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gallant!
    His expression narrowed and he shook his head almost imperceptibly. I try my best not to hurt anyone, thats all. A look of puzzlement came over him. Whats wrong with your eyelids?
    Inside, Josie had curled up into a fetal position and wished to die.
    Outside, she sported a carefree smile. Allergies.
    Rick studied her cautiously. Well, Miss Sheehan, how can I can make this up to you?
    Josies eyes got big, her lips parted, and her mind began spinning with possibilities. A cup of coffee now seemed way too humdrum a request for such a charming and courteous pet-supply tycoon. Her imagination jumped around from a jaunt to Cabo aboard his corporate jet, to a weekend in wine country, to introducing him to her parents while on a private cruise down the Nile. But instead, she went for something really outlandish.
    You could start with a kiss. /My God, where was all this bravado coming from?/ He tugged on her hand until she bumped up against his bodyfull-frontal contact! Her thighs tingled. She got a head rush to end all head rushes.
    She raised a hand to his rough cheek. His gaze went directly to her mouth.
    Thats the moment he leaned in, angled his head, and the elevator binged.
    Three uniformed men burst through the door with their guns pointed at Josies head. Got her, one of them said into a radio clipped to his shirt.
    She thought shed pee herself.
    Stand down! /Now/! Rick blocked her with his body. She hooked her arms around his waist and ducked. Shes not a security matter, he said. Shes a friend.
    Josies legs really did collapse at that point. She began hyperventilating at the idea that real guns with real bullets were pointed at /her/. Since when was she a security risk everywhere she went? Was it the make over? Rick reached behind him and steadied her, preventing her from collapsing to the Berber carpet.
    The guards holstered their guns, but Josies buddy from the lobby didnt sound happy about it.
    Mr. Rousseau, sir, she was supposed to go to public relations. When she didnt show, I knew I had to stop her before she found a way to get to you.
    Rick chuckled. He pulled Josie around and hoisted her up by her armpits.
    Too late for that, Im afraid.
    Josie gazed up at him. He anointed her with a smile. She wanted to smile in return, but she was so nauseous from the adrenaline crash she decided not to risk it.

CHAPTER 5
    I really dont mean to hound you about this. Teeny took a slurp of herbal tea from his delicate china cup and sighed. But Rick, I gotta ask you, man. Seriously… /what the fuck/?
    Rick laughed. He stretched his legs out over the porch railing, leaned back in the old rocker, and folded his hands on his lap. Twilight had begun its slide over Samhain Ranch, pushing the sun west beyond the vineyards, throwing gold light down onto the grapes and red streaks up into the sky. This was his favorite time of day. This was his favorite spot on earth. And he was counting on a weekend of Sonoma Valley solitude and silence to help him come up with an answer to Teenys question.
    Point taken, he said.
    Shes cute. Okay, fine, not my gender of choice, but I can appreciate cuteness when it shows up, despite the mark-of-Zorro eyebrow wax. Teeny held his teacup in midair. But Ill be honest with you, man. Im baffled.
    There hasnt been a woman in your life for almost seven years! Ive watched you make an art form of turning women down! I mean, Gwen Anders is /still/ trying to get in your chinos! After all these years!
    Wax? She told me she had allergies.
    Teeny chuckled. Hell, no. That was a wax job gone terribly wrong, no doubt about it.
    Why are we discussing Gwen Anders? Rick closed his eyes for a moment and searched for patience. The woman runs my foundation. Shes smart and conscientious. I dont want anything more to do with her, not now, not ever, as you are well aware.
    Yes. I am. Which brings us right back to my original questionwhy /Josephine Sheehan/? Are you sure about this?
    Rick gave his head a quick shake, closing