On the surface he was more than perfect. He had the looks, the attitude, the potential to clean up nicely.

But did he have anything underneath that would show her he had potential to be kind?

"Have a seat," she said. He sat down before she did, and she grimaced. But manners could be taught.

"So tell me about yourself, Rocco."

Using a lot of grunts as he slumped in his chair, he told her about the business he owned. He had started

a kitchen remodeling company.

He was looking better by the second. Looks, and now a good job. Please let there be some kindness somewhere in there.

"I'm impressed," she said truthfully.

Ben made some sort of a noise. She ignored him.

"But I'm curious," she continued. "Why are you interested in becoming the Primal Guy?"

He sat up in his chair, leaned in, and planted his elbows on his knees. He looked at her with intensity

blazing in his blue eyes. "I want to do this show because I want to be transformed."

"Really?"

"Really. I'm in love with a woman, Fiona Branch." He said her name with a reverence that sent a thrill

down Julia's spine. "But she won't give me the time of day." He sat back. "I can tell she thinks I'm rough around the edges. But if you can turn me into a sensitive guy, I know I'll be able to win her over."

Julia's breath caught and she placed her hand on her pounding heart. "That is so sweet," she breathed.

Ben cursed. "That's the biggest load of crap I've ever heard."

"Ben!"

"I'm out of here," he said, and walked out of the office.

It was hours later when Julia called down the hall. Everyone was gone by then and it was safe to come out. Like he had been hiding.

He grumbled because he had been.

Ben wished he hadn't promised Sterling he would stay here. And he might have been tempted to break a promise for the first time in his life if his new apartment had been ready before the end of the month. But that wasn't happening. And as much as he didn't want anything to do with Julia, the thought of staying on the floor or a couch in some buddy's apartment didn't sound appealing.

Besides, a promise was a promise.

He found her in the kitchen, surrounded by pots and pans. Some people exercised or drank when they were stressed. Julia, he had noticed, cooked. She had changed out of the prissy clothes she had worn for the interviews, putting on those ugly warm-ups again. If he hadn't known better, he'd have no idea what kind of a body she had under all the baggy material. And she still managed to look great.

"Mmmm," he said, coming up behind her, "something smells good."

"Must be the prime rib."

"Something's prime in here."

She craned her neck to look at him. "If you're in any way referring to me, and that is a line, I really have to reassess my thought that you are a bad boy-or at least a smooth-talking bad boy."

Ben threw his head back and laughed. He did that a lot with Julia. Laugh, and laugh in a way that had the ability to drive the darkness out. Which, when he was truthful with himself, was at least part of the reason he was still there. He could afford a hotel. He could make Sterling understand his need to leave. But the thought of the dreams haunting his sleep made Julia the better alternative.

But she did something else for him as well. With her television show, smart mouth, and deep violet eyes, she provided him with some kind of reprieve from his thoughts about Henry.

The truth was, he wasn't getting anywhere with his search for his partner's killer. He felt no closer to finding answers as to why Henry was in that alleyway than he was when he had started. None of his online searches in "need cash fast" and classified sections had panned out.

He had come up with another avenue to check out, and had already started posting notes. On dating sites. At first it had seemed crazy. But after he had made a list of attributes of people who might be open to dealing drugs, one had popped out at him. People who were lonely; people who were looking for any means to interact with others to feel wanted or important. And people who were lonely might very well frequent dating sites. But he knew he was running out of time.

What he hadn't wanted to acknowledge was that the brass in the department thought something wasn't right. Whatever Henry had been involved in had gone bad, everyone agreed, but there was more to it-more than just Henry going into the alley to get the goods on a dealer.

Henry had done something wrong.

That was the secret unspoken concern that was drifting through the department. Ben sensed it. And Ben intended to prove Henry had only done his job. But did he believe it?

Ben dragged his hands through his hair at the traitorous sentiment, and when he glanced up, Julia was

studying him. She started to say something, but he cut her off. "I'm starved," he said. "Let me help you

put dinner on the table."

Fortunately, she didn't question him. And in minutes they were sharing a meal of prime rib, Yorkshire pudding, roasted potatoes, green beans with almonds, salad, and rolls.

After the first bite, he moaned his pleasure. "You definitely can cook." He took another bite, swallowed, then added, "I had you pegged for a Cordon Bleu type, not an all-American meat and potatoes type."

She considered that. "I've never been crazy about saucy foods."

"Saucy?"

"The kinds with sauces and are stuffed and, well, fancy."

"You're always a surprise."

He watched her while she ate. When she finished, she sat back and smiled. "I can't believe I'm finally done with the interviews."

"What happens now?"

"I've got to pick a winner."

"What about finalists?"

"I don't have time. I have to have a show done by the time Sterling and Chloe return."

"You don't have to hurry. There's no way in hell Sterling will listen to that chump, Folly."

"That isn't the point. I want Sterling to keep me on because I deserve the job. Not because I'm a charity

case."

He finished the last of his dinner, then sat back as well. "So tell me how you expect this mind-blowing show of yours to work."

Her nearly violet eyes went wide with excitement and she sat up. "Really? You want to hear about it?"

"Sure, why not?"

Anything not to have to think about his doubts about Henry.

She pushed her plate away and started to talk enthusiastically. "It's going to be great. It will be a

one-hour show. I'll start with one man, then work on getting a lineup of other men ready to go once the first episode gets the green light."

"You're optimistic."

"Why shouldn't I be?" she said with the sort of confidence that he couldn't help but admire in her. "The

idea is inspired. What woman doesn't wish for the experience, looks, and confidence of a bad boy, combined with a man who knows how to treat a lady like a queen?"

"That guy is a figment of your imagination."

"Maybe, maybe not. But it's just that sort of thing that will play into the success of the show. Viewers

will want to see if I can make it happen! They'll be asking, Will she succeed? Can she do it?"

"But if they don't believe a man can be experienced, good-looking, confident, and sensitive anyway, why would they be disappointed if you can't make it happen?"

"Because they want to believe it's possible. It's like a happily-ever-after ending. This show will tap into

women's deep down hope that Mr. Wonderful is out there."

He shook his head. "So how's it going to work?" Julia clasped her fingers together. "I'm going to divide

the hour up into four segments. After the Primal Guy is introduced, for the first segment I'll do hair, clothes, hygiene ..." Ben grimaced.

"I'm going to take my rugged-looking guy and clean him up. I'll make a big visual difference right there."

"Hell, after seeing most of the guys who interviewed, you have your work cut out for you."

She gave him a look, and belatedly he realized he hadn't shaved since yesterday.

"Yeah, yeah," he grumbled, "what's after that?"

"The second segment will be on manners."

"Manners, as in eating with the right fork?"

"Yes, but also dancing, pulling out chairs, not sitting until a lady has sat, opening doors. The sort of

questions he should ask a woman. In general, how to treat a woman."

"You're setting yourself up for failure. I'm telling you that for your own good."