It was rare that all three roommates had a night off together, so they had decided to throw a little get together for some of their friends, and the scene was set for another great party.  They rented a small house near the university, and most of their neighbors were friends that helped round out the party so they didn't have to worry about complaints from the neighbors.

Usually, Dana loved these parties, but tonight she was looking to escape, she just wasn't sure where she could go. She had stayed away from the house and Phoenix and Leigh for as long as possible and just as she suspected, as soon as she hit the door they were waiting.

"Why didn't you tell us you knew such good looking cowboys?" Leigh insisted, dragging her into the kitchen.

Phoenix was strangely quiet, and if she weren't so upset about Quinn, she would have noticed that he was acting incredibly out of character.

"I know lots of people, Leigh, from all different walks of life." Dana tried to sound as if it was a non-event.

"But those two!" Leigh sighed, "I had a hard time deciding which was better looking. Don't get me wrong, I love my cowboy, but a girl can look and enjoy the scenery." She was silent for a moment thinking about the two handsome men. "I think I would choose Caleb.  Quinn is just a little too good looking if you know what I mean?"

Phoenix snorted. "There is no such thing as too good looking."

"Yes, there is. I don't want to be beating off other women with a stick on a date."

Dana couldn't help it, despite her day she laughed. "Don't underestimate Caleb; he oozes charisma. He may seem like he's the plain one, but when he turns it on you would be beating them off with a huge stick, but then this is all hypothetical isn't it?"

Leigh nodded and blushed again at the thought. "It is a crime that those three have all those looks it makes it hard on a girl."

"Trust me they're the plain ones in the bunch."

"You mean there are more?" Leigh looked like she was going to explode.

Dana just nodded. "You think Quinn is the most handsome?"

Leigh nodded.

"You have no idea." Dana shook her head as she thought of Bryce, Rainer, and Mason.

"How many are there?" Phoenix asked; he had turned very pale.

"There are three more." Dana had been munching on some chips in a bowl, but pushed it away from her, suddenly not hungry as she thought of all of the Stevenses in mass.

"How do you know them?" Phoenix's cautious gaze was assessing as he watched Dana answer.

"Just some friends I met along the way. Three of the brothers are based out of New York.  She kept it as vague as possible. Deciding she was finished with the Q & A, she turned to leave when Leigh dropped a bombshell.

"Well, maybe the other brothers are in town and will tag along tonight."

Dana paused and turned to look at the Leigh, who was unaware of sudden tense silence in the room. Dana looked a Phoenix, finally aware that something was going on with him as eyes kept shifting towards the exit.

"Oh good you invited them, it will give me a chance to get caught up with them. Are all three going to be able to make it?"

"Yes, and I invited their friend that was with them. I think her name was India, India West. Is she kin to you Phoenix?" Leigh was cutting up veggies for the veggie tray and missed the look that Dana and Phoenix exchanged.

Well, that explained Phoenix's odd and tense behavior. His sister was in town.

And with Quinn, her heart cried.

"They also said something about bringing a sister?" Leigh continued, oblivious to her roommates' silent communication.

"Lizzy?" Dana provided the name without thinking.

"You are such a mystery, Dana," Leigh said, looking up at her with a friendly smile.

"Hardly." Dana laughed as she left them standing in the kitchen. She had barely entered her room when Phoenix was in it with her, closing the door behind him.

"India is here!"

Dana sat down on the bed just wanting to be alone to nurse her hurting heart. "I know I saw her."

"You saw her! Did you talk to her, did she realize who you were? Why and how on earth do you know Quinn Stevens?"

"It doesn't matter Phoenix." He was so into his own problems that he didn't notice the pain in Dana's voice

"Look, I need her to go on thinking that I am dating you.  My parents haven't been this happy with me in a long time."

Phoenix started to pace. "My sister is here with him. She will want to see me and meet you." He groaned and fell back onto the bed making it bounce.

"What if he brings her tonight?" he sat up panicked

"Look Phoenix; I doubt Quinn will come this evening. If he doesn't come, India won't come. But for the record, I wasn't introduced to India today, so your cover should still be O.K."

"Why are you so sure he won't be here tonight?"

"Quinn's not the party type. Unlike Lizzy and Caleb."

"I'm still going to make myself scarce tonight," Phoenix groaned as he covered his eyes.

"Well I can't, Matt is coming as my date."

"Call him and tell him he's not invited."

Dana went to her closet to look at what she had to wear. 

"You're the one who set me up with him.  Tell your sister, if she shows, that you and I are taking a break."

"No."

"Yes, tell her we aren't together, but we're still good friends." Not willing to discuss the matter any longer she reached for an outfit and went to the bathroom.

A half hour later she was showered and dressed in her new blue jeans and a trendy off the shoulder top.  She piled her hair on top of her head in a loose bun, opting to skip shoes as she often did.  She had found that going barefoot gave her a sense of freedom that she had always craved.

She picked up her guitar and called for Ace to follow her as she moved into the sunroom.  Matt had been teaching her how to play, and she had not practiced in over a week. Perhaps if he saw her practicing when he arrived, he wouldn't give her a hard time about it.

She had just settled in on the ottoman on the porch when Matt arrived.  Matt was a handsome young man.  He had spiky red hair and soft brown eyes.  He looked like a hoodlum, but he was a very patient and kind guy, and she could do worse.

Ace however believed differently as he gave a little growl.

He grinned as he saw her practicing.  "I know you, Dana, this is your way of trying to make me think you practiced this week so when I ask you won't be lying when you say yes."

Dana smiled sweetly at him.  "You know me too well."

He joined her helping her with the chords, his fingers on hers.

"Well this is cozy," Lizzy said as she entered the room.

Matt looked up at her voice, and she couldn't help but smile as his mouth fell open at the sight of Lizzy. She looked spectacular.  Her golden curls fell around her shoulder, and she looked uber sexy in a halter dress and cowboy boots.

Directly behind her was Caleb, and he was grinning as he looked at her and Matt.

"Matt Turner, these are my friends Lizzy and Caleb Stevens."

"Where are Quinn & Davis?" Dana was proud that she was able to say Quinn's name without faltering.

"They had other plans," Lizzy said, moving towards her for a hug.

Leigh was watching from the kitchen window which looked out on the sun porch.

"Did you meet Leigh?" She motioned to her friend looking out the window. Phoenix had indeed made himself scarce by picking up another shift at the bar.

"Yes." Lizzy waved to her with a smile. "So Matt you play the guitar?" Lizzy asked taking Dana's place on the ottoman. Dana watched amused as Matt blushed and seemed at a loss for words.

"Hurricane Lizzy strikes again," Caleb said as he enveloped her in a tight hug. "Why didn't you say hi to us this morning?" He sat her away looking at her.

"I had a few things to take care of before tonight."

"So Lizzy, play us a tune." Caleb insisted.

"I haven't played in ages, let's let Matt play."

Matt shook his head.  "I never turn down the chance to see a beautiful woman play the guitar."

"So we noticed," Caleb said drily as he squeezed Dana.

"You charmer, you." Dana squeezed back. "Please play Lizzy.  I've never heard you play."

"Oh all right, but just one song." Lizzy thought for a moment then grinned. Her chosen song was 'All My Ex's Live in Texas.' By George Strait.

Caleb and Dana looked at each other and grinned at her choice. It was so Lizzy.

"I hope you're not too attached to Matt.  He looks like he might be smitten," Caleb whispered in her ear.

Dana watched as Lizzy strummed the guitar.  Her voice was average, not bad but not great, but she sang the song with an attitude that said she could care less what people thought of her performance.

If Dana had honestly cared about Matt she would be upset, but in reality, she wasn't, which she found to be a bit upsetting in itself.  She had thought that she and Matt had been progressing well.

When Lizzy finished everyone clapped and cheered, and Matt moved in, putting his arms around Lizzy to show her a new technique that would help her play better.

"Don't be upset with Lizzy she can't help it." Caleb squeezed her shoulders again.

"I am more upset by the fact that I am not upset.  Does that make sense?" Dana didn't bother to look at Caleb.

"Perfect sense," he muttered.

Just then Dana's phone rang, and she reached into her pocket and pulled it out only to grimace when she saw it was her father's number in New York. He hadn't stopped calling her. She had changed her number, but it hadn't taken long for her father to start calling her again, so she had little doubt that he and Marcus where still using the phone to track her.

"Bad news?" Caleb asked noticing her reaction.

"Old problems that just won't go away no matter how hard I ignore them."

Dana sighed then turned to move back towards that house. "Let me make you a drink." And with that, the party began.