Man, I was completely messed up. My hands were shaking, my heart was pounding, and for a moment I flirted with the idea of dropping everything to see a neurologist. I had trouble getting the key into the lock.

I felt like Chevy Chase playing Gerald Ford.

Upon entering the condo I became a stumbling oaf. I tripped on the hall rug, smashing a small table in the process. I left it where it lay, a splintered casualty of my nerves. Apparently my brain was not sending the right messages to my arms and legs. I skidded down the hallway to the living room, wondering if an unknown assailant had broken in and recklessly waxed my floor. I led her to the sofa, and fortunately Leonie wisely ignored it when I fell backward over the hassock.

Somehow I managed to sit on the couch without impaling myself on the sculpture next to it. When I ran my fingers through Leonie's hair, the dark red strands knotted around my ring. I started to pull my hand away, only to have her cry out in pain. This was going so well. Were Gin and Paris watching me on a planted video camera right now?

I wouldn't put it past them.

As I leaned toward her (forcing my sister and best friend from my thoughts), my right hand still stuck in her hair, we actually hit our front teeth together. Somehow her lip was caught in the middle, and as I pulled away I could see I'd given her a fat lip. And who the hell turned up my thermostat?

In spite of all of this (and I know this will sound weird), I was really turned on. Just looking at Leonie, smelling her hair, touching her skin, sent shivers to all the appropriate body parts. I wanted her so badly my stomach hurt.

I pulled back for a moment. "Why are you here?"

She laughed. "Well, for starters, you invited me. And I wanted to come over."

"Why?" I persisted. Suddenly I had to know why this amazing woman was interested in me. Wait a minute. I never cared about that before! But for some reason, with Leonie I did.

"What do you mean, why?"

"I just wanted to know why you picked me," I said.

Leonie studied me for a moment. "Somehow I get the impression you never asked anyone that before." When all I did was shrug, she continued: "There's something about you, Dak. I'm very attracted to you."

"Why?" Dammit! Dammit! What the hell was wrong with me? It was like having an out-of-body experience-one where I couldn't stop myself if I wanted to. What the hell was wrong with me? It was like having an out-of-body experience-one where I couldn't stop myself if I wanted to.

For a moment I thought I'd pushed her too far. Maybe if she thought about it too much she'd realize she wasn't attracted to me. What had I done?

"I find your vulnerability endearing," she said quietly, with a smile. "I love how you get tongue-tied around me, as if I were the first woman to do that to you. You make me feel like I'm the most desirable person in the world."

For a moment-just a moment-I thought she was insulting me. Vulnerable? Tongue-tied? That wasn't me! I was suave and worldly.

Did this mean she didn't see that?

"Dak." Leonie pulled me against her. "I want you. Don't ruin it."

Leonie's lips were soft on mine. All of a sudden I forgot what to do! A sense of panichit me, and it felt as if the room were spinning. She seemed calm. What the hell was wrong with me? Maybe I needed to lie down.

"Why don't we take this into the bedroom?"

Leonie whispered in my ear. I did one of those cartoon gulps and nodded. We walked into what had once been my playboy lair.

Now it seemed like an alien room with furniture I didn't even recognize.

Leonie kissed me, then abandoned me to use the bathroom. I stood there, frozen to the spot where she had left me, unable to think of what to do. Shit! Shit! This had never happened to me before! This had never happened to me before! Think, Dak, think! Think, Dak, think!

I was still standing there when Leonie returned and wrapped her long arms around me, pulling me into a kiss. I'm not certain how she managed that, since my head was spinning on my neck like a top. What was it with this chick? I was completely messed up!

What happened next was a blur. There was a whole host of sensations involving hands, fingers, lips, and tongues. The outside of my body was performing, but my innards felt like the inside of a Lava lamp. I barely remember our clothes coming off, or slipping beneath the sheets. All I could see were those hypnotic light blue eyes framed by a cloud of silky red curls. I hoped she'd know what to do. I'd forgotten what happened when you got a naked man and a naked woman together.

Leonie guided my body into hers, and I felt a surge of crushing emotion. What was this? It was as if all my organs had swollen up with helium, and I was about to take flight.

Oh, my God. I had to stop this. I had to channel George Clooney instead of Woody Allen. That very idea turned it around. I had to stop this. I had to channel George Clooney instead of Woody Allen. That very idea turned it around.

I started to take control of the situation, like I used to. I kissed her lips, then her chin, slipping down to the lovely hollow of her long, pale throat. Leonie sighed, and I became bolder. I wanted to make this night memorable, not come across as a bungling fool.

My lips sought the cleft between her perfect, small breasts, and I nuzzled each nipple until she moaned beneath me. It felt so good to make her feel good-something I'd never noticed before. Cupping her shapely ass, I found her sweet spot. It took only a few moments to make her come, and it was so good for her, it felt like I'd climaxed too.

Leonie flipped me over, climbing on top, and once I was inside her she began to rock back and forth, never taking her eyes off of mine. I winced as I realized I'd never thought of my past lovers as people. Shoving that aside, I closed my eyes against the intensityof her gaze before my orgasm washed over me like a tidal wave.

I felt so terrified and wonderful, I started to cry. Yup. You heard me.

The more I tried to stop the faster the tears came. I lay there on my back, arms around Leonie-whose hair covered my chest-and wept. The intensity of what happened stunned me. And I didn't know what the hell to do.

Fortunately Leonie fell asleep and I just lay there, wondering what the hell was happening.

The deep, homey tang of bacon teased me awake. I was naked and alone in bed, but someone was making breakfast. This I understood-recognizing the smell of meat and knowing that a woman was here.

I reached for my robe, but it was gone. After fumbling in my drawers for pajamas, I wandered into the hall toward the kitchen.

"Morning!" Leonie called out brightly as she flipped the eggs and bacon simmering in front of her. My robe hung from her slight frame, but it looked incredibly beautiful against her pale skin. She resembled a china doll dressed up in silk.

"Hey." I kissed her awkwardly and poured a cup of coffee. "How long have you been up?"

I've never been good at the morning-after thing. In fact, unless there was an opportunity for follow-up sex, I usually rushed them through the shower and out the door so I could get on with the next conquest. But this morning was different. This morning I wanted her to stay.

"Not long. I was hungry. I hope you don't mind." She pushed a spiral strand of copper curls from her forehead.

"Of course not. I love having you here." Oh, my God. Oh, my God. It was true. I wanted her here for more than sex! Well, that and she was making bacon. Show me a man who'd turn that down. It was true. I wanted her here for more than sex! Well, that and she was making bacon. Show me a man who'd turn that down.

"Your family is amazing," Leonie said as she brought two plates to the table and sat down to eat. "Especially Louis."

I grinned. "Yeah. He's pretty adorable."

"I love your sister and cousin. Gin? And Liv? Is her name really Gin Bombay?" She giggled, giving me goose bumps.

"It's really Virginia or Ginny. But we pretty much shortened it to Gin over the years. It's much funnier that way."

Leonie paused, holding her coffee cup. "I have a question that I hope doesn't offend you." She waited for me to nod before continuing. "It's just that I noticed you introduced Gin's husband as Diego Bombay. Isn't that your name too?"

Well, at least she didn't say anything aboutthe dagger-throwing competition at the barbecue, or ask why there's a huge keypad in the kitchen locking up Gin's basement. This was one of the Bombay family quirks I could clue her in on.

"It's a weird little requirement in my family.

If you marry a Bombay woman you have to take her name. It's been that way since 2000 BCE. None of the men seem to mind." I shrugged. "I guess I never really thought about it before."

Leonie held my gaze for a moment. "Well, I think it's really cool. Apparently your family is more progressive than most."

Yeah. We were progressive, all right. As long as if what you mean by progressive was that we kill people we don't know for money.

"So, you got along with everyone?" That was a weird question. As if I were interviewing her for a job.

"I did. They are really terrific. You are so lucky."

I sat back as she took a few bites of her breakfast. I guess she was right. I usually did think I was lucky to be born rich and unfairly attractive. I just never associated the word luck luck with my family before. with my family before.

"And your son, Louis, I adore him!" Leonie giggled. "I've never met a kid like that before."

"Yeah. If it weren't for the DNA test, I'd think he wasn't related to me at all." Oops. Oops.

Leonie arched her right eyebrow. "DNA test?" Uh-oh.

I sighed and told her about my short acquaintance with my son. For some reason I told her everything, warts and all. I didn't even try to make myself sound better. I made a mental note to make an appointment with a neurologist tomorrow.

"Wow," she said softly. "That's a lot for a little kid to handle."

I nodded and realized that, for once in my life, I was agreeing with her instead of saying, What about me? It was tough for me too! What about me? It was tough for me too!

"And the family made you take the test?

That's pretty cold."

"Well, it's really my grandmother who pushed for it. I did it just to keep her happy.

I knew Louis was mine." Or at least, I wanted to believe Louis was mine.

"So, fill me in on everyone. What they do, what they're like, that kind of thing," Leonie said as she curled her legs up under her.

I launched headfirst into a panic attack.

According to custom (which was strictly enforced), Bombays didn't tell their spouses about the family until after they were married and before the first family reunion.

"Enough about my family-how about you?

What's your family like?" Ooh. Smooth. Ooh. Smooth.

Leonie considered my question for a moment as she chewed the last of her bacon.

"Well, I guess you'd say we're a bit unconventional." Unconventional? I thought I had the market cornered on that.

"Oh, yeah," I remembered, "the family funeral home. You must have had an unusual childhood."

"I did. But for some morbid reason I liked it. We grew up with a strange sense of gallows humor. My dad's brother is also in the business. We have the largest funeral home in the state, back home."

I reached for the toast. "So, why did you want to break out on your own?" Was that too personal?

She shrugged. "I don't know. I guess I'm just kind of different from the rest of the family. They're more traditional. I never really fit in." She popped some more eggs into her mouth, and I got the impression that this line of conversation was over.

We spent the rest of breakfast talking about mundane things. The conversation wasn't memorable, but it had such an overwhelming sense of wonder to it.

While she was in the shower I thoughtabout everything. The way she made me feel-like I'd known her forever. The surge of emotion when we made love. How easily she fit in with my family. How much she loved my son. What started as a rush slowly became panic. By the time we were dressed I was beginning to sweat again. Mental note-check the thermostat to see if it's set for hell. Mental note-check the thermostat to see if it's set for hell.

"I'm sorry, Dak," Leonie said with a frown.

"I just got a call from the funeral home. Can you take me back to my car?"

I expelled a huge sigh of relief. For some reason I wanted her to go and stay at the same time. But I needed time to get my head together. I parked in front of my sister's house and walked Leonie to her car. She kissed me and winked as she jumped in and drove away.

I don't know how long I stood there on Gin's front lawn, staring after Leonie. I'm pretty sure it was a while, and that I would still be standing there had Louis not tackled me from behind. Gin waved me into the kitchen.

"Are you okay, mate?" Diego handed me a Diet Coke, and I nodded.

Gin was twittering nonstop about how wonderful Leonie was. I just sat there, mired in confusion. She didn't seem to notice.

"What is wrong with you?" Gin finally sat down next to me at the kitchen table.

"Huh? What do you mean?" I felt unstable.

Kind of like I was homesick for . . . what?

"You haven't said a word." Gin frowned.

"Oh, no! You're not breaking up with Leonie!"

"What?" I jumped. "No! I'm just . . . just a bit overwhelmed right now."

Diego nodded. "That makes sense. You got a new son, a big job from the Council, and a new girlfriend. That's a lot to deal with."

I looked at him. He was right. There was a lot on my plate. All of it was good individually, but together they twisted my insides mercilessly.

"At least the ED problem is over." Maybe that was one less thing to worry about.

"So why were you standing on my lawn for twenty-five minutes this morning, watching the road?" Gin grinned.

"You've got it bad, my friend," Diego said softly.

I looked at him. Diego understood probably more than I did. Last night felt like a triumph and a disaster at the same time. I had the feeling that a huge tidal wave was about to crush me at any second. And for a moment . . . just a moment . . . I thought it might be a good idea if it did.