to the only employee left in the office, the new girl named Rina Lowell.

Pretty name. Pretty woman. No makeup, but if Emma had that gorgeous skin, she wouldn't bother with blush, either.

Rina glanced up from her desk where she was typing away. "Yes, Emma?"

"You know that expression, all work and no play makes Rina an old fuddy-duddy?"

"I don't think you quite nailed it." Rina laughed, a light sound that would be musical to a man's ears. "Are you saying it's time I went home for the night?"

"Goodness, no!" Emma waved her hand in the air. "I'm saying we should hit the town and celebrate the new lives this paper has given us." Emma had been working for a few months and Rina had just recently started.

The young woman obviously wanted to make a good impression, arriving early and leaving late. But even the most dedicated worker had to have some fun.

"What did you have in mind?" Rina asked.

From the corner of her eye, Emma saw her car approach with her good-for-nothing driver, hired by her son, at the wheel. She might as well make use of his time and let him earn his money. "I thought we could go to O'Dooley's and have a beer."

Rina burst out laughing. "I'm sorry. I just can't picture you, an eighty-year-old woman, drinking beer."

"Phooey. You shouldn't make fun of an old lady. Would you prefer I have a shot of tequila?"

"I'll do one with you," Rina offered, her eyes twinkling with the challenge.

"You're on." Emma stuck out her hand for a shake. "At least I don't have to worry about drinking and driving. And if you come with me, neither do you. Leave your car here. I'll drop you off at your home tonight and pick you up on the way to work tomorrow."

Rina pretended to give the idea some thought, but Emma caught the smile on her lips and knew the young woman had already decided.

Finally she nodded. "Okay. I'm up for partying." She slid her chair back so she had room, and pushed herself in a circle, hanging her head back and spinning the chair around before letting loose a loud whoop.

"What was that for?" Emma asked.

"I just wanted to act as free as I feel." Rina giggled girlishly. "I'm just so happy to have this job and so excited to start life over in Ashford."

Emma took in the young woman's pink flushed cheeks and wide smile. With her carefree attitude, she was the perfect candidate for Emma's matchmaking skills. She rubbed her palms, warming them together. "So we're off to O'Dooley's."

"Do you think we'll meet any men at this joint?" Rina asked as she pulled her purse out of the drawer in her desk. "Because with my new 'Hot Stuff' column, I could use some good interaction."

Rina might claim her interest was in work, but Emma didn't miss the sparkle in Rina's gaze at the mention of meeting a member of the opposite sex. Oh, this was going to be fun, Emma thought. "With your cheekbones, you'd meet men anywhere."

"Why, thank you, Emma." Rina fluttered her mascara-free lashes with obvious exaggeration, then grabbed her winter coat from the back of her chair.

Emma wrapped her heavy shawl more securely around her shoulders. Together, they started for the door, but as they walked by the empty desk beside Rina's, Emma paused. "Did you hear the news?" she asked.

Rina shook her head. "I came in late today and worked all afternoon." She pointed to the Walkman she often wore when deep in thought. "What news?"

"That desk will have an occupant soon. The prodigal son has returned." Emma ran her hand over the old, empty desk. One no one was allowed to take in case Colin Lyons should return.

"I don't understand," Rina said.

"You already know that Corinne took over the paper from her sick husband, Joe."

The young woman nodded. "He's in the hospital and Corinne's worried."

"Right. And so is Joe's son. The man's a wanderer. He never stays in one place, to his poor father's chagrin." Emma placed a hand over her heart, knowing how she loved having her children and grandchildren around her. Even New York, where her granddaughter, Grace, lived, was too far away from Emma's home in Massachusetts. She couldn't imagine having a world traveler in the family. "But he's home now. And Corinne said he'll be working here." Emma pointed to the empty chair�a chair a few feet from Rina's desk.

The possibilities flitted through Emma's mind, giving her an adrenaline rush. Colin was a gorgeous man with sparkling blue eyes and the most amazing smile. But he'd never stick around for longer than he had to. Emma knew this because he'd been her grandson Logan's college roommate. She loved Colin like he was her own grandchild, but felt he was missing out on so much that life had to offer. A warm bed to come home to, a good woman�

A woman like Rina. Emma pursed her lips in thought. This was definitely something to consider. "Let's get going and I'll tell you all about Colin," Emma suggested.

"Sounds like a good plan." Rina headed out first, holding the door open for Emma. "Is he cute?" Rina asked.

"Gorgeous."

She raised an interested eyebrow. "Attached?"

Emma shook her head. "Completely free," she said and hoped she wasn't lying. She hadn't heard much about Colin's personal life lately. She'd have to ask Logan.

"Hmm."

"What does hmm mean?" Emma asked as she pressed the elevator button. She needed to know that Rina was open to a short-term relationship before she hooked her up with Colin. She'd never intentionally set anyone up for heartache, and though Emma would work toward something more permanent with these two, she couldn't be certain Colin would ever settle down.

Rina shrugged. "Just hmm." She tipped her head to the side. "You know, with this new job and new life, I can't help but think a little fun and excitement with a man ought to follow." She wriggled her eyebrows playfully. "You know what I mean."

Emma nodded. She certainly did. Fun meant something short-term. If Rina meant anything else, she would have chosen the word relationship. "You're horny."

"Emma!" Rina blushed a deep crimson. "You're terrible."

"I beg to differ. Holding back your thoughts is terrible. Speaking your mind is completely appropriate. Well, when among friends. And you are my friend." She put a hand on Rina's arm. "Something about you reminds me of my granddaughter, Grace. Or, at least, the way she was before I sent Ben to look after her. All this youthful exuberance and pent-up energy. All you need is the right man to let loose with." Emma nodded, certain she was correct.

"You think I'm horny, huh?" Rina laughed. "Believe whatever you want, but you're right about one thing. Letting loose is exactly what I have in mind."

"MARK MY WORDS, Joe. Sex will lead to the end of the world as we know it." Colin Lyons glanced at the hospital bed, where his adoptive father and mentor lay sleeping.

Asleep, not dead. Thank God. After finding out Joe had had a stroke, Colin had hightailed it home from South America. He'd been covering a rigged election in a country where money laundering commingled with drug trafficking and guns blazed on the sunbaked streets. Now, one week later, Colin sat in the quiet hospital room watching the monitors prove to him Joe was alive. In the background, snow fell outside, a serene and peaceful reminder of winter. Of Christmas, of life and hope.

Colin had taken leave from his job to come home and run Joe's beloved Ashford Times until the older man recovered, only to discover that he'd been usurped. Prior to his stroke, Joe hadn't been feeling well. Yet, instead of calling on Colin, Joe had given his second wife, Corinne, power of attorney, which she'd used to almost run the newspaper and Joe's legacy into the ground. Colin's stomach cramped and twisted with guilt because he hadn't been around when Joe needed him. Worse, Joe hadn't thought his health was important enough to bother Colin with while he was on assignment.

He glanced toward the bed. A loud snoring sound reassured him that Joe wasn't down for the count. The doctors promised a full recovery, and he'd already begun the slow road toward recuperation. But time was something neither Colin nor the Times had on their side.

"Do you know that Corinne's turning the paper into a fluff-fest," he asked, wondering if his words would penetrate Joe's sleepy fog.

They didn't. Joe's mouth opened wider in slumber as the clock on the wall ticked away the minutes of the day. Colin didn't mind. "There's a new column called 'Meet and Greet: Matchmaking for the Aging but Still Sexually Inclined.'" Colin didn't expect a reply and wasn't surprised when he didn't get one.

He not only blamed Corinne for the beginning of the paper's change away from hard news, but also for squandering the bank account, not keeping up with advertising and her general lack of oversight. She'd brought the paper to the brink of bankruptcy, then foolishly thought she could fix things herself. Beginning by moving Emma Montgomery, a spunky senior citizen and his best friend's grandmother, from a desk job to a columnist with better placement than Dear Abby or Miss Manners, the syndicated giants.

He leaned back in his chair. "Emma means well but she takes this matchmaking thing too far. It's Christmas season, right? So she hangs mistletoe over the watercooler. My first day back I got a smack on the lips courtesy of Marty Meyers." He was Joe's male secretary, who was one hundred percent gay and taken. Colin didn't find it amusing at the time, but looking back, it had been a pretty funny scene.

But the reality of the situation wasn't funny. Colin doubted Joe knew how bad the Times's financial situation was, and telling him would only add stress and compromise his recovery. Besides, Colin already had things under temporary control.

He'd borrowed money from Ron Gold, an old friend of Joe's who believed, like Colin, that the paper had to return to the hard news that had made it a success to begin with. Based on a gentleman's handshake, Colin had promised to do everything in his power to shift things back to the status quo.

Colin could handle working on Corinne to affect a change, but he needed time. Ron Gold understood. The paper's biggest advertiser didn't. Fortune's Inc., a conservative investment company, demanded Corinne's promise in writing to turn things around-focus on the news and get rid of the, in their opinion, risqu� columns that now graced the front page.

Otherwise they threatened to pull their new ads scheduled for the first of the year, and the Times would lose its largest source of funding. Then even Ron Gold's loan wouldn't save the paper. Colin had until January 1. No longer. And he had no idea how to accomplish his goal with a woman who wouldn't listen to reason.

"Hello, Colin." Corinne breezed into the room, bringing with her the scent of heavy perfume. "How is he?" She walked over to the bed and stroked Joe's forehead.

Her gentle treatment of Joe didn't mesh with Colin's perception of her as being cold and self-absorbed. Then again, he hadn't been home often enough in the last couple of years to know her well. "He's sleeping."

She nodded and shrugged her jacket off her shoulders, revealing a low-cut, designer suit. Like the direction she was taking the paper, Corinne, her exposed cleavage and outward demeanor, oozed sex.

He glanced at his watch. Nearly three. "Long day at the office?" he asked.

"No, a fabulous one." Her eyes lit up as she spoke. "Wait until you read Rina's first column," she said of her newest addition to the Ashford Times's staff.

Rina Lowell, a woman who Corinne had hired to write a weekly column with the heading "Hot Stuff." A woman who intrigued Colin on many levels.

She had a creamy complexion and didn't bother with makeup to enhance her image. He was fascinated by a woman comfortable in her own skin. Her hair was pulled into a conservative bun he was dying to undo, and see just how far the strands fell down her back. Her bare, naked back if he had his way. She possessed a husky voice with a New York accent she'd refined, and hid her assets beneath bulky sweaters and baggy pants.

He had no idea what lay under the packaging, but damned if he didn't want to find out. Hell, his fingers itched to strip off the thick layers and explore, inch by tantalizing inch.

Even with her eyes hidden by a pair of black-rimmed glasses, it was obvious that she thought and felt deeply. Rina got to him in a visceral sort of way and incited his journalistic blood, making him wonder what secrets she hid behind her intelligent brown eyes.

"Do you want a preview of what Rina has to say?" Corinne asked, breaking into his thoughts.

"Go ahead. I'm sure it'll be the highlight of my day."

"It's simply sexy," she replied, either missing or ignoring his sarcasm.

Her excitement over her new employee was almost tangible, reminding him of why he needed to steer clear of Rina Lowell. She sided with the opposition and contributed to the fluff Corinne still seemed to think would sell papers.

That alone put Rina off-limits. "What's simply sexy?" he forced himself to ask. "Rina's column?"

"No, the title of her series of articles is Simply Sexy." Corinne shook her hair, deliberately letting her blond mane flow over her shoulders. "Simply fabulous if you ask me. She's going to bring in a whole new set of readers." She still sounded so certain despite her track record of mistakes in the past few months.

He shook his head, amazed reality hadn't set in. She hadn't conceded defeat, not even when forced to accept Colin's check to keep the paper afloat for an extended period of time.

"Corinne, people buy the newspaper for one reason. To read the news." He figured he'd try one more time to make his point.

"The news is everywhere. Television, radio, even on people's computer screens. They can buy the Boston Globe for news. I want to give them something different." She waved her hand for emphasis, and her gold bracelets clinked together.

Surprisingly, Joe didn't react. It was a noise he must be used to hearing in his sleep.

"I admit I started off slow and on the wrong foot, but with Rina and Emma on board, I'm getting there. People may be resistant to change, but that doesn't mean I can't win them over," Corinne insisted.

Colin groaned, resigned to the inevitable. She wasn't ready to cave in yet. But no matter how hard Corinne tried, sex wouldn't sell newspapers.

It wasn't that Colin had anything against sex. Hell, he was a man, wasn't he? But sex had its time and place. And it had been sadly lacking in his life, he silently admitted. The dry spell had gone on too long. Still, he wasn't about to embark on a meaningless fling. Casual sex was neither smart nor satisfying, and travel didn't lend itself toward establishing long-term relationships.

Apparently, neither did sticking around. His marriage had bottomed out fast because his wife didn't know the meaning of fidelity. She'd cheated on Colin. Twice. Two different men, Lord knew how many times with each. Colin had left town soon after the discovery. Sick of the reminder of past failure, he'd booked a flight to Europe, trading in a local TV anchor job for one abroad.

"I'm going to make sure Joe's doctor knows to stop by and talk to me before he leaves the hospital tonight," Corinne said as she walked toward the door.

"That's fine. I'll stick around until you get back." He wanted the older man to know he had people by his side and a family to return to when he walked out of the hospital, even if Colin wasn't sure Joe knew that anyone was in the room.

Corinne disappeared out the door just as Joe's snoring became obscene. Colin grinned, the sound calming him in ways only his heart understood. Joe and his first wife, Nell, had taken Colin in when his parents died. At twelve, he'd been a pain-in-the-ass kid who thought he knew best and resented the world because his parents were gone. But Joe and Nell understood. They gave him time, space and a home in which to adjust. Later on, they'd adopted him, even knowing he couldn't bring himself to call anyone but his birth parents Mom and Dad. They'd just wanted him to feel loved and know he had family. The same thing Colin wanted for Joe now. Which was why he forced himself to get along with Corinne, even if he wanted to throttle her.

Joe's snoring continued and Colin laughed. When Joe wasn't at work, he always spent a great deal of time snoring in his old recliner chair. A chair Corinne had dragged to the street corner the day she'd said "I do." Colin didn't know what possessed Joe to marry a woman the complete opposite of Nell. But he had.

"I'm back." Corinne carried two soda cans in her hand. "I brought you a cola."

Again, Colin was struck by the incongruity of her actions. "Thanks," he muttered. Obviously Joe had seen something in her, which was another reason Colin wanted to give her a chance.

Just not where Joe's beloved paper was concerned.

"When you get back to the office, take a look at Rina's column. I promise you'll be impressed," Corinne said, taking his place in the chair by Joe's bed.

Colin forced a nod. But at the reminder of what he had waiting for him, he snorted in disgust. Matchmaking ads, self-help columns and a series on what men want? He was beginning to doubt either Corinne, Rina Lowell or any other woman had a clue.

He let himself out of the hospital room and leaned against the back wall next to a utility cart. Corinne had already told him she didn't believe Fortune's Inc. would pull their new ads, not once they saw how readers reacted to Rina's first column and the other assorted new things she had planned. Reality wasn't a part of Corinne's thinking, and Colin's frustration flew as fast and furious as his thoughts.

Corinne was so caught up in her newest scheme, she didn't care or understand that her livelihood and Joe's legacy were at stake. How the hell could he reach her? She was so damn excited about Rina's new series, she wouldn't listen to reason.

He ran a hand through his hair. And the solution dawned.

Rina. Corinne's newest flavor of the week. An employee she obviously trusted. Someone with whom he'd heard Corinne shared a family connection. A bond. Rina Lowell might be the only person who could make Corinne see the error of her ways. If Colin could get Rina on his side.

He'd have to spend time with her in order to subtly sway her to his way of thinking. Considering she'd piqued his interest from day one, being with Rina would be no hardship. But gaining her trust under false pretenses didn't sit well with him, and guilt gnawed at his insides. He'd be pursuing friendship, all the while knowing he was plotting a return to hard news at the expense of her job.

He attempted to assuage his guilt with the facts. Rina would be out of a job whether Corinne ran the paper into the ground or Colin got things back on track. But if he got to know her first, if she believed he wanted what was best for all involved, maybe she'd be willing to help him talk Corinne into accepting the best of all possibilities. They could save the paper, and in return, he could promise Rina a good recommendation for another, more appropriate job.

He groaned, still feeling like a shit for considering the plan. But feelings didn't change the fact that the Times was a newspaper, not a woman's magazine, something the advertisers and now Colin's lender understood. The money he'd contributed would only hold out for so long. They needed positive cash flow again soon.

A smart man would hop on the next plane back to South America. But Colin couldn't. Not yet. Financial debt and gentleman's agreement aside, Colin had more compelling reasons to stay. He hadn't been here when Joe first got sick and Colin lived with that knowledge every damn day. He loved, respected and owed the man. Joe had given him a shot in life and Colin wouldn't betray him now.

Colin wouldn't allow anyone to destroy the paper Joe had built. He'd do anything he had to for the older man. Even if it meant using Rina Lowell.

FROM THE CORNER of her eye, Rina saw Emma slip out the door.

"Emma's gone," Colin said. He sounded as stunned as she felt at this sudden turn of events, and his voice held a husky, low timbre that resembled rough whiskey.

"And she definitely left some excitement in her wake."

"Is that what you'd call it?" He studied her shamelessly, as if taking her measure. Looking for what, Rina couldn't be sure, but with each passing second, those blue eyes seemed to see inside her.

To read her mind. If he could, he'd know she took this tradition seriously. Now that Emma had put the idea in her mind, she wanted to know what it would feel like to be kissed under the mistletoe. Right now. By Colin.

His hands came to rest on her shoulders, his palms hot and strong. Heat burned within her and her stomach curled with silken anticipation as the need to taste him grew.

"Rina?"

"Yes?"

He removed her glasses, placing them on the desk, and stared. "Did you know you have golden flecks in those brown eyes?"

Unable to speak, she licked her dry lips and was rewarded when his hungry gaze followed the movement.

"Reminds me of sunshine."

Warmth tingled through her veins. Born and raised in the Bronx and a New York girl at heart, Rina wasn't shy about asking for what she wanted. And she wanted her new life to begin now. Despite barely knowing Colin, she was going to test the waters. Take whatever he was willing to give. "You should know, I'm not one to let a mistletoe moment pass."

"And you should know, I'm not a man who takes a challenge lightly," he said, obviously referring to her earlier question. Did he have the nerve to kiss her? "Nor am I the type to defy tradition. No matter how unexpected," he whispered an instant before he lowered his head and his lips touched hers.

He'd called her bluff, taken the initiative, and now he toyed with her, playfully testing, learning the feel of her mouth and letting her learn him. Then his tongue slid briefly, seductively, over the seam of her lips, electrifying her with his moist touch until their tongues lightly met.

The experiment yielded high-impact results. Colin tasted of pure male desire, a flavor that stirred a hunger long denied, and awakened passions she'd never experienced before. Passions she'd never thought existed before now. She trembled, and in response he squeezed her shoulders, his fingers biting into her skin, providing a carnal awareness of the fact that she affected him, too.

But from deep inside, caution clawed its way to the surface, breaking through the surprising desire that still burned hot inside her. She'd been floored by a simple kiss.

As if anything about this kiss-or Colin-was simple.

She lifted her head, breaking the kiss but not the awareness. He met her gaze. Heat flared bright in his eyes and flushed his cheeks, and the shock that reverberated inside her was evident in his expression. Another emotion shared.

She stepped back and ran trembling fingers over her lips. "That was�"

"Fun."

Not exactly the word she'd have chosen and Rina blinked, startled.

"Isn't that what kissing under the mistletoe is supposed to be?" Colin shot her a boyish grin.

She wished it was as easy for her. She exhaled hard and forced a casual smile before meeting his eyes. "Of course it was fun. Emma set us up and we responded like any two adults caught under the mistletoe would."

She took a step backward, then another. A few more and she made it to her desk so she could regroup, leaving Colin alone under the mistletoe laden with tradition.

"Fun's meant to be repeated." His expression still showed shocked surprise, but he couldn't hide the warm appreciation in his gaze.

She reached for her jacket, caught off guard when he stepped forward and helped her slip on her wool coat. His hands were gentle as he adjusted her collar, and his callused fingers brushed her nape, eliciting a tingling sensation that shot straight to her toes.

She hadn't known he was a gentleman. "Thanks."

"My pleasure."

Without turning, unwilling to look into those blue eyes once more, she barely managed to grab her series folder, call a quick goodbye and beat a hasty retreat to the door.

"Rina, wait."

She turned, her heart pounding hard in her chest. "What?"

"You forgot something."

She accepted her glasses and bolted into the cold night.

As the icy whip of wind hit her cheeks, it was easier to think clearly. With that kiss, her experiment had taken on even more exciting, somewhat illicit overtones.

She still planned to experiment for her column. Starting tomorrow, she'd test out men as a group in general. But when it came to Colin, she was fully aware of his impact. With a single kiss, she'd learned he wielded power. Sexual, seductive power, and she found that lure thrilling.

Before tonight she'd merely toyed with the notion of a fling, but now the idea of an affair took on real possibilities. Colin possessed enough sex appeal to light Rina's fire. He also used jet fuel to propel his frequent departures. Colin wasn't a stick-around sort of guy. If she were looking for a future, he'd be the last man on her list. But after losing her husband, she was wary of a long-term relationship and was no longer sure she believed in forever. Which made a fling the perfect solution.

And Colin the perfect man.

SO RINA CLAIMED the makeup was part of her experiment for her column? Like hell, Colin thought. He'd prefer to think it had something to do with him.

It was no secret he'd been attracted to her from day one, but he hadn't known anything about her. In one brief talk he'd learned plenty. She'd shocked him by being so down-to-earth and understanding, so interested in his life and his past. He'd turned, intending to thank her. Instead, he'd been surprised by her new look. Rina didn't need makeup to turn him on. But he couldn't deny that her newly made-up face, glowing skin and full, pink, made-to-be-kissed lips had entranced him anyway. And he wanted to taste that glossy pout again now.

Ever since he'd let down his guard for that kiss, he'd been in a constant state of arousal. And from the minute he'd seen her today, long strands of hair hanging down her back, he'd wanted her even more. Unbelievable but true. He swallowed a groan, feeling as though he'd been sucker punched, because it didn't end there. When she'd let down her guard enough to listen to his problems, lust had turned to something a little more. She'd crept under his skin.

She was the first woman who'd affected him on a gut level. Even now, back at their desks, his horizontally next to hers, they sat in aware silence. Every so often, she'd glance his way, her eyes opened wider than usual. And even through the eyeglass lenses, their golden sparkle twinkled at him, extending an invitation, one he wondered whether she was even aware of issuing.

Though he should have invited her to Emma's party as a means to feel her out on the subject of Corinne, his initial reasoning had been far different. He'd be damned if he'd let her spend the holidays alone in a new town, no family, few friends. Not after she'd been there for him at the awful moment he'd been forced to acknowledge Corinne's expensively decorated tree.

When was the last time he'd trusted a woman with his feelings? Certainly his ex-wife, Julie, had taught him the pain inherent in sharing and the benefit of accounting to no one. After his parents died, travel had always beckoned to him. It didn't take a shrink to figure out that he was running from the pain, but there wasn't a damn thing he could do about his overwhelming desire to go.

As he matured, he'd realized that he could do some good by combining travel with his journalistic talent and bring world news back home. When Julie had cheated on him, leaving him emotionally, as well as physically, just as his parents had, it was time to move on. Colin had quit his day job and left the country.

He'd never gotten close to another woman since, yet here he was, sharing his pain with Rina, a woman he barely knew. Ironically, he felt as if she understood him better than Julie ever had. But he had a paper to save and he couldn't forget his mission again. Couldn't let his goal drop in favor of enjoying Rina's warm, giving personality or sexy new look. If the time seemed right to question her about Corinne, he'd damn well better do it, since he had a phone message on his answering machine from the CEO of Fortune's Inc., asking about progress. In reality, the clock was ticking down.

And psychologically, the situation settled on Colin's shoulders in a different way. Both Ron Gold, the lender, and Bert Hartmann, head of Fortune's, were old friends of Joe's and had helped him fund the paper back in its early days. Hartmann currently brought in a huge chunk of change for the paper every year, and the Times couldn't afford to lose the company's support. Nor did Colin want to disappoint Joe and have him come back to a sunken ship and lost respect in the eyes of his colleagues. Colin was determined. If nothing else, the Times would be on the road to recovery by the time Joe left the hospital.

"'Tis the season to be jolly, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la-la." A distinctive, high-pitched voice traveled into the room, and Colin cringed as Corinne, decked out in a sable coat that he knew hadn't come cheap, sauntered through the place.

She swirled through, dispensing tinsel in her wake, and he picked a gold strand off his black sweater. "I've come to invite you all to a Christmas party," she said.

Her voice grated on his nerves. So did her words. "Emma's family is having a party Saturday night." His objective was to bail out the paper. He didn't need her spending any more cash they didn't have. "We're all invited, so why don't you save money and celebrate there?"

"Oh, don't be a spoilsport, Colin," Rina said. "It's nice of Corinne to want to show her employees holiday spirit and a good time."

Which cemented for him whose side Rina was on. Of course, he doubted Corinne had informed her of the paper's precarious financial position. He couldn't fault Rina for having holiday spirit and let her comment slide. But after their talk today, Colin understood Rina a little better, too. She hadn't grown up wealthy. That put him in a better position to appeal to her regarding Corinne's excessive spending-once he felt more sure she'd trust where his interests lay.

"Rina's right." Corinne smiled and readjusted the collar of her coat. "I'm glad to see someone here appreciates me."

"Don't kid yourself, Corinne. I appreciate you and everything you stand for," Colin muttered.

Rina coughed and he glanced over. Her eyebrows were raised but she said nothing.

Intelligent and circumspect, she'd obviously picked up the undercurrents and decided to let things play out without interrupting.

"Everyone, listen." Corinne clapped her hands and all heads lifted from computer screens, keyboards and layouts in order to glance up. "We're having a party Friday night at the Seaside Restaurant. Guests welcome." With another toss of tinsel, she started for the door.

"Corinne, wait," Colin called.

She turned.

"Where are you going?" he asked mildly.

"To plan the menu." She hiked her bag back onto her shoulder. "I also want to buy token appreciation gifts for the staff. Joe would want that." She sniffed and lifted a hand, as if to blot a tear from her eye.

Colin couldn't tell if the sentiment was real or phony. With Corinne, he didn't know her well enough to be sure. "You'd do Joe more good by staying at the hospital instead. Be with your husband." Corinne was supposed to take the morning shift while Colin covered afternoons. "And while you're at it, ask Joe if he'd want you spending what's left of the paper's budget on a party," he said so only she could hear.

She waved a hand, dismissing his concerns. "I refuse to bother Joe when he needs his strength to recover. Besides, you worry too much."

"And you don't worry enough. Bert Hartmann called reminding us of Fortune's Inc.'s deadline. You need to get Joe to transfer power of attorney back to me or sign a good-faith promise to change the paper's direction." He ran a frustrated hand through his hair. "Hell, Corinne, just start running front-page news. That'll get us through the new year without losing our biggest advertiser." He heard the pleading in his voice and didn't care.

She shook her head. "It'd be based on false pretenses, Colin, because I believe in my vision." Corinne turned away, effectively ending the conversation.

Which was just as well. If she continued, he might throttle her. He didn't need to wonder why he rarely came home, when the frustrating reason stood in front of him.

"Emma," Corinne called as she started for the door. "Colin seems a little stressed. Maybe you could work on fixing him up next."

He rolled his eyes.

Emma laughed, rubbing her hands together in a sure sign of trouble.

And Rina pursed those luscious lips in blatant disapproval at Corinne's suggestion. Just the sight of her eased the tension in his neck and shoulders, making him think of more pleasurable things. Like her warm body in his bed, writhing against his cool sheets.

"I'm sure Colin can choose his own women," Rina said, more possessively than he'd expected.

He grinned. "What's the matter? Worried Emma will find someone who'll distract me from you?"

She tossed her head. "Not a chance. I'm secure enough in what I have to offer."

He met her gaze, holding on and not letting go. "That's good to know. But even if you weren't, you have nothing to worry about. Once I set my sights on a goal, I'm totally focused."

And his goal was now twofold. On the one hand, he had to live up to the standards Joe had set for his paper, to make sure Joe even had a paper left when he recovered. And in doing so, he'd prove to himself that he hadn't let the old man down.

But where Rina was concerned, he couldn't discount the attraction. He wanted more from her than to be colleagues who'd kissed once.

How much more remained to be seen.

AFTER THE HEATED sexual tension in her apartment and later in the car, Rina welcomed the relief brought by the cold winter air. Snow flurries fell around them, making it feel like Christmas. With Colin at her side, his hand beneath her elbow, she walked into the Montgomerys' incredibly beautiful Tudor-style home.

She'd looked forward to the huge party both Emma and Colin had described, but when she stepped into the marble entryway, instead of joyous holiday spirit, an uneasy sense of d�j� vu enveloped her instead. The Montgomery mansion reminded her of the New York City penthouse she'd shared with her husband. The place her brother, Jake, called the mausoleum because of the marble floors and the crystal and china decor. She'd always known the apartment wasn't her style, but seeing this mansion with distance from her past life cemented the notion. She much preferred the homey upstairs apartment she rented. But she had Colin by her side to take away the past and she intended to enjoy the here and now.

"Coatroom's this way," Colin said, oblivious to her inner turmoil.

And Rina intended to keep it that way. She accompanied him to where a woman dressed as one of Santa's elves sat taking coats and handing out numbers, and she checked her wool coat.

"Isn't this place something?" he asked.

She hoped he wasn't as impressed as he sounded. "Beautiful, but too�everything," she said, unwilling to put her feelings into words.

"Yeah. I couldn't see myself growing up in a place like this." He glanced around and shuddered. "Too many damn things to break."

She laughed, relieved he wasn't comfortable, either. "Why can I see you throwing a ball in the house and getting grounded?"

He leaned over and whispered in her ear. "Because I'm a bad boy?"

His voice was deep, his breath warm, and a rush of air trickled over her skin and her stomach fluttered, settling low with damp heat.

"I like bad boys," she murmured, and his gaze dilated with desire. Then, because they were in public, she stepped back and looked around her. "This isn't a place to raise kids, that's for sure."

"Kids, huh?"

As soon as the words escaped, she'd wanted to snatch them back, the notion too intimate to discuss with the man who made her libido jump. Who had her thinking illicit thoughts, like what it would feel like to run her hands through his windblown hair and warm her chilled body by cuddling naked with him. And when those blue eyes stared into hers, she had a hunch he saw the feelings and heard the thoughts she'd imagined but hadn't spoken aloud.

She shrugged, trying to keep things light. "What can I say? This place doesn't exactly inspire the image of hearth and home."

Rina wasn't sure if she'd ever remarry, let alone have children, and considering her current fear of emotional involvement, the prospect seemed unlikely. But Jake and Brianne planned for kids and Rina wanted to be an aunt who had sleepovers and provided fun and a safe haven, not a place where they had to tiptoe and be quiet for fear of breaking something.

She glanced around once more, taking in the Christmas decorations. An exquisite tree sat in the corner and red satin bows covered the circular staircase. Her New York apartment had once been wrapped in similar red satin, she thought, remembering. A professional Robert had hired chose the holiday decorations for the penthouse. To make her life easier, he'd said. In order to impress friends and clients, she'd thought. And Rina had missed the down-to-earth Christmases she'd shared with her family.

"Take a look," Colin said, pointing to the elves in green serving hors d'oeuvres.

Rina laughed, her mood lightening. "The party theme seems more down-to-earth than the decor or the furnishings, if that makes any sense."

"That's because the caterer is as down-to-earth as you can get. Emma's granddaughter-in-law owns a company called Pot Luck. That's how they met, and she's been doing the parties here ever since. They've been together ever since, too."

"Sounds as if you like her," Rina said.

He nodded. "I do. Cat's special."

"I see." She didn't like hearing him gush about another woman's charms, not one bit. Not even if said woman was married to his friend.

"Do you? Actually, Catherine Montgomery is very much like you." A smile twitched at his lips, but before he could say more, Emma padded up to them in her gown and ballet-type slippers at a near run. Considering the gleaming marble floors, Emma possessed amazing agility for a woman her age.

"There you are! And not a minute too soon. I need you to hide me," Emma said.

"Excuse me?" Rina couldn't have heard right.

"Hide me. I'm being followed by a lecher."

Colin rolled his eyes and laughed.

"Gran, you get back here," a male voice called as a good-looking man with dark hair joined their growing group.

"Hey, Logan," Colin said.

"Logan, Emma's grandson?" Rina asked. Though now that she studied him, she recognized him from the photos on Emma's desk.

"The one and only. Who's this pretty lady?" he asked Colin, but his gaze remained locked on Rina.

Heat rushed to her cheeks at his compliment and her newly acquired professional instincts rushed into high gear. Logan Montgomery had manners and a wedding ring on his hand. Still, Rina couldn't discount the approval in his gaze when he studied her. She'd seen the same admiration in the eyes of the parking attendant when he'd helped her out of Colin's car. Attitude plus appearance equaled attention, Rina thought, and made a mental note to mention the dual impact in her next column.

Before her manners deserted her, she turned back to the people surrounding her. "I'm Rina Lowell."

"I've heard so much about you." Logan took her hand. "Gran here adores you and I can see why."

"Why, thank you, Mr. Montgomery." She fluttered her lashes at Logan and graced him with a smile.

"You're quite welcome."

"And you're quite married," Colin muttered and not so discreetly slid his grasp to her hand, disengaging Logan's grip and marking his territory.

She tried to tug her hand free but he held on fast. "I didn't know you were the jealous type," she said under her breath, suddenly enjoying his possessiveness.

"I didn't know that about him, either." Logan laughed.

And though Rina recognized good-natured ribbing between friends, she had the unexpected urge to protect Colin from any jokes directed his way. "I've heard so much about you from Emma, too. Where's Catherine? I've been looking forward to meeting her."

"Her company, Pot Luck, is catering this party." Pride filled his voice, and it was obvious no woman could compete for Logan Montgomery's affection except his wife. "She's going crazy keeping things running smoothly, but as soon as she comes out of the kitchen, I'll bring her by."

"Please do." It was a lucky woman who had not just her husband's love but his approval to do or be anything she wanted. Catherine had both, and even without knowing the other woman, Rina was glad.

"As for you, Gran�" Logan turned to his grandmother.

"I'd hoped you'd forgotten all about me," Emma said, a wistful note in her voice.

"Stan Blecher wants to take you to the Boston Pops and you can't keep running off and ignoring the man. He's a federal court judge, and much as I don't get swayed by status, you can't be rude. You'll dig a hole for the Judge and for yourself," he said pointedly.

Rina sensed the friction and undercurrents between grandmother and grandson but wasn't sure of the cause. As if sensing her unasked question, Colin leaned in closer. "Emma has problems with her son. Logan asked me to get Emma a job with the paper so that the Judge wouldn't put her in a retirement home," he whispered.

"You got Emma a job?" Rina asked, surprised by the news.

"He did it as a favor. Because my son's a stuffed shirt." Emma sniffed, her regal nose in the air, yet her caring tone proved she loved her only child anyway. "But his colleague's a lecher."

Logan shook his head. "Not accurate, Gran. His last name's Blecher and you're just being rude. Now come back inside before Dad gets wind of this."

"Oh, all right. But I'm going to redirect his attention, of that you can be sure." Emma placed her weathered hand on Rina's cheek. "I'm so glad you're here. We'll talk later." She sashayed away with grace, her dress trailing on the floor behind her.

"I should go watch out for her," Logan muttered. "I'll find Cat and we'll meet up again soon," he promised Rina, then disappeared into the crowd.

Rina smiled. "I love Emma and Logan's family dynamics. And as for your connection to them, I didn't know you'd gotten Emma her position at the paper." She met his gaze, knowing it was impossible to hide the respect she'd just gained for him and not caring if he saw.

"Are you saying you didn't know I had a kind streak?" His husky voice reverberated in her ear.

"Not any more than I knew you had a jealous one." She just now realized he still held her hand in his grasp, his thumb tracing erotic circles inside her palm. She shivered, unable to control the impulse.

"I enjoy your sense of humor, Rina. And I enjoy you."

And she enjoyed him. Too much, she thought. Though she'd already chosen him as the man with whom she'd set herself free, she still needed to protect her heart. No matter how charming, the man was a wanderer capable of leaving on a whim.

Already she knew Colin wouldn't be a man easy to forget. "I need a drink."

"Cat makes a delicious punch. Come on."

After finishing a glass of sherbet-and-champagne-laced punch, Rina relaxed. She held another glass in her hand and, with Colin close by her side, she was enjoying the party. "So tell me more about getting Emma that job."

"What's to tell?" Colin shrugged. "About a year ago, Logan called and asked me for a favor. Everyone adores Emma, so I talked Joe into hiring her."

"You did more than that. You saved her from her meddling self."

He merely shrugged, obviously unwilling to admit that he had a caring nature, one that extended beyond Joe, beyond family. With each new fact she learned about Colin, she discovered an intriguing side, making her want to know more.

"I got her a desk job. I didn't know she'd end up writing a singles column though." His eyebrows furrowed, aggravation plain on his face.

She didn't understand why. "Something wrong with what Emma writes?"

"It's just an unusual slant for a newspaper to take."

She nodded. "I thought so, too, the first time I heard about what Corinne was doing with the Times." During their initial conversation, Corinne had explained her vision of using the paper as a means to bring the town together. She believed that in today's world, people needed more warmth and compassion, and less harsh reality.

Under her leadership, the Times would advertise where people could meet. Men and women would learn how to relate to one another better when they did mingle at a social event. While the paper would still be reporting some news, the focus would be on people. Listening to Corinne's excitement, Rina knew she'd found a place to call home.

Colin folded his arms over his chest. "So how did you come to work for Corinne?"

"Hors d'oeuvre?" An elf stopped by with a tray in hand.

The delicious aroma tickled her nose, but Rina was more interested in her conversation with Colin than with the food on the plate. "No, thank you."

Colin shook his head and the woman in green took her leave.

"You were telling me about how you came to work for Corinne?" he prompted, the moment they were alone again.

"Oh, it's a long story. Basically, my parents knew hers, and older people like to talk about their children." She shook her head. "So I heard about Corinne taking over her husband's paper, thought my writing would interest her and I called."

"You pursued your goals," he said with approval. "Did you always want to be a writer?"

She shook her head. "No, I took the long route. I used to be a legal secretary. The hours were decent, the pay was guaranteed and so was the overtime. It covered the bills, but I'd always been more a people person than someone who liked being holed up in an office."

"That much I can believe." His warm gaze met hers, mesmerizing her so much it was hard to believe they were still at a party surrounded by people.

She tipped her head to one side. "I'm hoping that's a compliment and not a dig at my curious nature."

"I admire you, Rina."

The husky tone in his voice sent shivers of awareness down her spine. "Thanks," she murmured.

"And your writing�"

"I always took notes, wrote stories. Anecdotes." She shrugged, remembering. "After I got married, I had a lot of free time to fill pages in a journal."

At first, she'd used her new surroundings and her husband's new friends as subjects. She'd been amused by the for-show marriages she'd witnessed and enthralled by the real relationships, like her parents', that had lasted for years. Her observations had become humorous slice-of-life stories that kept her busy while home alone.

"You stopped working?" he asked, apparently truly interested in her past.

Why wouldn't he be? She was equally interested in his. "My husband wanted to give me the life he thought I always wanted. But staying home and spending money I hadn't earned, well, that just wasn't me."

But to please Robert, she'd eventually accepted the lifestyle. After all, most women would have traded anything to be in her position, or so she'd been told at the going-away party the other secretaries had thrown on her last day of work.

"I can't see you staying at home and eating bonbons, either."

"What can you see me doing?" She wondered how he viewed her.

He shrugged. "A headstrong, determined woman like you? I can see you dissecting what men want." His lips twitched in a wry grin. "The question is whether you'll get it right."

"You're just worried I'll get inside your head."

"You already came close. I read your first article."

"And?" she asked, knowing that right or wrong, his opinion was important to her.

"You made some very valid points. Men are visual animals. We see, we react."

"Basic chemistry."

He nodded. "Lust." His voice grew deeper.

"Not enough for anything meaningful or lasting." She cleared her dry throat. "Which is why I have to dig deeper."

"I'm certain you'll dig into both men's and women's psyches." His eyes danced with certainty.

"You think you know me so well?"

He nodded. "I know I do." But he frowned, seemingly not thrilled with the notion.

And Rina thought she knew why. Despite the banter, the notion of getting past lust and digging deeper made him uncomfortable. He wasn't looking for anything more serious than she was. Yet in the short time they'd known one another, he understood her better than Robert ever had. Her husband had loved her and given her everything-except the freedom to be herself. The more time she spent in Ashford, the more time she spent with Colin, the more self-awareness she gained and the more she felt she had to contribute to her work. Not to mention she was coming to enjoy herself. A lot.

"Tell me something. Doesn't it strike you as odd that a newspaper has two relationship columnists?" he asked. "I mean, why write what you do for a newspaper?"

She really didn't understand what he was getting at. "As opposed to what?"

He shrugged. "A magazine, maybe? There are plenty of those in Manhattan."

"I needed to get away from the memories. To start over fresh. Plus, I had no connections with the publishers there. Corinne was willing to give me a chance. And I liked her vision. She wants to bring people together and is using the newspaper to do it. My writing fits in well here."

He exhaled hard. "But you don't think her vision-the subjects she wants to focus on-is odd for a newspaper?"

"Slightly unusual, maybe. But then so is the world lately. Besides, many papers have articles and columns in the lifestyle section geared toward relationships or other things."

"True. But those papers have an abundance of sections and space. The Times is a small paper. Space is limited. By adding more frivolous things to it, other sections have to go."

Rina bit her lip and nodded. "I suppose. But Corinne said the Globe outsells the Times anyway," she said, speaking of the larger competition. "Which freed her up to try something different. All I know is, I owe Corinne for giving me a new start and a new life. And you can't imagine how badly I needed that new life."

He glanced out into the crowd for a moment. "Rina�"

She followed his gaze and realized Emma was barreling through the crowd toward them, an older gentleman hot on her heels. "I wonder what she's up to."

Rina barely got the words out, when Emma reached their side, then tripped and knocked her full champagne flute forward. In shock, Rina put up her hand to ward off a spill and ended up tipping the glass onto Colin, too, so they were both covered in champagne.

Rina pulled at the damp shirt, lifting it off her skin. But the damage had been done, and when she released the fabric again, her sheer, lacy bra showed through. The one Rina wore for herself and not for her column and experiment. The one not meant to be seen by the public at large.

Rina didn't know who took notice because she was too caught up in Colin's openmouthed stare as he took in her now-damp, see-through blouse. As if they were alone and not in a room full of people, her nipples puckered in pure female reaction.

"Oh my, I'm sorry." Emma began fluttering around Rina, ignoring the man by her side who had to be none other than Stan Blecher.

Rina lifted her hands to cover herself. "It's fine, Emma, really."

"No, no, it's not okay. Let me take you up to dry off."

"Emma�" the man said, clearly wishing a moment of her time.

Rina studied the gentleman. He was tall and stood proud, with a full head of white hair and a nice smile. Dentures or real teeth, he cut a dashing figure. "Emma, come on. Give the man a chance," Rina whispered in her ear.

"Nonsense. Grace left some old clothes in her closet. I'm sure we can find a top for you to wear. And for you, Colin, Logan has a sweater or two I can surely scrounge up. Come, come." She motioned with her hands and turned her back on Stan.

Knowing Emma wouldn't be deterred, Rina shrugged and motioned for Colin to follow.

"I'll be here when you get back," Stan called.

"Lecher," Emma muttered.

"I think he's cute," Rina said on her way up the stairs.

Emma ignored her. Apparently, like Rina, the older woman preferred to be the matchmaker, not on the receiving end.

"Colin, this is Logan and Cat's room when they stay here. Which isn't often, but still�Feel free to go into the closet and find a shirt." She opened a door, pushed Colin inside and slammed the door shut behind him.

"You're a bulldozer, Emma. And you can't run from Stan forever. What's wrong if you have dinner with the man?" Rina asked.

"I've been on my own too long." Emma paused at the next door in the long hall. "This is a bathroom. Go on in here and I'll bring you a shirt of Gracie's, okay?"

"That's sweet, Emma. I'd appreciate it." Before the older woman could walk out, Rina felt compelled to add something else. "Remember that alone's lonely." And she wondered if she was speaking for her own benefit, as well.

Two minutes later, Emma returned with a white oxford shirt, as close a match as she was likely to get. The older woman excused herself, then said she'd meet up with Rina again downstairs.

Rina locked herself in the bathroom and began unbuttoning the wet blouse, parting the material. She found a guest towel she could dampen and turned on the water to wipe the stickiness off her chest when, without warning, a loud creaking noise startled her. She jerked around toward the sound, which had come from behind, only to discover the door didn't lead to a linen closet as she'd originally thought, but to the bedroom next door.

And the person who'd entered wasn't Emma but a shirtless, breathtaking Colin.

SHOULD SHE or shouldn't she? Rina didn't want to think any more than she wanted to hesitate. She'd hoped for this moment and fate only provided so many opportunities. She wanted Colin, and it had been too long since a man had made her feel so desired, so needed. Gathering her courage, she dropped the towel and backed toward the vanity, grasping on to the Corian countertops with both hands. Her position had the erotic effect of pushing her breasts upward in silent invitation.

His gaze slid down to her chest and he let out a slow groan. "Honey, that's going to have to mean yes."

Yes to what, she wasn't certain, and at the moment she didn't care. Moisture settled low and dampened her panties, excitement a companion she barely recognized, it had been so long. "I'm so glad you're a man who knows how to read a woman's signals," she said at the same moment he dipped his head, nestling his face between her breasts.

He exhaled slowly, the warmth of his breath hitting her skin as he began to taste the champagne with luxurious laps of his tongue. Starting in her cleavage, he worked his way outward, teasing her with nibbles and tastes until her nipples tightened into rigid peaks begging for equal treatment. He was tormenting her, taking his time, making a slow feast of her flesh until every nerve tingled and desire so overwhelmed her, she whimpered aloud.

He lifted his head, his blue eyes glittering with banked desire. "Tell me what you want."

"Is that what men like?" she asked. "To be told?"

"I'm not going to answer so I can be the subject of some damn article."

His jaw clenched and Rina realized she'd stepped over the line or, at least, he thought she had. The article was the furthest thing from her mind. Without thought, she ran her fingers through his hair, settling her hands in the silken strands. "That's not why I asked."

He cocked his head to one side. "Why then?"

"Because�" How did she explain what she barely understood herself? "Because I've never�" She grappled for the right word. "I've never played that way. With a man, I mean. It's always been pretty straightforward, them doing what they wanted and it either felt good or it didn't." Her past consisted of a satisfying sex life. Satisfying but nothing like the intensity and steam she was experiencing with Colin. She shrugged. "I never had the courage to ask for what I wanted."

And no man had ever asked. Another contrast brought to life by Colin. Another place where Colin stood head and shoulders above the rest. In one breath, she wished he weren't so compelling, in another, she thanked her lucky stars she'd found him and they'd share whatever moments fate allowed.

"So I was wondering. Did you ask what I wanted so you could please me?" She rolled her eyes, embarrassed by her naivet�. "Or because you just liked to hear, oh, I don't know, sex talk. Which I've never done and don't know if I'd be good at. Any more than I'm good at this." She gestured around her. "God, I'm killing the mood, aren't I?"

He laughed, but she inherently knew he wasn't laughing at her. "Trust me, there's nothing you could do to kill this mood." He grasped her hands and brought them to his lips for a kiss, then he replaced each hand by her side on the counter once more. "Now we're back where we started. Now you need to know that I asked because I want to please you. But-" His lips twitched and he grinned. "I wouldn't mind hearing some sex talk from your lips."

Settled back with her breasts thrusting upward, Rina felt a little wanton and a lot daring. He picked up where they'd left off, his tongue embarking on another sensual exploration, and her body responded immediately. Hot darts of desire flickered through her.

"Now tell me what you want."

His roughened voice hit her already sensitized nerves and made her bold. "I want you to stop teasing me."

In response, his tongue swirled in circles around one nipple, heightening her arousal and causing her body to shake and her hips to pivot back and forth in search of something even more fulfilling than the treatment she was receiving now. But he didn't give in, didn't offer her what she desired. Instead, he just slowly teased her distended nipple, never providing her the relief she sought.

He lifted his gaze, stopping the arousing sensations, and she wanted to cry out in frustration. "Trust me enough to tell me what you want," he coaxed, holding her gaze.

"Take me into your mouth." She struggled for an even breath. "Hold my breast in your hand and take my nipple into your mouth."

His pupils dilated and his eyes burned hot, as hot as the flame he ignited inside her. "Like this?"

He cupped her breast in his palm, kneading the soft flesh and plumping it in his hand.

"Mmm." She leaned her head back and moaned. "More."

And then finally, he drew her nipple into his hot, wet, greedy mouth, biting down lightly with his teeth. Alternately grazing, then soothing with his tongue until the fire he lit exploded in a haze of passion. Her hips began gyrating of their own accord. She needed to ease the ache and he understood.

This time he didn't wait for her to ask, just lifted her so she could wrap her legs around his waist and thrust the most needy part of her against his thick shaft. Her body soared at their first intimate contact, which felt so good yet wasn't nearly enough. She bucked against him, her hips pushing, writhing and gyrating into him until her world exploded in a sensational climax she hadn't expected. One unlike any she'd experienced before.

She hadn't made love to him, but the contractions shaking her body were as strong and vigorous as if she'd taken him inside her. She was still trembling as he set her down on the counter between the sinks. "Oh, God."

He ran a hand through his hair. "That about sums it up." He stepped back and leaned against the flowered wallpaper behind him. "You sure know how to knock the wind out of a guy."

Glancing down, she realized that although she'd been satisfied, he'd been far from it. "Colin�"

He waved a hand in the air, cutting her off. "Don't even suggest it. The first time's going to be the right way, honey. Not with you trying to give me something back just because I made you come."

She blushed at his blunt words, but before she could conjure a reply, he picked up the shirt she'd left on the corner counter, holding it out for her to slip into.

Her heart pounded in her chest and her legs felt like Jell-O as she stood and let him help her dress. As he buttoned her blouse, the act of him dressing her felt more intimate than what he'd just done to her, and the incongruous thought made her smile.

"Something funny?" he asked.

She shook her head. "I'm just thinking."

"About?"

"Just that I picked the right guy to get back into the swing of things again."

He tangled his hands through her hair, groaning as he fingered the tousled strands she'd taken great pains to create. "Why's that?" he asked.

"Because you cared about what I wanted. No man's done that for me and it's a gift I'll always remember."

"Rina, I-"

A loud knocking sound interrupted them. "We'll be right out," she called.

Colin clamped his hand over her lips. "I'll," he mouthed, obviously wanting to protect her reputation. "I'll be right out," he whispered.

"I'll be right out," Rina called, a heated blush rising to her cheeks. "Do you think anyone will know what we've been doing?" she asked softly.

"It's Corinne. Emma said I could find Colin upstairs."

He muttered a curse. "I don't want her finding us like this. It's not fair to you."

Rina cared more about how much she liked the sound of us rolling off his sexy lips than she did about what Corinne thought. But she appreciated that he cared.

He started for the door she'd thought was a linen closet. "I'll catch up with her in the hall."

"It's about Joe," Corinne called when no one answered her.

"Uh�Colin's in the room next door," Rina replied.

"You get dressed and I'll meet up with you downstairs." He offered her a quick wink and he was gone.

But her body reminded her, he wouldn't be forgotten.

I WAS JUST ENTERTAINING a friend. A day later, the comment still stung. After leaving Rina at a party, Colin supposed he deserved the barb. He didn't think she was entertaining a man, but his jealousy had been aroused anyway. Which had probably been the point. He cursed himself good for letting himself take the bait.

He had an agenda regarding Rina, but it had been pushed to the back burner by real feelings he hadn't anticipated. Jealousy? Damn.

He picked up the phone and called some smaller companies who advertised in the Times and was assured they'd continue to place ads. Then he made preliminary calls to add state and more in-depth national information to the wire service the paper already received. As it was, Corinne was printing what she called "need to know" headlines on an inside section of the paper. Colin jotted notes to contact Bloomberg for financial news and the possibility of acquiring national sports from the AP. Separating man from his sports? It was no wonder Corinne had lost much of her audience. From his perspective, everything was ready to go-should he be able to convince Corinne in time.

Of course, Colin's changes would cost money, but he'd have to spend something to rebuild readership. Some of that cost could be recouped in Rina's and Emma's salaries, he thought guiltily.

"Good morning, Colin." Emma strode into the office, too perky and happy for a Monday morning. Especially this Monday morning.

"Morning, Emma. I take it you spent yesterday resting up from your Christmas bash?" He folded his hands behind his head, happy for the distraction.

"Oh yes. I soaked in a tub, pampered myself and read a good book. I'm feeling completely refreshed, thank you. How was your weekend?" She put her purse in her bottom desk drawer as if she'd been here all her life and sat down in her seat.

"I spent yesterday with Joe." And Corinne, but he wasn't in the mood to even think about that now. He was starting to have conflicted feelings toward Corinne, brought on by her constant attention to Joe and his needs.

"Corinne tells me his prognosis is good. I'm so glad." Emma clasped her hands to her chest. "No man should have to spend such a long time in a hospital. I think we should throw him a welcome-back party when he's ready."

This from the woman whose column was on the line and didn't know it. Colin groaned, needing a reprieve from guilt, pressure and his own thoughts.

"Delivery," a male voice called, pushing through the doors and entering the offices.

Colin turned to see a man, arms loaded with seasonal flowers.

"I'm looking for a Rina Lowell?"

A low growl escaped Colin's throat at the same time a knot settled in his stomach. Had she had a man in her apartment after all?

"Oh, how exciting. Right here," Emma said, pointing to Rina's desk. Once the flowers were placed on the blotter and the delivery man gone, Emma turned to Colin. "You shouldn't have."

"I didn't," he said through clenched teeth.

Emma raised an eyebrow. "Oh dear."

Before he could suggest peeking at the card and embarrass himself completely, Rina waltzed inside, a smile on her face, a flush on her cheeks and her hair tousled from the wind. He got a damn hard-on just looking at her.

"Morning, all." She strode to her desk. "What's this?"

"Flowers, of course," Emma said.

Rina's gaze darted Colin's way for a brief second before she jerked her stare back to the bouquet. But he didn't miss the hopeful glint in her eye and was able to relax. He stepped near her desk and leaned closer so only she could hear. "Sorry, babe. They aren't from me."

"I didn't think they were." She unwrapped the card and read silently, putting the small white envelope in her desk drawer when she was finished.

"So?" Emma asked. "Are you going to share the identity of your secret admirer?"

"They're from Jake and Brianne. Congratulating me on my series starting." Rina didn't meet Emma's gaze when answering, a sure sign something was wrong. But Emma didn't pick up on it.

"That's so sweet. Family's wonderful. Speaking of relatives, I need to make a call and then get to work!" Emma swiveled in her chair, leaving Rina to get settled.

She moved the flowers to the side of the desk, dropped her purse into a drawer and began to unbutton her wool coat. Colin didn't buy for one minute that her brother and his wife had sent those flowers, but she'd hid the identity of the sender more from Emma than him, which made no sense. He wondered about it for a minute, but when she slid her jacket off her shoulders, the world tilted and all rational thought fled.

Because beneath the oversize coat she wore a black blouse, saved from conservatism by a plunging neckline and a microminiskirt that emphasized her slender legs, which were covered only by sheer, nude-colored panty hose. At least he hoped they were panty hose, because if he caught a hint of a lace garter, he'd pass out on sight.

He strode over to her desk, grabbing her hand. "Come with me."

"Where?"

"Coffee break," he muttered, pulling her through the double doors to a stairwell. It wasn't exactly prime office space, but it afforded the only means of privacy he could think of.

Not even the dank smell could dampen his desire or his need to get inside her, body and soul. Once alone, he backed her against the wall, propping one arm over her head. "Who really sent those flowers?" he asked, his baser male instincts coming through.

"You care?"

He rubbed his knuckles down her cheek. "I may have one hell of a way of showing it, but I do."

"Stan Blecher sent the flowers," she admitted.

"What the hell does the old man think he's doing?"

"The obvious. Trying to make Emma jealous by paying attention to me."

"And you don't want to help his plan?"

Rina rolled her eyes. Men could be dense when it came to matters of the heart. "Of course I do. But I don't want to hurt Emma. She's not just independent by choice, but rather by necessity. She's afraid her son will put her in a home. If she lets herself get close to a friend of his, she fears the same result."

"She said that?"

Rina shook her head. "Insinuated it. And I don't want to be the one to push her into something she's not ready for. Stan admitted he just wants Emma's companionship, but until she can trust him, she's not going to give an inch." Which pretty well summed up any female who'd been hurt or disillusioned by a man, Rina thought.

"So you're looking out for her."

"That's what friends do," she murmured.

"That's what special, caring people do." His blue eyes bore into hers, causing warmth to blossom in her chest.

After working at her computer all day yesterday and late into the night, finishing this week's column, Rina had had it with sweatpants. She'd had it with being alone and she no longer wanted to make Colin sweat. Not in a bad way, anyway. Saturday night was over, and so was her overreaction to Colin's defection. Joe had been in the hospital. Case closed.

So this morning, she'd dressed with Colin in mind, seeking to grab his attention and not let it go. It had been a girlish impulse and she'd accomplished her goal. But as usual, Colin had more insight than she'd counted on. He'd looked beyond the physical, deeper than the packaging. He'd seen the woman beneath and obviously admired her.

He tangled his hands in her hair, the erotic tugging sensation rippling through her veins. His admiration and perceptiveness took her off guard. She wanted to keep her barriers high, but resisting him was impossible. And when he lowered his head for a deep, leisurely kiss, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back.

His lips were warm and provocative, taking possession and immediately setting her on fire. No big surprise there. Her tongue met his, swirling, seeking, demanding as much as he gave. And then his hands slipped to her thigh, his large palm branding her. "Do you have any idea what that short skirt does to me?"

"Why don't you tell me?"

"Looking at those long legs makes me hard." He deliberately brushed against her thigh, giving her tangible proof.

She sucked in a breath, her body reacting to the knowledge he wanted her. Here, now, in the dark stairwell, Colin Lyons wanted her. His body backed up his claim and hers went into heated overdrive. Dampness slicked her panties and a rush of desire swamped her.

"And wondering what's holding those things up is driving me insane." Without awaiting permission, his fingers traveled upward until they came in contact with the elastic-rimmed lace that held the stockings up on her thigh. His fingertips hit bare skin and he let out a sharp, harsh breath. "Damn."

She shrugged, trying to act nonchalant. "These are more comfortable."

"For whom?"

She laughed. "For me. Panty hose cuts into my stomach."

"What happened to the baggy clothes?" A muscle ticked in his jaw and Rina knew her new look was getting to him.

But far from enjoying the knowledge, it made her uneasy. Because she wanted to know for sure that Colin was attracted to Rina Lowell, the woman. And though he showed interest in the many facets of her personality, she couldn't deny he was enjoying her transformation.

So had Dave from the coffee shop, who'd turned persistent, and Rob who'd delivered her pizza last night. She could have had a date with a number of men, including the wealthy Edward Worthington III. But not even in the interest of research could Rina bring herself to go out with anyone other than Colin.

"And what's beneath the skirt?" Colin asked. "What's warming you during this cold, winter weather?"

She was tempted to tell him that she didn't need clothing, not when the heat in his voice could do the trick instead. "Good old-fashioned underwear, Colin, what else?"

An upward sweep of his fingers over her silk-covered mound assured him she was telling the truth. But that same motion set off fireworks inside her brain and triggered mini-explosions, the equivalent of minefields in strategic areas of her body. Her nipples peaked, aching for his touch, and a dewy heaviness pulsed between her legs. "You don't play fair," she whispered.

"Dressed like that, neither do you." His mouth hovered over hers.

Her lips parted, craving another kiss, but he gave more than she asked for as his finger found the pulse point between her legs. Arousal washed over her, and she jerked her hips forward, seeking to deepen the pressure of his fingertip.

"That works for you, huh?" Resting his cheek against hers, he leaned his body forward, thrusting his hand harder against the tiny pearl of desire begging for release.

"Oh, yes." Her lips lingered against his skin as she inhaled his masculine scent and her desire peaked higher.

This game they played would drive her to distraction if she wasn't careful. She squeezed her thighs together, allowing one last tide of arousal to sweep through her before ducking beneath his arm and gaining space. She needed more time.

He seemed to understand and let her go, studying her in the darkened stairwell, as if he could read what she was feeling in her expression. Rina knew exactly why she'd put distance between them. She wasn't willing to verbalize her thoughts just yet.

While writing her column on attitude, she'd come to a major realization. Looking good meant nothing if a woman didn't feel good about herself. A woman couldn't attract a man, let alone keep him happy, if she wasn't happy within herself.

Translated into her own life, once she'd quit work and given in to Robert's choices in decor and friends, among other things, spunky Rina Lowell had all but disappeared. She no longer threw on a T-shirt and ripped denim shorts and walked through New York City street fairs, nor did she shop the Village for unique but cheap jewelry that would stand out because of its flair. She quit going to the happening clubs where she'd nurse a drink and dance until her feet hurt. Instead, she got old before her time, giving up her fun friends in favor of her husband's staid ones, exchanging nights out on the town for fund-raising galas. She'd even altered the way she dressed in order to gain Robert's nod of approval.

She may have looked good in her designer clothes, but she'd slowly lost her inner spark and drive. No wonder he hadn't taken her seriously when she'd expressed interest in writing or doing something outside the confines of their marriage. She'd been the perfect Stepford Wife.

Robert thought a credit card would keep her happy, and eventually she stopped doing anything to convince him otherwise. Because he was giving her a dream life. Too bad it hadn't been her dream. She loved him, but she was beginning to doubt they'd have had staying power. The lesson she'd taken away from her latest article, "Strut Your Stuff," was that she now respected herself too much to settle for a man who didn't believe in her, her goals or her dreams.

Not even for a brief affair. She already knew Colin approved of her work. He'd hinted as much at Emma's party. But before she'd give in to his seductive charm completely, she had to know he accepted everything about her.

"Come dancing with me," she said on impulse. "Friday night."

He leaned against the wall, still holding her gaze. "Dancing?"

"Are you game? I thought I'd check out the Boston nightlife." She needed to recapture the fun she'd been missing and she wanted Colin to be part of it.

He shrugged. "Why not? Someone has to watch out for you." His lips twitched as he held back a grin.

"I don't need a keeper."

He shook his head, amusement and seriousness warring in his expression. He ran his hand down her neck and dipped his finger into her cleavage, causing her blood to run hotter.

"Something tells me your brother wouldn't agree."

"Low blow." Accurate, she thought, but low. "Jake's a reasonable guy."

Colin's eyes held a wealth of certainty. "Even when it comes to his baby sister?"

"Even then," she lied, and crossed her fingers behind her back. "So? Do we have a date? Or am I flying solo?" She wasn't looking forward to nursing a drink and either fending off men or uncomfortably wondering why none approached her. Neither option held any appeal.

Spending time with Colin, however, that prospect appealed to her greatly.

He met her gaze, studying her in an unnerving way. "Why do I feel like you're testing me?" he asked. "And how do I know if I'll pass muster?"

She was testing herself, Rina mused. Her reactions, her judgment. "You'll know," she said, her voice husky with anticipation.

"Then we have a date. Since I know the roads, how about I pick you up? Actually, how about we bring Logan and Cat along?"

"As chaperons?" she teased, liking the idea of spending time with his friends.

He grinned. "For fun."

"Sounds good to me."

A loud knock sounded on the other side of the stairwell door. Colin shot her a regret-filled look and stepped toward the door. Freedom, she thought, and sighed.

"Rina Lowell, you get out here now." Emma's distinctive voice called to her.

"Some matchmaker," Colin said wryly.

Rina grabbed for the handle. "I'll go out ahead. That will give you some time to calm down," she said with a pointed look at his pants.

He shot her an annoyed look. "Very funny," he muttered, but he didn't argue when she let herself back into the hall.

"What's wrong, Emma?"

The older woman waved the white florist card under her nose. "You're being wooed by the lecher." Emma perched her hands on her hips and stared, daring Rina to disagree.

"You mean Colin?" she asked too innocently.

"You mean Colin?" Emma parroted. "Very funny. Stan's sending you flowers. I told you the man was a lecher. Proclaiming his interest in me one minute, showering you with roses the next."

"They're wildflowers, not roses."

"Same difference."

"Not in price," Rina said. "And you were snooping." She snatched the card out of Emma's hand.

"And your lipstick's smudged, which means you were fooling around. How many men are you juggling, anyway?" The older woman sniffed and Rina stifled a laugh.

Placing an arm around Emma's shoulders, Rina led her back inside and to her chair before easing her into her seat. "You, Emma Montgomery, are jealous. J-E-A-L-O-U-S. Because Stan's showing interest in someone else after you turned him down."

"Ridiculous."

"Correct," Rina challenged. "And you know good and well Stan's a smart man. He knows you work beside me, knows you can't keep your eyes or ears to yourself. And he knows you'll find out he sent me flowers and work yourself into a frenzy. Which you did." She clucked her tongue at her elderly friend. "Tsk, tsk, Emma. You shouldn't be so predictable. Men need a woman to be fickle and impulsive." Unable to help it, Rina burst out laughing. "Come on, Emma. Just go out with the man."

"What if it's a setup?"

Rina understood what her friend meant. What if her son, the infamous Judge Montgomery, had asked Stan to keep an eye on Emma? And what if she was her usual, capricious, whimsical self and her son used it against her? "I can't imagine a son of yours could be so underhanded."

Realizing how many stunts Emma had pulled in the name of matchmaking, Rina shook her head. "Scratch that. But I can't imagine he'd be that cruel. Besides, Logan wouldn't let that happen." She patted Emma's hand. "The man's a lonely widower. And you're in need of the same companionship."

No matter how old Emma was in years, she was young in heart and spirit. And she deserved to have some happiness in her later years.

"Give Stan a chance," Rina said.

"If you do the same," Emma challenged, a gleam in her warm, blue eyes.

"Excuse me?" Somehow Emma had caught her unprepared.

"You open your mind to Colin and I'll do the same for the lecher."

"His name's Stan and you'd better remember that before you call him that horrible name to his face."

Emma shook her head. "Quit changing the subject."

"Which is?" Rina asked.

Emma leaned closer, whispering so only Rina could hear. "It's simple. You trust, I'll trust." The older woman shrugged.

Colin chose that moment to reenter the room. Both her body and her heart reacted, proving that when it came to Colin, nothing was simple. Everything was up for grabs. Including, she feared, her heart.

IT WAS FRIDAY NIGHT in Boston, the weekend before Christmas and this particular club was hopping. The dance floor was full, the bar packed, yet Logan's wife, Catherine, had managed to snag them a table because she'd arrived early.

"So when do I get to meet this girlfriend of yours?" Cat asked Colin. Her green eyes shimmered with curiosity. "I was so busy avoiding a business crisis at the family party, I missed meeting her. So? Where is she?"

"You always were persistent, Cat. She'll be here. She had a business meeting first." Something suddenly came up, Rina had told him, so instead of Colin picking her up, she was meeting him here.

"Mmm. She works hard." Cat glanced at her watch as Logan studied his wife, a combination of adoration and amusement in his gaze. "Newspaper business at nine-thirty on a Friday night?"

"I don't know. She didn't say what she had to do." And that drove Colin insane, which he figured had been Rina's point. To build the anticipation between them. That, or to get even with him over leaving her last Saturday, though he had to admit she seemed to be over it.

"She didn't say why she'd be late?" Cat raised an eyebrow. "Then let me inform you. She wanted to make an entrance." She nodded her head. "Yep, Rina wants to impress you, so she plans to walk in fashionably late."

Colin waved a hand in the air, dismissing the idea. "You don't know Rina." She was up-front and honest about her intentions, something Colin admired.

"And you obviously don't know women." Cat glanced over his shoulder, then leaned forward in her seat, warming to the subject. "Didn't you read Rina's column? She talked about sex appeal. She said women like to be noticed and she's right. Especially in the beginning of a relationship when things are uncertain. No woman wants to be easily forgotten, so it's important to make that dynamite impression. What better way than to sashay in a little late, looking amazing?"

"This week she said that attitude is equally important," Logan added.

"You've been reading her column?" Colin asked his friends.

Logan nodded sheepishly and Colin wasn't sure if his embarrassment stemmed from the fact that he was aware of Colin's intentions for the column or because he'd been caught reading a relationship article.

"All my employees have been reading 'Hot Stuff.' Rina's making quite a name for herself in our little town," Cat said.

Colin couldn't help feeling proud of Rina, and wondered if he could use the column's popularity in his favor, to get the advertiser to extend that January first deadline.

"Anyway," Cat said. "I think she's taking her own advice. And you have to admit, it's a flattering notion for you. A woman wanting to make you sit up and take notice."

Colin shook his head, disagreeing. "Rina doesn't have to work to impress me."

Logan laughed. "Out of curiosity, if she did make an effort, you wouldn't hold it against her, would you?" He glanced around.

Colin followed his stare and there stood Rina, decked out in a sleeveless red wool dress and matching stiletto heels, doing exactly what Cat had said she would. Making one hell of an impression-on him and, if the other patrons' stares were any indication, on every male in the room.

He couldn't wait to see her, and he'd promised himself he'd put the paper out of his mind and just enjoy the weekend. If Rina's outfit was any indication, she had the same intention. And already his body was reacting to her gorgeous appearance. He wanted her and hoped like hell tonight would be the night.

COLIN STRETCHED OUT beside Rina, every inch of his lean, hard male body coming into delicious contact with her skin. His fingers tangled in her hair and he pulled her close. After their encounter on the couch they'd moved to his bed, where she'd slept more deeply than she'd ever remembered. Making love to him had been a mind-altering experience, one she was all too ready to repeat this morning.

But not yet. "Tell me about Julie." Logan had planted the seeds of her curiosity surrounding Colin's past and Rina wanted to explore them. To know more about this enigmatic man who made her come apart so easily.

He groaned. "Hell of a way to start the day," he muttered.

Okay, so it wasn't the best question first thing the morning after, but she'd spent the night in his arms. He'd spent it inside her body. She figured that allowed her some leeway.

"She's my ex-wife." He rolled over and propped up on one arm.

The sheet pulled low on his chest and the urge to press her breasts against him and drop this whole conversation was strong. Unfortunately, her curiosity was stronger. "And?"

He met her gaze. "She's in the past."

"A painful past?" She probed deeper.

He shrugged. "It only hurts if you care. I'm over it."

"I should hope so, considering where we are."

He exhaled hard, and she knew he was going through that frustrating process of male withdrawal. "So why do I have the feeling that knowing Julie's in the past isn't enough?"

"Because I'm a woman and I like to push."

"Even if I'd rather make love than talk?" A wry, sexy smile tipped his lips.

Good, she thought. He wasn't angry, just attempting to maintain his masculine dignity with stoic silence. She rewarded his patience with her questions with a long, lingering kiss. One that quickly threatened to explode in another lovemaking session, considering they were both still nude. And she wasn't ready to give up on emotional intimacy for more sex, as much as her body craved him.

She broke the kiss, licking at her damp lips. A disheveled Colin was as devastating to her senses as a well-put-together one. And if the man was going to have this kind of effect on her, she needed to understand all about him.

"Did you love her?" Rina asked.

Colin rolled back and lay a hand over his eyes, resigning himself to talking before any other desires were satisfied. Truth be told, he wanted to confide in Rina, which surprised him, since he wasn't a sharing kind of guy.

"Not the way I should have. Then again, the feeling was mutual." Sensing Rina's gaze on him, he stared up at the ceiling, wanting a clear head when he answered her. "I was a news anchor on a local station in Boston when Julie and I met. We had some things in common and I thought she was a refreshing change from the women who wanted the macho personality they saw on TV."

"You, macho?" Rina laughed.

"After last night, are you seriously doubting my masculinity?" He pushed her onto her back, straddling her hips.

She sucked in a shallow breath. "Definitely not."

"So do you want to hear about my disastrous marriage or would you rather repeat some of those erotic positions we tried last night?" He asked, his erection poised at her moist, ready flesh.

She sighed, obviously torn, her wide brown eyes filled with curiosity and desire. He didn't blame her for either. He wanted equal insight into her past and planned to get it after he satisfied his need for her this morning. He doubted he'd ever have his fill of her completely, something he'd have to deal with soon.

"I want you to talk. I want to know all about you. Then I want to make love."

"Okay," he said, resigned. "Julie and I got married. I was working at the network, restless with the job and life, but that wasn't anything new or different for me." He'd always been restless, ready to move on. So why wasn't he compelled to bolt now, when things in his personal life were at their most complicated? He knew the reason lay in his arms, waiting for more answers. "I think Julie sensed my restlessness. Not that it's an excuse for cheating, but I think she wasn't any happier than I was."

"She cheated on you?" Rina asked.

Realizing he hadn't been clear, Colin laughed. Amazing that she hadn't jumped to the conclusion that he'd been the one to stray, which said volumes about her faith in him. Unwarranted faith under the present circumstances, but it pleased him anyway. "Yeah, she did. Obviously she wasn't getting what she needed out of the relationship."

"Or she didn't know the meaning of truth, honesty and fidelity," Rina said in disgust.

Ouch, he thought, taking the direct hit. "I think Julie just wanted me to be satisfied at home and, sensing I wasn't, she went looking elsewhere."

"I never realized we had anything so fundamental in common. My husband wanted me to be more satisfied at home than I was."

"He didn't cheat on you, did he?" Colin wouldn't want Rina to suffer the humiliation.

She shook her head. "I think what he wanted was almost worse. He wanted to change me."

"Foolish man."

Her eyes shimmered with moisture and happiness. "That's what I like about you, Colin. You accept me for who I am and respect what I want to do in life." She shook her head. "For as long as we last, I'll know you're not a man who has some wrong vision of who I am or some alternative idea of what I should be doing. You want me."

Yes, he did. For as long as she'd have him and, he feared, beyond. Colin nudged her legs aside with his and while she watched, he entered slowly. "I want you." He thrust deep and she took all of him, arching her hips while her body contracted around him, milking him with her tight, wet heat.

She shuddered and sucked in a breath. "I want a man to know me and accept me."

He withdrew, feeling her swollen and wet surrounding him. "I want to know all of you. Every last thing about you."

She bent her knees, forcing him to thrust deeper in order to maintain body contact. "I want to know you the same way."

"Then what are we waiting for?" he asked, and proceeded to know her. Accept her. And she did the same, taking him, accepting every last bit he had to offer.

AROUND FOUR that afternoon, Colin lugged a pathetic-looking tree up Rina's stairs. "This thing looks like it's seen better days."

Rina unlocked the door and held it open so he could drag their tree inside. "We're lucky they had any left the day before Christmas Eve. Personally, I don't care what it looks like. It's ours and that's all that counts."

Norton barked when they entered, and he danced around, jumping on Colin with his front paws. "Go walk him before I become his next victim, will you?"

Rina laughed. "I expect that tree set up and ready to be decorated when I return."

"Slave driver." He winked and waved her away.

A few hours later, he stepped back to admire their handiwork. The small tree twinkled with all the spark, spunk and spirit that Rina had brought into his life. Red, green and gold ornaments decorated the branches, along with silver tinsel and a shiny star on top. The result was commercial in color but warm and comforting in the aura it exuded. A fire crackled in the small fireplace where Norton lay basking in the heat before deciding to snooze on the couch instead.

A feeling of accomplishment filled Colin, along with the strange sensation of belonging. Here. With Rina and her dog in this small Cape apartment. "Amazing," he said, unsure if he was referring to the tree or the feelings she inspired.

"I know. Even with remnants left in the stores, this tree looks just perfect." Her soft, grateful gaze met his and yearning flared to life between them.

He'd held off touching her all day, knowing the tree would never get put up or decorated if he even so much as stroked or kissed her soft skin. But the work was finished and now the fun could begin. "We can't make love by the fire on Christmas Eve, but there's no reason why we can't do it tonight."

She let out a husky purr of agreement and came into his arms. "But I thought we'd make New Year's resolutions first."

He blinked, surprised. "I'm not big on those." Mostly because they entailed promises, something he'd never been great at keeping. To distract her, he slipped his hands beneath her heavy wool sweater so his hands spanned her waist, traveling upward and coming to rest on the outside of her breasts. The full mounds filled his palms, warm feminine flesh awaiting his touch.

"Force yourself. For me, okay? It's an old family tradition, and I thought you and I could do it together this year."

Even if they wouldn't be together next year to reassess and reevaluate? Colin wondered silently. "You go first," he said instead.

"Okay." She scrunched her nose and she got lost, deep in thought. "I will continue to be true to myself."

"In what way?" he asked, intrigued.

"You know how some people undergo psychotherapy? Well, I don't have to. My column's been one huge lesson in self-awareness. And it's taught me a bigger lesson about you." She wrapped her hands around him, trapping his hands against her bare skin. "So I'll continue to write my column and only let people and things that are good for me into my life."

"That's a tall order."

"I can handle it." She grinned and brushed a kiss over his lips. "Your turn."

He swallowed hard. "I'll be true to�" He wanted to say you, but bit his tongue, knowing that kind of promise was impossible to keep. And any commitment he made to Rina, he intended to follow through upon.

"Come on, Colin. Don't take the easy way and just repeat what I said. Make a New Year's resolution," she urged.

"I resolve to take care of things in my life the most responsible way I can." Vague, but he hoped she wouldn't question him.

Because it was a holiday weekend, no one had returned his business calls, but he intended to start by having another talk with the accountants and seeing exactly what shape the paper was in now. His last figures had been from too far back. Then he needed to talk to Joe. Together, maybe they could come up with a plan that wouldn't hurt the people they both cared for, he thought, looking into Rina's wide-eyed gaze. But in the meantime, he couldn't deny that he'd been progressing with his plan, and he silently cursed Corinne for letting things slide so far that Colin had to put the pieces back together.

"See? That wasn't so difficult, was it?" she asked.

He forced a grin. "Of course not."

"And now we can pick up where we left off." Without warning, she reached down and pulled her sweater over her head until she stood before him in a pink lace bra, her pale skin lit by the flickering firelight.

He leaned forward, intending to kiss her, but she stopped him by pushing down on his shoulders, bringing him to his knees. She followed, eyeing him expectantly. The time for kissing had passed and he dipped his head. Starting at her navel, his tongue traced a pattern on her flat stomach and silken skin. He unhooked her bra and tossed it aside so he could encircle first one nipple with his mouth, then the next, tugging on the distended tip until her hips tilted forward and a strangled moan reverberated from her throat.

"Get undressed." Rina's demand sounded hoarse to her own ears.

She didn't care. She'd never felt such driving, overpowering need to be a part of another human being. To be one with Colin. Her hands shook as she reached for the button on his jeans, impatience overtaking her.

"Relax. We have all night."

Someone ought to tell that to her overheated body. He covered her hand, moving it away so he could take care of things himself. Quicker, she figured, than if she'd fumbled around.

Instead, she worked on her own clothes, meeting him naked on the floor. He pulled her on top of his warm, strong body, allowing her to feel his erection hot and ready against her stomach. She reached between them, needing to feel him, and a drop of his moisture touched her hand. A wash of desire and sensation swept through her, a heavy dampness filling the space between her legs.

Unable to wait, she straddled him, holding his hard length in one hand and placing the head of his penis between her thighs. His gaze never left hers, hot and intense as she lowered herself, taking him in, inch by inch, feeling him swell and harden inside her. And just when she thought she couldn't take any more, she released the muscles in her legs and he filled her completely.

He reached out, grabbing her hands in his, intertwining their fingers. They couldn't be in a more intimate position. She sat up on his thighs, his penis embedded deep inside her, her entire upper body exposed for his view. When she glanced down, their joining was an erotic vision of two people becoming one. At the sight, her muscles contracted around him and his hips jerked upward, pressing on just the right place to increase the friction and orgasm-inducing sensation.

"Ride me, honey." Colin spoke through gritted teeth.

He shook from the effort of holding back, and Rina gave him what he asked for. Rising up, she felt every hard ridge ease out of her body before she came back down hard, bringing herself closer to the brink. He picked up on her rhythm. Bucking in and out, up and down, she lost herself in hot, sweaty, carnal lovemaking.

Without warning, the physical sensations swamping her mixed with raw emotion and Rina swallowed over a sob, one that came loud and ripped from inside her. God, she was close. He slipped his fingers between them, clasping on to the one sensitive place she possessed and not letting go, rolling his fingertips while they moved, bringing on an intense, explosive orgasm that seemed to go on and on and on.

"WHAT HAPPENED at the hospital?" Rina asked.

Colin shrugged. He leaned back into the cushioned sofa and glanced up at the ceiling, his pain obvious. "Watching Corinne at Joe's bedside made me�uncomfortable."

"Why?" She needed details if she was going to help him through this. That he'd come to her now showed how much faith he placed in them. She didn't want to let him down.

"All this time I've been blaming her for working her wiles on Joe and destroying the family we used to have."

"And now?" Rina asked, leading but wanting him to confide on his own.

"I accepted something I probably knew all along but wasn't ready to face."

Rina squeezed his hand tighter. "Which is?"

"Corinne's not the outsider, I am."

She had a family she'd never feel left out of. Colin didn't, and his words hit Rina hard, helping her to understand him even more. Still, maybe his vision was distorted, coming from the perspective of the little boy who'd lost his parents and then felt as if he'd had no one.

"I know that's your perception and I've never met Joe, but my heart tells me he wouldn't agree. The man took you into his home. He adopted you. That says something about his feelings for you. Did you talk to him today?"

"I didn't want to be in a place I didn't belong, so I took off."

"So what brought you back here now?"

He rolled his head to the side, meeting her gaze. "You're the only one I trust enough to let in." He pointed to his chest. "Here." He tapped the area over his heart.

A lump rose to her throat as he reached out and touched her cheek.

"Am I forgiven?"

"There never was anything to forgive."

He released a long breath and she felt as if she'd given him a gift.

Still, she sensed he wasn't finished, that he had more to reveal. "What else did you realize today?" she asked.

"Are you a mind reader?" he asked, laughing.

"No, but I guess I am coming to know you."

Gratitude flickered in his gaze. "Joe raised me as his son. From plain old discipline to learning journalism at his knee, he didn't treat me any differently than if he'd had a kid of his own."

"That says so much about his character. He's obviously a good man."

"I know. That's what makes this so hard to reconcile. When Joe got sick, who did he give power of attorney? Who did he trust with his biggest, most beloved asset? With the asset he taught me to love and respect? Not his son, but his wife of two years."

She heard the betrayal in Colin's voice. She felt his pain in her heart. Her words wouldn't offer any explanation or ease his hurt, but she instinctively knew exactly what he needed. Something she could provide.

Turning toward him, she held out her arms, waiting as he came forward, his lips sealing hard and fast against hers.

Rina's lips devoured Colin's with abandon, not holding back. His blood heated and blazed, desire threatening to rampage out of control.

"Let's take this into the bedroom," he suggested, breaking the kiss.

He had no doubt she'd agree. Her body spoke for her, telling him she wanted him as much as he wanted her. But more importantly, she'd listened and understood, offering the comfort he needed without him having to ask.

"Sounds like a good plan," she said, her brown eyes glittering bright with desire.

Rising from the couch, he picked her up and swept her into his arms. "You should know I didn't come back here expecting this."

She laughed and shook her head before running a finger down his cheek. "Liar."

Caught, he merely grinned. "Okay, let's say I needed you and leave it at that."

"That's more like the silver-tongued devil you usually are."

He laughed. Her acceptance filled an emptiness inside him. He could have said that gnawing hole had begun with Joe's illness, but the empty pit had been eating away at him for a long time. Since his parents' deaths.

And that emptiness had led to the need to fill the void. He'd fallen back on travel, and the old desire was beckoning again. But he hadn't been able to outrun the void in the past and he knew it wouldn't accomplish anything now. He was fighting it this time, but it was difficult.

The woman in his arms made it easier. He made his way to the bedroom with her nuzzling at his neck, her breath warm against his skin. Without warning, she began to tug at his earlobe with her teeth. The sensation was hot and erotic, shooting desire straight to his groin. She'd not only chased away the pain but she'd filled that void.

The realization struck him hard, but before he could deal with what that meant, he'd reached the bed and more urgent needs called to him.

He lowered her to the comforter and came down on top of her in the nick of time, spreading her thighs and settling his hard, aching erection between her legs. Though he was fully dressed, he realized she wasn't.

Her robe parted easily, and instead of thin silk, he discovered bare flesh, moist heat and damp folds waiting for his touch, his taste, his aching member. He curled his fingers around the down comforter surrounding them and prayed for restraint.

"Don't you think you're overdressed?" she asked.

To hell with it. Restraint was overrated. He rose and began stripping out of his clothes, mindless of where they fell, but not unaware of Rina. She watched him undress. Her bright gaze followed his movements, the need dilating her eyes an arousing sight. As was her pose. She lay on the bed, robe parted, exposing a hint of white skin and cleavage above the belted knot, and those enticingly damp curls below.

He eased himself beside her, fully naked and completely aroused. Flesh against flesh, he thought he'd died and gone to heaven, except for the hard ache he'd yet to satisfy.

"I have a surprise." Her light laughter only served to inflame his need even more.

"I like surprises."

"Then close your eyes."

He lay back and complied, his body charged, his mind barely able to focus. In the darkness, he heard her open a drawer and rummage through it. "No peeking," she warned him.

He covered his eyes with one arm for good measure.

"Ready?" she asked in a husky voice.

"That's a loaded question, Rina." And then he nearly flew off the bed as he felt the first silken touch of-"What is that?"

"What's it feel like?"

"A soft tingling," he said through gritted teeth as a featherlight sensation teased his skin and worked its way up his thighs. "A feather?"

"Wrong."

The fluttering torment continued as she caressed his lower abdomen, flirting with him, circling close to where his erection pulsed thick and ready.

"Guess again."

The sensation came once more, this time teasing the head of his penis, causing his hips to jerk upward. He nearly came then. Unable and unwilling to play anymore, he opened his eyes.

Rina straddled his thighs, a long ponytail in her hand, a warm, inviting smile on her flushed face. "I remember how much you liked the long hair, so I thought I'd satisfy that ultimate male fantasy."

"What male fantasy?"

"Wrapping long hair around your body. Don't tell me it's not something you've dreamed about." She studied him through too-innocent eyes for a woman so bewitching.

"If I admit to the obvious, do you think we can do something about this?" He glanced at his unrestrained erection.

"I think that can be arranged." With a wicked grin, she tossed the hair extension aside and covered his thighs with splayed hands, inching upward until her fingertips touched his coarse hair.

He let out a groan. This woman would be the death of him.

"But first I need you to tell me what you want." She swallowed hard and hesitated, the uncertainty more endearing than her earlier boldness had been.

He'd once asked her to tell him the same thing, and he was grateful she'd cared enough to ask. "I want you to take me in your mouth." He needed her to give to him in that ultimate, intimate way. Needed to know she was as far gone as he. "Hold me in your hand, take me in your mouth and make me come."

He held his breath and waited as she stretched out beside him, her legs near his head, her mouth hovering above his sex. "A first," he thought he heard her say, and then he heard nothing because she'd done as he'd asked.

Heat enveloped him, cushioning him in liquid warmth. At the first lap of her tongue, he nearly came off the bed. And then she bathed him with damp sweeps of her tongue, alternating with erotic grazing of teeth against his shaft.

"Sweet heaven," he muttered with an uncontrollable groan. He was lost in the most incredible whirlpool of sensation, but not so far gone he couldn't think of her, and when he opened his eyes, her bare skin beckoned to him.

It took some maneuvering and some damn fine concentration on his part not to climax first, but he managed to part her robe and find the vee of her legs. He grasped her thighs and found her slick, damp folds with his tongue, drawing her into his mouth the same way she was taking him.

"Colin?" The shock in her voice sounded at the same time the swirling arousing sensations rocking his body tapered off. Damn. "Relax, sweetheart. I want you with me when I come."

The things Rina did to him, body, heart and soul defied description. He inhaled her essence and his body trembled as he began working her again with his tongue.

A whimper escaped, bubbling up from the back of her throat, and her hips began a subtle movement, begging for more. Holding on to her thighs, he met her silent demand as she did the same for him, slickening his hard shaft with dampness and gliding her hands up and down, mimicking the thrust of lovemaking, of his body pumping into her tight, moist heat.

Within seconds, a shaking, shuddering climax hit him, harder than any he could remember, sending him into a breath-stealing moment of release and complete surrender. From the cry that escaped her lips, he knew he'd taken her along for the ride. And that notion pleased him far more than his own physical release.

Later, after a shower that involved more than washing up, they shared popcorn in bed while a mellow radio station played in the background. A dim light set the room aglow, Rina snuggled beside him, and Colin felt a contentment that had always eluded him.

"I've been thinking," she said.

"I know. I can hear those old gears grinding."

She laughed. "I'm serious. You were talking earlier about how hurt you were that Joe didn't leave the running of the paper to you in case of an emergency."

The topic sobered him, reminding him of how and why he'd ended up back on Rina's doorstep tonight. Watching Corinne sit by Joe's bedside, her gaze damp, his hand in hers, he'd felt like an outsider in a family he thought had been his. He wasn't a child and he understood how juvenile his thoughts seemed, so he'd tried to focus on the reasons behind his feelings.

It came back to the bond he'd always shared with Joe. The bond the older man had broken. The newspaper. "What about it?" he asked Rina.

"Well, I take it even before today's relapse, Joe hasn't been up to a business conversation, so you don't know why he did what he did."

"That about sums it up."

"Until you can talk with him, you won't feel much better. But you can try talking to Corinne and not fighting with her," she suggested. "I did notice you aren't exactly your charming self when she's around."

Despite the serious subject, he laughed. "That's true." He picked up a piece of popcorn. "Open," he said. Rina opened her mouth and he popped a piece inside. "But I have tried and she's set on doing things her way. And I went there today, intending to hash things out, but�" He shook his head. "It wasn't the time."

She chewed and swallowed. "Well, you're the one with experience," she said, taking his side without knowing what his side was or what it would mean for her future. "As soon as Joe's better, I'm sure he'll hear you out."

"The doctor's indicated a return to work wasn't coming anytime soon," he said.

"But he'll be able to take back the reins or at least oversee more. At the very least, you'll be able to talk to him again." She leaned over and placed a salty kiss on his lips. "You'll feel better once you get things off your chest. Be true to yourself, Colin. I already told you, my marriage taught me that's the one thing that counts in life."

"You told me a little. I want to know more."

She eyed him steadily. "I realize now that though I did love Robert�" She trailed off.

And he hated the jealousy gnawing at his gut. Hating the thought of Rina with any other man.

"Although I loved him, it was a steady, dependable kind of love." She drew a calming breath. "Not anything like�" She shook her head, interrupting herself. "Never mind."

Colin's stomach clenched, but he refused to push her. Probably because he was afraid she'd compare her safe marriage to their more combustible, less reliable, short-term affair. And he wasn't in any position to reassure her.

RINA LOVED the holidays. The music, the festive cheer, the people surrounding her. She just wished she'd been able to help Colin more, but maybe meeting with Joe would do the trick.

Emma tapped her foot impatiently against the floor and Rina realized she was being chastised. She also knew what for. "What would you like me to do?" she asked, meeting the older woman's annoyed gaze. "I can't just take off after Colin."

Much as she'd like to. She didn't want him to be alone when dealing with Joe, in case the older man's explanation provided more hurt than solution.

"Why can't you leave? It's not like someone here can't hold down the fort while you're gone." Emma shot her a pointed glare.

"You of all people understand etiquette. I can't walk out on my own party. It's rude."

"I beg to differ. Catherine's a caterer and she'd be happy to keep the hors d'oeuvres hot until you get back. Wouldn't you?" Emma grasped Catherine's sleeve as she walked by.

"Wouldn't I what?" the pretty blonde asked.

"Hold down the food, I mean fort, while Rina goes to the hospital to be by Colin's side."

"Of course." Cat waved a hand in dismissal. "You go on and don't worry about a thing here."

"But�"

"And while Catherine handles the food, Francesca doesn't mind serving as hostess, do you, dear?" The older woman had to hustle, but she managed to poke Frankie in the back as she passed. "I'd play hostess myself but I'm being paged," Emma said.

To Rina's shock, Emma turned and blew a kiss Stan's way.

"I'll be right there," she called to the man who sat in the corner, patting the arm of the chair as if he wanted Emma to join him.

Frankie chuckled. "I can handle things here," she assured Emma and Rina.

Rina glanced around. She had to admit, she could probably sneak off for an hour and they'd survive.

But Colin was facing an emotional minefield. Would he welcome her presence? Or would showing up give him a reason to push her away?

Half an hour later, Rina walked into the hospital, and after meeting up with Corinne on Joe's floor, was directed to his room. She strode into the doorway and paused. Colin sat in the chair beside the bed, his back to the door and his head bent close to the man he called his father.

The intensity in the room was fierce and a lump rose to her throat. Her pulse began to pound and her heart raced, anticipation and anxiety feuding inside her. She didn't know what Colin was facing. But as much as she wanted to go to him, to hold his hand, she remained in the shadows, knowing he deserved his time alone.

Knowing, too, she'd be here when it was through.

FLOWERS ARRIVED at Rina's home. A thick, red, luxurious and obviously expensive bouquet of roses. The card had only two words: Please stay.

Next, she checked her e-mail and discovered a card sent from the office server. Lovers' quarrels are meant to be forgotten, it said.

And then there was the small box she'd found in her desk drawer. An empty velvet jewelry box. The best gifts are meant to be given in person. Forgive me.

The gifts were lovely, all sentimental, all intended to wrap around her heart. But the last one, the empty jewelry box that could only hold a ring, was almost her undoing. Until she reminded herself that none of the presents, the ring box included, could possibly be from Colin. The man had a direct style, and this anonymous note-sending wasn't an approach he'd choose. She couldn't help suspecting somebody else was trying to get her and Colin back together.

The phone rang, distracting her. She picked up the receiver. "Hello?"

"Hi, Rina? It's Cat."

"Cat!" Rina said, glad to hear from the other woman. She loved her outgoing personality and wanted to get to know her better. Then she remembered she wasn't staying in town. A lump rose to her throat.

"I hope you survived the holiday?" Cat asked. "I know that after a party at my place, I want to crawl into bed and stay there for days. It's amazing how I can cater at other people's homes without any problems, but bring the festivities to my house, and I'm a wreck."

Rina laughed. "I know what you mean. But it was so special having everyone share the holiday with me."

"Even if you did look like you'd lost your best friend?"

Rina blinked. "Emma always said you were perceptive."

"And nosy." A tinkling laughter followed Cat's pronouncement. "Is everything better with you and Colin?"

Rina twirled the phone cord around her finger and leaned back into her comfortable couch. "It's settled," she said. But was it? an inner voice asked.

"Forgive me for prying, but it didn't seem that way to me. Colin came for dinner last night and he was miserable."

Rina's heart pounded in her chest. She didn't want him unhappy, yet she couldn't help the lift in her heart that came with knowing he hadn't gotten over her quickly. Because she was nowhere near over him. "It's not something I caused, Cat."

"Well, I didn't cause my problems with Logan before we got married, but it was up to me to decide I could live with who and what he was." Cat cleared her throat. "Actually, I had to decide I could accept who and what I was," she admitted. "But that was me. We're talking about you."

Rina sighed. "Somehow I'm sensing there's not much difference." Colin accepted her for who and what she was. Despite the lies, in her heart, Rina understood that.

She understood that there'd been no honest, graceful way for him to tap her on the shoulder and say, "Hey, Rina, you should know, the paper's in deep financial trouble and the only way out is for me to cut the column you love so much."

Yes, she wished he'd told her. But she understood why he hadn't. She hadn't written an advice column for women without learning a few things herself. And in the days since discovering the truth, she'd put herself in Colin's position and knew the words couldn't possibly come easily for him. Especially after he'd learned how important her work and newly asserted independence were to her, both missing in her past marriage.

Like Robert, Colin wanted to give her what she desired. Unlike Robert, Colin listened to her needs, accepted them, and didn't want to be the man to destroy her dreams. She sighed.

"Hello?" Catherine called into the phone. "You're breathing but not speaking. What's going on?"

Rina smiled and glanced at the flowers and notes strewn on the table. She didn't want to put Catherine in the middle of her messed-up love life. "Does Colin strike you as a guy who'd send flowers and anonymous notes?"

Cat laughed. "No. Are you receiving them?"

"Yes." Rina paused in thought.

"Emma," they said at the same time.

"That's my guess," Cat said. "You can't imagine the lengths she went to in order to get Logan and I back together. She actually sent me fairy dust!"

Rina rolled her eyes. "That sounds like Emma, all right. Which just goes to show you, even her own social life doesn't keep her busy enough to keep her from meddling."

"Nothing could," Cat said. "Listen, before I forget, the reason I called is that I left my favorite serving dish at your house the other night."

"It's all cleaned for you." Rina drew a deep breath. "How about we meet for lunch sometime next week and I'll return it then?"

Because in her heart she realized that Ashford was home and she couldn't bear to leave it or the friends she'd begun to make here, regardless of whether Colin decided to stay or go.

"Sounds good."

After agreeing on an exact day and time, Rina hung up the phone and stared around her small apartment. If she closed her eyes, she could see Colin everywhere. He'd made such a big impact in the weekend he'd spent here.

And she missed him now. But how much worse would the ache be if she let things get even more serious and then he took off? She'd lost Robert in an unexpected, devastating tragedy and she'd promised herself from the beginning that she wouldn't get emotionally involved with Colin because he'd never said he was staying. She didn't want her heart broken again. But control was an illusion and she'd fallen in love despite it all. With a man who would probably leave at the first opportunity, whether he knew it yet or not. His history spoke louder than his words.

She rubbed her aching temples. She didn't know what, if anything, Colin wanted out of their relationship. There was no denying he understood and accepted Rina for who and what she was. The question was, did she accept him?