Chuck pulled out two bottles of water. He gave one to Dean and rolled the other

across his forehead. "I'm getting too old for this," he said, grinning.

Jodie cleared her throat. "What a coincidence that you should be at the same parkwe chose."

Dean smiled blandly. "Isn't it?" He turned and asked Chuck about his police work,giving her no chance to probe any further.

When they were packing things to go home, Lynette suddenly said, "Dean, why don't

you come have supper with us tonight? You and Chuck seem to have a lot to discuss."

"Oh, I'm sure he's-" Jodie leaped in to the conversation just as Dean replied.

"That sounds great, Lynette. Thanks."

"-too busy," Jodie ended lamely.

"Don't expect anything fancy. It will probably be leftovers.""My favorite meal."Chuck and Lynette laughed.Jodie glanced away for a moment before she said, "Look, you guys, why don't you go on and I'll get home. I have a dozen things to do and-"Lynette gave her the famous big-sister stare for a moment before she replied, "Nonsense. We'll meet you over there."Jodie watched them head to their car in silence."If you don't want me to go, I can make my excuses," Dean said quietly.She shook her head, unable to say anything."What's wrong with my getting to know your family?""Nothing at all. Why do you want to?""Because I've missed you. I thought we were friends. We worked amicably together for several years. Now I feel like a leper where you're concerned."She took a deep breath. "It's called self-preservation, Dean. I thought we'd come to an understanding. I don't want to get hurt.""I would never hurt you.""Not intentionally, I'm sure.""Let's make a deal. Let's spend the next three months seeing each other as friends. Strictly platonic. I'd like to spend time with you, that's all.""Friends. You think we can do that?"He grinned. "I can if you can."She sighed and then held out her hand. "Well, friend, we'd better get over to Lynette's before she sends Chuck out to find us. I wouldn't put it past him to putout an all points bulletin over the police scanner if we don't get a move on."

Fifteen.

"Lighten up, sis, would you, please? I've never seen you so quiet!"Jodie picked up a large salad and a platter of spaghetti and headed to the diningarea. "I thought you'd appreciate the fact that I'm not talking your ear off!"

Lynette followed her with a large bowl of sauce that she'd removed from thefreezer and heated, together with a basket of French bread drenched in garlicbutter.

Jodie could hear Dean and Chuck chatting away in the living room like old buddies.The sisters paused and looked at the table to be sure everything was ready.

Lynette glanced at Jodie. "You've been keeping secrets, haven't you, sis?"Jodie's heart lurched. "What do you mean?""That man is more than a boss to you. The way he looks at you is a dead giveaway."

"Oh, please. We've known each other for several years. We had a comfortablerelationship when I worked for him. I rarely see him now."

"Whatever you say, dear," Lynette replied. She walked into the living room andsaid, "Sorry to interrupt your bonding, guys, but dinner, such as it is, isserved."

"Lynette!" Jodie snapped from behind her.

Lynette turned and said, "I repeat. Lighten up."

Within five minutes Dean had charmed the Patterson family. His behavior

contradicted everything she'd ever told them about him. Great. Now she looked likea liar.

Dean interrupted her glum thoughts by saying, "Jodie, why don't we catch a movietomorrow and maybe have dinner afterward?"

Before she could respond, Kent piped up with, "She's your girlfriend, isn't she,Mr. Logan?"

Okay. That was it. Jodie saw no hope for her except to silently slide out of herchair and under the table.

"Well, Kent," Dean replied, winning points for remembering his name, "we aredefinitely friends-very good friends."

Kyle went into action. "Are you going to marry her?"

Jodie knew her face flushed a fiery red while Chuck scolded the boys. "It's notpolite to ask personal questions, boys," Chuck said sternly. "Now eat your dinner."

When Jodie glanced at Dean, he winked at her, causing her to shake her head andshrug.

Thankfully Chuck introduced an innocuous subject that lasted through the rest ofthe meal.

Once dinner was over, Jodie helped Lynette clear the table and load thedishwasher. She'd wiped down the counters when Emily cried out.

Lynette looked at her watch. "Right on time. I'd better go feed her."

"And I need to get home. Thanks for dinner again. Two nights in a row seems alittle excessive."

"Don't worry about it. You know you're welcome anytime."

Lynette went upstairs and Jodie returned to the living room. "I'm going home now.Thanks for everything," she said to Chuck.

Dean immediately stood. "I need to go, as well." He turned to Chuck. "Enjoyedgetting to know you. We'll have to find the time to go to a Cubs game soon."

Chuck also stood. "Sounds like a plan, Dean." He hugged Jodie. "Take care,sweetheart."

Jodie and Dean went outside to where they had parked their cars. She turned to saysomething when she realized he was right behind her.

"You never answered my question," he said, his hand massaging the nape of herneck.

She took a deep breath before saying, "Thank you for asking, and yes, I'd enjoygoing to the movie with you." There. She'd just dived into the deep end.

He grinned. "See how easy that was?" He leaned closer and kissed her, his handstill caressing her neck and shoulders. As usual, the casual kiss turned into muchmore, and when they stepped away from each other, her heart was pounding so hardshe wondered if she was having a heart attack or a stroke.

"That was a little more than a friendly kiss," she managed to say, catching herbreath.

He shrugged. "What can I say? All's fair in love and war."

"Which one are we talking about?" she asked.

He gave her a brief hug and turned. "You'll have to figure that one out on yourown," he said over his shoulder as he strode to his car.

When Jodie got home that night, she faced her fears. Of course, he hadn't beenserious about being in love with her. He'd been up-front about what he wanted fromher. Friendship. There was no reason in the world to run away from a friendship.The only way she could get hurt was to hope for some kind of commitment from Dean,which she knew she'd never get. One of the reasons his relationships ended wasbecause the women wanted to marry him. She knew because she'd listened to a fewwho'd hoped she would put in a good word with him.

Lynette was absolutely right. She needed to lighten up. It wouldn't be the end ofher world when he moved on to someone else. She wouldn't let it be.

She spent the next hour trying to figure out what to wear tomorrow.

Once home, Dean wondered why he'd mentioned love or war. Seeing Jodie was neitherlove nor war. He missed her, that's all. He'd always enjoyed being around her. Whatwas wrong with that?

She'd made it clear she would not go to bed with him. He'd accept that. He didn'tparticularly like it, but he'd accept it in exchange for having her in his lifeagain.

Dean looked at the stack of papers he'd brought home earlier today. When was hegoing to have time to go over them? Not tonight, anyway. He'd review them in themorning before he left to pick up Jodie. He'd never let his social life interferewith business before, but what he didn't get done, he'd do at the office on Monday.

He'd enjoyed seeing her again and meeting some of her family. He and Chuck hadclicked. Chuck had been friendly without being overbearing, and Jodie's name hadnever been mentioned between them.

Once in bed, he thought about Jodie until he fell asleep.

"I can't remember laughing so hard in a long time," Jodie told Dean once they leftthe movie theater the next evening. "My sides hurt."

"I can relate," he replied with a smile. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."

She had, and not just the movie. They'd watched the comedy with fingers entwined

like a couple of teenagers. Dean had laughed out loud on a few occasions, and thesound had cheered her. Maybe she did have an influence on him, since she couldn'timagine his going alone to see a movie.

Once seated in a Greek restaurant, they ordered. Over their salads Jodie asked,"Everything still working out with Mrs. Rudin?"

"She's very efficient. What I hadn't realized was how often you and I discussedbusiness matters. You were my sounding board for most of my decisions. I hadn'trealized it until after you were gone."

"If I can help, you know I'd be happy to."

"Thank you. I also have a request to make...more like a plea, actually." He lookedgrim. "There's a dinner and dance I'm expected to attend on Saturday night. I'dskip attending it since I've already made my donation, except that I'm one of thespeakers. It's a benefit to raise money for Alzheimer's." He paused a moment. "Mymother was diagnosed with the disease a while ago, so if they need me to make aspeech, I will. I just hate like hell to go by myself and I'm not seeing anyonethese days."

"Of course I'll go with you, Dean. I'd like to hear you speak."

"No, you wouldn't, believe me. The regularly scheduled speaker was forced tocancel at the last minute, so I'm filling in for him."

Dean still wasn't seeing anyone? How strange. Dean was never one to wait to findsomeone else when one of his relationships faltered. Of course, they'd never had arelationship-except for work...and when they'd visited Hawaii. But other than that,she hadn't seen or heard from him. He was a virile male who never lacked having awoman in his bed.

However, it was none of her business and she didn't comment on that part of hisremarks.

They discussed several business matters during their meal, falling into a familiarroutine. Jodie felt comfortable with Dean for the first time since she'd gone toHawaii with him-that is, until they reached her front door.

She turned to him and said a little stiffly, "Thank you for this evening."

He lifted an eyebrow. "Aren't you going to invite me inside?"

"No."

"Even if I beg?"

She chuckled. "Dean, if I invite you inside, we both know that we'll probably endup in bed together."

"And your point is?"