“Yes.” Sighing, Chris sat back. “Does he know how you feel?”

“I haven’t told him, but he’s a very astute man. We’ve both been very careful not to mention any four-letter word beginning with l. Yes, I think he knows.”

“How does he feel, Eve, about you?”

“He cares, perhaps more than he intended, less than I’d like. It’s difficult to read Alex. He’s had so much practice harnessing his emotions.” She took a deep breath. “Besides, it doesn’t matter.”

“How can you say that?”

“Because it can’t matter.” She was a practical woman, or so she told herself. A realist. “I said I knew nothing could come of it, and I can deal with that. I’m a professional. My career takes a great deal of my time and energy. Even if Alex weren’t who he is, I doubt if we could come to terms. I don’t have time for marriage and a family. I don’t need them.”

“I’m going to take more convincing than that—and so are you.”

“I really don’t.” How many times had she given herself this lecture over the past week? “A great many women don’t want marriage. Look at you.”

“Yeah.” With a low laugh Chris sat up again. “Eve, the only reason I’m not married and the mother of six is that I never met a man who was more important to me than my work. You’ve already told me you have.”

“It doesn’t matter. It can’t matter.” There was a thread of panic in her voice. “Chris, don’t you see that whatever I want, whatever I’d like, I have to deal with the reality. If I don’t accept the way things are, I’ll lose. More than anything else, I don’t want to lose him. I will one day.” Restless, she ran her hands through her hair. “He’ll have to marry, start a family. It’s a duty he’d never shirk. But until then I can share some part of him.”

“You love him so much,” Chris murmured. “I don’t know whether to cry for you or be happy.”

“Be happy. There are enough reasons for tears in the world.”

“All right, then.” She stood and wrapped her arms around her sister. “I am happy for you.” And she reserved the right to believe dreams could come true. “I don’t suppose you’d take the afternoon off and go shopping with me?”

“Oh, I can’t. I have to get on the phone to Houston and have copies of my records shipped over. I should already be at rehearsal making sure everyone’s calm. I have to find some office space around here.” She paused, though her mind was clicking off the next steps. “Shopping for what?”