“Why me?”

“Look at yourself, Charlie. Guys want to be your best friend and women want to sleep with you. You have a face made for television. I’m just surprised no one has noticed before.”

“Okay,” Charlie said. “I’ll think about it. I’ll call you in a few days.”

“They need to know by Tuesday or they’ll push everything back to next season. And then Dirk will be available,” Kevin said. He smiled. “Nice job on the speech. Television is going to love you.”

Charlie wandered back to the area they’d designated as his dressing room. It wasn’t more than an empty office with an adjacent bathroom. He sat down on the edge of a table. The offer was too good to pass up. Even he could see that.

But was he ready to walk out on Eve? Things were just starting to go well. If was really committed to changing his life, then there shouldn’t be any second thoughts. He ought to want to stay in Boulder.

Yet there it was, that old familiar pull. That anticipation, that curiosity, that undeniable need to see what was waiting for him around the next corner. The urge to wander wasn’t nearly as strong, but it was still there.

Charlie cursed softly. He couldn’t continue to do this for the rest of his life. Sooner or later, he’d realize that he didn’t have a life. He rubbed his face with his hands, trying to clear his head and make sense of all these feelings.

“Charlie Templeton?”

Charlie opened his eyes to find a beautiful woman standing at the door. Great. This was all he needed. He waited for the attraction to hit, but to his surprise, he felt nothing. She was exactly the kind of woman he had always been attracted to-blonde and willowy. “That’s me,” he said. “What can I do for you?”

She held out her hand. “My name is Angela Weatherby. I was wondering if you’d have time for an interview?”

“I’m kind of in a-”

“It won’t take long. I just have a few questions.”

What was the harm? He felt no attraction at all. And professionally, he ought to spend more time getting his name out. “Sure,” he said, shaking her hand. There it was again. No reaction to touching her. He grabbed a chair and pulled it out for her. “Sit. So, who do you work for?”

She forced a smile. “Actually, I work for myself. I have a blog and a Web site. But my questions are for a book I’m writing.”

“About climbing?” She didn’t exactly look like she spent a lot of time outdoors. Her nails were too well manicured and her skin was pale and unlined.

“Not exactly.”

“So, what would you like to ask?”

“First, I want to assure you that your interview will be strictly anonymous. Protecting your real identity will be my first priority. I want you to speak freely.”

He frowned. Why would he want to do an anonymous interview? He didn’t have any secrets. “I don’t understand. What is this about?”

“When did you first notice girls?” Angela asked, her digital recorder poised to capture his answer.

“What?”

“I’m interested in understanding the process. How does one go from ordinary kid to ladies’ man? Exactly who taught you how to seduce women? Was it something you just picked up by trial and error or did you have a mentor?”

“What is this? A joke? I think you have me confused with someone else,” he said, getting to his feet.

“I run a Web site called SmoothOperators.com and you have a very large profile with us. You’ve dated a lot of women and fifteen of them have written comments about you. I’d like to talk to you about that, about your relationships with women.”

Charlie stared at her for a long moment. “I’m on a Web site?”

“Yes,” she said. “SmoothOperators.com.”

He grabbed his laptop and turned it on, then waited for a wireless connection. When he found one, he handed the laptop to Angela. “Show me.”

She typed in the Web address, then flipped through a few links. When she was finished, she handed him the computer. To Charlie’s shock, he saw a photo of himself and an entire list of posts from women he’d slept with. “Shit,” he murmured. “Can anyone see this?”

She nodded. “Yes. If they know where to look. Your profile doesn’t come up on a search, though. You have to enter our site first.”

“And this is legal?”

“Oh, yes.”

Charlie read through some of the comments, wincing as he came across passages he recognized. He glanced up at the first post. “VeggieLuv,” he murmured. It certainly didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that one out. Slowly, a memory crystallized in his mind.

That first night in the restaurant, Eve had mentioned something about a Web site, then quickly changed the subject. Was this what she’d been talking about? Is that why she thought he’d returned, to exact some punishment for posting the profile?

Eve’s post was long and detailed and horribly unflattering. This is what she really thought of him, Charlie mused. No wonder she was so wary about starting a relationship. He was exactly the kind of man she wanted to avoid. “So, I’ve dated a lot of women. I’m a single guy. There’s no law against that.”

“No, there isn’t. And I’m not interested in admonishing you for your skills in seducing women. I’m interested in finding out why and how you got this way. I want to explain to women what makes a drifter, like you, tick.”

“A drifter?”

“Yes. That’s your archetype. You move from place to place, never settling down. You lead women to believe they may just have what it takes to make you commit. And when you get bored, you move on.”

“Back up a second, here. I never made any promises.”

“Exactly!” Angela said. “That’s exactly what I expected you to say. But how do you think that makes women feel?”

He stood up, shaking his head. “I don’t know what to say. I’m sorry if I acted like an ass. Write that on your Web site or in your book. I’m doing my best to make some changes in my life. And now, I really have to go.”

With that, he grabbed his jacket and his computer and walked out of the room. Angela hurried after him. “I really would like to speak to you in more detail,” she called. “Could I phone you?”

Charlie strode down the hall, then shoved open the door and stepped out into the cool spring night. Maybe he’d been fooling himself all along. Perhaps Angela Weatherby knew him better than he knew himself. And Eve knew him best of all.

“THE RASPBERRY AND RADISH salad was huge tonight,” Lily said, flipping through the dinner tickets. “The mushroom and leek tartlet went well, too. And that lavender ice cream with a pear crumble was incredible. You have to put those recipes in the new book.”

“I haven’t had a chance to even think about the new book.”

“You have been a bit distracted,” Lily said. “So, how are things going with the new man? Or would he be the new old man?”

“I have no idea what or who he is,” Eve said. “Sometimes, I really wish I could go back to the way things were before he showed up for lunch. My life was so simple. I could focus on my cooking.” She closed her eyes and groaned. “I am so confused.” She looked at Lily. “Do I really want a man in my life right now?”

“Of course you do,” Lily said. “Especially that man.” She reached out and rubbed Eve’s shoulder. “Eve, you need to relax and let things unfold naturally. I know you like to plan, but a relationship is not like a recipe. No matter how hard you try to control the ingredients, it’s never going to come out perfect in the end. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be delicious.”

A shiver skittered down Eve’s spine. It was delicious already. Every moment she spent with Charlie was suffused with desire. No matter what they were doing, all she had to do was reach out and touch him and she was reminded of what they shared in the bedroom.

She’d never been with a man who’d made her feel so sexual. And when she was with him, she felt energized, alive, like she could conquer the world. And yet, she felt that same nervous energy that she had when her marriage was falling apart-the need to control every facet of the relationship.