“So speaks the woman who hasn’t been on a date in six months. You’re not exactly an expert.”

“I have a career to think about. A business.”

Dana just looked at her.

Lexi dropped her head to the table. “That I’m going to lose in three weeks unless I come up with a miracle.”

“Your sister runs a charity. Go ask her for the money.”

“She won’t give it to me. She hordes it for disadvantaged children. You know Skye. She’s practically a saint. It’s annoying.”

“Tell me about it. At the very least, there will be good food tonight. You can bury your sorrows in appetizers with funny names. Just don’t drive drunk.”

Lexi straightened. “You so need a man you can’t push around.”

Dana grinned. “There’s no such animal.”

“There is and I can’t wait until you finally run into him. In the meantime I need to find a man I can push around. Or a miracle. At this point, I’d be very happy with a miracle.”

CRUZ RODRIGUEZ had never believed that cars and women had much in common. He loved cars-they were his life. But they couldn’t keep him warm at night…or in the morning. And even brand-new, they never smelled as good as a beautiful woman about to surrender.

He climbed out of his silver Bugatti Veyron and tossed the keys to the valet. The kid stood there, staring at his car.

“J-jeez. You’re gonna let me drive that?”

Cruz looked at the car. “You going to damage it?” he asked.

“No, sir!” The kid walked closer, reached out a hand to touch the side, then pulled it back. “It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

Cruz grinned, then moved toward the massive house. Now it was his turn to stare at the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.

Lexi Titan stood on the porch of Glory’s Gate, talking to a couple he didn’t recognize. Even from this distance he recognized her long blond hair piled on her head, the delicate, classic features of her perfect face. She laughed at something the woman said. The sound carried to him on the warm night air. It was a sound he remembered from a long time ago.