By midnight the house was as quiet as a funeral parlor. Anna remained in her room reading, or at least made the pretense of involving herself with a best-selling mystery plot.

The light tap against the sliding glass door startled her. She threw back the covers and quickly put on her robe.

"I couldn't sleep either." Brian sat outside the door. "Don't lie and tell me you weren't awake."

"I was up," Anna answered.

"Why didn't you play tonight?"

Since their meeting on the beach, Anna had avoided Brian as much as possible without arousing suspicions. "I didn't feel up to it."

"Don't kid yourself. You weren't up to facing me."

"All right," she stormed. "I didn't want to see you. But it didn't do me much good, did it?"

"I can be as stubborn as you. Come out here and sit a while."

Anna doubted that. "It's late." She searched for an excuse.

"That's never stopped you before. I bet you didn't know I could see you out here with your flimsy silk nightgown pressed against you in the wind."

Anna decided the best thing to do was refuse to be drawn into his game. "I'm hungry," she said on a falsely cheerful note. "I think I'll fix myself a sandwich. Do you want one?"

"You know what I want," he whispered as he carried her hand to his lips.

"No!" She pulled her fingers free as if his touch were red hot. She didn't know what he wanted. Didn't even want to guess, because whatever it was, her heart was willing. "I'm going to the kitchen."

"Then I'm coming too."

Her heart seemed to plunge into her stomach. Was there no escape? "It's your house," she returned with a remarkable calm.

His laugh was short and mirthless. "At least we agree on something."

Anna sliced a banana into thin slices and laid them across a thick layer of peanut butter on bread. "Want half?"

Brian's look was skeptical. "Peanut butter and bananas?"

"It's good. Honest." She handed him half and poured them each a glass of milk.

Brian joined her at the table. "I"ve been thinking of ways all night to thank you. But I never did have a way with words."

"Thank me?" She regarded him quizzically.

"I know what it cost you to tell me about your accident. Even now, just talking about mine produces a cold sweat."

The bite of sandwich nearly stuck in her throat. She swallowed around it and reached for the milk. As she stood, the chair scraped against the floor. "I think I'll go see to L.J. before going back to my room."

"Running Anna?' He taunted softly.

She was glad her back was to him so that he couldn't see the flame of color that flooded her face. "You're being ridiculous."

"I'll see you in the morning."

"Good night, Brian."

The pause was only momentary before he whispered his own farewell. "Night, Anna."

Charity was busy in the kitchen when Anna returned from her run early the next morning.

"Yum that smells good. What is it?" Anna peeked under the lid of something cooking on the stove.

"Food. Now scat."

With a laugh, Anna took an apple from the centerpiece and took a bite. After a long run. she felt exhilarated.

"Here." Charity stopped her. "Take Mr. Littrell his tray, will you?"

"Already?" Brian wasn't normally up at this time.

"Yes he was calling me soon after you left."

Clenching the apple with her teeth, Anna carried the tray down the long hallway. Her knock went unanswered. Resting the breakfast tray on one knee, she turned the knob and walked unheralded into Brian's quarters.

Two steps into the room she stopped cold. Brian and his father were busy going over some papers. Both father and son were so intent, neither was aware she was there.

The apple fell out of her mouth, rolling on the floor.

Harold Littrell glanced up from the paperwork spread on top of the large oak desk. "Good morning, Miss Watson. Could you set that tray outside? I'm hoping Charity sent an extra cup. I could use coffee this morning."

Brian's expression wasn't brooding. "Anna's my nurse, not my servant."

"I...I don't mind," she stuttered. "Really." She placed the breakfast tray on the verandah and come back through Brian's room.

"Anna," Brian stopped her. "Good morning."

Her smile was devastating, her answer, weak but happy. "Good morning." A flowing warmth seeped into her limbs as she exited from the room.

"Does she normally dress like that?" Harold's words followed her into the hallway. With a half-laugh, she bit into her bottom lip. She was wearing baggy gray sweatpants and an old t-shirt.

Mindful of her appearance, she returned with the extra coffee cup and picked up the apple that rolled halfway under Brian's bed. "I'll be out of your way in a moment."

"No problem," Brian assured her. She left in a rush, but not before she caught the look of concern in Harold's eye as he glanced from Anna to his son.

Anna didn't need to be told what he was thinking. Brian's father was worried. He didn't want Brian to fall in love with her -- and with good reason. Anna wasn't stupid. Harold's picture of Brian's future wife was someone like Leigh -- as well it should be. Anna would never fit into the Littrell's world; Brian's wealth and lifestyle were as foreign to her as propositional calculus had been in her college days.

Later, the spray from the shower relaxed her muscles and soothed her body, but the look in Harold Littrell's eyes continued to disturb her. He was right -- she couldn't argue with him. Now she had to do her part to protect her heart and Brian's.

Father and son worked until almost noon. Anna was sitting on a stool chatting with Charity when Harold walked into the kitchen. He looked relaxed, pleased, his eyes smiling.

"I owe you more than words can express," he said sincerely to Anna. "You've given me back my son. I'm going to see that you receive a generous bonus."

"Please, Mr. Littrell, that's not necessary." The harsh lines of strain about his eyes had relaxed. That was all the appreciation Anna wanted to see.

"Nonsense." He dismissed her plea with a wave of his hand.

It was easy to see that arguing would do her no good. Harold Littrell could be as stubborn as his son.

As soon as he left, Anna returned to Brian's room to take back the breakfast tray and see if he was ready for their session in the pool.

"This was your idea, wasn't it?" He stormed as she walked into the room.

The anger in his voice stopped her. "Yes." She wouldn't deny it.

"Well all I can say is thank God. You wouldn't believe some of the things that have been going on. How my father could make some of those decisions is beyond me."

A tiny smile broke out across her mouth. Anna battled to surpress it.

"What's so funny?" He didn't sound pleased.

"Nothing. Do you think you're going to have time to squeeze in the therapy today?"

Brian set the papers aside. "I'll make the time."

Anna's mouth fell open.

"Don't look so surprised. You want to see me out of this thing, don't you?" He patted the rubber on the wheel of his chair.

"I'll get Dennis and meet you in the pool."

"See you." He paused and glanced at his watch. "Fifteen minutes?" He made it a question.

"Fine."

Anna was doing laps when Dennis delivered him to the pool. Brian sat on the edge watching her.

"Don't you ever get tired?" He called after a while.

Anna stopped and treaded water. "You should have said something. I didn't know you were there."

"You look like a sea-nymph. That turquoise suit in the blue water leaves little to the imagination." His look was absent, his words thoughful. "The scars were the reason you were always in the water ahead of me. It's also why you wear pants so much of the time."

Anna ignored his observations. She didn't want to talk about herself. "Are you going to come in or not?"

Brian's smile was filled with warm amusement. "What will you give me if I do?"

"I think it's more of what I'll do to you if you don't." The sound of his laughter rang in her ears as she swam toward him. She stood in the shallow end. "You're in a good mood today."

"Yes, I am," he agreed. "I can't tell you how good it feels to be needed again. Just looking over some things my father brought showed me how much things had slacked since I've been away." He lowered himself into the water. "You knew that, didn't you?"

"Everyone needs to know they are wanted."

"Even you?" The words were whispered on a husky breath.

"Even me," she returned. "Now let's get to work."

"Always business. Don't you ever let loose and have some fun?"

"Of course, I do. As a matter of fact, I'm going out tonight." The statement came off the top of her head. But the idea was a good one. She needed to check her apartment in Kissimmee, a small town a few miles up the coast highway, and it wouldn't hurt to call a friend and make a night of it.

Brian's mouth twisted, drawing in his facial features. The look in his eye chilled her. "Anyone I know?"

"I'm sure you don't. It isn't like we run in the same circle, is it?"

"No, I guess it isn't," he admitted, and stared at her.

Brian was strangely quiet almost brooding for the remainder of their session. Even when she took him his lunch, he did little than give her a polite nod of acknowledgment.

That evening Anna's own feelings were mixed. She was sorry she'd said anything to Brian about going out, and forced herself to dress in her best suit: black pinstripe pant suit with a matching jacket. A strand of pearls graced her neck. While freshening her make-up, Anna tried to convince herself she was doing the right thing. The physical attraction between her and Brian was growing more powerful every day. Of the two, she was the one who had to keep a level head, because she was the one who stood to lose the most. Her heart.

On the way out the house, Anna stopped in the kitchen and told Charity where she could be reached in case of an emergency.

"I think it's time you took a day off, if you don't mind my saying so," Charity murmured as she dried the pots and pans from dinner.

"I don't mind," Anna agreed with a light laugh.

"Must say you look real pretty."

"Thanks Charity."

"Don't suppose Mr. Littrell has seen you?"

"I haven't seen him since dinner." Quickly Anna changed the subject. "You where you can reach me." Charity was much too observant not to have noticed what was happening between Anna and Brian.

"Got it right here." She patted her apron pocket. "Let your hair down, girl."

"Honesty it's only three inches as it is," Anna said with a small laugh as she opened the swinging door that led out of the kitchen.

She was in the marble-floored entryway when Brian spoke.

"Don't you ever wear dresses?"

Anna stopped and turned. He was in the living room, almost as if he'd been sitting there waiting for her. His bitter hard expression was a shock. Brian hadn't looked like that since the first days of her arrival.

"Sometimes," she answered softly. "Usually full-length ones so I can be assured no one is going to be shocked if they happen to catch a glimpse of my scars."

"That's considerate of you," he muttered.

"It's not consideration. It's protection for my ego. These days women wear pants most anywhere, so it isn't any faux pas if I do."

His eyes held hers. "You look nice."

"Thank you."

"Have you decided where you are going yet?"

"Ray and I are going to dinner."

"Ray?"

"An old friend."

"How old?"

Anna inhaled a deep breath. "You're being ridiculous, you know that, don't you?"

"Like hell I am! Go on, go. Have a good time." Savagely he jerked the wheelchair around so his back was to her.

"Oh, boy, here it comes." Anna flew into the room and stood in front of him.

"Here comes what?" He barked.

"That 'poor little boy' act. You want me to feel guilty. You've even gone to great lengths so I'l experience this terrible guilt."

"Now you're the one being ridiculous," he declared, but his eyes refused to meet hers.

"Poor crippled Brian has to sit home while nurse Anna paints the town." She raised her eyes heavenward in a mocking gestures. "I suppose you are planning to wait up for me, too?"

Brian's nostrils flared as his eyes narrowed. "Get out of here."

"That's what I'm trying to do," she returned, and swung the strap of her purse over her shoulder in a defiant action.

She was halfway out the door when she heard him draw a quick breath and utter something violent. Anna decided she would prefer not to know what he said.