“So do I,” she said vehemently. “But I think we should choose when and how we do this more carefully, don’t you?”

“Perhaps…” His agreement seemed hesitant, even grudging. “All right, we’ll do it your way.”

“It isn’t my way. It just makes sense to organize our thoughts first. Trust me, Zach, I want this cleared up as badly as you do.”

His reply was little more than a grunt, but whether it was a comment on the weight of her suitcase or her tactics in dealing with Anton, she didn’t know.

“And furthermore,” she said, making a sweeping motion with her arm, “we’ve got to stop doubting each other. Nobody’s following anyone and neither of us is in any danger of falling in love just because we were foolish enough to kiss.”

“Fine,” Zach murmured. He set her suitcase down as a cab arrived and the driver jumped out.

“How is it that we always seem to agree and yet we constantly find ourselves at odds?” she asked.

“I wish I knew,” he said, looking weary in body and spirit. The cabdriver opened the trunk, storing her suitcases neatly inside. Zach threw his garment bag on top.

“We might as well still share this taxi,” he said, holding the door for her.

“But isn’t the Mt. Baker district out of your way?”

“I do need to talk to your grandfather. There’re some estimates I need to give him.”

“But can’t it wait until tomorrow? Honestly, Zach, you’re exhausted. One day isn’t going to make any difference. And like I said, Gramps might not even be at the house.”

Zach rubbed his eyes, then glanced irritably in her direction. “Honestly, Janine,” he mocked, “you sound like a wife.”

Biting her tongue to keep back her angry retort, Janine crossed her arms and glared out the side window. Indignation seeped through her with every breath she drew. Of its own accord, her foot started an impatient tapping. She could hardly wait to part company with this rude, unreasonable man.

Apparently Zach didn’t know when to quit, because he added, “Now you even act like one.”

She slowly turned to him and in a saccharine voice inquired, “And what’s that supposed to mean?”

“Look at you, for heaven’s sake. First you start nagging me and then—”

“Nagging you!” she exploded. “Let’s get one thing straight, Zachary Thomas. I do not nag.”

Zach rolled his eyes, then turned his head to gaze out the window on his side.

“Sir, sir,” Janine said, sliding forward in the seat. She politely tapped the driver on the shoulder.

The middle-aged man glanced at her. “What is it, lady?”

“Sir,” she said, offering him her warmest, most sincere smile. “Tell me, do I look like the kind of woman who’d nag?”

“Ah…Look, lady, all I do is drive a cab. You can ask me where a street is and I can tell you. If you want to go uptown, I can take you uptown. But when it comes to answering personal-type questions, I prefer to mind my own business.”