She closed her eyes. "I can't do this," she said quietly.

The silent room seemed weighted with emotion.

He studied his coffee in silence. When he looked up, his face revealed nothing ofwhat he was thinking or feeling. "I'll drive you home," he said quietly.

Jodie waited until she was alone in her apartment before she broke down and cried.

Jodie moved into the engineering department the next week. Dean had hired one ofthe women Jodie recommended. Her name was Candace Rudin and she appeared to bequite competent. Jodie had expected to spend several days with her, but Candace hadquickly grasped the routine, the filing system and the way Dean liked to work.

Once in Engineering, Jodie was determined to learn everything she could as quicklyas possible. Several weeks went by, and Frank praised her repeatedly, patientlyanswering her questions when she couldn't figure something out.

She had been there two months when Frank dropped an envelope on her desk onemorning. She looked up. "It isn't payday, is it?"

He shook his head. "No. It's time you learned firsthand about installing ourequipment. That's your plane ticket."

A plane trip. Great. "I don't suppose we could do this somewhere that we coulddrive to, by any chance?"

"Sorry. Besides, I won't be going. Logan said that since you'd already been tothis particular office, it made sense for you to see the next step. He'll be goingwith you to show you the ropes."

There was only one office she'd visited and it was in Honolulu. She peeked intothe envelope and saw the ticket, confirming her suspicions. She looked at Frank. "Ihaven't finished what I'm working on," she pointed out.

"Doesn't matter since there's no rush on that one. Besides, you'll only be inHawaii a few days-four at the most."

"Oh." She forced herself to smile. "Well. That's good. I mean, I'll enjoy beingpart of the installation process. I'm just surprised that Dean would be the one todo it."

Frank shrugged. "I'll admit he hasn't done an installation in a long while.Probably wants to keep his hand in. Don't worry, though. You already know how hecan be and won't be caught off guard when he starts snapping at you for not working fast enough. Just ignore his moods."

"I'll do my best."

Twelve.

Dean greeted her briskly when she arrived at the airport the next morning. She had a moment of deja vu when she saw him, except that today he wore a business suit.She had also dressed for a business trip, in a light-colored suit and matching heels.

"Good morning," she said, walking up to him.

He turned around. "It's nice to see you again," he replied politely. "Have you

checked your bag?"

She nodded.

"Have you had breakfast? If you haven't, there's a restaurant along the concourse

where we could get something."

"Fine."

He strode along the corridor, a man on the move, and Jodie had to skip a time or

two in order to keep up with him.

Once they found the restaurant, sat down and ordered, Jodie caught her breath. Hershortness of breath was in no way connected to seeing Dean again. He looked like a modern-day pirate in his dark suit. All he needed was a knife between his teeth.

"How is Candace working out?" she asked during their meal.

"She's all right."

She couldn't think of anything more to say to him. She wanted to ask him why he'd

decided to do the installation himself rather than send someone else.

But she didn't.

She wanted to ask him why he'd decided to have her accompany him, given their

situation.

But she didn't.

Was it because he wanted to prove to her that he'd moved on after she'd turned him

down? Perhaps. No doubt he was already involved with someone else by now.

Which was just as well. She wished that she'd been seeing someone these past fewweeks, someone who would have helped her forget about her attraction to him. This trip would be much easier for her if that were the case.

"How do you like working for Frank?" he asked after several minutes of silence.

"He's great. I'm fascinated by all that we're doing."

"You'll be able to see how we implement the work your department does in

Furukawa's offices." He paused for a moment. "I thought you might enjoy seeing theislands again."

"Are we going to stay in the condo?"

"No. Candace made reservations for us to stay in one of the hotels in Honolulu."

"Oh."

"Are you ready to go to our gate?"

She nodded.

Once on the concourse, he continued his fast pace until Jodie finally said, "Dean,I can't keep up with you in these heels. Would you please slow down?"

He immediately stopped and waited for her to catch up with him. "Sorry. My mindwas on other things."

They continued walking for what seemed forever to Jodie before they reached theirgate.

They found seats although the departure lounge was rapidly filling up withpassengers waiting to board.

Dean spotted their plane, which they could see through the glass wall. "Looks likethey're finishing loading luggage and food." He glanced at his watch. "We should beboarding shortly." When she didn't comment, he asked, "Do you have something toread on the plane?"

"In my purse."

Dean was not usually so talkative. Making idle chitchat wasn't part of hispersonality.

"Dean?"

"Yes?"

"Look, I know this is awkward for both of us. I appreciate your taking me on thisassignment. I know you didn't have to be the one to go."

"Actually I felt that Furukawa needed to know that his security was important tome. We've stayed in touch these past few weeks ironing out the contract anddetermining exactly what should be installed. The fact that I'll be installing thesystems is personally important."

"Will we start this afternoon?"