His mouth set, Seth glared through the screen. Then reconsidered when he saw Grace shove Ethan back a full step. ‘‘I guess not.’’

‘‘She can handle him.’’ Amused, she gave Seth a scrubbing pat on the top of the head. ‘‘How come you don’t leap to my defense when Cam and I argue?’’

‘‘Because he’s afraid of you.’’

Anna rolled her tongue into her cheek, enjoying the idea. ‘‘Oh, really?’’

‘‘Half afraid, anyway,’’ Seth said with a grin. ‘‘He never knows what you’ll do. And besides, you guys like to argue.’’

‘‘Observant little brat, aren’t you?’’

He shrugged, cheerful now. ‘‘I see what I see.’’

‘‘And know what you know.’’ Laughing, she edged closer to the door with him, hoping for a better view.

‘‘ LET’S MOVE TO THE next step, Ethan.’’ Grace shoved the empty basket out of her way with her foot. ‘‘Fast-forward a few years. Think you can keep up?’’

He took a long breath because he didn’t want to yell at her again. ‘‘You’re pissing me off, Grace.’’

‘‘Good. I mean to, and I hate to fail at something I’m working on.’’

He wasn’t sure which emotion came out on top, annoyance or bafflement. ‘‘What’s gotten into you?’’

‘‘Oh, I don’t know, Ethan. Let’s see—could it be the fact that you think I’m some brainless, helpless female? Yes, you know . . .’’ She jabbed her index finger into his chest like a drill into wood. ‘‘I bet that’s just what’s gotten into me.’’

‘‘I don’t think you’re brainless.’’

‘‘Oh, just helpless, then.’’ Even as he opened his mouth she was rolling over him. ‘‘Do you think a helpless woman can do what I’ve been doing the last few years? Do you think—what was it you called me once—delicate, like your mama’s good china. I’m not china!’’ she exploded. ‘‘I’m good solid stoneware, the kind you can drop and it rattles around on the floor. It doesn’t shatter. You have to work to break good stoneware, Ethan, and I’m not broken yet.’’

She punched a finger into his chest again, darkly pleased when his eyes flashed a warning. ‘‘I wasn’t so helpless when I got you into my bed, was I? Which is just where I wanted you.’’

‘‘You didn’t get me anywhere.’’

‘‘Hell, I didn’t. And you’re brainless if you think differently. I reeled you in like a goddamn rockfish.’’

It gave her pleasure, oh, such vivid pleasure, to see both fury and frustration race over his face. ‘‘If you think a statement like that flatters either of us—’’

‘‘I’m not trying to flatter you. I’m telling you straight out, I wanted you and I went after you. If I’d left the matter up to you, we’d have been pinching each other’s butts in a nursing home.’’

‘‘Jesus, Grace.’’