shoulder. Chuck was home.

"Good evening, all," he said, sauntering into the room. He was a police detectivefor the city and looked good in his sports jacket and slacks. "How are my threefavorite women doing?" He leaned over Lynette and gave her a leisurely kiss thatmade Jodie's toes curl to watch.

When he straightened, he brushed his lips across the top of Emily's head. Emily

ignored him. Dinner was more important at the moment.

"Your dinner's in the fridge. Just put it in the microwave."

"How are things going for you, Jodie?" he asked casually as he turned to go back

into the kitchen.

Before Jodie had a chance to answer, Lynette said, "Her boss has invited her to gowith him to Hawaii for a week."

Chuck stopped in his tracks and spun around. "Are you serious? Logan asked you togo away with him? Wow. Aren't you the sly one? I had no idea you two were an item."

"We're not! Believe me, there is nothing going on in a romantic sense. The girlhe's been seeing broke up with him. He had the tickets. I suggested he should takethe vacation anyway, and he decided to meet with a prospective client while he was there. He said he could use my help. So it will be a working vacation."

Chuck grinned. "And you believed him."

"Of course. Why shouldn't I?"

Chuck, his dinner forgotten, sat down next to Lynette. "Jodie. Honey. Let's getreal, okay? A man doesn't invite his good-looking secretary to go away with him toa tropical isle without some strictly male motive. He's going to do his best to getyou into his bed. Count on it."

"Chuck!" Lynette kept her voice soft but emphatic. Jodie wondered how she didthat. "Not every man has sex on the brain like you do."

He gave her an intimate smile. "Oh, yes, they do. Some just hide it better thanothers."

Jodie said, "You're probably right, Chuck, but Dean is a definite exception. I'veworked for him too many years not to know that he doesn't notice me as a woman. I'man efficient machine to him and that's fine with me."

"If you say so. When do you leave?"

"Sunday morning."

"Have you ever been to Hawaii?"

"No."

"Then go and enjoy yourself. I would guess he's picking up the tab for your

accommodations.""Actually he acquired a condo there a few years ago. It was part of a business deal he made. He went over to check it out and that's the last time he was there.There are three bedrooms and three baths. I think the company he bought it fromused the condo for the executives to, quote, get away, unquote, for somerelaxation."

"So he'll have you right where he wants you for a leisurely seduction," Chuckreplied, twisting his imaginary mustache with a grin.

"Nothing wrong with your imagination, that's for sure," Jodie replied, laughing."If you'd ever met him, you'd see how far off base you are."

"Why? Is he some kind of monster?"

"Let's just say he takes some getting used to. Once his business is completedhe'll probably forget that I'm there."

Lynette said, "Now that's carrying the platonic bit too far, sis. There's bound tobe a middle ground between what you've imagined and what my crazy husband came upwith."

"So you two think I should go ahead and plan to go?"

They answered in unison. "Yes."

"But what about the talk around the office?" Jodie asked. "Won't that giveeveryone the wrong idea?"

"So what?" Chuck answered. "It will give them something to gossip about. Probablyimprove morale. The office employees will start a betting pool as to when you'llannounce your engagement."

"You're a big help," Lynette said, shaking her head at her spouse. "The idea hereis to give her reasons to go, not make up stuff."

"Well, since it looks as though I'm going, I'll need to go shopping for beachweartomorrow."

"Great idea. Buy some things that are colorful and tropical. No business suits."She eyed her for a moment.

"You've said you never have time to get your hair cut. Why don't you get ittrimmed tomorrow, as well?"

Jodie nodded. "I could do that."

"And get plenty of sunscreen. You know how easily we burn, thanks to ourScandinavian ancestors."

Jodie looked at her arms and ruefully shook her head. "I hope to come back with atleast a little more color. I'll slather myself with the stuff and see whathappens."

Lynette lifted Emily to her shoulder and rubbed her back until she gave a veryunladylike belch, causing the three of them to laugh. "I need to put her down,"Lynette said. "I'll be right back."

"I need to go, you guys. It's been a long week," Jodie said, rising. "And it lookslike I'll be spending tomorrow shopping."

"Poor baby," Lynette consoled with a grin. "That's your favorite hobby in theentire world, and we both know it."

"True. And buying summer things in the dead of winter will be just the thing I

need to get into the spirit of the trip."

Later that night while Jodie prepared for bed, she thought about the commentsshe'd heard tonight from Lynette and Chuck. She scrubbed her teeth and removed hermakeup before looking in the mirror.

"Are you going to be brave and treat this as a chance in a lifetime to see Hawaiiwith all expenses paid?"

Her image stared back at her with sparkling eyes.

After a long pause, she sighed and said, "You're no help. You want to see Hawaii.Will the trade-off be worth it? Hawaii with all its pleasures weighed against aweek with a man who's a workaholic? Knowing Dean, he'll have us working the wholetime we're there.

Then again, we're bound to find some time to enjoy the sun and sand.

She smiled as she crawled into bed.

Three.

Dean stood in front of the mirror shaving early Sunday morning and wondered whathe was doing. Had he lost his mind?

What had possessed him to invite his secretary to go with him to Hawaii? She was agreat secretary. In fact, she was a great human being, but he didn't need to spenda week with her to be reminded of the fact.

Of course, if he planned to meet with Furukawa, he could use her presence there tohelp him make a presentation and to help formulate a contract. She was veryconscientious and did her work without a complaint.

But to take her to Hawaii with him?

Had his midlife crisis arrived sooner than expected? Why else would he haveconsidered taking her? He knew nothing about her outside of the office. Well, heknew she was single, but that was about it. Did she have family close by? Wouldthey warn her about going with him?

He could get in trouble for harassment.

Well. Maybe that was a little extreme. She'd had the option to say no. When he'dcalled her at home last night she'd sounded agreeable enough. He certainly hadn'tcoerced her. At least, not much.

He finished dressing and picked up the bag he'd packed. He'd had trouble knowingwhat to pack besides his business clothes. The only other time he'd been there, hisbusiness suits had been expected, but then he hadn't been on vacation. He'd spentthe three days in meetings, ironing out the conditions of the merger with theparties involved.

He'd tossed in a few shirts and khaki pants this morning and even remembered tostick in a pair of tennis shoes, which was a laugh. He hadn't played tennis inyears, but it was the idea that counted.

Maybe hewas a little too focused on business. Working hard had become a habit, andhe wasn't certain that he could break it.

Or that he wanted to.

He'd really let Rachel's comments get to him, which was ridiculous. What did hecare what she thought about him? He'd just been surprised, that's all.

He and Jodie would get along well enough for the few days they'd be there, he wasfairly certain. He'd treat the trip as a bonus for Jodie in appreciation for heryears of service.

He smiled at the thought, pleased that he'd found the correct category for thetrip.

Jodie had almost reached the door into the airport before Dean recognized her. Shelooked different, but why? Then he realized that she was wearing her hair down.He'd never seen her wear it any way but pulled back into a knot on the nape of herneck. It danced around her neck and shoulders in the wind. She certainly lookeddifferent this morning.

He glanced at his watch and frowned.

As soon as Jodie stepped out of the cab, she spotted Dean waiting for her justinside the door to the airline check-in counters. She hurriedly crossed thesidewalk toward him.

The wind-chill factor must be in the teens. Hawaii sounded better and better toher. At least she'd be getting away from the wonderful winter weather of dear oldChicago for a few days. She looked forward to soaking up some sun.

Just as she reached the door, he opened it and took her bag. "You're late," hesnapped. "Security is tight and I don't want to miss the flight."

Actually she was forty-five minutes earlier than the airline recommended, but shewasn't going to start their trip together disputing his words. Instead she smiledat him and said, "I'm here now and good morning to you. Have you checked yourluggage?"

"Yes." He glanced down at her suitcase. "Is this all you're taking?"