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if he’d offended her. Damned if he would ever understand women. He thought he’d given her what she wanted, a night alone in her own bed.
    Of course, what she really wanted was that consulting job, and he wasn’t prepared to offer her that. She’d drive him crazy in days, maybe even hours.
    He was drinking his first cup of his special-blend coffee, when he heard her tentative footsteps coming downstairs. Uncertain what to expect, he tightened his grip on his cup and watched the doorway with a grim expression.
    Instead of the dour, accusing woman he was expecting, in walked Little Mary Sunshine, all smiles and bright eyes.
    “Good morning,” she said cheerfully. “Isn’t the snow gorgeous? I’ve never been at the beach after a snowstorm before. It really is like a winter wonderland out there, don’t you think?”
    “I suppose,” he said cautiously.
    “Haven’t you even looked outside?”
    “Of course I have.” The truth was, he’d been too dismayed by the sight of the impassable roads to take much joy in the picturesque landscape.
    As if she’d read his mind, she laughed. “You’re panicked because there’s no chance of me getting out of here this morning, aren’t you?”
    “I’m sure you have things you’d rather be doing,” he said defensively. “Places you’d rather be.”
    “Not really,” she said cheerfully.
    Richard stared at her. Only after he’d studied her closely did he detect the faint wariness in her eyes. She was putting on a show for him, and it was a pretty decent one. It had almost had him fooled.
    “Want some breakfast?” he asked.
    “Cereal will do.”
    “I was thinking of making French toast with maple syrup. That’s what Destiny always makes when we’re here. She considered it a vacation treat.”
    Her eyes lit up, and this time her enthusiasm seemed genuine. “And you can make French toast?”
    He laughed at the hint of amazement in her voice. “It’s not that hard.”
    He moved past her, gathered a few eggs, butter and milk from the refrigerator.
    “I’ll set the table,” she said, heading toward the dishwasher.
    “I’ve already put the dishes away,” he told her.
    “How long have you been up?”
    “Hours.”
    She gave him a knowing look. “Couldn’t sleep?”
    “I’m always an early riser.”
    “Not me. I like sleeping in. Being up at dawn is unnatural.”
    “Not once you’ve seen a sunrise over the river,” he said. “Grab a couple of plates and a bowl, then come over here.”
    She set the dishes on the table, then regarded him warily. “Why over there?”
    “I’m going to teach you how to make this. You might as well go away from this weekend with one new skill.”
    She backed off as if he’d suggested teaching her alligator-wrestling. “I don’t think so. You probably only have a dozen eggs here. I can ruin more than that without half-trying.”
    Richard refused to back down. “Over here, or I’ll think you’re scared of being close to me.” He met her gaze. “Maybe even tempted to take me up on that proposition I made last night.”
    “That was a bad idea,” she reminded him.
    “Yeah, I got that.”
    “But I’m not scared of you.”
    He bit back a grin. “If you say so.” He held out an egg. “Break this into the bowl. Try not to get any shell in there.”
    She smashed it with so much enthusiasm, he suspected she was pretending it was his skull. Egg and shell dribbled into the bowl. He dumped the mess into the sink and handed her another egg. “Try again.”
    “Wouldn’t it be easier if you just went ahead and did it?”
    “Easier, but you wouldn’t learn anything.”
    “It’s not your job to be my cooking instructor.”
    “It is if I ever expect you to prepare a meal for me.”
    Her hand stilled over the bowl. “I thought we’d settled that. There’s not going to be anything personal between us.”
    “That would be the smart plan,” he agreed, not entirely sure why he was so determined to pursue this. He was