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date?”
    “Ignatius Istobol.”
    “Liar.” He set the bowl down. “You should get back into the dating pool.”
    “I don’t like to swim.”
    “Then at least tread water.”
    She made a face. “You’ve been speaking to Mom.”
    “She has a point.”
    “What’s the name of your last date?”
    He hesitated then said, “Fiona.”
    She paused. “What?”
    “You heard me.”
    “I thought you said Fiona.”
    “I did.”
    Brenna shook her head, her voice firm. “No.”
    His eyes widened. “What do you mean ‘No’?”
    “As your older sister I forbid you to get back with her.”
    “Forbid me?” Stephen laughed then went and got more food.
    “I’m not joking.”
    He returned to the carpet and pretended to ignore her.
    Brenna wouldn’t let him. She tapped him on the shoulder. “She’s all wrong for you.”
    “And who is right for me?”
    “You’re going to spill your food.”
    He set the bowl down. “And who is right for me?” he repeated. He suddenly waved his hands before she could speak. “And don’t say it.”
    “Say what?”
    “Don’t say that woman’s name.” He pointed a finger at her. “I’ve told you before I’m not interested.”
    Brenna sighed. “I don’t know why you won’t give her a chance.”
    “And I don’t know why you would want to match me up with your crazy next door neighbor.”
    She stiffened. “Tima is not crazy.”
    “Does it escape you that her name sounds like a skin disease? You have psoriasis and Timandra.”
    “I think she has a beautiful name.”
    He picked up his bowl. “And she paints walls.”
    “She occasionally creates murals, but she also—”
    “I don’t care.”
    “Stephen—”
    “I’m not good with women anyway.”
    Brenna briefly raised her eyes to the ceiling. “The ultimate cop out answer.”
     “Fiona knows me and understands me. It works.”
    “You’ve been married four years and separated twice. This last time is your path to freedom. You need to get a divorce. If you want to stay in touch, then be friends.”
    “The sex is nice too.”
    “Forget about the sex.”
    He shook his head. “I don’t think I can. It’s too good.”
    “There must be something else you can do to occupy yourself.”
    “Not much. Or nothing I’d want to discuss with my sister.”
    “You shouldn’t be in a relationship just for sex.”
    He began to grin. “Oh, I get it now.”
    “What?”
    “Ignatius Istobol is the name of your vibrator.”
    Brenna playfully hit her brother on the back of the head. “No, it’s not.”
    “It has another name?”
    “It doesn’t have a name.”
    “So you do have a vibrator?”
    Brenna resisted placing her hands around his neck. “We’re not talking about that. We’re talking about you and women.”
    He shook his head. “No need. I have one. That’s fine with me.”
    “Are you afraid to get divorced?”
    “Not afraid. I just want to work on my marriage a little more than our parent’s did. I don’t want to be part of the statistics if I can help it.”
    “But it’s not working.”
    “I can make it work in time.”
    “And if you can’t?”
    He shrugged.
    Brenna stirred her stew then set it down. She couldn’t understand why such a handsome man would settle for a woman so wrong for him.  “You’re a good looking guy and you have a lot to offer.”
    “A lot to offer?” he scoffed. “I’m an electrician. That doesn’t seem to impress a lot of women.”
    “You’re more than an electrician. You are a lighting artist. You should try starting your own company.”
    “I don’t want the hassle. What do you have against Fiona anyway? I thought you liked her.”
    “I do like her except...” She stopped. “Forget it.”
    “Tell me.”
    Brenna shook her head. “No. You’ll get upset.”
    Stephen put his plate aside and sat on the couch. Brenna knew that was a bad sign. It meant he was in his stubborn mood. “Tell me.”
    “She’s safe.”
    “What’s wrong with safe?”
    Brenna chewed