“I’ve had better.” He nudged her aside and began to run the vacuum himself. “But we’re not talking about me. You can’t raise two kids, hold down two jobs, and deal with this sort of nonsense too. Why don’t you just close the damn pool?”

“Because I enjoy swimming, and there are a lot of women who do a great deal more than I do and manage very well.”

“They’re not you.” Which said it all in his mind.

“No, they don’t have a beautiful home that no one would ever take from them, and they don’t necessarily have a job that they’re in no danger of jeopardizing if they need to flex their schedule.”

Insulted, she fought with him over the pole. “I am not the pampered princess you seem to think. I’m a—” she hissed, tugged—“capable, intelligent woman who can run her life very well. I’m sick and tired of people patting me on the head and saying ‘poor Laura’ behind my back.” She yanked, swore. “I am not poor Laura and I can clean my own goddamn pool. Give me back the stupid pole.”

“No.” It had calmed him considerably to see her temper flare. It wasn’t much of one, as far as he could see, but there was potential in those stormy eyes, flushed cheeks, gritted teeth. “Keep messing with me, sugar, and I’ll toss you in. It’s a little cool for a dip this evening.”

“Fine. Do it yourself. You’re a man, after all, and men are so much more capable of doing mindless chores. But I didn’t ask for your help, nor do I need it. Nor do I need your sterling advice or your unsolicited criticism on how I handle my life.”

“That’s telling me,” he said equably. “My hands are starting to shake.”

Her eyes narrowed into slits. “You, too, could be taking a dip.”

Interesting, he thought. Did she actually have a physical temper in there? “Is that so? You want to try to take me down?”

“If I did you’d be treading water in—oh, no! Bongo, no!” Insults paled when she caught sight of the pup busily digging up the newly planted pansies. “Stop that! Stop that right now!” She dashed across the pool skirt, snatched up the pup, and frowned at his dirt- and mulch-smeared nose. “How could you? Didn’t I tell you no? It’s bad. You’re not to dig in the flowers.”

When she set him down to survey the damage, Bongo cheerfully leaped into the mess and began digging again.

“I said no. Stop it. Why don’t you listen to me?”