Karen Rose - Count to Ten

Dana's lips twitched. "I'm not touchin' that with a ten foot pole. Okay, time-out's over. He's handsome, kind, and I'm betting he's interested and you're scared."

All those years as a social worker had honed Dana's observation skills. All the years as Mia's best friend had sharpened them to a razor edge. "Essentially, yes."

Dana leaned forward conspiratorially. "So, has he kissed you yet?"

A laugh bubbled up. "No." She sighed. "But it's headed that way."

"And?"

"And… I'm not looking for a relationship."

"Neither was I."

"That's different."

Dana lifted a brow. "How?"

"You love Ethan. You married him." And for Dana, that had been a huge step.

"At first I only planned to use him for sex and cut him loose when I was done."

Mia blinked. That one she hadn't heard before. "Oh?"

"But I didn't get done with him. I'm still not done. Don't think I'll ever be done. He's just too good in bed. All those muscles and all that energy…" She fanned her face.

Mia found herself tightening her thighs against the throbbing between her legs. "Not fair. You know how long it's been since I've had any and you're just rubbing it in."

Dana laughed. "I'm sorry. I couldn't resist. Oh, Mia." Her smile became sad. "Look at yourself. You're thirty-four years old and all you have is work. You go home to a dark, cold apartment and an empty bed. You wake up the same way. Your life is passing and you're just watching the days go by."

Mia swallowed hard, but the lump still closed her throat. "Not fair," she whispered.

"I'm tired of being fair," Dana whispered back. "I'm tired of watching you throw your life away because you don't think you deserve any better. Dammit, your father's dead, Mia. Kelsey's in jail and your mother… God only knows about her. But you, you I know. You, I care about. And if you think it's not fair to live like you do, you should be the one to watch you do it. It breaks my heart, Mia." Dana's voice broke. "And that's not fair."

Because her own heart ached, Mia lifted her chin and dropped her eyes. "I'm sorry."

Dana slapped the table. "Goddammit, Mia, yank that stick out of your ass and listen to me. You deserve a life. Don't tell me you don't want that." She spread her arms wide. "That you don't want this. Look me in the eye and tell me you don't want this."

Mia looked around the kitchen, at the cheerful colors, the sink filled with dishes, the refrigerator covered with the artwork done by small hands. And she wanted it, so fiercely it stole her breath. "Yes," she hissed. "I want it."

"Then take it." Dana leaned forward, her eyes turbulent. "Find someone and take it."

"I can't."

"You mean you won't."

"Fine. I won't."

Dana leaned back in her chair, her shoulders sagging. "Why not?"

"Because I'd ruin it." She jerked her eyes away from Dana's devastated face and finished it. "And I'll be damned before I ruin two kids like he ruined us."

There was silence, then Mia heard the sound of the nickel sliding back across the table. "I can't help you, Mia," Dana whispered. "I'm sorry." For minutes they sat not speaking, then Dana sighed. "Can I give you some free advice?"

"Can I stop you?"

"No. Human contact is a need, just like food. No food, you starve. If you deprive yourself of human contact it can do the same to your soul. You're attracted to Reed?"

Mia drew a breath. "Yeah."

"Then don't run away from him. See where this takes you. You don't have to have a house with kids and a husband to have a relationship. And despite the Valentine's Day cards, not every relationship is meant to last forever."

"Would you accept less than forever?"

"No, because I've tasted it and now I can't imagine being satisfied with anything less. But if you're bound and determined not to have filet mignon, then don't push away the hamburger. If you're honest with the man, hamburger might be enough sustenance to get you through. And who knows? Maybe he only likes hamburger, too."

"See that's where you're wrong. Only the sleazebags only like hamburger."

"And Reed Solliday is no sleazebag," Dana said heavily.

No, he wasn't. "Dana, I don't want to hurt anyone like I hurt Guy. Reed's a nice man. So it's hands off. I've gotta go. Thanks for dinner."

From her kitchen window, Dana watched Mia drive away. Ethan came up behind her, slid his hands around her waist. She leaned into him. needing him more than ever.

"Did you tell her?" he murmured and she shook her head.

"No, the time wasn't right."

Ethan splayed his hand against her abdomen. "You have to tell her sometime, Dana. She's a big girl and she loves you. She'll be happy for us."

That, of course, was the issue. "I know she'll want to be happy for us, Ethan. I guess I'm selfish enough to want to wait until I know she will be."

"Well, don't wait too much longer. I want to tell people. I want to shop for cribs and booties and stuff." He turned her in his arms and kissed her soundly. "But first, let's talk a little about that whole dominatrix thing."

Dana laughed as he'd meant for her to. "I do love you."

He pulled her close, held her tight. "I know."

Wednesday, November 29, 7:55 p.m.

Holly Wheaton watched Reed approach like an angry cat watches a recalcitrant mouse. Of course, Reed wasn't a mouse. But that didn't make Holly Wheaton any less a cat. A cat in a low-cut sheer blouse, suede miniskirt, and killer pumps.

It was abundantly clear what the woman had had in mind. Reed found himself curiously affected and repelled and… making comparisons. He wished Mia could be here to put this woman in her place. But also because he just wanted her here. Mia didn't have Wheaton's features, that face that made men's fingers pause on the remote as they channel surfed. But Mia had something more… natural. More appealing. Just… more. He let his eyes dip briefly below Wheaton's chin. Mia had her there, too. Hands down. Or hands on. Focus, Solliday. The shark is circling . He seated himself across from Wheaton and shook his head when the waiter appeared to fill his glass.

"No thank you." He handed the waiter the menu. "I won't be staying."

Wheaton's cheeks flushed. "I recall a deal. And speaking of such, you're late."

"I had another dinner engagement."

"You could have broken it."

"No, I couldn't have. Nor would I have. I don't have much time, Miss Wheaton. I promised you an interview. Please commence."

"Very well." She put her recorder on the table. "Tell me about the investigation."

"I can't comment on any ongoing investigation."

Her eyes narrowed. "You're welshing?"

"No. You asked for an interview. I didn't promise to answer your questions. Now I will, of course, provided you ask me something I'm at liberty to divulge."

She sat for a moment, then smiled and the hair on the back of his neck stood straight up. "So who was the woman that Detective Mitchell pursued today?"

Reed just looked at her, perplexed on the outside, but raging-bull mad on the inside. "Oh, you mean at the press conference. She thought she saw someone we wanted to talk to, but she was mistaken." He shrugged. "No mystery."

Wheaton huffed a chuckle before pulling a personal DVD player from the leather bag at her feet. She handed it to him. "Just hit play. The resemblance is uncanny."

He did and the rage inside him grew as he watched the camera pan the crowd and focus on the woman who was most likely Mia's half-sister. This was none of Wheaton's business. It was Mia's pain and he'd be damned if Wheaton cashed in on it. She took the player from his hand. "Tell me what I want to know or I'll go public with this."

"With?" he asked mildly. "She's not a person of interest.

Just a face in the crowd."