Fool Me Once by Fern Michaels

bathroom and her robe. Then she remembered what had happened before she had fallen into a tearful sleep. She raced down the hall, skidding to a stop when she saw Jeff Bannerman sitting up on the couch.
    â€œWell, good morning, Ms. Lowell,” he snarled. “I really have to go to the bathroom, so I’d appreciate it if you’d call off these hounds and point me in the right direction.”
    Hounds . She didn’t like the sound of that. “I thought I told you to leave last night. I’m not doing you any favors, Jeff Bannerman.”
    â€œWhat? You’re just going to let me sit here until I—? Well, lady, it’s your couch!”
    Olivia’s eyes widened at the implication. “Come on, guys, let’s go into the kitchen. Ohhh,” she trilled to the dogs as she looked out the window, “it’s snowing again. I just love snow.” While the water dripped in the coffeemaker, she slapped bacon into a fry pan and cracked eggs into a bowl. Normally, Olivia didn’t eat more than a bagel or muffin for breakfast, but on weekends she made it a point to have either scrambled eggs or pancakes. When she was growing up, her father had served skimpy breakfasts during the school week but always managed a super, colossal breakfast on weekends, and she continued the tradition. Weekend mornings were a special time to eat slowly while reading the newspapers.
    As she turned the bacon, Olivia pondered her day. If it continued snowing, and it looked like it might, maybe she’d stay in, make some chicken soup and even a cake. She did have a sweet tooth. Maybe she’d use her father’s secret recipe—triple chocolate mousse cake. The one he’d entered into her eighth-grade bake-off for parents. He’d come in seventh out of eighty-eight entries. When they called his name for honorable mention, they called him Denise instead of Dennis. Her father had laughed, and she’d cried. The only father in the bakeoff.
    The dogs barked to be let in. She obliged, then dried them all off with a towel from the dryer. She looked up to see Jeff watching her. She wished she knew what he was thinking. “Why are you doing that?” His voice sounded curious.
    â€œSo they don’t get sick. Dogs get sick just like humans. It’s wet and cold out there. Dogs like to be warm. Watch this bacon, and don’t let it burn while I replenish the fire. They like to lie by the fire and chew on their treats.”
    â€œOh.”
    Olivia wondered if Bannerman was this articulate in the courtroom. She built up the fire, handed out dog chews, and returned to the kitchen, surprised to find the table set.
    â€œLet me cook,” he said. “I know how. My mother made all of us boys learn early. She taught us to do our own laundry and how to clean house. I have five brothers.”
    Well, that was certainly more than she needed to know. Olivia just looked at him as he rummaged for a clean fry pan, greased it, then dropped the whisked eggs into it.
    â€œThey all live in Pennsylvania. On a farm. In a town called Ebensburg. They raise corn and alfalfa.”
    That was definitely more than she needed to know.
    â€œTwo of my brothers are dentists. They have a partnership. One brother is a thoracic surgeon, Jack is an architect, and Kirk farms with Dad. I’m the only lawyer. Think about it,” he babbled. “I get a lifetime of free dental care. I have the best teeth in the family. No cavities, no veneers, no bridges. And I still have my wisdom teeth, but they have to come out. Jack is drawing up plans for a house for me. It’s going to be a work of art. I just have to come up with the money to build it. If I ever need a thoracic surgeon, I just have to call my brother. I get corn on the cob and other vegetables free all summer long.”
    â€œAnd I need to know this…why? I don’t remember inviting you for breakfast.”
    Jeff whirled around. He was still