Simply Sexy

knows you can't keep your eyes or ears to yourself. And he knows you'll find out he sent me flowers and work yourself into a frenzy. Which you did.' She clucked her tongue at her elderly friend. 'Tsk, tsk, Emma. You shouldn't be so predictable. Men need a woman to be fickle and impulsive.' Unable to help it, Rina burst out laughing. 'Come on, Emma. Just go out with the man.'

'What if it's a setup?'

Rina understood what her friend meant. What if her son, the infamous Judge Montgomery, had asked Stan to keep an eye on Emma? And what if she was her usual, capricious, whimsical self and her son used it against her? 'I can't imagine a son of yours could be so underhanded.'

Realizing how many stunts Emma had pulled in the name of matchmaking, Rina shook her head. 'Scratch that. But I can't imagine he'd be that cruel. Besides, Logan wouldn't let that happen.' She patted Emma's hand. 'The man's a lonely widower. And you're in need of the same companionship.'

No matter how old Emma was in years, she was young in heart and spirit. And she deserved to have some happiness in her later years.

'Give Stan a chance,' Rina said.

'If you do the same,' Emma challenged, a gleam in her warm, blue eyes.

'Excuse me?' Somehow Emma had caught her unprepared.

'You open your mind to Colin and I'll do the same for the lecher.'

'His name's Stan and you'd better remember that before you call him that horrible name to his face.'

Emma shook her head. 'Quit changing the subject.'

'Which is?' Rina asked.

Emma leaned closer, whispering so only Rina could hear. 'It's simple. You trust, I'll trust.' The older woman shrugged.

Colin chose that moment to reenter the room. Both her body and her heart reacted, proving that when it came to Colin, nothing was simple. Everything was up for grabs. Including, she feared, her heart.

* * *

IN ANOTHER ATTEMPT to initiate changes at the Times, Colin sat in Logan's office, located on the waterfront overlooking the ocean. Even in the wintertime, the view took his breath away. The weather had been cold, snow covered the ground and ice replaced the formerly frothing and churning waves.

'Sorry, I had a phone call that ran long. How are you?' Logan strode into his office and shut the door behind him.

'Surviving.' Colin clasped his friend's hand and sat back in his chair.

'So, my secretary tells me this is a business visit. What can I do for you?' Instead of sitting behind his desk, Logan joined his friend in one of the guest chairs. His down-home charm was what the world loved about Logan Montgomery, Colin thought. He shook his head. 'You would have made a fine politician, you know.'

'And made myself miserable in the process. Nothing's worth that, my friend.' Reaching over, Logan grabbed for a picture on his desk and turned it facing them. 'Now, this is what gets me up in the morning.'

A picture of his wife, Cat, their son, Ace, and infant daughter, Lila, on a beach blanket stared back at Colin. 'You are one lucky son of a bitch.'

Logan inclined his head. 'Find the right woman and you will be, too.'

Colin shifted in his seat. He wasn't in the mood to discuss women, not when he was bound to hurt the one he wanted most. The other day, in the stairwell, he'd felt Rina moist and damp, her dewy essence on his hand. He'd wanted to be inside her body and let the intense friction they'd created make them both come. He'd wanted to look into her eyes and see that overwhelming sense of trust and goodness. Thank God she'd ducked out on him first. Two days later and he was still thrown, torn by obligation and a growing sense of caring he hadn't expected.

'I need a legal opinion,' Colin said, changing the subject.

Logan inclined his head. 'Shoot.'

'If I were to challenge Joe's power of attorney, the one leaving Corinne in charge of the paper-which is about to turn into a sinking ship-as Joe's adopted son, can I win?'

Logan exhaled loudly and leaned one foot against his desk. 'You don't waste any time, do you?'

'Any reason why I should?' Colin ran a hand through his hair in aggravation.

'What about Joe's wishes?' Logan asked.

No one knew Colin or understood his relationship with Joe better than his former college roommate. Without stepping on Colin's toes, Logan wanted to know if Colin had dealt with the fact that Joe had deliberately and purposefully bypassed his son in favor of his wife. 'Until I hear otherwise from Joe, I'm going to assume Corinne got to him in some way.'

'Brainwashed?' Logan asked wryly.

'Used sex to get what she wanted. As far as I'm concerned, it's the same thing.'

He nodded. 'Well, you've already nailed your primary legal problem. Unless you can prove that Joe's power of attorney was signed under duress or that he wasn't aware of his actions at the time of signing, Joe's wishes stand.'

'So I don't have a legal leg to stand on?'

Logan shook his head. 'Not unless you want to go head-to-head with Corinne in a nasty, expensive court battle.'

'That neither the paper nor I can afford.' Frustration washed over Colin, along with the first vestiges of anger at Joe, for all purposes his father, for betraying him. Anger he hadn't accepted or dealt with just yet. How could he, when doing so would cut himself off from the only family he had?

As it was, Colin fought the urge to run from the situation and let Corinne cope with the consequences on her own. For the first time, his feelings kept him someplace instead of driving him away. His feelings for Rina.

'I think it's time you and Joe talked. Is he up to it yet?' Logan asked.

'After that second stroke, they want to keep him stress free. But he's doing well and should be up to talking soon.'

'Well, whenever you get the green light from his doctor, I suggest you do just that.' Logan leaned forward in his seat. 'As a friend, I'm going to put myself out there on this one.'

'Go on.' Colin waited.

'I understand that Fortune's is breathing down your neck and if you don't get Corinne back on track, the paper will fold. But I've known you for years, and my gut tells me there's something else going on. Something more personal between you and Joe.' Logan raised an eyebrow Colin's way.

He flinched because Logan had hit a nerve. 'I was always grateful I didn't have a pain-in-the-ass brother.'

Logan laughed. 'Then you met me. You're talking to the expert on parental grief and aggravation. All I'm saying is that I think Joe's betrayal is bothering you a hell of a lot more than Corinne's change in format.' At Colin's glare, Logan added, 'Or at least equally as much. Talk to Joe. Then if you still want to go ahead with any kind of lawsuit, you know I'm on your side. It's just that it'll get messy and probably destroy your family.'

'Thanks,' Colin muttered. Knowing his friend meant well, he stowed Logan's advice in the back of his mind. 'And you don't have to worry. I'll make sure Emma has a job no matter which direction this mess goes.' The least he could do was guarantee Emma a return to her desk job, even if she did have to lose her column.

Logan slapped Colin on the back. 'Thank you. You know if she's at loose ends, the Judge will go back to plotting her relocation to an old-age home.'

So Rina's hunch was right, Colin thought. Another reason weighing against him. His head pounding, Colin rose, ready to go over to the hospital.

'How's Rina?' Logan asked, taking him off guard.

'Who?' Colin asked, but a grin came easily despite the gut-churning circumstances. Dammit all, the woman made him smile, regardless of what was going on in his life.

'That answers that question. But it doesn't deal with what'll happen to her column if you have your way.'

Unwilling to deal with that yet, Colin focused on a more immediate issue. 'Are you and Cat busy Friday night? You could get a sitter for the rugrats and come clubbing with Rina and me.'

Logan rubbed his hand over his eyes. 'It's been forever since we've gone out like-'