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herself. That was then and this was now. She needed to get the salad on the table and get back to their guests. But no sooner had she placed the roast on a platter than she heard the front slam shut.
    “Zoe.” Michael appeared in the doorway, his face unusually serious.
    Zoe’s heart skipped a beat. Even though she knew the answer, she forced herself to ask. “Did I just hear the front door?”
    Michael came to stand on the opposite side of the island. He braced his hands against the counter top and stared her dead in the eye. “You did. Kendra grabbed the kids, tossed her keys at her husband, and all but ran out of here. Would you happen to have any idea why?”
    She swallowed hard. “Did Kendra say why she was leaving?”
    Michael nodded. “Yes, she most certainly did. She said you were a raving lunatic and that I’d be smart to put a long distance between us.” His voice was deep and low, his gaze intense. “Zoe, I want you to tell me exactly what just happened here.”
    She bit her lip and struggled to come up with a plausible explanation. “I think it’s just a matter of conflicting personalities.” She shrugged, trying for a nonchalant look. “I guess Kendra and I just aren’t compatible.”
    “I'm not buying it. Try again.”
    Zoe’s eyebrows rose. “Try what again?”
    “I want the truth from you, Zoe. And not about you and Kendra either. I want to know right now what’s going on with you.”
    ***
    To her immense relief, Zoe didn’t have to find a way to evade Michael’s point blank question because his niece and nephew burst into the kitchen.
    “What just happened?” Kathryn looked bewildered. “Your friend just snatched her kids and tore out of here.”
    “Technically it’s not considered snatching if they’re her children,” Zoe pointed out. She avoided looking at Michael.
    Josh shoved his hands in his pocket and leaned against the wall. “Yeah, well, she scared her kids by rushing in like that. Not cool.”
    “Zoe, would you like to fill Kathryn and Josh in on what happened?” Michael asked.
    She’d rarely heard him use such an imperious tone of voice before. It didn’t suit him and she wasn’t about to answer his demand. “I really can’t say what Kendra was thinking because I’m not in her head.” Although heaven knew she’d tried. And obviously failed. “Why don’t you three go watch a movie or something while I clean up?”
    Her request was readily accepted by the teens but Michael didn’t budge. Once the kids were out of the room, he questioned her again.
    “I really can’t say, Michael. I’m terribly sorry if I offended Kendra by something I said.” While that was technically true, Zoe was far sorrier that she hadn’t succeeded. But, perhaps in a way she had. If Kendra thought Zoe was certifiable, she’d be far less likely to press Michael for details on their relationship. “Are you hungry?”
    He stared at her as if she’d grown a second nose. “No. I’m not hungry.”
    “Well, the kids might be. Would you be kind enough to go ask them for me? I hate to see the roast go to waste.” She turned her back to him and began to unload the dishwasher. She deliberately kept her attention on the chore at hand even though she could feel Michael watching her. Stay calm, stay focused, she instructed herself, act casual.
    “They can eat later,” Michael finally said. “Leave the dishes, Zoe.”
    She put the last two glasses away and closed the cupboard before turning to face him. “I’m sorry that tonight was ruined. It was not my intention to upset or offend Kendra. I hope this doesn’t make things difficult or awkward at the office between you and Tony.”
    “It’s a non-issue as far as Tony is concerned. He only cares about sports and work. I doubt he ever even listens to his wife. That’s not what I'm worried about.”
    She shouldn’t ask. She shouldn’t go there. But she did. “What are you worried about?”
    He took several steps closer, his eyes