"Don't cut her loose, okay?"

"I'm taking some punishment."

"Four more days."

"She may decide herself to cut the sessions off." He started buttoning his shirt. "Or maybe not. I've noticed she's pretty distracted around you these days."

Distracted. Funny that Judd had used that word. No, not funny at all. "She won't cut short any preparation available to her. Not when it concerns Barry."

"Then I'm in the driver's seat." He pretended to think. "Now, what prize can I ask in return. ?"

"Judd."

"Okay. Four more days." Judd tucked his shirt into his jeans. "But I'm going to be far too exhausted to do any of the cleanup around here."

"Thanks, Judd." Galen left the barn and headed for the house. He had bought a little time, but he didn't know how much. Elena was definitely not predictable.

Hell, and nothing about his relationship with her was predictable. He felt as if he were trying to walk on water and at any moment he could plunge in over his head.

But, God, it was worth it.

"We're getting close," Gomez said. "We've uncovered the paperwork on a house Galen owns in New Orleans. We checked it out and he wasn't there, but we were able to pinpoint the man who buried the paperwork. Samuel Destin, an attorney. If he did the work on that property, then he may have done the same on another. If he didn't, he may know who did."

"Have you located Destin?" Chavez asked.

"He's in Antigua. We're on our way."

"Be very persuasive, Gomez."

"He's there with his wife and little boy. We don't anticipate any trouble." Gomez hung up.

Yes, it was often easier to use the wife and children of a target to gain information, Chavez thought. He had done it himself on many occasions.

Destin had a son.

He felt a sudden surge of anger. He also had a son, but he'd had no opportunity to teach and guide him as Destin had. It must be the ultimate thrill to mold a human being in your own image.

His son.

She couldn't take her gaze off Galen's hands as he poured the coffee. Powerful hands, nails cut short, the fingers long and graceful and capable. She felt the heat move through her as she remembered how capable.

"Dessert?" Galen asked.

She looked up to see him smiling at her. Bastard. He knew exactly what she was thinking. "No, thank you."

"Sure? It's apple pie. Barry cut the dough for the crust."

She smiled at her son. "Then I'll have to try it."

"I'll help." Barry jumped off the chair and ran after Galen into the kitchen.

She heard them laughing and chattering.

"He likes Galen." Dominic paused. "But not as much as you do."

She stiffened. She had been waiting for him to make a comment. He knew her too well not to realize what was going on between her and Galen. He would have had to he blind, she thought ruefully. Galen had never made any physical move toward her in anyone else's presence, but he had kept his promise. He never lost an opportunity to touch her, and she had moved from wariness to anticipation. Admit it: not anticipation, lust. Her whole body readied when he walked in the room.

"Don't look so apprehensive," Dominic said. "I'm not judging you. I know what kind of hell you've been through. If Galen helps, I'll be grateful to him." He hesitated. "But I admit I'm worried. You really know very little about him. He's a complicated man and not the most stable."

She knew what an understatement that was. "I'm not looking for a lifetime commitment, Dominic. I may never see him after we leave here."

He still looked troubled. "Forgive me. It's none of my business."

"Yes, it is." She reached over and covered his hand with her own. "We're family."

He smiled. "We are, aren't we?" He returned the pressure of her hand before releasing it. "Did I tell you Barry has a new tune he wants to play for you on the keyboard?"

"Jesus." Galen rolled over, bringing her with him. His breathing was labored as he fought for air. "Or should. I say, eureka."

Oh, God, she was shaking. Elena's fingers dug into his shoulders. "Don't talk."

"Have to talk-happy." He hugged her close. "Am I damn good or what?"

"Don't flatter yourself," she said unevenly. "It's just an orgasm."

"It's a home run, a touchdown, a first million on Wall Street."

"And you're giddy as a loon."

"Yep." He hugged her close. "See, it didn't take so long. Nothing wrong with you that Galen couldn't fix."

"The master problem-solver." Her smile faded. "Challenge met. Problem solved."

"No way." He snuggled her closer to him. "Just a giant step. It's going to take a long, long time to perfect the process."

How long? she wondered suddenly.

You really know very little about him.

Yet she felt as if she did know him. She knew his body and his wit. She had laughed with him and shared danger. But she knew what Dominic meant. Did you ever know anyone until you knew what made him what he was?

He lifted his head. "What's wrong?"

As usual, he had sensed what she was feeling. "What could be wrong?"

"Tell me."

She looked away from him. "It might be nice to know a little more about the man who gave me my first orgasm."

"Nah, mystery men are always more sexy." He studied her. "You mean it."

"I realize I have no right to pry into your-`

"Shut up," he said roughly. "You want to know something. Pry."

"Why do you do this kind of work? You seem to have plenty of money. Why take the chances?"

"It's what I do. I get bored. I tried to quit a few years ago and nearly went bananas. I have no calling. I can't paint pictures like Judd. I'm just a provider and a problem-solver."

"You get restless."

"Did you ever consider that you might too?"

She shook her head. "I have an anchor. I have Barry."

"I envy you." He added lightly, "As my mum used to say, there's nothing better than a steadying influence."

"Did she?"

His smile faded. "No, I never knew my mother. I grew up in an orphanage. They found me in a cardboard box in an alley."

She gazed at him, shocked. "Then all those pithy little quotes are lies? Why?"

He shrugged. "It started when I was a teenager. I think I was drunk at the time. The irony appealed to me. Putting all those homey bits of wisdom in the mouth of a woman who didn't give a damn for me. Later it just got to be a habit."

"You don't know what she was facing. Maybe she had to give you up."

"No."

"I almost gave up Barry."

"Did you drop a newborn baby in an alley when the temperature was below freezing?"

"She did that?"

"Oh, yes. She obviously wanted me to die. But I fooled her. I became the healthiest, meanest little son of a bitch that ever came out of Liverpool." He sighed. "And now I'll never be able to quote my dear old mum to you again. It's going to put a crimp in my conversation."

"I'm glad. I don't want to hear about her." She wrapped the sheet around her and stood beside the bed. "Unless you want to name that price we talked about."

"Price?"

"I told you I'd do anything you wanted me to do. I wouldn't mind killing your dear old mum."