Table of Contents

Cover Page

Excerpt

Dear Reader

Title Page

Dedication

About the Author

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Epilogue

Preview

Copyright

“Where do you think you’d find a woman reckless enough to take the plunge with you?”

“Oh, I’ve found her already,” Aaron said.

Something made Shelly catch her breath. He actually sounded as if he meant it. Could this be happening? Had some special woman secured a place in Aaron’s heart? “Why haven’t you told me about her?”

“Because she hasn’t said yes yet”

“Forgive me, but I hardly think you’re serious.”

“Oh, I am. With any luck I’ll be engaged before, say, the seventeenth of May….”

Shelly felt as if a rug were being pulled out from under her. “You’re saying you’ll be engaged by the time I get married?”

“No. I’ll be engaged before you get married….”

* * *

Have you heard the great things being said about Husband Next Door by Anne Ha?

“I enjoyed every page. When Shelly tries to teach Aaron the proper way to dump a woman, I laughed out loud. This talented new writer offers a warm and gentle twist on the sweet traditional romance, hinting at wonderful stories to come.”

—Bestselling author Leigh Michaels

“Husband Next Door is a charming and piquant tale filled with a wry sense of the absurd. This debut novel by a very talented writer is not to be missed; Anne Ha is going to the top, fast.”

—Affaire de Coeur

Dear Reader,

Happy Valentine’s Day! Silhouette Romance’s Valentine to you is our special lineup this month, starting with Daddy by Decision by bestselling, award-winning author Lindsay Longford. When rugged cowboy Buck Riley sees his estranged ex with a child who looks just like him, he believes the little boy is his son. True or not, that belief in his heart—and his love for mother and child—is all he needs to be a FABULOUS FATHER.

And we’re celebrating love and marriage with I’M YOUR GROOM, a five-book promotion about five irresistible heroes who say “I do” for a lifetime of love. In Carolyn Zane’s It’s Raining Grooms, a preacher’s daughter prays for a husband and suddenly finds herself engaged to her gorgeous childhood nemesis. To Wed Again? by DeAnna Talcott tells the story of a divorced couple who are blessed with a second chance at marriage when they become instant parents. Next, in Judith Janeway’s An Accidental Marriage, the maid of honor and the best man are forced to act like the eloped newlyweds when the bride’s parents arrive!

Plus, two authors sure to become favorites make their Romance debuts this month. In Husband Next Door by Anne Ha, a very confirmed bachelor is reformed into marriage material, and in Wedding Rings and Baby Things by Teresa Southwick, an anyminute mom-to-be says “I do” to a marriage of convenience that leads to a lifetime of love….

I hope you enjoy all six of these wonderful books.

Warm wishes,

Melissa Senate, Senior Editor Silhouette Books

Please address questions and book requests to: Silhouette Reader Service

U.S.: 3010 Walden Ave., P.O. Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269

Canadian: P.O. Box 609, Fort Erie, Ont. L2A 5X3

Husband Next Door
Anne Ha

www.millsandboon.co.uk

For our sisters, Tonya and Liz. With heartfelt gratitude to our families, friends and colleagues who’ve supported us along the way. Big thanks to RWA® and our pals on GEnie® RomEx!

ANNE HA

is the pen name of Anne and Joe Thoron, a husbandand-wife writing team. College sweethearts, they live in Oregon with two naughty cats and a vegetable garden. They love to travel and meet all different kinds of people. Husband Next Door, a finalist in the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart Competition, is their first published book.

Chapter One

By the time her doorbell rang, Shelly Carpenter had been pacing the hardwood floor of her apartment for nearly an hour. She sighed with relief, crossed the living room and raised herself up on her toes to peer through the peephole. Pleased by the sight that met her, she unlocked the door and opened it wide.

Her neighbor lounged against the porch railing. A tall, dark-haired man in his early thirties, he wore jeans and a black leather jacket to protect him from the chill of the evening.

“Ms. Carpenter,” he drawled in greeting.

Shelly’s poise deserted her. She’d waited hours to share the news. She’d planned the perfect speech. Now she couldn’t remember a word of it. “Eric asked me to marry him,” she blurted.

Taking an anxious breath, she waited for a response.

None came. Across the threshold, Aaron Carpenter stared back at her without a flicker of emotion on his face. Several seconds ticked by.

Finally, when Shelly was wondering whether he’d heard her at all, her next-door neighbor raised an eyebrow. “And…?”

“That’s it,” she said. “Today at lunch.”

“At lunch, eh?” Aaron absently stroked his jaw. It was a strong jaw, square cut, and darkened with five o’clock shadow. “Well…I didn’t expect this to happen so soon. But it’s not a total surprise either.”

“Really?” Shelly suppressed a nervous laugh. “I think it’s pretty sudden.” They still stood in the doorway. She stepped back so Aaron could enter her apartment.

He studied her. “So…? Did you accept?”

She bit her lip as she locked the door. “No,” she said at last. “That is, not yet.”

“But you’re going to?”

“I think so…. It’s not something I can rush into, though.”

Aaron strolled to the couch and sat down, relaxing into his usual sprawl. “That’s probably a wise idea,” he said. “After all, it’s quite a major decision. Take your time, think it over carefully.” He indicated a steno pad she’d left on the coffee table. “Maybe you should make a list of pros and cons,” he suggested jokingly.

Shelly felt herself flush.

Aaron, watching her, chuckled softly. “I see,” he said. His blue eyes sparkled with curiosity. “What did you come up with?”

Shelly perched on the couch. The steno pad lay directly in front of her, and she flattened her palm on top of it. “Nothing…nothing conclusive.” She tried to slide the pad out of his reach, but his hand snaked out and took hold of a corner.

“Not so fast,” he said. “Didn’t I show you the letter Marcia wrote me? It can’t be more embarrassing than that, can it?”

She looked at him uncertainly.

He released his grip and held out his hand. “Shelly,” he said, “don’t play hard to get. If you really didn’t want me to see it, you would have hidden it before you answered the door.”

She saw the truth in his statement. She and Aaron were in and out of each other’s apartments so much, it was almost as if there were no wall between them. Anything left out in the open was fair game for the other.

“Okay,” she muttered, relinquishing the notebook, “but you’d better not say anything cruel.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it. I might even be able to help.” Aaron flipped the notebook open and perused the list. “More pros than cons, eh? That makes sense, I guess, if you’re going to marry the guy.”

She sighed. “Just read the list and be done with it, Aaron.”

He ran his eyes down the column, picking out words and phrases. “‘Considerate…respects me…stable.’ Stable? Do you mean emotionally or financially?”

“The first one, of course. That’s what matters most”

“Is he?” asked Aaron, raising an eyebrow.

Shelly crossed her arms. Eric West was a principal lawyer in the legal aid office where she worked. She’d been dating him for several months, and he’d always been calm and dependable—as Aaron well knew.

She gave him a haughty glare. “More stable than you.”

He grinned back at her. “Touchy, touchy. Okay, let’s see what else is on this list. ‘Intelligent…likes helping people…similar interests….’ Not bad, Carpenter.”

His words hung in the air for a moment. It was faint praise, but then, she hadn’t expected Aaron to be impressed by her considered and substantive list. Tucking a lock of blond hair behind her ear, she began, “Thank you—”

“But I take it you haven’t slept with him yet.”

Shelly spluttered. “As if that’s any of your business!”

“Well…” Aaron shrugged. “You have to admit, it’s suspicious to make a list like this and not even mention you’re attracted to him. Is he that unappealing?”

“I wasn’t finished yet.” She sniffed. “Anyway, if all I wanted was physical gratification, I’ve got a whole city of partners to choose from. I need more than that.”

“Well said.” He smiled so warmly she forgave him for his obnoxiousness. “Now let’s see what’s wrong with him. ‘Travels a lot.’ That’s true enough, and a definite drawback.” His eyes met hers. “He’s out of town tonight, isn’t he? It’s the only logical explanation for why he proposed over lunch.”

Shelly nodded.

Aaron looked down at the pad again. “Is that it? Only one thing wrong with him?”

Shelly lifted her chin. “So?”

“So, if you’re going to make a list like this, it’s got to be balanced.” He reached into his breast pocket for a pen. “I can think of a few things right off the top of my head. His parents, for one.” He wrote this down.

“They’re perfectly nice people,” Shelly countered.

“You’ve only met them once,” Aaron returned. “I, on the other hand, have met them twice.”

Eric’s parents, she remembered, were patrons of the non-profit organization Aaron ran, and they’d attended a couple of fundraising events.

Aaron scrawled another word on the pad.

“What’s that?” Shelly asked, craning her head so she could see what he’d written. “Boring? You think he’s boring?”

“Shhh,” he placated. “It’s just something you should consider. Remember, I’m only trying to help.” He reviewed the list again, tapping his pen against the polished wood of her coffee table. “Come to think of it, maybe this bit about him traveling so much belongs on the other side….”

Shelly snatched the pad from him and tore off the top sheet. Crumpling it in her fist, she stared at him through narrowed green eyes. “You don’t think I should marry him, do you?”

He considered her question. “Actually, I wouldn’t go that far. I just believe you shouldn’t marry anyone but your soul mate. If Eric is that person, then by all means rush him to the altar.”

“Soul mate?” Shelly echoed dubiously.

“Sure.” His eyes gleamed. “The person with whom you feel an intense connection and an unmistakable feeling of rightness. Not to mention weak knees and a shiver in your stomach.”

She swallowed. He was making fun of her. “Modern women don’t go weak in the knees,” she said tightly. She tossed the crumpled paper onto the table.

Aaron wagged his finger at her. “You think it’ll never happen to you…. Ah, the confidence of youth.”

“You’re not that old yourself.”

He laced his fingers together. “No. But you have to admit, I’ve got lots of experience.” He said it with a wicked grin.

Shelly made a face. “Yet you haven’t met your soul mate.”

“Not this week,” Aaron agreed. “There was this greatlooking redhead the other day, though….”

She stared at the ceiling and shook her head. The man was hopeless. He possessed equal measures of charm and fickleness, a combination that had broken more than one unwary female heart. But not hers, fortunately. On a regular basis Shelly thanked her stars that she and Aaron were next-door neighbors. Because of that fact she’d been able to observe him in action first—before she could become an unwitting victim.

Aaron was still talking. “Speaking of which, do you happen to have any eggs?”

She blinked. “You’ve lost me, Carpenter.”

He stood and walked into the kitchen. “Eggs. I need some.” Rummaging sounds emanated from around the corner. “Here they are. Mind if I…?”

“Wait a minute,” called Shelly. “What about Eric? What about my major decision?”

She could almost see him shrugging as he said, “Oh, I’m sure you’ll be able to make the right choice…. Can I have these or not?”

Resigning herself to the shift in conversation, Shelly got to her feet and joined Aaron in the kitchen. “All of them?”

“You only have six.” He displayed the open carton.

“Breakfast for an overnight guest?” she asked sweetly. “Well, you’ll have to make do with five. I need at least one for my own breakfast.”

“Dinner for a nonovernight guest, actually.” Aaron reached into one of her cupboards for a glass mixing bowl. He put five eggs into the bowl and returned the last solitary egg to the refrigerator, tossing the empty carton into the trash.

Shelly plucked it out of the garbage and carried it across the room to her recycling bin.

Aaron didn’t notice. He pulled out the vegetable drawer and pawed around. “Can I have this purple cabbage, too, Shel?”

“Take whatever you want. Goodness knows I won’t eat it.”

He ignored her sarcasm. “Thanks. Just eggs and the cabbage, then. It’s time for you to go shopping, you know.”

“Yeah,” she said dryly. “I can’t imagine where it all goes.”

Aaron feigned embarrassment. “Tell you what,” he said. “I only need half of this cabbage, so I’ll leave the rest with you.” With easy movements he took a chopping knife from her drawer, cut the cabbage in two and covered both parts in plastic wrap.

Shelly just stood and watched. “What in the world are you going to make with eggs and cabbage?”

“Quiche,” he said, smiling.

“Cabbage quiche? Ick. Your poor girlfriend. Why not just tell her you’ve lost interest in her?”

He stared at Shelly in disbelief. “But that’s not very imaginative, is it? And this—” he held up the purple vegetable “—is so much more interesting.”

“And infinitely more cruel. Have I met the lucky lady?”

He stopped and gave her an earnest look. “Actually, there isn’t one.”

“Right, Aaron.”

“Well, not tonight at least. I’m only practicing. Come on, let’s take these to my place.” Aaron grabbed his half of the cabbage and strode out of the kitchen.

Grumbling, Shelly picked up the bowl of eggs and followed him, almost bumping into his broad back when he stopped abruptly.

Aaron turned to face the wall. He studied a framed black-and-white poster of two Parisian lovers kissing. It was the one romantic touch Shelly had allowed herself in her apartment, but under Aaron’s sudden scrutiny, it seemed much too sentimental.

She shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “What is it? That poster’s been there for months, Aaron.”

He tilted his head to stare at her. “You really haven’t noticed, have you?”

“Noticed what?” she said defensively.

“Nothing.” He headed for the front door again.

“What’s wrong with my poster? You think it’s stupid?”

“No, no, of course not. It’s very tasteful. Now, if the woman’s neckline were any lower it might be a bit risqué, but…”

Shelly groaned and followed him out onto their shared stoop, waiting while he fished out his key ring.

He paused after unlocking his door. “Are you coming in?”

“Not if you’re having company.”

Aaron took the bowl from her hands and set it on the sideboard just inside his door. He faced her. “Shelly, there’s no one in there.”

She shivered in the damp air. “But there will be, and then there’ll be a scene. It’s the same story every time I run into one of your girlfriends. They think I’m competition and they get catty.”

Aaron sighed. “Don’t tell me you’re still worked up about Marcia. That was ages ago.”

She kept her mouth shut.

“Look, Shel, my dinner date’s not due until tomorrow evening. If she shows up tonight, she deserves whatever she finds.”

Shelly stepped back toward her apartment.

“Wait,” said Aaron, reaching for her hand. “Let’s compromise. If you come in, I’ll save the cabbage for another night. Just keep me company while I cook.” He flashed a persuasive grin.

She wavered.

“Come on. You shouldn’t be alone at a time like this.”

“You make it sound as if somebody died. But, yes, I will come in for a few minutes….”

Shelly liked Aaron’s apartment. It was larger than her own, with original paintings hanging in the hallway and over the mantelpiece. His furniture was modern but very comfortable, upholstered in dark tones of maroon and navy blue.

Most importantly, though, the place felt like a home. It had an air of comfort and continuity that was completely different from the houses she’d lived in as a child, and it smelled like a home should, of warm cinnamon spice and even the subtle masculine scent of Aaron himself.

Shelly followed him into the kitchen and pulled up a stool by the cooking island, resting her elbows on the tile countertop.

Aaron poured a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice and set it before her. “I have a letter of yours, by the way.” He pointed to a small drop-front desk in the corner.

She slid off the stool and crossed the room. The letter, addressed to “S. Carpenter,” was an offer for a credit card at a low annual percentage rate. Shelly ripped it in two without reading it.

It was crazy, she thought, that they were still getting pieces of each other’s mail. The postal service simply couldn’t figure out that they weren’t related and lived in separate apartments. It was pure coincidence that they shared the same last name.

The confusion didn’t really bother her, though. After all, she never would have gotten to know Aaron so well without it. Almost a year ago, right after she’d moved to San Francisco, Aaron had knocked on her door. He’d introduced himself, handed her two misdelivered letters and asked if he could kiss her.

Despite the instant response that had run through her— Aaron, with his tousled black hair and dazzling blue eyes, was quite a heartthrob—she’d kept her common sense and refused him. He’d never made another pass. He hadn’t needed to, Shelly realized during the following weeks. There’d been plenty of other women ready to fall at his feet, and he rarely lacked female companionship.

He’d still found time, however, to stop by her place almost nightly, in order to deliver more letters that had gone astray. Homesick and lonely after her move to the West Coast, she’d begun to look forward to their brief encounters.

And then one night he’d invited her over for dinner. His date had canceled at the last minute, he’d said, and if she wasn’t doing anything else, he would love to have her over to chat and share the food he’d prepared.

She’d been somewhat unsettled by the romantic meal that had greeted her when she’d entered his dining room, but Aaron had quickly allayed her concerns.

“I’d already set out the candles when Laura called to cancel,” he’d explained. “We might as well enjoy them.” It had been the first of many pleasant, platonic evenings they’d spent together.

Shelly returned to her stool and took another sip of orange juice. While she’d been thinking of the past, Aaron had chopped a tomato and beaten the eggs he’d borrowed from her refrigerator. He put a pan on the stove and poured some olive oil into it, stirring it briefly before consulting his cookbook.

“Tell me what you’re making,” Shelly said, “since it isn’t cabbage quiche.”

“Tomato basil frittata,” he replied.

“Another experiment?”

He nodded.

“And you thought you’d try it out on me.”

“What? You’re staying for dinner?”

“Of course I am. That’s been your plan all along, hasn’t it?”

“Now that you mention it,” he said, “yes.”

Shelly smiled to herself as she set the kitchen table with her favorite place mats and napkins.

She poured him a drink and lit the taper candles she’d picked up last week, then sat at the table enjoying the sweet fragrance of beeswax wafting from the candles and the muted clatter of Aaron selecting dinnerware and serving out their meal.

Aaron’s frittata was similar to the omelets he occasionally cooked for her on weekend mornings. It was smooth and creamy with a delightful blend of flavors.

“That was pretty good,” she said when they’d finished.

“Thank you. I want to serve it as a side dish. Do you think it’ll go with steak? And do you think Amanda will like it?”

She looked up. “Amanda? Is this a new one?”

Aaron carried their plates to the sink and set them in the basin. “You know, Shelly, you almost sound jealous.”

“Hardly,” she scoffed. “What you’re hearing is my disapproval of your life-style.”

He grinned at her, unrepentant.

She rolled her eyes. “About the steak,” she continued. “I think that’s an unconventional combination. But you just might be able to carry it off. I mean, people eat steak and eggs, right? Steak and frittata isn’t much different.”

He returned to the table. “You’re not saying that just to get me into trouble, are you? I could make salmon, instead.”

Shelly grimaced. “No. Stick with the steak. That way you can get Alison tipsy on a nice red wine.”

“Amanda.”

She stared at him. “Are you sure?”

Aaron paused. “Yes, I’m sure.”

Shelly watched while he dug into his back pocket and pulled a business card from his wallet, checking it quickly before giving it to her. It was his own card, but on the reverse was the name Amanda James and a telephone number, all written in a flowing, feminine hand.

“Lucky you,” she said pithily as she handed back the card.

Aaron tossed it onto the island, where it would no doubt stay until his next girlfriend found it and went into a jealous rage. “I’ll make coffee,” he said.

“No, it’s my turn.” She stood and crossed to the machine. “You made it last time, didn’t you? Fair’s fair.”

They both took their coffee black. Aaron sipped his appreciatively and leaned back, balancing his chair on two legs. “So, Carpenter, aside from that marriage proposal, how was your day at the office?”

“Don’t ask.”

“Oh, that’s right. The April open house is tomorrow.”

“Exactly.” Every month, legal aid invited low-income and homeless people to come in for help with legal problems. If a lawyer could take the case, and if the person qualified, then the services were free. It was an effective way to reach those in need of assistance, but the days leading up to it were always hectic.

“Is Eric going to be there?”

Shelly shook her head. “No. He had to fly to Sacramento this afternoon—to lobby for that grant again. He won’t be back till next week.”

“So you have plenty of time to make up your mind.”

She nodded. She would have at least five days to think about her decision, and she knew Eric wouldn’t ask for her answer the moment he returned. He’d told her to take as much time as needed, and she would. Shelly was determined to make the right choice because, when she married, she wanted to be married forever. She didn’t want to fall into the same trap her mother had, rushing into matrimony with heedless passion only to realize, too late, that she’d made a mistake.

Of course, Eric wasn’t anything like Shelly’s father. But she was going to be careful nonetheless.

“You know,” Aaron said, startling her from her reverie, “I was thinking of asking you the same question.”

Shelly frowned, trying to pick up the thread of the conversation. “What are you talking about?”

He sipped his coffee. “I was thinking of asking you to marry me.”

Caught by surprise, Shelly felt her heart speed up. Finally she managed a laugh.

Aaron brought all four legs of his chair back to the floor with a thud. “I guess that means no,” he said, his tone ironic.

“You haven’t asked me the question.” Only when the words were out of her mouth did she realize she’d given him the perfect opening.

Aaron pushed aside his coffee cup and leaned across the table. Before Shelly could pull away, he grasped her hands in his and gazed soulfully into her eyes. His touch was warm and firm, and she could feel the slight roughness of his fingers against her palms.

“Shelly,” he said, “will you marry me?”

She gulped. Even though she knew he was kidding— and knew she’d never want to marry him—hearing Aaron say those words made her feel unaccountably shaky. She withdrew her hands from his grasp and said, as casually as she could, “Very funny, Aaron. You’d run screaming if I answered yes.”

“Probably.” He shrugged.

Shelly frowned. Had there been the briefest flicker of something in his eyes just then? She examined his features. No, she told herself, of course not. He leaned negligently back in his chair, his expression bland. He was the same unconcerned Aaron as usual.

His next words, spoken in a musing tone, confirmed her assessment

“It’s too bad, though, since there are tons of advantages. We could get a house together and never have to ring a doorbell to talk. I could cook for you every night. We know each other well, so there wouldn’t be any surprises—not to mention you’d be spared the heartache of deciding whether or not to take my name.”

“There’s no heartache involved,” she said, recovering her composure. She was used to this sort of nonsense from him. “No matter what happens, I’m keeping my name.”

Aaron drummed his fingers on the table. His eyes took on a mischievous sparkle, and he said in a stuffy voice, “For your professional life, certainly, dear. But I really think you should use mine in our social life. It’s so much simpler that way.”

Shelly shook her head, smiling.

“Of course, if you really wanted to be fair, we could hyphenate. Both of us. We’d be Shelly and Aaron Carpenter-Carpenter. How’s that?”

“Please, Aaron. Give me a break already. You’re only doing this to tease me.”

He didn’t deny it, she noticed.

She sighed. “Not to mention the fact that it makes you seem desperate when you ask a woman to marry you right after another man has proposed. Desperation is not attractive.”

Aaron shrugged again. “So I’m desperate.”

“Right.” The idea of Aaron being desperate was ludicrous. Even if he could bring himself to commit—which was highly improbable—it wouldn’t be to a plain old security seeker like her. “What happened to all that soul mate business?” she challenged. “Somehow I can’t believe your knees went weak and your stomach tied itself in knots the first time you saw me.”

Aaron didn’t say anything.

“Anyway,” she couldn’t help adding, “if we were soul mates, you’d have proposed to me a long time ago. Soul mates don’t wait until the last minute.”

“How was I supposed to know it was the last minute?” Aaron got up and poured himself another cup of coffee. “If you’re not going to marry me, will you at least do the dishes?”

Obviously, she thought, he’d grown tired of the conversation. Which only proved how lightly he’d taken it. He always took everything lightly.

“Of course,” she said. “You cook, I clean. Sometimes I think that’s the only reason you invite me over.” She pushed back her chair and went to the sink.

Shelly told herself to forget his talk of marriage. After all, it had only been another of his jokes. What would Aaron want with her when he could have any woman he chose?

After the past year, it was clear he had no interest in her. Sure, he’d asked to kiss her the first day they’d met, but since then, even in the most romantic situations— candlelight dinners, walks along the beach, intimate evenings watching movies together on her sofa—he’d never done anything more than smile at her in that charming way of his. In all the hours they’d spent together, he’d always been a perfect gentleman. It would be absurd to assume she’d suddenly become irresistible to him.

Shelly knew that. Yet, on the other hand, she couldn’t help wondering if Aaron was truly happy with his constant stream of girlfriends. Maybe, she thought, he did long for someone special in his life, even though it wasn’t her. Maybe he longed for someone who’d be more than a casual date, a person who could give him the deeper satisfaction of trust and commitment….

But if that was the case, would he ever admit it?

Probably not. Unchallenged, he’d probably continue with his womanizing ways forever, unable to face the fact that something was missing.

She couldn’t let him do it—couldn’t let him ruin his life like that.

Shelly finished loading the dishwasher, then cleaned and dried Aaron’s cookware. Finally she faced him with a damp towel in her hands.

She had to save him.

Chapter Two

Shelly twisted the towel around her fingers. Aaron wasn’t going to like what she had to say, but she couldn’t let that stop her. His future happiness was at stake, and she had to get him to see the seriousness of his situation.

She met his eyes across the kitchen. “I’m worried about you, Aaron.”

He blinked. “Oh? How’s that?”

“Do you really want to be alone your whole life?” she asked gently. “Because if you keep this up, you will be. This continuous line of women parading through here the past year…It’s bad news, my friend, and eventually you’re going to get a reputation you can’t live down.”

“A reputation?” he asked, looking amused.

She ignored the sparkle of humor in his eyes. This wasn’t a laughing matter. “Yes, Aaron, and I’ll tell you how. Imagine this—a woman meets you…she thinks you’re handsome…she’s pleased when you ask her on a date. You show up for the date—well dressed, attentive, a witty and accomplished conversationalist. Another night she comes over for dinner, enjoys a sumptuous meal and who-knows-what other pleasures…” Shelly took a deep breath. “Are you with me?”

Aaron nodded. There was an odd expression on his face.

“So—” she paused for effect “—maybe the third time she’s with you, if she’s lucky—or maybe much later, if she’s like Marcia, and isn’t all that observant—she begins to notice things. Your address book has ten female names for every male one. You tell her the funny story about the time you accidentally scheduled four different dates for the same night. Maybe she finds someone else’s earrings in the medicine cabinet…”

“You saw those, did you?”

“All three pairs, Aaron.” She shot him a look of reproof. “Don’t forget that by now the lady is probably planning for the future. When she takes a close look around, she sees these clues, these little warning signs that show the magnitude of what she’s getting into. She realizes she’s about to spend the rest of her life with a hopeless philanderer. Am I right?”

Aaron raised an eyebrow but didn’t answer.

“I’m glad you don’t try to deny it. We’re friends, and friends tell each other the unvarnished truth.”

“Which is what, in my case?”

“Which is that, well…” She trailed off, then tried again. “From a woman’s perspective, you’re a…a nightmare. There. I’m sorry if that hurts, but it’s the truth.”

Aaron laughed. “That’s hardly new information, Shelly. You’ve been hinting at it for the past year.”

“I didn’t think you’d noticed.” She hung the damp towel over the edge of the sink and joined him at the table.

“Maybe I should make myself a sandwich board saying Aaron Carpenter, Nightmare for Women. I’d certainly spare myself the expense of all these lavish dinners.”

She smiled. “You know, Aaron, your sense of humor is one of the most attractive things about you. But it doesn’t make you a lifetime proposition. You need to follow it up with some substance.”

“So my lack of substance is the problem?”

Shelly scrunched her forehead in concentration. “Not exactly. It’s that you take advantage of the fairy tale that people create around you. You allow these women to imagine you’re the perfect man—by dressing well, listening to them, cooking for them, and so on—and then you drive them away by revealing you’ve done it all before. It’s a brilliant strategy, actually. You never have to dump your girlfriends. They dump you, feeling they’ve had a narrow escape. And you walk away.”

He gave her a sheepish look.

She sighed, exasperated. “Somewhere out there is a woman who can make you give up your carefree ways— but she won’t have anything to do with you once word gets out. You’ll lose your only chance at happiness, if you don’t reform yourself immediately.”

Aaron was silent a moment, absorbing her words. “Okay,” he said at last. “Maybe you’re right….” He tilted his head. “But how do you know I’m looking for something permanent?”

Shelly groaned. “Everybody looks for something permanent. Everybody needs security and companionship. You’re no different from the rest of us, Aaron Carpenter.”

“True…. I don’t like to admit it, but my old life-style isn’t as satisfying as it used to be.”

Her eyes widened in surprise. She’d suspected as much, but never thought he’d say it out loud.

“If the right woman would have me,” he added, “I’d be happy to settle down.”

The right woman? Could it really be as simple as finding the right woman? A strange knot formed in her stomach, but Shelly ignored it. “And she would have you,” she said. “If you’d start doing things right.”

Aaron studied her without speaking. He seemed to be sizing her up, his blue eyes reflective, his quick mind obviously racing along some line of thought she couldn’t begin to imagine.

She stared back at him, waiting.

“Okay,” he said finally. “I suppose there’s nothing to do but bend to your wishes…. When do we start?”

“Start what?”

“My lessons. On being less of a nightmare for women. On becoming a lifetime proposition.”

She held up her hands. “Oh, no. That’s not my problem.”

“Shelly, you can’t just pronounce sentence on me without allowing a means of salvation. If I’m going to reform myself, I’ll need a good teacher.”

“Then look in the yellow pages, because it’s not going to be me! Some other brave soul can try to fix you.”

He wore a wounded expression. “But you’re perfect for the job. You already know all my faults—which means we’d save time—and you know what women want Plus, I trust you.”

She felt her resistance slipping. “I don’t know, Aaron….”

He was right, she realized. If someone else helped Aaron, assuming he could talk them into it, he’d have to waste countless hours explaining his past behavior to them—hours that could be better spent improving his character.

And she did know all the ways he needed to improve.

Aaron shook his head sadly. "I thought you’d help me out of friendship, but I guess I was wrong….” His voice trailed off; he looked like a lost puppy.

It was a difficult look to ignore. Against her better judgment, she said, “Oh, all right. I’ll help you. No guarantees, though.”

He smiled. “Fair enough. Actually, that reminds me— what if we’re successful and it still doesn’t make any difference?”

“It will.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that. You’ve neglected to consider an important point, Shel. What if it’s the woman who’s at fault?”

“Not likely.” She winked at him. “Correcting that little misapprehension will be the first step toward molding you into a new man.”

Aaron leaned forward. “I’m serious. What if my perfect woman judges me without really knowing me? What if she jumps to conclusions based on my colorful past and never sees that I’ve changed?”

He had a point, Shelly thought. It could happen. Not only did he have a colorful past, but also a dazzlingly handsome face and a lean, elegant body. Even if he managed to reform himself on the inside, he’d probably always look like a rake on the outside.

She didn’t want him to use that as an excuse not to make an effort, however. “Let’s deal with the possibility after you’ve changed,” she said. She smothered a yawn. It was getting late, and she did have the open house tomorrow.

Aaron watched her, his blue eyes thoughtful. “All right.” He carried their coffee mugs to the sink. “Looks as if it’s your bedtime, anyway. I’ll see you to the porch.” He followed Shelly outside and waited while she unlocked her door.

She stepped over the threshold. “Good night, Aaron. Have a nice time with Amelia tomorrow.”

Once inside her own apartment, Shelly lowered herself to the couch and sat there, staring into space for several minutes. Her mind kept replaying their recent conversation as she tried to assure herself Aaron really meant to change. She never would have believed it.

From the first time she’d met him, Shelly had sensed he was incapable of being serious about his love affairs. His humor and charm covered up an intense fear of emotional risk, of emotional vulnerability.

He would be a difficult case.

But if anyone could help him, she could. Shelly knew she had to try. She had to teach him how to lay the foundation for a lasting relationship, or he really would be alone his whole life. And, no matter how many jokes he cracked, she knew that wouldn’t make him happy.

Shelly got up and got ready for bed, reminding herself Aaron’s happiness was, in the end, his own responsibility. She’d do what she could, but she also had other things to think about. Her best friend, Chloe, was moving to San Francisco next week and would be staying with Shelly until she found her own place. And of course there was Eric’s proposal to consider….

She wasn’t too worried about it. Eric was the safest, most stable man she’d ever met. He was the farthest thing from a ladies’ man, and Shelly knew he’d be true to her. Though she still planned to take her time, it wouldn’t be a difficult decision.

The following day Shelly left the legal aid office at half past five and headed for the bus stop. She’d only taken a few steps on the busy downtown sidewalk when she spotted Aaron’s dark blue sports car at the curb up ahead.

“I was in the area,” he said by way of greeting. “How did the open house go?”

Shelly climbed in gratefully and fastened her seat belt. “It was great—no shortage of lawyers this time. How’s the Discovery Center?”

“Can’t complain.” He pulled into the flow of traffic. “I need to pick up some hardware on the way home, if you don’t mind.”

Aaron parked the car in the industrial district. Shelly entered the huge outlet store with him, but stayed at the front near the gardening supplies while Aaron cruised through the aisles, grabbing items off the shelves. Almost every week she accompanied him on some shopping trip or other—he was always buying supplies for different projects with his students.

A former investment banker, Aaron had left the rat race in order to work with children. He now ran an after-school activity group in San Francisco’s Mission District, drawing students from low income families in the neighborhood. Often, the parents had to work two jobs in order to get by, and Aaron’s Discovery Center helped keep their children off the streets. It nurtured the youths’ creativity and self-confidence and gave them a place to belong.

In the course of her own work at the legal aid office, Shelly had been able to refer several families to Aaron’s group. She liked being part of a larger network of people helping others. It was one of the things that kept her going whenever she felt overwhelmed by her clients’ problems, as she had at times during the open house that day.

Shelly was lost in thought when Aaron reappeared by her side with a cart full of tools and supplies. He paid for them and they walked back to the car.

“Were you thinking of Eric?” he asked as they drove off.

“About work, actually.”

“Oh,” he said. “Does that mean you’ve already made your decision?”

“Of course not. This is too important to be hasty.”

He shook his head with feigned regret “And you dismissed my proposal so easily…. It’s a good thing I don’t have feelings.”

“Only in the short run,” she returned, her voice tolerant. “In the long run it sharply decreases your odds of finding someone permanent. But we’ll save that for one of our advanced lessons.”

“Speaking of which, when can we get started?”

She shrugged. “How about tonight? I could come over and spend a few minutes pointing out the trouble spots in your apartment—photos of previous girlfriends, stacks of old love letters, and so on—and start to address the deeper issues of your treatment of women. At the very least, you need to learn how to dump your girlfriends properly. No more of this cabbage quiche stuff.”

He gave her a rueful look. “Great, as long as it doesn’t take too long. Keep in mind that Amelia is coming for dinner tonight.”

“Amanda.”

Aaron looked confused.

“Her name’s Amanda,” Shelly repeated.

When they reached their building, an old, converted Victorian, she followed Aaron inside his apartment. She dropped her purse onto the sideboard by his front door and hung her suit jacket in his hall closet. “How much time do we have?”

Aaron looked at his watch. “An hour and a half—”

“Good. Plenty of time.”

“—during which I have to shower and cook dinner. But we can steal a few minutes.” He led her to the kitchen and produced a sheet of paper from his drop-front desk. “Here. Make a list or something while I take a shower.”

“But—”

He laid a hand on her shoulder, squeezing gently. “Shelly, I know you’d like to help, but I can clean myself pretty well. Save your instructions for things I’m not already good at.”

“That wasn’t what I was going to say,” she muttered, but he was already gone.

She sat down at his kitchen table and drew up a plan for teaching Aaron how to be a better man.

Shelly had filled half the page when she heard him calling her name. She got up and walked cautiously into his bedroom. The inner door leading to the bathroom was open, and Aaron stood in front of the sink wearing nothing but a towel.

She’d never seen him wearing only a towel before. He’d wrapped it low around his hips, leaving more of his torso bare than was, Shelly thought, quite necessary. She tried to ignore the strength in his shoulders and the beautiful lines of muscle that rippled as he moved.

With a hand towel, Aaron cleared the steam from the mirror right in front of him. He met her eyes in the glass. “I decided we should be efficient. You can talk to me while I shave.”

Shelly didn’t think this was a very good idea, but she didn’t see how she could back out of the situation without him guessing why. “Okay. Where do you want to start?”

He splashed water on his face and dampened his shaving brush. “You said I should learn how to dump a woman properly. Why don’t we start there?”

“Okay,” she said, distracted by the supple movements of his body as he drew the brush through his shaving soap and lathered his face. The clean citrus scent of the soap drifted out to fill the room, and she inhaled deeply.

“I’m waiting.”

She closed her eyes and forced herself to focus. “You’ve been getting rid of your girlfriends in a mean and manipulative way. I’m going to teach you to be more honest about your feelings.”

Aaron rinsed out his razor and began to shave.

“When you break off a relationship,” she said, “you need to be straightforward about it. Don’t drag it out or pretend you’re not doing what you’re doing. Insincerity is really hard to deal with when someone is giving you the ax. Do you understand?”

Aaron shrugged. “I guess.”

“Okay, then.” She cleared her throat. “You can practice on me.”

He didn’t say anything.

“Go ahead,” she said. “Dump me.”

“No.”

“Why not?”

He held her eyes in the mirror. “Because I can’t. We’re not going out.”

Shelly sighed in exasperation. “Use your imagination, you big oaf!”

He rinsed his razor and took a few more strokes. “Okay, but if we were going out, I probably wouldn’t want to dump you.”

Shelly tried to stay calm, though she felt her temper rising. “Your delaying tactics are getting on my nerves.”

He turned his head and smiled at her. “I’m only trying to be honest and straightforward.”

“You know, I think you’re just sensitive about having a woman teach you how to be a man.”

“Certainly not.”

“Then prove it. Dump me.”

Again he paused. “What should I say?”

“Try, ‘I’m not in love with you anymore.’”

His brows drew together. “But what if I never was in love with her?”

“Just say it.”

He swallowed. “I’m not in love with you anymore.”

“Say it like you mean it.”

“But I don’t mean it.”

Shelly thought for a minute. “How about, ‘I don’t think our relationship is moving in the right direction.’”

He said it. It even sounded as if he meant it.

“Good,” she said. “Really good. You’ve opened up the dialogue. Now, what if I started to throw a fit? What if I got all distraught and weepy?”

He smiled into the mirror at her. “I’d take you in my arms and—”

She felt her pulse accelerate. “No, no, no! That’s not right at all. You’re trying to break up, not get back together.” She paused. “Try saying, ‘I’ve lost interest.’”

“I’ve lost interest In this ridiculous exercise.”

Shelly expelled her breath impatiently. “You are so aggravating!” She retreated farther and sat down on his bed. “If you’re not going to cooperate, I might as well not help you.”

Aaron turned around to look at her. Flecks of lather dotted his smooth-shaven cheeks. “Are you giving up so soon, Shel?” He sounded genuinely curious.

“Of course not. I’ve still got a few things to say, but they can wait until you’re finished. I want your full attention.”

Shelly lay back on the bed and stared at the ceiling. She heard a rustle as he turned around and the splash of water in the sink.

Aaron came out of the bathroom a few minutes later. He’d slipped into his dark blue bathrobe and was toweling his hair. Shelly sat up, but turned her face away.

He tossed the towel onto the bed beside her. “So, shall we continue?”

She stood up. “Yes. Um, I want to compliment you on how clean your bedroom is. You must have made a special effort for…”

“Amanda,” he said.

“Right. Amanda. You’ve cleared away the evidence of previous female visitors. That’s good. But I wouldn’t be surprised if you’ve simply hidden the stuff. In the closet, perhaps?” She threw open the closet doors and peered inside. Sure enough, a tube of lipstick sat on the shelf at the top. She turned to Aaron with a victorious look.

He ignored it. “Could you hand me the brown trousers hanging in the middle?”

Sighing, she reached into the closet. “These?”

“No, two over. Yes, those.”

Shelly slipped the trousers off the hanger and held them out.

He laid them on the bed. “Thanks. You were saying?”

“Oh, nothing.” She stepped away as he moved to the closet and selected a linen shirt to wear. “I don’t know why I even bother.”

Aaron crossed to his bureau. He picked out boxers and a pair of socks, tossing them on the bed with the other clothes.

The room was starting to feel quite warm, Shelly thought. And Aaron was entirely too casual about his state of undress. “Uh, I’ll leave you alone for a minute.”

He winked at her. “That’s probably a good idea.”

Shelly breathed a sigh of relief as she escaped from the room. It shouldn’t be like this between two friends, she thought, more disturbed than she cared to admit. It especially shouldn’t be like this right now, when she was thinking of marrying Eric. Why did Aaron’s attractiveness suddenly seem inescapable, when she’d always managed to ignore it in the past?

Well, she told herself, she would just have to be stronger. She would have to get her nervous system under control and keep things on the right level.

Aaron joined her in the kitchen a few minutes later, fully clothed but with his hair still slightly damp, and set to work on dinner. “So. What else do I need to learn?”

“Too much,” she said.

“It can’t be that bad.”

“It is. Despite your claim that you want to reform, you’ve shown no interest in what I have to say.” She waved at the notes she’d written earlier. “I had a bunch of good ideas, but I think I’ll keep them to myself until you’re ready to learn something.”

“Give me the short version for now, at least”

She brushed a tendril of long blond hair from her eyes and met his gaze squarely. “Take life more seriously and stop flirting with everyone.”

“That’s it?”

“Yes. When you meet the woman you want to spend your life with, you’re going to have to do both of those things. There are other things, too, but they’re incidental.”

His brow wrinkled. “Are you sure these are universal rules? You’re not just telling me what you want in a man, are you?”

“Listen, Aaron, you asked for my opinion. Maybe you’ll be lucky and fall in love with an irresponsible clown who wants an open relationship. But you probably won’t”

His shoulders slumped. “You’re right.”

“Of course I’m right. And now I’m going to leave before your lady friend arrives.”

“Don’t you want to meet Amanda?”

“No.”

“It’s your last chance. I’m going to follow your advice and tell her I don’t love her anymore.”

She rolled her eyes. “Thanks, but I’ll skip the sideshow.”

Back in her own apartment, Shelly heated a can of soup and ate it in front of the television. Then she listened to a new CD, reorganized her kitchen cabinets and thought about the pros and cons of marrying Eric.

It didn’t help. She couldn’t keep her mind off Aaron and his guest next door.

Shelly knew he didn’t really intend to break up with Amanda. Not tonight, at least. He couldn’t reform himself that fast, and he wouldn’t be Aaron if he didn’t string her along for a few more weeks. But when he lost interest, Shelly hoped he’d keep her advice in mind, and end it responsibly.

She remembered his breakup with Marcia last fall. Aaron certainly hadn’t handled that very well. Sure, Marcia had jumped the gun a bit—expecting him to abandon the Discovery Center, take a job in her father’s advertising agency and make her his wife—but that still didn’t justify Aaron’s behavior.

First he’d tried to slip quietly out of Marcia’s life. But when she proved to be too tenacious, he’d acted out of male desperation, telling her he loved someone else.

“Not a smart move, Carpenter,” Shelly muttered. She put on another CD and paced up and down the living room.

Aaron’s little deception had backfired. Shelly would never forget the day she’d come home to the sight of Marcia camped out on the front steps, her Donna Karan blouse all rumpled, her carefully applied mascara running down her cheeks. During the scene that followed, Shelly gradually realized Marcia thought she was Aaron’s mystery lover.

It would have been funny if it hadn’t been so embarrassing. Shelly had pointedly mentioned her new relationship with Eric West, but Marcia refused to believe she wasn’t carrying on with Aaron. Marcia wouldn’t even believe Aaron’s denial when he got home an hour later, but finally she’d departed.

Shelly hoped never to have to live through such an encounter again. Ever since that day she’d distanced herself from Aaron’s love life, going out of her way not to meet any of his girlfriends.

She stopped pacing as she heard the muffled click of Aaron’s front door. Surprised, she glanced down at her watch. Only an hour and a half had gone by since Amanda had arrived. Strange, Shelly thought. In the past Aaron’s dates had usually lasted quite a bit longer.

Well, maybe he’d broken up with Amanda after all. Shelly grimaced, anticipating a tearful farewell on the porch, but moments later she heard laughter, both male and female. Clearly the romance was still going strong.

Shelly knew she shouldn’t be so nosy, but she couldn’t help listening to the shuffle of footsteps as the couple descended the stairs. As they reached the sidewalk below, she gravitated to the large bay window of her apartment. Surreptitiously she nudged the lacy curtain aside and peered down at the lamp-lit street.

She stared for several seconds before her brain comprehended what she saw. Aaron was there, all right, and so was a gorgeous brunette who must be Amanda. But they were several feet apart. And a second man stood with his arm draped possessively around Amanda’s shoulders, shielding her from the cool night air.

Shelly shook her head, bewildered. Was that even Amanda? Who was this other man, and why was he so friendly with her?

As she looked on, Aaron shook hands with both of the strangers. He stood watching as they got into a car and drove away. Only when their taillights disappeared around the corner did he turn back toward the stairs.

Shelly heard Aaron whistling as he ascended the steps. Making a split-second decision, she grabbed her keys and dashed outside.

Chapter Three

She nearly ran into Aaron on the porch.

“Oh, hi,” Shelly said, coming to what she hoped was a surprised halt.

Aaron looked at her quizzically, and she was suddenly aware of the cool touch of moisture-laden air on her bare arms. She shivered. “I need to run to the corner store,” she lied.

He nodded understandingly, flashing her a glimpse of his even white teeth. A small gust of wind ruffled his thick black hair.

Shelly studied him in the glow of the porch light. Aaron certainly didn’t look as if he’d spent a romantic evening with an adoring female, she observed. His skin wasn’t flushed, nor were there any lipstick smudges on his collar.

She jangled her keys meaningfully. “Do you need anything?”

He cocked his head. “I don’t think so.”

Shelly took one step down the stairs and then paused, as if remembering an inconsequential fact. “How did your date go?”

“Fine.”

“How is Amanda?”

“Fine….”

Shelly sighed. The subtle approach was not going to work if Aaron insisted on speaking in monosyllables. She’d just have to ask her question outright. “Who was that man?”

A pleased smile broke across Aaron’s features. “Were you spying, Shelly?”

“Who was he?”

The smile turned indulgent. “Amanda’s boyfriend. She brought him along with her.”

Shelly stepped back up onto the porch. “I thought you were her boyfriend,” she accused.

Aaron shrugged. “Apparently not.”

She made a face at him. “Apparently not? I can’t believe you’re so offhand about it. Don’t you even care that she’s found someone else?” She paused to give him a chance to explain, but he didn’t say anything. “You know, this just proves how detached you are. When it comes to your sex life, you’re so unemotional you might as well be a chunk of granite!”

Aaron’s eyebrow went up. “Who said anything about sex?”

Shelly hesitated. “Well, I just assumed…” She swallowed. The idea of Aaron being celibate was ludicrous, but she didn’t feel like debating the issue. “Anyway, you should be upset about this! You’ve got to learn to take your relationships seriously.”

His eyes gleamed. “We’ll just have to have more lessons then, won’t we?”

She sighed. He did need more lessons. She wasn’t sure if they’d help, but after tonight, she was even more convinced of their importance. Reaching for her doorknob, she muttered, “Good night, Aaron.”

“Shel?” His voice was patient, amused.

Shelly turned. Aaron shrugged out of his jacket and held it out for her. She looked at it in confusion.

He draped it around her shoulders. “So you don’t get cold on the way to the corner store.” The warm male scent of Aaron drifted up to envelop her, and the damp chill air seemed to retreat.

And then she realized what he was saying.

Shelly felt the heat of embarrassment come rushing to her face. She’d forgotten all about her imaginary errand. “Right.” Ducking her head, she darted down the steps, chased by the gentle sound of Aaron’s laughter.

The weekend passed slowly—mostly because Aaron was much too interested in whether she was going to marry Eric. Like a tabloid journalist eager to extract every juicy detail, he demanded regular updates on her decision.

Shelly tried to divert his attention with two more lessons. First they worked on Aaron’s seriousness and substance. She made him go several hours without saying anything witty, charming or entertaining. Then Shelly devised a role-playing exercise to develop his self-restraint. She made Aaron pretend he was in a committed relationship, and she was a stranger trying to proposition him. To her satisfaction Aaron truly put himself into the scenario. He had a difficult time turning her down, but succeeded after careful coaching. Shelly decided he might not be hopeless after all.

On Monday Chloe arrived. The two women had been roommates in college and best friends ever since. After graduation Chloe had gone on to pursue an engineering career in Boston. But a recently ended relationship—as well as a job offer from one of San Francisco’s best engineering firms—had finally induced her to move to the West Coast. She would be staying with Shelly until she could find her own apartment.

They were carrying her luggage up the front steps of the Victorian when Aaron appeared on the porch, looking cool and sophisticated in a finely cut Italian suit, with a bold tie that brought out the blue of his eyes.

Chloe halted at the sight of him. Her brows shot up, her mouth gaped open, and she seemed to forget her surroundings. Then, as Shelly watched, her expression shifted from outright amazement to an almost crafty, calculating look.

Aaron returned Chloe’s gaze. Their eyes seemed to dance in silent communication, making Shelly feel oddly left out. Just when she was about to cough to break the moment, Chloe spoke.

“You’re Aaron, aren’t you?” she said, as if she’d discovered the key to the world’s problems.

“And you must be Chloe,” he returned silkily.

Shelly couldn’t stop herself from snorting. “I guess you two don’t need to be introduced.” She climbed the rest of the steps and glared at Aaron. It was obnoxious of him to put the moves on her closest friend. Especially after his lesson on self-restraint!

He blinked back at her innocently, which only annoyed her more. Didn’t he realize what a player he was? Wasn’t he able to stop himself, even for a few minutes?

Chloe set her suitcase down and glanced from one of them to the other. Her smile widened, and she winked at Aaron. “Some things,” she said in a self-satisfied tone, “are obvious.”

For heaven’s sake, Chloe was acting like a prospector who’d struck gold! Stifling a peevish reply, Shelly turned to unlock her door. She rummaged in her purse, but came out empty-handed.

“Uh-oh.” She must have left her keys at work again. But of all the days to do it….

Before she could ask, Aaron dangled his own set of keys over her shoulder. Shelly had no choice but to take them and unlock her door. She deposited Chloe’s carryon bag in the living room with a thud, and Aaron followed with the rest of the luggage. He gave Chloe a dazzling smile, like a puppy who’d learned a new trick.

“I see you have keys to each other’s apartments,” Chloe said.

“It’s purely practical,” Shelly replied. “If we get boxes in the mail or the plumber comes, then the other one can let them in. Aaron’s home more than I am during the day, and I’m—”

“Home more than I am at night,” Aaron finished for her. He said it as if he’d made a telling point.

Shelly grimaced at him. “Stop bragging.”

“Bragging?” echoed Chloe.

“Shelly thinks I’m a man of loose morals,” he explained.

“I don’t just think you’re a man of loose morals, I know you are. What I can’t understand is why you’re so smug about it.” She addressed her friend. “He never stops talking about his conquests.”

Aaron grinned at Chloe. “She likes it. I.think it gives her a vicarious thrill to hear of my indiscretions. Her own life is so quiet, you know.”

“Just ignore him, Chloe.”

Aaron laughed and leaned comfortably against the wall, his hands in his pockets.

Shelly approached him with her head held high. “Were you just leaving for a date, Aaron?” she inquired. “Don’t let us keep you.”

He didn’t move. “At this point I’m running so late I might as well stay home.”

Obviously he wanted to stick around and ingratiate himself with Chloe. But Shelly wasn’t going to let him. She took his arm and escorted him out the door. “I disagree,” she said. “You’ve just given her a little extra time to get ready.”

“She’s meeting me at the restaurant.”

“So she’s been sitting over a drink for twenty minutes. No big deal.”

Aaron looked sheepish. “An hour and twenty minutes,” he said.

Shelly was speechless for a moment. “Bad move, Aaron.”

“I know.” He stood on the porch and faced her. “It wasn’t until I started cooking dinner that I remembered our date. I had to call the restaurant to make sure she was still there.”

She arched an eyebrow. “You’d better get going before she grows a brain and takes off.”

“Ouch.”

She looked him over, her green eyes narrowed appraisingly. “Wait Your tie’s crooked.”

Aaron raised a hand to check, then lifted his chin with a long-suffering look.

After a moment’s hesitation, Shelly put her hands to the brightly colored silk. Her knuckles grazed his chest, distracting her with unwelcome sparks of awareness. Fleetingly, she remembered the sight of him shaving the other day, then quickly suppressed the image.

She struggled in vain for a few moments, before untying the knot completely.

Aaron tapped his foot.

“Unappreciative fool,” she said, tugging the tie through his collar to realign it. She took a fortifying breath and suppressed her physical response to his tall, lean body. “Just be glad I’m here to save your evening.”

Shelly tied a beautifully proportioned knot and slid it snug against his collar. Then she straightened his lapels, brushed a speck of lint from his sleeve and patted him on the cheek. “Now get going.” She watched him descend the stairs, then turned back to her apartment to join Chloe.

Her best friend stared at her. “Wow…”

Shelly closed the door and fastened the bolt. “I can’t believe he’s already got you under his spell,” she muttered.

“Me under his spell?”

“Oh, never mind. Come on. I’ll give you the grand tour.” She walked Chloe through the small apartment, ending at the sleeper sofa and the Japanese folding screen she’d borrowed from Aaron in order to give her house guest more privacy.

Chloe’s gaze kept wandering to the wall.

“What’s wrong?” asked Shelly.

“You mean you can’t tell?” She approached the blackand-white, framed poster that Aaron had examined the week before. “Use your eyes, girl. This picture’s totally crooked.”

“Oh.” The thing did seem to be a few inches out of alignment, now that she looked a little closer. It was natural that Chloe, with her engineer’s mind, would notice the discrepancy at once.

Chloe reached out to right the frame. “You always did have a knack for missing what’s right in front of your nose, Shelly. I bet it’s been like that for months. Nice poster, though.”

Shelly barely heard the compliment. She crossed over to the sofa, shaking her head. “I can’t believe him sometimes….”

“Who?”

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