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that same line from her every day since they’d opened the damn law firm together. “Yeah, well. I’ve had enough of that. No more reverting to character.”
    She frowned, confusion creasing her brow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    She wasn’t going to like what was coming next, but Jason hated seeing her so sad. Kristen needed her safe world shaken up a bit. “You spend your life in this office, using work as an excuse to avoid getting out there and living. Everything is passing you by and you know it. It’s getting to you, isn’t it, Kris? And it’s starting to seep out in little ways. You made that second-chance goal during a moment of weakness, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t really what you want. You’re just so used to denying yourself any joy, any pleasure, that now you don’t know how to find it.”
    Kristen’s temper sparked. It pleased him to see some fire in her. Lately she’d been too withdrawn, quiet. He’d missed their verbal sparring matches. “You’re one to talk, Jason. Maybe I do use work to avoid relationships, but that’s a hell of a lot better than partying my life away, jumping from one bed to the next. You think I can’t handle emotional entanglements? Well, go take a long look in the mirror because it clearly takes one to know one.”
    She was right. One hundred percent. But there was no way in hell he’d tell her that. “At least I’m putting myself out there. That’s a hell of a lot more productive and positive then hiding behind this desk. You’re a coward.”
    “And you’re a prick. A womanizing, cocky, arrogant prick.”
    Jason leaned closer, strangely aroused by her flushed face and name-calling. She was the only woman in the world who constantly challenged him, served as his conscience when he made bad decisions and forced him to work just a little bit harder.
    He’d always managed to drift along in life easily because—as his mother said—he had just enough intelligence and charm to get by. Kristen never let him away with anything, never accepted his bullshit at face value the way everyone else did. It drove him nuts, mainly because she was usually right.
    But this time, she was the one giving up. And he hated seeing her defeated before she even picked up a weapon. “Maybe so, but at least I’m serious when I say I’m going to change my ways. It’s not just words to me. You spouted all that crap about being lonely and wanting to find someone to share your life with. Now you’re doing the same thing you’ve always done. Nothing. You’ve locked yourself up in here, blaming work for your sadness when the truth is you’re not even trying.”
    Kristen opened her mouth to retaliate, then closed it. Her brow creased. She was silent for several moments, then she sighed. “Damn. You’re right.”
    He had to fight to hide his grin. “How much did it hurt you to say that?”
    “A lot. God, Jason. Do you think this is a midlife crisis or something? I can’t seem to get my act together these days.”
    “Is turning forty really bothering you so much?”
    She nodded slowly. “Yes. And no. I don’t think it’s the age as much as the fact I thought I’d have more to show for my life by now.”
    “Meaning?”
    “I’m not married and haven’t had a serious boyfriend since college. I’m still renting that stupid little townhouse, even though I could have bought any house I wanted years ago. And I don’t even want to tell you how long it’s been since I’ve had sex. And I’m not talking about the self-induced kind. I mean the sweaty, hot kind with a real man. I really miss sex.”
    “It’s official. You are having a midlife crisis.”
    She giggled lightly. “What threw me over the top? The lack of sex?”
    He shook his head. “Nope. The fact you confessed all of that to me.”
    Her laughter exploded, pure, genuine, loud. The sound was almost foreign. Jason could count on one hand the number of times he’d heard Kristen truly laugh.
    “You want to