He continued to rub her head in the silence, and slowly she found that the pain, at least the pain in her head, seemed to dissipate.

This time it was Eric who broke the quiet. “So, do you get along with your sisters?”

“I love them. Sometimes I can’t stand them, but I love them. They both set up this whole Valentine’s party to try to get me a man.” Annie giggled at the irony.

She was now secreted in the kitchen with a matchmaker, despite her sisters’

Herculean efforts to line up all the single surgeons, tax attorneys and actuaries they could find-courtesy of Rebecca’s once-famous little black book.

“Sounds like you can get your own.”

“It’s not as easy as it sounds, actually,” she told him. “Ow, ow, too hard.” His touch became lighter, almost feather-light, and it made her shiver. “Most men just want one thing.”

“What’s that?” He sounded distracted as his hand stroked her shoulder.

“Um…”

“Oh, that. Right.”

Again, she could hear his smile. She had never noticed how much one could tell about someone’s expression even in the dark. That would make therapy interesting.

“And if I’m being honest, it’s not even that. I’m not averse to sex,” she admitted.

“Good to know.” It was a veritable grin now.

She smiled, too, letting that one slide. “If we could get to the sex that would be great, actually. Most men are, well…intimidated by me.”

“Is it your gracious charm?” He stroked her cheek with his fingertip.

She couldn’t even pretend to be angry at him with his hands doing such kind and generous things to her body. “Don’t be mean. I’m really not like that.”

“I know,” he said, and she believed him.

“Still, it’s funny how sometimes the prettiest girl in the room never gets hit on. Both of my sisters are married, and I’m by far better looking-at least that’s what everyone says.”