Suki was still late the following morning. Jackson left me alone, knowing our relationship might be different now he'd seen me nude. A painting wasn't quite the same thing, no matter what I'd thought about it. I finally went up to him and thanked him for not staring at me.

"It was difficult, believe me," he replied, smiling kindly. "Nothing I've done in the Rangers was as hard as not looking at you."

"You flatterer. I'll bet you say that to everyone."

"Do I get any brownie points?"

"Only if you don't try trading them in for something more substantial."

"Never."

"Then you get one hundred brownie points."

"Is that...