"Thank you all so much for your hard work. I couldn't have done it without you."

Todd smiled. "I got some really good stuff on my camera. And I know Rob got tons of great official stuff. When can we edit?"

"We'll wait until the end. Then we can sit down at the station and you can experience professional

editing."

Pushing up, energy renewed, Todd beamed. "Cool! I better get home. I'll be back in the morning for the last of the interviews."

He headed for the door with Rob right behind him.

"You're bringing Trisha with you tomorrow, right?" Ben called after Todd.

"Oh, yeah. I guess. But dragging her out of bed any time before noon on a weekend is, like, totally

impossible."

"She wants to learn to drive. She'll be up," Ben predicted.

The next morning, Ben still looked exhausted. At least that's what Julia told herself the darkness was in his eyes.

She had heard him up at all hours last night, working on the computer and pacing. It was like he didn't

want to go to sleep. More and more she got the feeling that there was something wrong underneath his

sensual smiles. But what?

No question he was upset about his friend's death, and he was worried about the man's children. But something in Ben's eyes told her that it was beyond that.

When the doorbell rang and Todd arrived with Trisha in tow as Ben had predicted, Julia said, "I still have forty-five minutes before I start the last round of interviews for the show. If you'd like, I can teach her if you don't want to."

On top of his sleepless nights, yesterday had taken its toll on him, and she felt horrible that she had thought only of herself.

"I'm fine. I'll show her the basics, then next week I'll take her out on the road."

"I can do it, really."

"You've got your hands full. It'll be a piece of cake to show Trish the ropes, then drive up and down your driveway. I blocked it off."

"How did you do that?"

"With lawn chairs."

"You shouldn't be lifting those!"

"I'm not an invalid, Julia," he said, his voice edged with an impatient ruthlessness.

He took one last sip of coffee, set the cup in the sink, then headed outside.

Since they had time before the interviews started, Todd and Julia found themselves watching Ben and

Trisha through the window. The pseudo-uncle and teenager sat in Rita Holquin's car, which had a long

scrape down the side. Julia could see Ben explaining about the gearshift and pedals.

Trisha must have gotten impatient and tried to hurry him along, because Julia could see when he turned into the stern guy. The teen relented, and more explanation ensued. It seemed like forever before Ben handed Trisha the keys. Reluctantly. Grimly.

"I think I should catch this on tape," Todd said. "No telling what she'll wreck this time."

Todd went out the back door to the wide, turnaround drive. Julia followed. Todd started the video recorder just as the car lurched forward. Brakes, then gas. Then stopping altogether.

Todd was amused; Ben was getting frustrated. Then suddenly the vehicle started going backward. Julia

felt her heart leap into her throat when she realized where they were headed.

"Stop!" she blurted out.

But it was too late. The car backed into the yard, running over a plant that had been the one present that

she had always cherished. A rosebush from her dad.

She became vaguely aware that Todd had turned the video on her. She felt weak-kneed and light-headed, like a dam was about to break inside her.

"Hey, Julia?" Todd said. "Are you okay?"

She bunked and focused on him. "Me? Sure. I'm great." She tried to laugh.

Trisha had gotten out of the sedan and now stood in the driveway while Ben straightened the car. When

he finished, everything looked back to normal. Only the rosebush lay scraped and broken on its side, the roots pulled up, some still clinging to the ground.

Ben got out of the car and looked at her. "I'm really sorry about this."

"I'm so sorry, Julia," Trisha added, on the verge of tears.

Julia saw the genuinely desperate sadness in the girl who had lost so much and tried not to show it. Julia found a smile. "It's just a rosebush. Don't worry about it. Now get back on the horse-or in the car-and show yourself that you can do this. You can drive."

"Really? You're not upset?"

Julia was aware of the way Todd looked at her oddly.

"Not upset at all. But if I don't get back inside and start interviewing, I'll have a bunch of upset men on my hands."

"I'll finish up with Trisha," Ben said, "then I'll come in and help."

"No need. I've gotten the hang of it. I can do this round by myself. Todd, it's time to get started."

Chapter Eleven.

Even though she told him she didn't need any more help, and despite the fierce darkness Julia saw in his face, as soon as Rita picked Trisha up, Ben was back inside running roughshod over the Primal Guy hopefuls.

After she had interviewed nearly seventy-five men over two days, she got a little worried that she wasn't going to find the perfect man. That man who was ruggedly handsome and arrogantly alpha-but also had some glimmer in his words or his eyes that told her that he was a man who had something inside of him that spoke to kindness. She was looking for a diamond in the rough. So far all she had interviewed was chunk after chunk of coal.

There were only five men left, and she was determined to find her guy today. Though, as usual, the only male in the house she noticed was Ben.

After he let the first guy in, she saw Ben flip open his cell phone and go outside to talk. After he let the fourth guy in, she noticed that he went to the front door and retrieved some sort of a package from a man. Yet again she was reminded that she knew very little about Ben Prescott.

He didn't have the package when he walked into her office.

"There's only one more guy left to interview," Ben said. "But he's not worth your trouble."

"What? Why?"

"He's a jerk."

"How do you know?"

"Trust me. I can tell these things."

"It's my show, and I'm going to interview everyone." But then she smiled at him. "Though if you would be

my Primal Guy, we can send this last candidate packing."

His brows slammed together. "Russo," he bit out loudly. "You're up."

The last man entered, and Julia had to force herself not to gasp. He was stunningly gorgeous. He was

also a contrast. He had blond hair and blue eyes, but the hair was much too long and his eyes blazed with danger. His leather jacket was soft and worn, his jeans so tight that she could see the outline of his thigh muscles. His black boots were scuffed, and he held a motorcycle helmet in the crook of his arm.

She stood to shake his hand, and he immediately gave her the once-over. Ben started to step forward, that scowl on his face, until Julia held up her hand. "Ben," she warned. "I can handle this."

His eyes narrowed, but he didn't leave the room. He stood behind Rob and Todd with his back against the wall like some sort of security detail, while the camera crew got this guy on tape.

"Mr., ah, Russo, is it?" She glanced down at his resume. "Rocco Russo?"

"Yeah, that's me," he stated.