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him, then breaking their hearts? Was it all just a game to him? And how was she supposed to react to his accusation? If she denied it, she would look as though she were hiding something. If she admitted the truth…well, that wasn’t even an option.
    She refused to give him the satisfaction of any response.
    â€œSo, what days would be best for you to see Max?” she asked him. “His bedtime is eight, so if you want to do weeknights it will have to be before that. Sunday afternoons would work too.”
    â€œWeekdays will be tough. I’ve been swamped at work. I’m lucky if I can get out by nine most nights.”
    â€œNo one said it was going to be easy. You have to make priorities.”
    His look said he was poised to jump to the defensive, but instead he took a deep breath and said, “If I go into the office early tomorrow, I could be out of there by six-thirty. That would get me here a little before seven.”
    â€œThat’s a start,” she said.
    â€œTomorrow it is then.”
    A long, uncomfortable silence followed, where neither seemed to know what to say next. Or maybe they had said all there was to say.
    â€œWell, I guess since that’s settled…” He rose from the couch.
    â€œIt’s been a long day, and I don’t know about you, but I could go for a glass of wine.” She knew the second the words left her mouth it was a bad idea, but she just wasn’t ready for him to leave.
    You can’t force him to love you , she reminded herself. And she wouldn’t want to. She wanted someone without the relationship hang-ups, who loved her unconditionally. If that kind of man even existed.
    Nathan studied her, one brow slightly raised. “Are you asking me to stay?”
    Yeah, bad idea. “You know what, forget it. I don’t think—”
    â€œRed or white?”
    His question stopped her. “Huh?”
    â€œThe wine. Do you have red or white?” The hint of a smile tugged at his lips. “Because I’m partial to red.”
    She shouldn’t be doing this. She was still vulnerable. She was only setting herself up to be hurt. For all she knew he could be involved with someone else now. Maybe that was part of the reason for the trial period.
    Character flaws, she reminded herself. She couldn’t find them if she didn’t spend at least a little time with the man.
    Just this once, and after this, she would see him only if Max was there.
    â€œThen you’re in luck,” she told him. “Because I have both.”

Four
    â€œI f you’re sure it’s no trouble,” Nathan said, a part of him hoping she would say it was.
    â€œNo trouble.”
    She walked to the kitchen and he sat back down. He wasn’t sure what the hell he thought he was doing. He came here to discuss his son, and now that they had, he had no reason to stay. The problem was, he didn’t want to leave.
    Maybe it was time to admit what deep down he had known all along. He still had unresolved feelings regarding his relationship with Ana. Despite what she probably believed, ending it hadn’t been easy for him, either. Ana was the only woman who had ever made him feel like a whole person. Like he didn’t have to hide. Almost…normal. But he knew that eventually his demons would get the best of him—they always did—and she would see the kind of man that he really was. Knowing Ana, and the kind of woman she was, she would want to try to fix him.Well, it wouldn’t work. He wasn’t fixable. And the less time he spent with her, the better. Especially in situations where Max wasn’t there to act as a buffer. So why wasn’t he stopping her as she walked to the kitchen and pulled two wineglasses down from the cupboard? Why didn’t he get up, grab his coat and get the hell out?
    Damned if he knew. Although he was sure good old-fashioned stupidity played a major part.
    â€œSo,” she said from the