Her jaw hurt from clenching it. ‘‘People like to say they’ve given somebody a choice when what they’re really saying is ‘do this my way.’ I don’t like your way, Ethan. Your way only takes into account what was and doesn’t add what is, or what could be. You think I don’t know what you expected? You’d take your stand and sweet, delicate Grace would just fall in line.’’

‘‘I didn’t expect you to fall in line.’’

‘‘Then crawl off, wounded, and pine after you for the rest of my life. You’re getting neither. I’ll give you a choice this time, Ethan. You straighten yourself out, you go on and think things through for the next eon or two, then you let me know what conclusions you’ve come to. Because my stand is this. It’s marriage or it’s nothing. I’ll be damned if I’ll spend the rest of my life pining over you. I can live without you.’’ She tossed back her head. ‘‘Let’s see if you’re man enough to live without me.’’

She whirled around and stalked off, leaving him fuming.

‘‘ UPSTAIRS,’’ ANNA HISSED at Seth. ‘‘He’s coming inside. Now it’s my turn.’’

‘‘Are you going to yell at him, too?’’

‘‘Maybe.’’

‘‘I want to watch.’’

‘‘Not this time.’’ She all but shoved him out of the room. ‘‘Upstairs. I mean it.’’

‘‘Hell.’’ He stomped to the stairs, waited a moment, then slipped back down the hallway.

Anna was pouring herself a homey cup of coffee when Ethan slammed the back door. Part of her wanted to go over and give him a big, sympathetic hug. He looked so miserably unhappy and confused. But the way she figured it, there were times when it was best all around to kick a good man when he was down.

‘‘Want some?’’

He flicked a glance at her and kept walking. ‘‘No, thanks.’’

‘‘Hold it.’’ She smiled sweetly when he stopped, when she all but saw the jittery waves of impatience shimmering around him. ‘‘I need to talk to you for a minute.’’

‘‘I’m about talked out for the day.’’

‘‘That’s all right.’’ Deliberately she pulled a chair out from the table. ‘‘You sit down and I’ll talk.’’

Women, Ethan decided as he dropped into the chair, were the bane of his existence. ‘‘I guess I’ll take thecoffee, then.’’

‘‘All right.’’ She poured him a mug, brought him a spoon so he could dump his customary heaps of sugar into it. She sat, folded her hands neatly, and continued to smile.

‘‘You stupid jerk.’’

‘‘Oh, Jesus.’’ He rubbed his hands over his face, left them there. ‘‘Not another one.’’

‘‘I’m going to make it easy on you at first. I’ll ask a question, you answer. Are you in love with Grace?’’

‘‘Yes, but—’’