Lizzy was making her way through the tables when a hand reached out and grabbed her arm. She was so startled that she pulled away as quickly as she could. When she looked over her shoulder it was to see Rainer rising from his seat.

"Rainer!" She threw herself into his arms. She needed a little family support, and her big brother's appearance was perfect timing. He caught her in a tight hug, tilting her head up to look at him as he studied her for a moment. She was unable to hide the hurt she was feeling.

"We were just finishing up here, would you join me for a drink in the bar?"

Lizzy looked over her shoulder at the table. Heather had rejoined the group and was watching her and Rainer's little exchange with open interest. Brian just nodded at Rainer.

"I don't know?"

"I'm only in town for a few hours, and I would love to spend it with you as opposed to sitting in an airport reading." He followed her glance. "Dinner with Brian?"

Lizzy looked up at him. "It's work."

"Sure, is that why you look like you've just learned your dog died?"

"I don't have a dog." Lizzy gave a forced smile.

"No, but you do have a heart."

He gave her a squeeze. "You look lovely this evening little Lizzy. I saw your big entrance. Every man in the place had their eyes riveted to you, including my friend." Rainer motioned to the man at the table next to them.

"Oh, I'm so sorry I was rude." Lizzy held out her hand. "Lizzy Stevens."

"This is Robert Lundi, my agent." Rainer introduced a short round man with red cheeks and a receding hairline.

Robert stood quickly and took Lizzy's hand. "It is a real pleasure."

"Look, give me and Lundi ten minutes to finish up here, and I'll meet you in the bar. Do you think you can get away?" Rainer looked at his watch.

Lizzy nodded her head.

"Then you can tell me all about it," he said, giving her another hug.

Lizzy broke away and gave him a trembling smile. She so wanted to talk to someone.

"O.K.," she said softly as she started back to the table. She glanced back over her shoulder to see Rainer watching her with a concerned expression on his face. When she reached the table there was a tense silence.

"Sorry about that." She placed the napkin back on her lap as she sat down.

"No problem dear." Helen looked back over her shoulder at Rainer's broad back and red hair. "That was a handsome man you were talking too. He looks familiar."

Lizzy knew Rainer was a very private individual so she just nodded. "He is very handsome."

"I am afraid I have another appointment in a few minutes-" she began but Helen cut her off.

"That handsome man no doubt," Helen concluded innocently.

"So Helen, are you interested in letting me do the interior design for your new home?" Lizzy asked in an attempt to change the subject.

"Absolutely, when can we start?" She leaned forward eagerly.

"If Heather can meet with me Monday, I can get the plans from her and then put together some ideas and see which ones interest you the most."

Brian sat quietly, watching her closely, she knew he was livid about something, probably the fact that she was cutting out of the meeting early.

"That sounds fine to me," Heather said all smiles. Her attitude was a dramatic turnaround from a few minutes earlier. She probably thought Rainer was a boyfriend. Well it was fine with her. Perhaps it would help the job go a little more smoothly.

"Brian, do you object to any of this?" Lizzy asked meeting his eyes, her chin raised in defiance. His dark blue eyes were like steel. She could tell he was barely holding on to his temper.

"No, this all sounds fine, but I think it is extremely rude and unprofessional for you to leave now. You still haven't grown up have you Elizabeth," he said the last part so softly she barely heard him, but she did hear him, and it was like a slap to the face. She couldn't help the tears that sprang up behind her eyes so she quickly looked away

"Oh it's fine," Helen said, "Lizzy is practically like family, and if she wants to run off and meet her handsome friend good for her."

"She's not my family," Brian ground out, knocking back the rest of his drink.

"No Brian, I'm not your family. I already have six brothers and that's more than enough. So please keep your criticizing comments to yourself in the future." She leaned in and whispered in his ear so only he could hear. "I didn't want to be here, remember? But now that your mother and I have hit it off you're stuck with a situation of your own making. Unless you would like me to decline the job, which I will be happy to do."

Lizzy turned giving Helen a grateful smile as she stood up. "It was nice to meet you Mrs. Alexander," she shook her hand. "I look forward to working with you." She turned to Heather. "Heather I'll call you tomorrow to set-up an appointment for Monday. Brian, I'll try my best to be more professional next time we meet," Lizzy said, emphasizing the word professional. "Maybe I'll have even grown up by then." She felt him tense as her warm breath caressed his ear as she whispered the last part.

Lizzy gave one more nod to the table then headed for the bar where she found a booth in the corner and slunk into the seat, waiting for Rainer.

Had Brian really told her to grow up? She knew he had a problem with their age difference eight years ago, but she had never seen it as an issue. Her father was ten years older than her mother and their relationship had worked out wonderfully. Lizzy had never considered the twelve year difference between them that big of a deal. Granted, she had been twenty-one and he had been thirty-three then, but now she was twenty-nine and he was forty-one. Surely he was over it.

Lizzy was mulling it over when Rainer dropped into the seat beside her.

"Thank God that's over." He motioned for the waitress. "What do you want to drink?"

"Whatever you are having is fine with me." She laid her head on his shoulder.

He ordered them two beers and put his arm around her.

"So now, what is this all about sister?" he said softly "Is it love?"

She sat up quickly looking at him startled. "How did you know?"

"I picked up on some vibes between the two of you at Bryce's wedding."

She leaned back shaking her head. How did he do that? He had only met Brian at the wedding, and had never before seen the two of them interact, but he had got it on the first try. No wonder he was so good at his job.

"How long have you been in love?" he asked taking the beer that the waitress handed him

"Fifteen years."

Rainer spit out a mouth full of beer from the sip he had just taken. Coughing, he looked at her to see if she was serious. Something in her eyes must have convinced him because he then chugged his beer and motioned for another one. "You had better start from the beginning."

So she did, she told him about the first time Bryce had brought Brian home, about the summer job and the affair that they had, about her illness after he had left, and finally how, after eight years, she still found no one who could interest her in the slightest.

"I wouldn't be surprised if Bryce did some meddling in there somewhere," Rainer concluded.

"I don't know how much he or anybody else knows. The only person I have ever talked to besides you is Trisha, and even she doesn't know about the affair." Lizzy had been steadily pulling the label off of her beer bottle.

"So why were you with him this evening?"

"It seems he wants me to decorate his mother's house." Lizzy gave a self-depreciating laugh. "I'm really a glutton for punishment since he and an architect that works for him are an item. So I get to watch them have the affair I want."

"Did Brian tell you this?" Rainer pushed his empty bottle away and turned to her.

"No, she did."

Rainer took her hand. "Was she the one who was with you tonight, is that why you looked so upset as you were leaving the ladies room?"

Lizzy nodded her head.

Rainer laughed. "I can tell you right now she's lying."

"Why would she lie to me Rainer?"

"To warn you off of him, you're very beautiful Lizzy despite how he or others have made you feel, and this is not your big brother speaking. I watched as you entered the restaurant, and I watched how he watched you. He is mad about you. He couldn't take his eyes off of you. It's a man thing, trust me."

He pulled her to him in a side hug. "You have to decide if you really want him, and if the answer is yes then get him."

"Oh I have always really wanted him," she said on a sigh.

"Then go and get him Sis. I have always known you to get what you want in the end." He gave her a kiss on the forehead.

Lizzy laughed. "You know I told him the exact same thing eight years ago when he told me the two of us were not a good idea."

"So do it again." He shrugged.

"Easier said than done. Sure, last time I got him, but he didn't stay, and it just about killed me." She took a swig of beer.

The two of them sat in companionable silence for a few minutes both lost in their thoughts

"So does this mean our deal is off and you'll now share all of your deep dark secrets with me?" Lizzy asked in an attempt to lighten the mood that had grown very heavy. She knew Rainer was thinking about something personal.

Had he been in love too? Did he know what she was going through, is that why he had recognized it? Lizzy looked at him with an amazed expression. Rainer had been in love. But with who and when, and why had they never met her?

"Just stop those thoughts right there sister dear before you put two and two together and come up with chair." Rainer grinned which threw Lizzy off balance. Was she wrong?

"Will you be at Mom and Dad's fortieth anniversary party?" Rainer asked, suddenly trying to change the subject.

"Yea, I think so. I wasn't going to go, but Brian's Mom lives in Texas near Quinn, so I'll be there working."

"Will Brian be in Texas with you?"

Lizzy shrugged then she gave a wicked smile. "If he's mad about me like you say, why wouldn't he be?"

"Why wouldn't he indeed." Rainer looked at his watch.

"That might work out well." He rose throwing some bills on the table. He pulled Lizzy up behind him. "Oh look who is at the bar," Rainer whispered into her ear as they moved towards the door. Lizzy could hear the smile in his voice.

Lizzy saw Brian and Heather sitting at the bar, deep in discussion.

"I'm sure it has nothing to do with me," Lizzy hissed in his ear as he started to drag her behind him.

"Don't be so sure," Rainer whispered as they approached the pair.

Rainer stuck out his hand. "Brian, good to see you again."

Brian shook his hand.

"Isn't she the prettiest girl you've ever seen?" Rainer looked down at Lizzy adorningly.

Lizzy blushed to the roots of her hair for the second time that night.

"It seems someone made her believe she wasn't and that's a shame." He put a comforting arm around her. Rainer was on a roll and didn't give Brian a chance to answer. "Look, I have a plane to catch, I am sorry about stealing Lizzy away from your dinner, but I haven't seen her in a while, and I wanted to visit before I head to London."

Brian was staring at Lizzy, not saying a word.

"Lizzy said she'll be in Texas next month for our parent's fortieth wedding anniversary. She also said there was a good chance that you might be there as well. I don't suppose you would consider giving me that interview?"

Brian looked at Rainer, his face a mask. "No."

Lizzy was shocked at Brian's curt answer, but it didn't seem to faze Rainer. "Would you at least think about it? I promise to be fair. If I'm not my family will never talk to me again, I know how crazy they all are about you."

He gave Lizzy a big kiss on the cheek. "Love you. You will see that she gets home safe, won't you Brian?" And with that Lizzy watched as her handsome charismatic brother strode out the door.

Lizzy watched Rainer's departure for as long as she could so she wouldn't have to turn and face Brian.

"That was Rainer Stevens, wasn't it?" Heather said from Brian's side.

"Yes," Brian said, distracted, still looking intently at Lizzy.

"Are you related to him Lizzy?" Heather asked a bit breathless.

"Yes, he's my brother." Lizzy tore her eyes away from Brian's. "If you'll excuse me, I'm a little tired so I'll head home. Heather, I'll call you tomorrow." She reminded her as she turned to leave.

Brian grabbed her arm. "I promised your brother that I would see you home safely. Are you ready to leave Heather?" he asked over his shoulder.

Heather was looking a bit put out. "Yes, I'm ready."

Lizzy glanced from Brian to Heather. Brian hadn't taken his eyes off of her. Was it possible that Heather had lied about her and Brian's relationship?

"Don't worry about me, I'll get a cab. I am sure that you two would like some time alone," Lizzy said, testing Brian's response.

"No, we don't mind giving you a ride home Lizzy," Heather cut in quickly.

Brian looked from one to the other not saying anything.

"Let's go," Heather insisted, "we have a busy day tomorrow Brian, remember?"