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living room now. You’re dismissing me?”
    â€œI didn’t say it like that.”
    â€œYou said it exactly like that. But just let me makesure I’m clear. We kiss in the kitchen, you ignore it, don’t mention it again. We kiss on the floor, again you act like it didn’t happen. We make love and you—”
    Monica’s head snapped up at his words and she held a hand up to stop him from continuing. “We had sex. Let’s not have any misunderstandings about what’s going on. We had sex. It’s done and we can’t go back and undo it. Just like we can’t undo the kisses. So there’s nothing left to do but get some sleep.”
    Alex looked incredulous.
    She sounded crazy. Monica knew this. She heard herself talking while a part of her sighed with disgust. Never in her life had she backed down from anything, especially not a man. Well, not like this. And she wouldn’t have thought Alex could bring her to this point. On second thought, she did think that of him. Since their first meeting she’d sensed that he was different. And because of that her defenses toward him had to change. Obviously she hadn’t done such a good job changing them.
    â€œNow you want to sleep?”
    She didn’t bother to answer because her mouth could not be trusted to go along with her plan.
    â€œOkay, that’s fine. We’ll sleep.” He started walking as he spoke. “But I’m not going back in that living room. We’ve already ‘had sex,’ as you put it, so there’s no fear in that department. I’m sure it won’t happen again.”
    He was climbing into bed right beside her. Monica’s heart beat a rhythmic jingle. “You can’t be serious.”
    â€œOh, trust me, Queen, I’m so damned serious.” Punching the pillow beneath him, Alex rolled to hisside, lay down and pulled the sheets up over his shoulders. “Blow out the candle. I’m not the one afraid of the dark.”

Chapter 8
    New York
    â€œB ree just called,” Karena said to Deena through the phone; her sister and her husband had already returned to their home in Las Vegas. “Alex emailed Renny about Monica being there.”
    Deena cheered and Karena could hear the smile in her voice as she clapped her hands together and said, “Yaaay, they’ve made contact. So what else did Alex say?”
    â€œNot much. Just that they’re both at the cabin and Monica’s not happy.”
    â€œNo news there.”
    â€œRight,” Karena agreed. “She’s going to kill us when she gets back.”
    â€œNot if she gets laid while she’s there.”
    Karena sighed. “Is that all you can think about?”
    â€œSure. Why not?”
    â€œDeena, this is serious. We’re interfering in her personal life. Doesn’t that worry you at all?”
    Deena sighed. “You’re starting to sound like Sam. Look, Alex Bennett is a good guy. We’re not trying to marry them off, just giving Monica a little push. She needs to relax and enjoy herself more. You know that. She’s like a ticking time bomb, Karena. If we don’t step in to stop her she’s going to self-destruct.”
    â€œI know. I know. I just don’t know if this little intervention we’ve plotted is going to work or come back to kick us in the butt.”
    â€œIt’s Monica, Karena, of course she’s going to kick us in the butt. But if Alex Bennett’s reputation is any indication maybe she’ll go lightly on us on account of the supreme satisfaction she’s gotten on this wintry vacation.”
    Only Deena could rationalize this situation in such a way. After hanging up the phone, Karena went back into the bedroom she and Sam shared. He was already asleep. As were Romeo and Juliet, who preferred their bedroom to the nice little room set up for them next to the kitchen. This was her family, she thought with a sigh,