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her already off-balance equilibrium. “That’s one way to describe him. Cantankerous is another.”
    She didn’t bother asking why Simon kept such a rude man working for him as she took her first bite of the delicious pasta. She thought it was probably just as hard for a recluse genius to find household help as for a cranky old man who cooked like an angel to find a job.
    â€œSo, tell me about yourself, Amanda.” It was a line tossed out as easily as a common greeting, and yet his intent stare and deep, controlled voice made her feel like he was asking for more than a rundown on the highlights of her résumé.
    She fought against giving in to the compulsion to share on a personal level with him. “I’ve been working for Extant Corporation since graduating from college with a degree in business. This is my second year in the corporate planning division.”
    â€œAre you married?”
    Her fork paused midway to her mouth. “I don’t see how that relates to the merger.”
    One black brow rose. “I thought I explained I like to know the people I do business with.”
    â€œI believed you meant my business background.”
    He poured wine into her glass and then his own. “Did you?”
    No she hadn’t. Not really, but it was so ludicrous to think he wanted to know about her. She wasn’t the type of woman to inspire personal interest from a man like Simon, from any man for that matter. Or so her ex-husband had taken pains to point out. “I assure you the most interesting aspects of my life relate to my career.”
    â€œI’m interested in your marital status.”
    â€œWhy?”
    He shrugged. “It seems relevant to who you are. I’m single and I’ve never been married. I rarely date and I spend long hours in my lab ignoring the rest of the world.”
    â€œOh . . .” What was she supposed to say to that? She couldn’t begin to understand why he was telling her this stuff. He must be very serious about wanting to personally know the people he did business with. She supposed that made sense considering most of his current business associates were family or employees for his family’s company.
    â€œI’m not married.” She didn’t add that she was divorced. “I don’t have time to date.” Something flickered in his eyes at that. She supposed he was noticing, as she was, that they had quite a bit in common. “And I’m focused almost exclusively on my work.” In fact, her only friend outside work was Jillian.
    Which reminded her. “Do you have a television?” She couldn’t believe she was asking him this. It was totally unprofessional, but then the man insisted on having a business meeting in his home and grilling her about her marital status. He couldn’t be that concerned about professional behavior.
    His black brows rose. “No.”
    She couldn’t quite stifle a sound of regret. Jillian was going to be so disappointed.
    â€œI believe Jacob has one, however.”
    â€œJacob?” Asking Simon to allow a thirty-minute break in their meeting so she could keep her promise to Jillian was not nearly as intimidating a prospect as asking Jacob for the loan of his television.
    â€œYes. He likes British comedies.”
    That would mean he had cable. He’d definitely get Jillian’s soap opera. “My best friend is a regular in a daytime drama. She wants me to watch her show today. She’s really proud of her scenes.”
    It had been worth asking, to see the bemusement on Simon’s features. He’d been knocking her off-balance since they met and she found herself relishing this small opportunity to get her own back again.
    â€œYou want to watch a soap opera?”
    â€œYes. My friend said it was only the first thirty minutes I needed to see. I hate to ask for a break like that and realize it isn’t quite professional, but I