It hit Carlie then. Tyler, too, had an alter ego, just as she did. In fact, more than one.

There was Tyler the businessman, the astute lawyer who handled cases with flair and savvy. And there was also Tyler, the ladies' man, with a reputation well known by the female population. In fact, Carlie now realized that reputation had been encouraged more by the ladies than by Tyler himself. The things he valued in a woman, as far as she could tell, were intelligence and laughter, not her measurements and unfailing willingness.

And he was also a very perceptive man, considerate and indulgent, with a gentleness toward all things weaker or smaller. That was why he dealt so well with children.

Tyler looked up and caught her scrutinizing him. He strolled over, dribbling the ball. With a slight smile, he stopped directly in front of her. "I know what I'm thinking. Are your thoughts the same?"

Carlie shrugged, stealing the ball away from him. "I was thinking you should get married and have children of your own. You're very good with them." She glanced at him, saw his shock and smiled with satisfaction. "That's all."

"That's all! Hey, wait a minute."

He was too late. She blew the whistle and the children lined up. For the next two hours, Carlie made certain she kept her distance from Tyler, always making sure she had at least one of the kids close to her. It was an ingenious plan-and it was obviously frustrating Tyler. He scowled at her throughout the last fifteen minutes of the practice.

Tyler walked two of the children out to their parents' cars, talking with the moms and dads a few minutes before coming back to the gym. She wasn't going to bother asking him what the discussions were about this time. He'd never confided in her last time. When he noticed she was still in the gym, he headed toward her, falling into step beside her as she started for the locker room.

"I want to talk to you, Carlie."

"Can't right now. I'm running late as it is." That was an easy truth to give, though Tyler didn't accept it.

"Late for what, dammit?"

She didn't look at him. "Don't curse at me, Tyler."

"Then stop avoiding me!"

"In other words, if I don't, you're going to continue to blast me with your foul language?"

He grabbed her arm, halting her. "Talk to me. Please."

It unnerved her, seeing him so abjectly sincere. "I'm sorry. Really. But I'm starting some night courses and I'm running late. I should have left ten minutes ago."

He searched her face. "What time will you get home?"

"Late."

"Too late to see me?"

"There's no reason for me to see you. I told you that."

"And I didn't accept it. I guess we're at an impa.s.se."

"We aren't anywhere. I'm late and you should be getting home. Goodbye."

"No. I'm not leaving until you tell me what you meant by that crack about children."

"It wasn't a crack." She glanced at her watch, a deliberate show of impatience. "You'd make an excellent father. You should find yourself a woman like Bren, and settle down. It would relieve the boredom you're forever complaining about."

"I haven't complained about being bored since I met you. And I don't want a woman like Bren. I want a woman like you."

It took great willpower not to react to that statement. Her stomach had lurched and her pulse had skipped a beat. But he was only being Tyler, flirting and teasing. She couldn't take him seriously. "You want a woman who doesn't want you back? I don't know, Tyler. That might be kind of hard. Didn't you tell me that all the women want you?"

"No. I don't recall saying that. But I know you do, Carlie. Shall I prove it?"

Carlie flushed, silently cursing him for challenging her, especially when she knew she couldn't win. "I can't deny I enjoyed s.e.x with you, Tyler. That isn't what I meant, and you know it. Why don't you take up a hobby? Collect stamps or something so you can entertain yourself without annoying me."

"I wasn't trying to annoy you! I'm trying to talk to you. I want you to forgive me, I want-"

"You're forgiven."

"That was a little precipitous, wasn't it?" He eyed her suspiciously. "What are you forgiving me for?"

"I have no idea. You're the one who wanted forgiveness." She raised her eyebrows politely. "You tell me."

He took a deep breath. "I'm sorry for yelling at you, for jumping to conclusions and saying hateful, uncalled-for things."

"They were called for. And you were justified." She looked down at her clasped hands and made the necessary effort to relax. "Will you forgive me, also? For deceiving you and using you and causing you embarra.s.sment?"

"Carlie." He pulled her against his chest, despite her stiff, unyielding posture. "There's nothing to forgive, honey. I understand why you didn't tell me."

Carlie slowly stepped away, then started toward the gym door. "It's in the past, Tyler," she called over her shoulder. "Forget about it. We're both obviously very sorry and determined not to make the same mistakes again. That's good enough for me. Now, I have to go. I'll see you Wednesday."

"Carlie..."

She didn't stop, didn't turn to him, didn't slow her pace at all. But she could feel his eyes boring into her and just before the heavy back door swung shut behind her, she heard a bang that sounded suspiciously like a fist hitting a locker.

"You're going to have to help out here, Bren!" Tyler said as he paced the kitchen, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. Carlie was being entirely unreasonable. She wouldn't see him beyond practices and wouldn't take the time to talk to him when it wasn't absolutely necessary. He'd about run out of ideas. And he was getting desperate.

Brenda and Jason stared at him as he paced. Brenda shook her head. "Carlie would never forgive me if I got in the middle of this."

"Just try talking to her for me. She'll listen to you."

"Not a chance. Carlie won't listen to anything I have to say. Not with things so fouled up."

Tyler glowered at her. "Things are not fouled up! Carlie and I being together is not a mistake."

"Hah! Carlie's more determined than ever to stay away from men. She won't even go out with that old school-board guy, and he's certainly no threat."

Tyler halted, then looked at Brenda. "What are you talking about?"

"There's some old stuffed shirt on the school board-"

"He's only thirty-six, Bren," Jason interrupted.

"Well, he seems old, he's so uppity." She gave her attention back to Tyler. "Anyway, she's gone out with him a couple of times. Mostly to talk over school stuff, or so he says. Personally, I think he's trying to ingratiate himself. Now he wants her to help him head up a new fundraiser at the school. Carlie said she needs to get together with him this weekend to discuss the particulars."

"Where?"

Jason stood. "Now, Tyler..."

He ignored his brother. The thought of Carlie with another man made him see red. He repeated, "Where?"

Jason cleared his throat to hide his smile. "At her house, I believe."

"The time?"

Jason glanced at Brenda, who was doing her best to look innocent. "I think she said around noon, but I can't be sure," she said.

Tyler turned on his heel and headed out, not bothering to say goodbye. He didn't see the smug grin on his sister-in-law's face.

Jason pursed his lips. "I thought you weren't going to interfere."

"Of course I wouldn't!" Brenda gasped. "I gave Carlie my word."

"Then what was this little scene you just enacted?"

"A slip of the tongue?"

"Clever. Just what I love in a wife!"

On his drive home, Tyler formulated his plan. It was Friday evening-he'd gone to his brother's house, frustrated after another unsatisfying attempt to gain Carne's attention during the practice. She was getting very good at ignoring him. And after practice, she had to hurry off for her cla.s.ses. He had no doubt they'd been planned just to thwart him. It annoyed the h.e.l.l out of him.

But he could be just as devious as Carlie. Since he had no intention of giving up on Carlie, he had to overcome her obstacles.

And he had a secret weapon-his own project he'd been working on for some time. He'd planned to surprise Carlie with it. Now it would prove invaluable. But first he needed to get her alone for a bit. He hadn't missed her response the day he'd held her only briefly. But he had been stymied by the fact that she seemed to find it so easy to walk away. She hadn't even looked back as he'd willed her to do. Stubborn wench.

At least she was never boring. He remembered the way she had held him so tight when he'd entered her, how she told him she cared. Not a little, but a lot. He had to believe that. She still cared, and she would get over her anger. He'd help her. h.e.l.l, he'd insist upon it.

Tyler planned his arrival perfectly, even to the point of driving around the block twice, waiting for the strange car to show up in front of Carlie's house. He parked and got out, whistling, a sheath of papers in his hand.

He knocked on the door, then waited, doing his best to hide his smile. Carlie answered, dressed in her usual distasteful clothes. This time, it was a long skirt, hanging below her knees. Her slim calves and ankles were hidden by boots, the skirt topped by a large sweater which had no waist or any other defining lines. It was ugly as sin.

"You look beautiful today, Carlie." He spoke loudly enough for her company to hear. She glared at him, but he knew he had her. She was forced to be polite when a member of the school board was in earshot.

"h.e.l.lo, Tyler. What brings you here today?"

He quickly shouldered his way inside before she could tell him she was busy. "I have some things to discuss with you about your project."

"The team?"

"That's right. I had some ideas to go over with you."

A man entered, dressed in a business suit and looking every bit as stuffy as Brenda had claimed he was. He didn't so much as glance at Tyler. "Is something wrong, Carlie?"

She looked hara.s.sed. "Ah, no." Then she grudgingly made the introductions. "Tyler, this is Brad Shaw. Brad, meet Tyler Ramsey, the man I told you about. He's proving to be a big help with the after-school basketball program."

The men shook hands. Tyler smiled with devious innocence. "I'm sorry, Carlie. I didn't realize you had a date tonight."

She didn't disappoint him with her reaction. He grinned as she turned beet red. Tyler had the feeling it was mostly due to anger. "Brad is a member of the school board. We were going to discuss a new fundraiser."

"Is that right? Maybe I could help. I'm always willing to help support the schools."

It was obvious he'd gotten Brad's interest. He may have wanted to be alone with Carlie, but apparently he also wanted financial aid. He opted for the money. "Won't you join us, Mr. Ramsey?"

He grinned. "Tyler, please. I'd be delighted." Then he turned to Carlie. "But I do need to discuss a few things with you, also."

"Of course. We have the afternoon free." Brad was being very charming. "Isn't that right, Carlie?"

With a strained, slightly malicious smile, Carlie nodded. "Certainly. Tyler knows how interested I am in doing what I can for the school."

Tyler watched her, satisfied. He made certain she was aware of his intent in visiting. He wasn't planning to be devious-yet. That would come later. Maybe after he'd lulled her with false confidence.

"Would anyone like anything to drink?" Carlie headed for the kitchen. Tyler watched her, knowing she was only using the excuse to fume in private. He gave her thirty seconds, then left Brad looking around an empty living room so he could "give Carlie some help."

She had her back to him, setting gla.s.ses on the counter and filling them with iced tea. Silently, he moved up behind her, then bent and kissed her exposed neck.

Carlie jerked, nearly knocking over one of the gla.s.ses. Tyler caught it, set it back on the counter, then met her outraged gaze. "I've missed you so much, sweetheart."

"Don't you ever do that-"

Tyler quickly covered her mouth with his own. Her startled gasp was held suspended somewhere between them.

Her lips were soft and moist, and she tasted delicious. Using all his experience, he seduced her mouth, nibbling at her soft lips, licking gently, reclaiming her, urging her closer.

"Carlie." He forgot his purpose. It seemed so long since he'd kissed her. Without really intending to, his hand came up to cup her breast.

Instinct alone saved him. Ducking and catching her open palm just inches from his cheek, Tyler chided her. "Sweetheart, if you hit me, how will you explain it to your date?"

Through set teeth, she growled, "He's not my date, you a.s.s!"

"Shh. Do you want him to know what we're doing?"

"I'm not doing anything! You're the one... !"

He watched with interest as her chest heaved angrily. Then he smiled. "You don't have to do anything. I read the morning paper and I want you. My secretary, who must be going on eighty, brings me coffee and I want you. I see you standing at the counter pouring tea and I positively throb."

Carlie closed her eyes in exasperation. "What are you doing here, Tyler?"

"I had to see you."

She turned away, picking up the tray. "Now you've seen me. Will you please go home?"

"And leave you here alone with Casanova? No way."

Carlie started out of the kitchen. Tyler took the tray from her. "He's only an a.s.sociate," she said.

Tyler sent her a doubtful look. "With higher aspirations."

She snorted.