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.""I'm not unnerved," she denied."I just don't want to be having this conversation.""At all?" he asked."Or with me?""Both," she admitted."Why?""Because I want us to be friends.I don't have time for anything more complicated than that right now."He shrugged."Okay, then.We'll be friends."She started to exhale a slow sigh of relief."For now," he added, then grinned.* * *Shaun was mildly disappointed when Arden turned down Nikki's invitation to stay for dinner.She claimed to have some work to do at the office; it was more likely that she wanted some time away from him.His revelation had surprised her, and maybe that had been his intention.It had surprised him, too.Not the fact that he wanted to have sex with her—he'd come to that conclusion about three seconds into that sizzling kiss they'd shared in her apartment—but the bold statement of his desire.He usually exhibited a little more finesse with women, and a lot more patience.But there was something about Arden that undermined his resolve, that made him want her even though he didn't want to want her.His only consolation was that he knew Arden was affected by him, too.When he'd told her he wanted her, she'd been shaken.And interested.It wasn't ego that made him think so, it was the awareness that had flared in her eyes, the fluttering of her pulse, the quickening of her breath.He didn't mind too much that she'd taken off—he knew she'd be thinking about him.As he'd be thinking about her.They had lasagna for dinner—one of Nikki's specialties and a favorite of Carly's.After the dishes had been cleared away, Nikki had shooed her husband and brother-in-law out to the porch while she got the birthday girl ready for bed.Shaun was still puzzling about Arden when Colin went back into the house to get them a couple of beers.He'd meant what he said when he told Arden he didn't date lawyers.As a rule he didn't.And yet, he'd concocted an elaborate ploy to get her to agree to be his date for the Law Ball.It wasn't as if he couldn't get a date if he wanted to.But since Jenna, he'd been careful to date women who wanted the same thing he did from a relationship: no strings, no complications.Arden Doherty had complication written all over her.They were too many facets to her character, too many layers.And yet, she was the only woman he wanted.The screen door creaked, announcing Colin's return.Shaun accepted the beer his brother offered, looking forward to some conversation to get his mind off of the situation with Arden.So he didn't know what compelled him to ask, "Do you think it's possible to be just friends with a woman?""No way." Colin's response was immediate, adamant."Why not?"His brother rolled his eyes."Because sex complicates things."Shaun frowned."What if they're not having sex?" He did believe it was possible for a man and a woman to be friends, but he couldn't see it for him and Arden.Not after that kiss."Even if they're not doing it, they want to.Or one of them does, anyway." Colin twisted the cap off his bottle of beer, took a long swallow."Who are you not having sex with?""The list is endless," Shaun replied dryly."Come on," Colin prompted."Who is it you're not haying sex with because of delusions of friendship?""No one.""Someone I know?""No one," Shaun said again."Whose idea was this friendship thing—yours or hers?"Shaun gave up trying to convince his brother it was no one."Mine.""What was her response?""She was skeptical.""Do you want to have sex with her?"Shaun sighed."Yeah."Colin grinned."But it would be a monumental mistake.""Why?"Because she's Nikki's cousin.It was the response that sprang to mind, but it wasn't something Shaun could tell his brother.Maybe the emotions that had suddenly surfaced were the result of some kind of empathy or compassion.That was the most logical explanation.After all, these feelings had only begun to stir when he'd comforted her through an emotional trauma.Like hell, he thought.He was a man, pure and simple, and seeing how nicely Arden filled out those tidy little suits she habitually wore, watching her sexy lips curve into a soft smile, seeing the lingering hint of sadness in her eyes, the sparkle of quick joy when she laughed, reminded him of that fact.And that he'd been sleeping alone for far too long now.An attraction to any other woman he might have pushed away
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