The following Monday Dana was helping out in the Agricultural department when one of the teaching aids came flying in all flushed with excitement. "Oh my gosh he is sooooo sexy!" she squealed.

"Who are you talking about?" the department secretary asked, apparently not understanding the girl any better than Dana did.

"Dr. Andrew's friend." The young female student fell into the chair behind Dana.

"Oh, you mean the visiting lecturer." She nodded catching on and going back to her work.

"Is that why he's here? I'll have to go to a few lectures then."

Another female student came rushing in just as giddy. "You saw him didn't you?" the first girl asked.

The young girl nodded biting her bottom lip. "Is he for real?"

"I don't want to know if he isn't." She sighed.

Dana completely amused, but already late for a class, passed her completed work over to the secretary and left without a word. She looked up and down the hall for the man they were all talking about but there was no one, in her opinion, which fit the soooo sexy bill. It was a shame, maybe seeing a handsome man and realizing he was handsome would prove something. Although she had no clue what that might be.

When she got home that evening, it was to find Phoenix pacing in the living room.

"Well, you look serious." Dana put her stuff down and moved into the kitchen.

"You're off the hook for dinner tonight."

Dana stopped mid-stride and turned to look at him. "I get the feeling there is a 'but' in there somewhere."

"It seems your friend, Quinn, stuck around along with my sister, and now she wants to meet you."

"Phoenix," Dana groaned and slid into a kitchen chair.

"I know, I tried to make and excuse, but she was having none of it. They want to go to Carlita's for dinner."

"And you said yes?"

"I said I would ask you."

"Fine, you asked me, and I said no. Tell her I have the flu or something." The thought of having to sit across for Quinn and India while they made eyes at each other all night would kill her.

"Please Dee." He was begging.

The only way she could get out of it was to tell Phoenix the truth. That Quinn was the man that didn't want her, and she was not ready to tell him or anyone that fact.

"Can you at least renegotiate the place? I don't want to have to dress up for dinner. I know! Have them come here, I'll cook." She would feel more comfortable if she didn't have to dress up. Dana only had one outfit that would work for Carlita's. The little gold dress.

When she had moved, she took as little as possible vowing not ever to have to dress up for anything again. The only reason she had brought the stupid dress from New York was so that she would remember what a fool she had been, and how she never wanted to go down that road again.

"No, my sister is out to impress Quinn, and I think you. It's a test. I do not doubt that she is to report back to mother on your table manners.

"I have nothing to wear." Dana tried another tactic.

"You have that gold dress in your closet. I saw it when I was helping you put up your winter blankets."

Dana looked down at Ace for inspiration, but he was too busy licking somewhere he shouldn't be to give her any help.

"What time?" she said looking at the clock on the wall.

"Seven."

"But it's almost six now."

"Please Dee."

Dana rubbed her face. "Fine, but I am getting the most expensive thing on the menu." Dana rose and walked to her bedroom, slamming the door behind her, why did she have to be such a sucker?

She had time for a really quick shower but she couldn't wash her hair. What about her toes they hadn't been in sandals since last fall. The next hour was spent in a whirl wind of preparation and when she finally had to reach into her closet and pull out the dress she halted. "Maybe it won't fit."

Just then the doorbell rang.

A moment later Ace jumped up from the bed and ran to the door whining.

Dana reached for her shoes and the dress. She slipped it on, and it fit just as well as it ever did. She reached for the zip then halted.

If Phoenix was supposed to be her boyfriend what better way to prove it then zipping up her dress for her. Isn't that what all women asked their partners to do? And the little devil in her said it might just bother Quinn to see Phoenix zipping her dress up for her. She gathered her heels in one hand and her purse and shawl and in the other, and as soon as she opened the door Ace was down the hallway like a shot.

She wasn't far behind him, and she stopped dead in her tracks as soon as she rounded the corner. Her heart lurched as she looked at Quinn. She could smell him across the room. Quinn was looking down at Ace, but as soon as she entered the room, he looked up his expression bland.

The blood rushed to Dana's face and then away. Her hands were trembling, and there was a wooshing sound in her ears. He was wearing a suit without a tie, and the shirt was the same color as his eyes.

He bent down to pet Ace.

Why couldn't he leave her cold like every other man she had ever met?

"You look surprised India," Phoenix said. "It seems India is having a hard time believing that I could get such a beautiful girl."

"I'm sure that's not true," Dana said quickly. She looked at India, setting down her purse and shawl as she held out her hand.

"Hello I'm Dana, it's nice to meet you." The woman did look a little shocked as she took her hand automatically. India seemed to be unaware of the vibe in the room as she looked from Phoenix to her and then back again in disbelief, and Phoenix was so busy preening like a peacock he was just as unaware as India was.

"Phoenix, can you zip me up?" Dana asked looking over her shoulder at him.

He grinned catching on to the ploy. "Sure." He walked over to her and slowly zipped up the dress then placed a kiss on her cheek. "You smell lovely, but you look even better."

Dana couldn't help but remember the last time she had worn the dress, and Quinn had been the one to unzip it for her. Damn her plan had backfired, Quinn was supposed to think that not her.

"Thank you," Dana said as she reached out and put her hand on his shoulder so that she could balance while she put on her shoes. They added four inches to her height making her a few inches taller than Phoenix, and she towered over India, but Quinn still towered over her.

"How rude of me. Dana this is my friend Quinn."

Realizing that Phoenix nor Quinn we're going to correct her, and that they were going to play it as strangers, Dana had to take his hand because it would seem rude not to. She held hers out and he took it without hesitation. She could feel the callouses that she remembered so well. He didn't hold it for any longer than was polite, and when he released her she turned, fisting the hand for just a moment before she reached for her purse and shawl. She took her time arranging it on her shoulders so that she could compose herself. The key was to act like she didn't care.

"Shall we go?" Phoenix asked looking very smug.

As they left the house, he held her back for a moment. "You look spectacular. Did you see the look on her face it was..." he gave a low laugh at a loss for a word.

He stopped her halfway down the sidewalk. "You're the best." He grabbed her face and planted a kiss on her lips.

Dana gave a weak smile as he took her arm and guided her to the truck, and she realized was going to have a problem. There was no way she could get up that high in her little gold dress. Quinn had helped India into the front seat of the truck and was moving around to the driver's side. Phoenix had automatically gone around to the other side of the truck and was getting into the backseat. She shot him a look across the seat after he had climbed in but he was oblivious to her predicament .

Sighing, she threw her purse onto the seat and turned around, preparing to make a very unladylike move. She was hiking her already short skirt up in preparation for the climb when she glanced up and caught Quinn watching her intently.

"Don't mind me," he said very softly.

"Your mother would be very disappointed in you," she hissed. It was the only thing she could think of that might cause him to help her.

"I doubt it," he whispered back as he came to her aid. Before she knew what had happened he had lifted her up by the waist and deposited her onto the edge of her seat. Her whole body brushed his and for one brief moment her thighs were around his waist. He stepped back so quickly that it might not have even happened, except for the fact that he paused a moment before he got in the front seat to start the truck.

Dana knew her face was bright red and it was highlighted by the light in the cab of the truck. She took her time adjusting her skirt and swinging around in her seat. She pulled the door closed and looked up to see India smiling at her. "Tiny dresses are not made for trucks."

Dana returned her smile but was thankful for the darkness that had descended, and she looked up and caught Quinn's gaze in the mirror but she couldn't tell what he was thinking. She turned her head and looked out the window. Had she not suffered enough in her life? Was she destined to be reminded of her broken heart whenever she got close to finding peace?

The ride to the restaurant was short. Getting out of the truck was much easier, but Dana did have to lose a little more dignity as she slid out of her seat and her skirt rode up, and she trailed behind the group trying her best to compose herself.

They were shown to their table, and she found herself sitting next to Quinn at a table for four. She took care to angle her legs away from his but that only made her arm closer and vice versa so she sat as forward as she could, and aware of his every move she focused on her breathing.

They made idle chit chat until after they had ordered.

"So how long are you both in town for?" Phoenix asked.

"Quinn is here for a few weeks to lecture at the college. I've been scouting a horse here and asked Quinn to look him over for me. Quinn is a vet among other things."

"Other things? That sounds very interesting." Phoenix leaned forward his gaze fixed on Quinn.

Dana kicked him under the table, and he jerked a little but stopped staring.

"Quinn owns a ranch outside of Austin; he teaches, he owns his own vet practice..."

"It all kind of goes hand in hand," Quinn said as he poured them some wine that had been ordered.

"And don't forget you help damsels in distress," Dana said sarcastically before she could help it.

India looked at her in confusion

"He did come to my aid by helping me into the truck." Dana quickly covered her comment.

"Speaking of damsels in distress, I wish you had been with us a few weeks ago," Phoenix said, patting Dana's hand.

"What happened a few weeks ago?" Quinn asked his eyes staying on Phoenix.

"We were leaving a bar after a few drinks, and a man came at us."

"Came at you?" Quinn asked with false calmness.

"Yes, he insisted that Dee leave with him. He even tried to grab her."

"Oh no, what happened?" India asked with honest concern.

Dana looked at Quinn whose eyes had taken on a steely look. She could also see the little muscle in his jaw jumping as he gritted his teeth. "The damsel saved herself. He was drunk; I went left he went right and fell flat on his face. We called the cops got in the car and left," Dana said sipping her water.

"Still that must have been scary." India linked her arm through Quinn's, and Dana had to clear her throat, pushing past the tears that suddenly wanted to overtake her.

"I thought about a few strong women I know, and I thought about what they would have done." She looked up at Quinn and smiled through the threatening tears.

"You're upset by it even now." India reached across the table and patted her hand. "You don't have a gun?"

"I took lessons once." She looked directly at Quinn. Remembering that day he had taught her to shoot the rifle, "But I never took to it."

India nodded. "Some people don't." Then she smiled a big smile. "Let's talk about nicer things."

Dana liked her. Why couldn't Quinn have shown up with someone mean and ugly? India was a cute little brunette who was a bundle of positive energy, and the thought of Quinn with her in anyway was ripping out her heart. Dana had images of their most intimate moments flitting though her head, and the idea of him sharing something similar with India was killing her.

"Would you excuse me please?" She stood up and moved quickly to the bathroom with her head bowed. When she emerged from the bathroom having collected herself, a little Quinn was waiting for her, and Dana looked at him as he leaned against the wall looking like he didn't have a care in the world.

"Why can't I... Why can't you..." Dana crossed her arms and stared hard at her feet. "I was doing what you wanted; I was moving on with my life. I had even found a little peace here."

"I've known India for years. We've dated off and on for a while."

Dana felt sick. "And you're telling me this why?"

"You seem to be happy with Phoenix or is it Matt?" He countered ignoring her question entirely.

"YOU-DON"T-WANT-ME!" She turned and went back into the restroom closing the door.

She leaned against the bathroom counter and took deep steading breaths. "She could do this. She had to do this." After a few more minutes she squared her shoulders, pasted a smile back on her face, and walked back into the dining room.

Dana had no clue that all eyes had turned in her direction, following her walk towards the table.

"Sorry about that." She placed her napkin in her lap and took a sip of water with a steady hand.

The rest of the night, while not on her things to do again list, passed as pleasantly as could be expected. When they left Phoenix helped her into the truck and out of it, and they said their good nights at the house without even turning the truck off.

"My sister is one lucky girl," Phoenix said as he removed his tie, watching the truck drive away.

Dana tuned him out. "Goodnight Phoenix," she said moving towards her room. She just wanted to be alone.

"Dee, are you O.K.?"

"No, I'm not. Please don't ever ask me to do that again," she said just before she closed her door. As soon as she was alone she couldn't hold back the tidal wave of tears as they poured silently down her cheeks. All of the sudden she couldn't get out of her dress fast enough, and when that wasn't enough she had to take a scalding shower. She was trying to wash away the images of Quinn and India together.

She slept poorly and when she woke up the next morning the sun was much too bright, and she left as little time as possible so that she didn't have to talk to Phoenix about the previous night.

Her first class was a blur since she couldn't focus on anything. When she entered the Agricultural Department's offices, there were an unusual amount of female students crowding one of the offices. Not giving it a second thought, she went back to her corner where there was a pile of work waiting for her.

There was a lot of laughter coming from the corner of the office, and she did her best to tune it out as she focused on the work. Work was good it had saved her in the past.

There was the sound of applause causing Dana to look up, and she looked right into Quinn's blue eyes. Not stopping to think about the appearance of her reaction, she grabbed her bag and raced out of the office, not bothering to look behind her.

She felt a hand on her arm, and it pulled her to a stop.

"I should have known it was you." She jerked her arm away from his.

"Dana, I-"

"Leave me alone!" she screamed. "Just leave me in peace."

"Listen!"

"No, you listen. I have been through all kinds of different hell in this life. Physical and emotional, but none of it hurts as much as this does right now." She pointed to her heart. "I have always been honest with you and I need you to leave me alone. I cannot let you break my heart anymore."

"But you and Phoenix-,"

"Are friends only, and that is all we will ever be. He asked me help get his family off his case about not having a girlfriend." She threw up her hands. "I don't know why I am even explaining this to you." She picked up her bag which had fallen to her feet. "Don't worry we won't be in-laws."

Then she turned and headed for the parking lot. She needed her hill.