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dropped the large carving knife, almost removing her big toe.
    “Hey, be careful there.” Riley frowned at her.
    She snatched up the knife and rinsed it in the sink. “A reporter? You’ve got to be kidding.”
    “Nah, but she’s different from a lot of them. She’s real sweet. She said she realized Ethan was drunk, so she’s going to contact him for another interview.”
    Buck nudged Ethan to get him to pour the tea, then peered at Riley. “You like her?”
    “Yeah, sure. She’s a jumpy little thing, and her imagination is a bit much.”
    Rosie hated the idea of the woman being alone with Ethan. She wouldn’t tolerate it, not since she already knew Ethan found her attractive. Whenshe interviewed Ethan, it would have to be with Rosie present to protect his virtue. “What’s wrong with her imagination?”
    “She has some goofy notion that people are out to get her. She’s a little paranoid, if you ask me.”
    Harris began buttering a thick slab of bread. “What’s her real name?”
    Grinning, Riley said, “Get this. It’s Regina Foxworth.” He laughed. “And she is foxy, but ‘Red’ suits her better than Regina.”
    Harris and Buck stared at Riley in complete and total bafflement. It was the very first time they’d ever heard him make such a comment concerning a woman.
    Rosie couldn’t help but grin. Well, well, well. It would gratify her immensely if Riley staked a claim. More than anything else, that would ensure that Ethan stayed free of the woman’s clutches.
    Ethan reseated himself at the table. “Hell, I don’t want to be interviewed. Not by her, not by anyone. I had enough of that crap back when the fire first happened.”
    “It’s good for the department.” Harris pointed a spoon at him. “Captain is hoping you’ll get us new funding.”
    “The captain can damn well—”
    “If you don’t willingly meet with her,” Riley interjected, “she said she’d be forced to use what information she got at the ceremony last night.”
    Rosie made a disgusted face. “And that would be what? That Ethan can’t hold his liquor?”
    “Probably something like that.”
    Ethan ignored them to dig into his stew. “Mmm. Terrific, Rosie. Thanks.”
    The others followed suit, showering her with compliments. She thanked them, took a breath, then forged on manfully. “You know, you could all eat home-cooked meals more often if you’d just settle down.”
    Harris had his mouth full but he still managed to sputter. “I’m plenty settled.”
    Buck had the good grace to first swallow. Loudly. “No time. The lumberyard is a demanding mistress.”
    Harris laughed and thwacked him on the back for that quip.
    Riley shrugged. “Maybe someday. But not yet.”
    Ethan remained conspicuously silent.
    “You could all start with a nice house. I see terrific deals all the time.” She tried not to stare at Ethan. “There’s a nice tight ranch not far fromwhere you already live, Riley. One hundred percent financing. New windows, new furnace.”
    Ethan stood. “Mind if I get some more stew?”
    Deflated, Rosie waved at him. “Go ahead. Help yourself.”
    For fear of not getting seconds, the other guys jumped up and got in line for the Crock-Pot. Rosie tapped her fingertips on the tabletop. They were all so stubborn.
    “I’d waive my fee, you know.”
    Riley patted her head on his way back to his seat, his bowl almost overflowing. “Course you would, hon. It’s not that. I just don’t think any of us are anxious to get into the home-and-hearth routine.”
    Squaring her shoulders, Rosie twisted in her seat and faced Ethan. “You used to be. Don’t you remember when you were wanting kids and a dog and a house with a picket fence?”
    A heavy silence fell around them. Other than a quick look in her direction, Ethan paid her little mind. “It’d be hard to forget, but that was a long time ago.”
    “Nineteen months. Not all that long.”
    He pierced her with a lethal look. “Long enough.”
    Riley