Looking at her watch, Devon realized she had less than an hour to get home and changed before her sister and mother arrived. They had called her the day before telling her that they would be in town and would love to stop by and see her new place. She had also agreed to have dinner with Kellan at her place that night, so she had to get rid of them fairly quickly. She couldn't help but wonder what they really wanted, and if she hadn't been so frustrated and tired she probably could have figured it out in time for their visit.

Devon had found that having the SEALs in her classroom the last three weeks was exhausting. Part of it was the stress of knowing she was teaching the men something that they already knew. Their jobs put them in life or death situations on a regular basis and learning how to read a person's body language and facial expressions, for them, was a necessary skill. Devon was at a complete loss as to why the Navy felt these men could learn something from her, so she had been trying to delve deeper than she normally did. Her usual classes were basic information that could be handled in a month, which was the average time that one of her classes would last, but for the SEALs, she was starting with the more detailed information. The stuff they might not be aware of, and she knew the other handful of people in her class were getting the lesser end of the deal.

The other reason Devon was having such a hard time having them in her class was because of Josh. For three weeks he had sat in her classroom and watched her teach the class. He was always careful to keep his expression carefully blank, even when the rest of his team were joking around. She wondered if he was always like that or if he was playing it cool because of the embarrassing admission she had come out with three weeks earlier. She shuddered when she thought about it.

However, while Josh's eyes were on her, the few females in the class eyes were on Josh.

The men had spread out leaving vacant chairs between them but the ones around Josh were always full. This irritated Devon to no end, and she knew that Kellan had guessed it because he kept shooting her amused glances, especially when the women were coming on strong to Josh. Devon would try to distract the women and take their attention away from the man sitting next to them.

There had been one instance when she had called on a woman and Josh had helped her by pointing to the answer on the paper in front of him. He then had looked at Devon, his face its usual calm mask, and she had almost snapped the pencil in her hand in two out of frustration.

Devon couldn't understand it at all. She understood their attraction to Josh, she had known it for over fifteen years, but she didn't understand why they always seemed to chase after only him. The other SEALs were just as good looking and maybe, in the case of a few, even better looking. Perhaps it was an overreaction on her part, she did have a certain sensitivity where Josh was concerned.

One day after class Kellan had taken pity on her and flung his arm around her shoulders as she gathered up her stuff while the classroom emptied. As usual, Josh was the first one out the door, and the girl who had sat next to him on that particular day, who had been less than subtle with her hints while batting her eyelashes, had been right behind him.

"How are you holding up?" Kellan asked looking down at the top of her head as she continued to pack her things.

"I'm doing O.K., you?" Devon tried to force a smile into her voice but couldn't manage it.

"You know why all the girls want him right?" Kellan asked, ignoring Devon's question.

"Who?" Devon asked, trying to play dumb while realizing that she hadn't been wrong, and all of the girls were taking an extra interest in Josh.

Kellan was silent for a moment before he decided to play along, much to Devon's relief.

"Josh." his voice was droll in its response.

"Are all the girls interested in him? That's nothing new." Devon closed her bag and leaned against the table, finally looking at Kellan.

He met her eyes and nodded. "You included."

Devon didn't deny or confirm it as Kellan continued. "Josh doesn't date, ever. I'm sure he does no and again, just not so anyone knows about it. He keeps the private side of his life very private. He knows that dating Navy women is a big company no, no, so he doesn't do it. This makes him even more of a challenge for all of the ladies."

"Even more of a challenge than what? You?" Devon asked, finding it hard to believe that the Josh that Kellan was describing even existed. It had been just the opposite in high school he had dated anything in a skirt.

"The thing about Josh is he represents a challenge. No girl has ever made it past his wall-"

Devon snorted "Please, plenty of girls have made it past his wall."

Kellan couldn't hide the twitch of his lips that Devon's comment produced, but he continued on as if he hadn't heard her, "He's a natural leader, and he's the quiet and thoughtful type. You can't tell me that women aren't attracted to that in a man," Kellan said as he leaned against the desk next to her. "But there's something else..."

Money. Devon thought. To her, Josh had always screamed money and breeding, but she'd play along. Maybe Kellan and the others didn't know about Josh's money.

"What else is there about this paragon of manhood, who by the way I have yet to meet?" Devon asked in an amused voice.

"He said something odd the other night. I asked him why you didn't know he was in the Navy-"

"He told you about that?" Devon paused and looked at him, searching his direct gaze. What else had Josh told Kellan about?

Kellan wasn't giving anything else away and he continued as if she hadn't spoken, "He said that no one but his father knew he was a SEAL, and when I asked him what his mother thought he did he said nothing. Is that what you thought he did? Nothing?"

"Yes," Devon said, pushing away from the table and starting towards the door. The conversation had gone on long enough. If Josh didn't want his secrets shared then she wouldn't be the one to share them.

Kellan stood up and watched her as she made for the door. "One more thing?"

Devon stopped and turned around to look at him. She would shut him down before he even started.

"Would you like to go out sometime? I'd like to pick your brain about what exactly you do and how you do it?" The question caught her off guard so she had agreed.

So, here she was, trying to get her sister and mother out of her house a quickly as she could so that she could have her date with Kellan. She had just finished changing and was doing some last-minute straightening of her apartment when there was a knock announcing her mother and sister's arrival. With one last glance around, she moved to open the door to find the two women standing silently taking in their surroundings.

There were air kisses as they moved past her, taking in her apartment, assessing every little detail. "It's nice to see you both. Would either one of you like some tea or coffee?" Devon offered, moving into the kitchen.

"Coffee would be nice dear," Pamela said as she took a seat on one of the chairs near the window.

"I'll have some as well," Bree agreed, looking at the photo of the ocean she had hanging over her mantle.

Devon decided she was too tired to play the little social games and she was eager to have them gone so she got to the heart of the matter. "Why are you both in town?"

"We had a bridesmaid fitting this afternoon. The designer that I chose to make the dresses lives here. She really is fabulous and comes highly recommended," Bree said as if there was nothing odd about it.

"Shouldn't I have been at the fitting?" Devon asked, already knowing the answer but wanting to hear it. She looked at Bree, who turned to look at her with an expression more aggravated than embarrassed. Her mother at least looked slightly uncomfortable by the situation.

"Well if you had bothered to answer my emails confirming that you wanted to be a bridesmaid then I would have included you." Bree had the look she got just before she was about to have a tantrum, and her mother must have sensed it as well because she tried to change the subject.

"Is the coffee almost ready?" Pamela asked cheerfully.

Devon ignored her. "I did respond to all three of your emails."

"If you did, I never received any of the responses. Perhaps you should change servers." Devon knew Bree was lying because she looked away from her, walking over to a bookshelf to study its contents.

Taking deep breaths as she continued to watch the coffee perk she began to pull out mugs and she had almost gotten control of her anger when Bree spoke again. "Besides, the dresses are red and that would have never worked with your hair."

"Bree," Her mother chastised lightly.

"Well, it's true. My wedding is going to be international news, and I can't have the pictures ruined by Devon's hair clashing with the dresses." Bree was in full-on put mode.

Devon thought she was going to scream. "I'm out of creamer, excuse me and I'll just go see if the neighbor has any." She made for the door as quickly as she could doing her best not to slam it behind her.

She began pacing up and down the foyer trying to control her rage, but it wasn't enough as she felt the tears start, and she sat down heavily on the bottom step putting her head in her lap. Why couldn't she have a normal loving family? Did her sister really hate her that much?

She was Bree's sister, and it would be a given in any other family that they would be in each other's wedding ceremonies. She sat there and contemplated moving back to the west coast. This probably wouldn't have hurt so much if she was still so far away. She didn't know how long she sat there, but when she heard her name she jerked her head up to see Josh and Kellan standing before her, looking at her with concerned looks.

"Why are you in the hall?" Josh asked, looking so handsome in his service khakis. Then she remembered her sister and mother were in her apartment. If they saw him in his uniform the gig would be up.

Standing up and wiping her face, she smiled. It was a weak attempt but it was there. "Mother and Bree have decided to come for a visit."

Josh didn't look concerned by her news in the least. "And why are you in the hall?" he asked not bothering to drop his voice.

"I needed a moment to collect myself, so I told them I needed creamer." She looked at her empty hands. "I don't suppose you have any?" She would look silly if she had to go back in there without it.

"I do," Josh said as he motioned for her to follow him into his apartment. Kellan closed the door behind them.

"Why are you crying?" Josh asked yet one more question, watching her.

"No reason." Devon evaded. She didn't want him thinking she was playing the poor Devon card again.

"There's a reason-"

"No, there's not. Not one that you need to worry about." She had heard him when he said that she focused too much on her woe is me act. "I'll be fine shortly. When they're gone."

Kellan had walked over to the fridge and pulled out the carton of creamer. "May I meet them?" he asked.

"I don't know...I don't know that you'd make it out in one piece," Devon tried to joke.

Kellan, bless him, picked up her need to change the heavy atmosphere that had fallen between her and Josh because he wouldn't stop staring at her, willing her to tell him what had happened.

"Persine did paint a pretty harrowing picture of your sister, but I think I should get a chance to meet Josh's intended." He picked up on Devon's attempt at humor and tried to match it with his own.

They both turned to look at Josh to see what his reaction was, but his response was to turn sharply on his heel and walk towards his room. "I'd change first." Was his only comment.

"I'll do that, and then I'll bring this over. It will give me an excuse." He winked at her. "We're still on for our date tonight, right?" he asked sotto voice. If Josh heard him he didn't acknowledge it.

"Sure. I'll make us dinner you bring the wine." She smiled glad to have something else to focus on instead of what awaited her at her apartment. "I have to go." She turned to leave.

"I'll be there in a minute," Kellan assured her as the door closed behind her. Crossing the hall and taking a deep breath she walked into her apartment.

"Took you long enough? Where's the creamer?" Bree asked, her eyes betraying her pleasure at having gotten to Devon.

"I had to ask a couple of different people, but my neighbor is bringing it over shortly. He wanted to meet you both." Devon moved back into the kitchen taking down another mug and listening to her sister and mother chatting about the wedding plans. Devon had just about had enough of her sister gloating when there was a knock and the door opened, admitting Kellan.

Bree reacted just as Devon thought she would. She preened, batted her eyelashes, and smiled sweetly.

"Kellan, this is my sister Bree and my mother Pamela Tatum. Bree is here arranging fittings for her bridesmaids or was it that they were getting fitted today? I can't recall?"

"The fitting was today," Her mother supplied.

Bree couldn't care less as she moved to take Kellan's hand. "You're my sister's neighbor?"

"Guilty." Kellan gave her his killer smiled, and even Devon had to admit it was spectacular. If she didn't know better she would swear that Kellan was turning on the charm on purpose.

Devon walked over to him and took the creamer while Bree was pulling him towards the sofa. "Tell me all about yourself? Are you dating my sister, or do you just live in the same building?"

Kellan allowed himself to be pulled down next to her and Devon watched her mother as she gave Bree and indulgent smile as if her antics her were all in innocent fun.

"Both actually, your sister and I have a date this evening. She said something about cooking for me, and I'm looking forward to it. I don't get too many home-cooked meals." Kellan looked over his shoulder at Devon with a warm smile.

"Good luck with that, Devon will try her hardest to cook, but somehow it never quite comes out in the end. You will be nice to her and not judge her too badly, will you? It's not as if she needs to cook with no family to care for..." It was an underhanded comment made with just the right amount of innocence.

Devon did her best not to roll her eyes. This was how it always started with little asides hinting at Devon's spinsterish personality. Next, it would be an invitation, but Bree would have to wait until she and her mother weren't listening to issue that.

Thankfully, they only stayed for a little while before they rose to leave. Bree was sure to drop the name of the hotel they were staying at several times before they made it out the door, and when they were finally gone, Devon fell on the couch with a sigh of relief.

"That's Bree, uh?" Kellan asked, moving to the window and watching her through the curtain. "She's not very subtle."

"She'll be back, she likes you," Devon said in a resigned voice.

Kellan turned to look at her with his killer grin. "What's not to like?"

"You might warn Josh to keep a low profile." Devon stood up and moved back towards the kitchen just as her door opened, and Josh walked in looking from one to the other.

"Your intended bride just left," Kellan said looking over his shoulder at Josh. "She's kind of cute in a self-involved, prima donna kind of way."

"You sure you want to risk eating my cooking Kellan, even after all the warnings that my sister gave you?" Devon started to pull out the food she had bought for dinner with an amused smile.

"She did lay it on kind of thick didn't she?" Kellan moved to the door. "I have wine across the hall, I'll go get it." Devon didn't miss the look the two men exchanged before Kellan left.

"Are you joining us for dinner Josh?" Devon asked as she took out the third steak.

"Am I invited?" He was watching her intently.

"I don't mind, but I think Kellan wanted to talk shop." She shrugged.

"What was it all about, earlier?" Josh moved into the kitchen and leaned against the counter behind her, blocking her. One way or another he was getting his answer.

"My red hair," Devon said turning her back to him and his disturbing presence.

"I'm sorry Devon." She felt Josh's hand on her arm as he pulled her towards him.

Devon did her best to present exaggerated patience. "For what Josh?"

He easily removed the knife that she had been using to cut meat from her hand as he spread his legs and pulled her to stand between them. He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before he held her firm little jaw in his hand.

"I'm sorry, you were right and I was wrong. I don't know you, who you are, who you've become. I judged you at your parent's house, and I'm sorry. I've had this image of you in my mind for the past ten years and in it, you've never aged, you've never left home. You were still the same Devon that I have always known."

Devon swallowed hard, fighting back the tears. His warmth, his smell, the feel of his comforting arms were all so familiar. She focused on his chin, but that must not have been good enough for him because he forced her chin up, making her meet his eyes.

"I'm upset at the fact that you won't share with me now because of a stupid comment that was spoken out of frustration. There was a lot going on that night, not the least of which was seeing you again, and I wanted to take it out on someone so I took it out on you," Josh admitted in a low voice.

Devon nodded, trying to pull away but he wouldn't let her go. "It's alright, Josh."

They looked at each other, and there was a charged silence as his gaze dropped down to her lips, but it didn't last long as Kellan returned.

"Am I interrupting?" He paused looking from one to the other.

"No," Josh said calmly, allowing Devon to pull away. "Devon was just about to tell me what had her so upset earlier."

"The bridesmaid's dresses, are red," Kellan said, closing the door behind him.

"So?" Josh moved away from the kitchen and into the living area.

Kellan and Devon looked at him until he was forced to shrug. "What!"

"Redheads can't wear red. Bree is concerned that Devon's hair will clash with the dresses she has chosen, so she has been nixed as a bridesmaid." Kellan made the comment without looking at Devon for confirmation.

"You picked that up did you?" Devon asked turning back to the steaks.

"I also picked up, from her comments, that you didn't bother to return any of her emails confirming that you wanted to be a bridesmaid," Kellan said in a dry voice.

Devon opened her mouth to defend the fact that she had sent the email, but Kellan stopped her.

"Which I don't believe for a minute."

There was silence as they all mulled it over.

"I really don't get how the two of you are sisters." Kellan poured them all glasses of wine then raised his for a toast. "Here's to spending as little time with family as possible. Which you will be able to do, now that you aren't part of the wedding party."

Devon raised her glass and drank then shook her head. "Bree will be back, very soon. The two of you had better keep a low profile."

Kellan looked at Josh, taking in his grim expression. It seemed life was going to get much more difficult.