“Yes, well, so do I. But I will make an exception when the manipulation leaves me stranded alone with you.”

Emma shot him a sharp look. “You’re always so self-contained. Doesn’t anything frazzle you? Doesn’t anything ever make you want to scream?”

Alex laughed loudly. “Love, if I told you what makes me scream, you’d go running right out of this room back to the Colonies.”

Emma blushed deeply. Even an innocent such as she understood what he meant. “Must you always twist my words? You’re such a trial.” She crossed her arms against her chest and twisted her torso so that she was no longer facing him.

“Come now, love. Don’t work yourself into a snit. Be honest with yourself. Do you so dislike talking to me?”

“Well, no, not really.”

“Do you dislike being with me?”

“Well…not exactly.”

“So what is our problem?”

“Well,” Emma began slowly, turning back to face him, “I’m not really sure.”

“Fine!” Alex declared happily, resting his arm along the sofa behind her back. “That settles it. We have no problems.”

“That’s exactly the problem!” Emma decided abruptly.

Alex quirked an eyebrow questioningly.

Emma was not deterred. “You decided there are no problems so voilà! We have no problems. What if I think we have a problem?”

“But you just said we didn’t have any problems.”

“I said no such thing. I said I wasn’t sure what the problem was. And now I know. So that settles it. We have a problem.” Emma punctuated this declaration by getting up off the sofa and moving to a nearby chair.

“What problem would this be?”

Emma crossed her arms. “You’re far too bossy.”

“Oh, really?”

“Really.”

“Well, it just so happens that you need some bossing. Look what happens to you when you’re left to your own devices—I find you unconscious in the street!”

“I cannot believe you have the nerve to say that to me!” Emma fumed, getting up to pace the parlor floor. “I was unconscious in the street because I saved your nephew’s life! Would you rather I let him get trampled?”

“Forget that,” Alex grumbled, unable to believe his own stupidity. “Bad example.”

“And another thing—I don’t need bossing,” Emma said emphatically, working herself up into a fine rage. “I am perfectly able to take care of myself. What you need is a good swift kick to remind you that you are not God!”

“Emma?”

“Oh, be quiet. I don’t want to speak with you anymore. You’ll probably just laugh smoothly and dish up another sexual innuendo. Frankly, I don’t need that kind of aggravation.”

“Emma—”

“What?!” she snapped, whirling around to face him.

“I was just going to remark that I don’t think I’ve ever gotten into such a vehement argument with a woman within twenty-four hours of meeting her.” Alex stroked his chin thoughtfully, curious about the depth of their emotional reactions to one another. “Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever gotten into an argument like that with a woman ever.”

Emma looked away. “Are you trying to insult me?”

“No,” Alex said slowly, as if trying to work out a problem in his head as he spoke. “No, I’m not. Actually, I think I’ve just complimented you.”

Emma looked back at him, her expression reflecting the confusion she felt. He was still rubbing his jaw, and his eyes had narrowed perceptibly. Long seconds passed, and Emma could see a wide assortment of emotions pass over his face. Every now and then he would start to say something and then pause, as if a new solution had just offered itself to him. “Do you know what I think this means?” he finally said, his words slow and well thought out. “I think this means we’re going to be friends.”

“What?”

“It’s a novel thought, actually. Friends with a woman.”

“Don’t overexert yourself.”

“No, I mean it. Think about it for a minute, Emma. We do argue incessantly, but quite frankly, I’ve enjoyed myself more in the last twenty-four hours than I have in years.”

Emma merely stared at him, quite unable to think of a response to such a statement. Alex continued, “I think I like you, Miss Emma Dunster. Of course, I want you, too. That much must be quite obvious to you. Lord knows it’s painfully obvious to me. But I really do quite like you. You’re a good egg.”

“A good egg?” Her voice came out strangled.

“And I think that if you think about it, you’ll realize you like me, too. When was the last time you had so much fun?”

Emma opened her mouth but didn’t have an answer.

Alex smiled knowingly. “You like me. I know you do.”

Emma finally laughed, unable to believe his nerve yet still admiring him for it. “Yes, I guess I do.”

This time Alex’s smile was radiant. “Well, then, I guess we’re friends.”

“I guess so.” Emma was not quite sure how this truce had come about, but she decided not to question it. Despite her better judgment, she knew that Alex was right—she did like him. He was completely outrageous and more than a little domineering, but she just couldn’t help enjoying his company, even if they did spend half their time yelling at each other.

Just then they heard Belle and Sophie coming down the stairs toward the parlor. Belle started coughing uncontrollably, and Sophie yelped, “Oh my!” Emma rested her face against one hand and began to laugh.