Absolutely, Positively

no messy family problems, no sense of being caught between two warring worlds. No melancholy moods.And no fear of a deep, clawing hunger for a soul-searing bond that could not even be explained, let alone consummated .

    Someone came up to stand in front of the tank. Harry turned his head and gave the newcomer one brief glance before he returned to his contemplation of the eel. He was mildly surprised to see his cousin, Brandon Stratton Hughes.

    “I assume this is not a coincidence,” Harry said.

    “I stopped by your condo.” Brandon pitched his voice very low. He looked quickly around the sparsely populated display room, obviously checking to make certain that no one could overhear him. “Your housekeeper said you had walked down here. Kind of an expensive way to kill a little time, isn't it? That ticket at the front door wasn't cheap.”

    “I've got an annual pass. I like to come here when I want to think.”

    “You would.”

    Harry's relationship with Brandon had never been close, but then, with the exception of Josh none of his relationships with the various members of his family could be described as close.

    He and Brandon had almost nothing in common except a shared gene pool from the Stratton side of the family.

    Brandon was four years younger than Harry. He had the athletic build, blue eyes, fair hair, and aristocratic good looks that had characterized the Stratton males for several generations. Brandon also had a secure position as a vice president in Stratton Properties, the family-held commercial real estate development firm.

    “Well?” Harry said. “You must have wanted to talk to me very badly to make it worth paying the entrance fee to the aquarium just to find me.”

    “I'll get straight to the point. Has Olivia called you today?”

    “No.”

    “What about my mother?”

    “I haven't heard from Aunt Danielle today, either.” Harry glanced at Brandon. “Why?”

    Brandon's face tightened. “They're both a little upset.”

    “About what?”

    Brandon drew a deep breath. “You may as well be among the first to know. I've decided to leave Stratton Properties. I'm going out on my own. I'm setting up a commercial property management firm.”

    Harry whistled soundlessly. “I'll bet that's been a popular decision.”

    “You know damn well it's going over like a lead balloon. I made the announcement last night. The whole family is in an uproar. My mother is frantic. Granddad is pissed. Uncle Gilford has already chewed me up one side and down the other.”

    “I'm not surprised.” Harry paused. “And Olivia?”

    “Olivia thinks I'm making a big mistake.” Brandon gazed glumly at the eel. “She says my decision is not based on a logical assessment of the situation. She says it's a function of my wish to rebel against a controlling grandfather and an overprotective mother.”

    “You've got one of each,” Harry pointed out. “And the rest of the family isn't exactly laid-back, either.”

    “Damn it, Harry, I'm going to do this.” Brandon made a fist with one hand. “I want out of the family business.”

    “It won't be easy.”

    “You managed it. You told Granddad to go to hell when he tried to force you to join Stratton Properties. You walked away from your inheritance that day. Granddad cut you out of his will, and you just turned your back on the Stratton money as if it meant nothing.”

    “The price he wanted me to pay was too high,” Harry said softly. “Parker wanted me to pretend that I wasn't a Trevelyan.”

    Brandon swung around to face him. “I'm going to get out from under the family thumb, too.”

    “Okay.”

    “What's that supposed to mean?” Brandon demanded.

    “What do you want me to say?”

    “I don't want you to say anything,” Brandon muttered. “But I want your word that you won't get involved if my mother or Olivia asks you to convince me not to leave the company.”

    “I won't try to stop you from leaving Stratton Properties,” Harry promised. “Why should I? If you want to walk away from a cushy job at the company, that's your business. Just remember that nothing comes for free when you're dealing with Strattons. You'll pay a price.”

    “You mean Granddad will cut me out of the will, just as he did you?”

    “Probably.”

    Brandon squared his shoulders. “I can live with that.”

    Harry heard the bold words. He also heard the underlying insecurity. “What does Olivia think of that possibility?”

    “Olivia is