Once Bitten, Twice Shy

His brows shot up. "Coming from a liberated woman like you, that sounds a little strange. Couldn't you be tried by the women's movement for treason?"

There was a twinkle in his eye that coaxed a smile to her lips.

"Make no mistake. I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself, but if you think I want to spend the rest of my life like this, you don't know me at all. I have no intention of marrying a man for support - financial or any other. But when I do marry, he's going to be man enough to wear the pants - and he will."

He eyed her skeptically. "I've heard a few women claim they believed that, but it's a little hard to believe, in this day. A woman turning her life over to a man is . . ."

"I didn't say anything about turning my life over to a man," she interrupted sternly. "A marriage is a partnership, not a dictatorship. Still, what business could survive without a person with final authority on decisions? And how could that person make wise decisions without the input from the accounting department, the lawyer and sales? Someone has to be head of the household - final authority. I'm old fashioned enough to believe it should be the man - as long as he's the most qualified. And the man I marry will have to qualify."

He gazed down at her. "A tall order to fill."

She shrugged. "Not necessarily. I've met three men in my life that qualify on those grounds, and I don't get around that much. There are a lot of good men out there."

"Three?" His eyes began to twinkle again. "I'd bet one was your father, or you wouldn't feel this way. Another would be Josh, because you are still considering him. Who's the third?"

Warmth crawled up her neck and she smiled up at him wryly.

"We kind of strayed from the subject, didn't we? As I recall, I was telling you guys to keep your own stables clean."

He was silent a moment, and his gaze became guarded. "Meaning, if I can't take care of my own stable, I shouldn't be meddling in yours?"

He would take it that way. Was he referring to his failed romance? She shook her head.

"No, meaning you should mind your own business - meaning this isn't your stable."

He quirked a brow, and the dark eyes twinkled with the very devil.

"Not yet."