To say Anna was miserable was a gross understatement. Dennis attempted to lighten her mood by taking her out to dinner.

"I blew it." They sat at an umbrella table at Mobey Jake's. The neon whale flashed directly above them.

"Don't be so hard on yourself, kid."

Anna nearly choked on a french fry. "Kid?" she repeated. "How old do you think I am?"

The muscular shoulders lifted with a heavy shrug. "Twenty, maybe."

"Thanks," Anna laughed.

Dennis laid his fish on a napkin and looked up thoughtfully. "You should laugh more often."

One corner of Anna's mouth lifted in a bittersweet smile, "There's not much excuse to laugh in hi business. I wish my patients could understand it hurts me as much as them."

"One patient, you mean," Dennis inserted.

Anna looked over at the coastline instead of directly at Dennis. "One patient," she agreed.

"Are you falling for this guy?" A frown marred his forehead.

Dennis was nothing if not blunt. Anna felt the heavy thud of her heart.

"I hope not," she replied truthfully. "I've enough problems handling Brian Littrell without involving my emotions."

"If you need a shoulder to lean on, let me know."

"Thanks, Dennis." Anna meant that sincerely. She'd never worked with nicer people than Dennis and Charity.

It was dark by the time they returned to the house. Since Charity had the day off, Anna had cooked Brian's dinner, and she was grateful when Dennis had delivered it to him. When Charity returned Dennis and Anna had decided to eat out.

The porch light was on, but the house was dark. As Anna let herself into her room she noticed there were no lights on in Brian's. Apparently he'd opted for an early night.

Not wishing to wake him, Anna carried her flute down to the beach. She stopped long enough to check L.J. and give him the left-over fish. The bird seemed to want out, and when Anna held open the gate, L.J. hobbled after her.

She soon found a log not far from the house, as she watched L.J. start to wander. She kept a close eye on him, but as long as she could still see him, she let him wander. Though the difficulty came when it was time to return to the house, Anna had to round him up like a sheep dog herding a stray lamb.

Breathless, she let herself into the house.

"What were you doing out there?"

Brian.

"What are you doing up?" Anna had never known Brian to come into the kitchen.

"I asked you first." The room remained dark.

Anna's eyes soon adjusted to the room's dark interior. Only a few feet separated her and Brian.

"I...I was on the beach."

"That much I knew."

"Why are you here?" Her hand gripped the knob behind her.

"I heard you playing."

"I'm sorry if I woke you," she interrupted. "I didn't mean to."

Brian wiped a hand over his brow. "I couldn't sleep. Did you and Paul have a nice time?"

"Yes. We went to Mobey Jake's."

"Bring me anything this time?"

"No, I'm sorry. I didn't."

He dismissed her apology with a wan smile. "What took you so long coming inside? I was worried."

Brian concerned about her? After this afternoon he had all the reason to want her out of his life. In her eagerness, to mend the rift between father and son, she had only done harm. Brian was right; it wasn't any of her affair.

"Anna?" He seemed to be waiting for her answer.

"I was bringing L.J. home."

"You and that bird," his mirthless laugh was filled with irony. "I was ready to call the National Guard."

"I really am sorry--for everything," she muttered.

Her apology produced silence.

"Did I hear you right? Anna Watson, gutsy Miracle Worker, actually admitting to a fault? Are you feeling well? Do I need to call a doctor?"

"I'm fine," she said with a shaky laugh. "Brian, I feel terrible about today. You were right. I should never have stuck my nose where it doesn't belong."

The teasing laughter drained from his eyes. He extended a hand to her, palm open.

Scooting out a kitchen chair, Anna sat so that their eyes were level. She placed her hand in his.

"Friends?" He questioned.

Anna nodded, "I prefer to be enemies, much easier that way."

His hand closed tightly over hers, his thumb sensuously rotating against the inside of her wrist. "I do too." His eyes holding hers, he lifted her fingers to his lips.

Anna tugged, and immediately Brian released her hand. The potential for danger was powerful and strong. If she let Brian kiss her fingers, it wouldn't be enough, she'd want more; she'd want to feel his kisses, to feel his body next to hers, to feel his hands against her skin.

Awkwardly she stood and walked away, "Good night."

Somehow Anna managed to keep from running to her room. By the time she closed the door, she was trembling.

She knew better than to nurture this physical attraction. In the end she would leave the cripple, not Brian. But just as she recognized she must rein in her feelings, she knew she couldn't bear to leave him now.