“Yeah, you do eat a lot.”

     She raised an eyebrow. “I only have a big dinner. The rest of the day I exist on fruit and vegetables.”

     He snorted.

     She shot him a glare and stabbed her fork into a crisp red pepper. “Well, getting back to our previous subject, I admit it’s not my usual style to teach someone a lesson but I feel there’s no choice.”

     “Who is it?”

     “Logan Grant.”

     Silverware clattered as it hit the plate. “The man who has the power to send you packing and put you in the poorhouse in six months?”

     “That’s the one.”

     He studied her with suspicious eyes. “There’s something going on you’re not telling me. When I met him I felt like he was ready to cut my head off. Why would he take an instant dislike to me? Unless of course…” he trailed off.

     “What?”

     “No. You wouldn’t.”

     Chandler focused on her plate. She had a feeling she was in for a lecture.

     Harry’s mouth dropped open. “You did. You’re sleeping with him.”

     “No!”

     “Then you’re thinking about it!”

     She decided not to answer and continued shoving pasta in her mouth.

     “I knew it.” He muttered under his breath and shook his head. “I knew you'd snap one day because of all that meditation.”

     “You think I’m crazy, don’t you?”

     “Yes, I think you’re crazy. For years you insisted you’d never get involved with a corporate mogul. Then you pick the most ruthless executive in the city who happens to have the future of the Yoga and Arts Center in the palm of his hand. He could wipe you out with one clean swoop. Yes, I think you’re crazy.” He picked up his fork and stabbed his swordfish.

     She sighed. “I know, I know. I never asked for this to happen. But don’t you think a person can change? If there’s a good reason?”

     “What kind of reason? People don’t usually change overnight.”

     “If one person fell in love with another, don’t you think it’s possible?”

     She watched as Harry gently placed his fork down. “You didn’t.”

     “What?”

     “You fell in love with him!”

     She looked away. “I never said that.”

     “You didn’t have to, I know you too well.” He paused. “Oh, Chandler, what have you done?”

     She met his gaze. Confusion muddled her thoughts. “I’ve never felt like this before. At first, I fought him so hard I never gave myself an opportunity to explore my feelings. But little by little, he showed me signs.”

     “What kind of signs?”

     “Signs that he wants more in life than just money and prestige. Maybe he wants a wife and family and a home in the country.” She pushed back her heavy mane of hair. “Something about him draws me. He’s so alone. I feel like in some crazy way he needs me.”

     Harry groaned. “Logan Grant is not some stray puppy you can bring home. He’s not a lost man to show up in your yoga class looking for inner peace. He’s a ruthless business executive who could hurt you. Anyway, what happened to the lawyer guy? Thorne, right?”

     She sighed. “I like him as a friend.”

     “I thought you said he was perfect for you.”

     “He is.”

     “Hmmm, do women not want perfect now?”

     She laughed. “I just don’t love him. On the outside he seems to be everything I’m looking for. But my gut tells me he’s a liar. Isn’t that weird?”

     “This whole conversation is weird.”

     She lowered her voice. “I’m tired of being afraid to trust, to love. I think Logan wants a relationship, not a one night stand. I’d like to give him a shot. After I teach him a lesson, of course.”

     “What kind of lesson?”

     “He ordered me to cancel dinner reservations with you. When I refused, he commanded me to wait for his call at nine thirty. Then he practically threatened me not to disobey him.”

     “You changed our reservations to eight. We won’t be home before ten.”

     She smiled. “I know.”

     "I guess he'll just call you on your cell."

     She tried not to look guilty. "I left it at home."

     He reached for his vodka and tonic and took a long swallow. “Why do I feel like I’m going to be caught in the middle?”

     “I’m sorry, I don’t want to drag you into this. But you have to admit I’m right. Ordering me to be available for his call? Can you blame me?”

     “Actually, I agree with the guy.”

     “What!”

     He nodded. “He’s right. If my current lover—”

     “I’m not his lover!”

     “Okay, if my ‘lover to be’ decided to go out with some man I didn’t know, who said he was an old friend, I’d be nervous. I’m surprised he let you go in the first place. Cut the guy some slack.”

     Chandler buried her face in her hands. “I can’t believe this. Men always stick up for each other. I just don’t get it.”

     “I can’t believe you’re pushing him this far.”

     “I only want to prove a point.”

     “As long as I’m nowhere in the vicinity when nine thirty comes and you’re not there to pick up the phone. Logan strikes me as a dangerous man to cross.”

     A shiver ran down her spine. “Stop trying to scare me, Harry,” she said. “His nickname doesn’t give him the powers to fly or bend steel. Besides, I intend on calling him when I get home. It may not be nine thirty, which will prove my point, but it’ll still give him the reassurance he needs in this relationship.”

     Harry looked doubtful. “Okay. If you’re sure you know what you’re doing then I won’t rain on your parade.” They ate for a few moments in silence. “You’re really in love with him?”

     “I could be making the biggest mistake of my life, but yes, I think I’m in love with him.” She gave a humorless laugh. “My father would be in his glory if he knew.”

     “You still haven’t spoken to him?”

     “No. He calls on a regular basis and talks to my machine. I don’t know if we’ll ever be able to patch up our relationship after what happened with Michael.”

     “Are you going to tell Logan about your past?”

     She dipped her bread in the sauce and bit into the hard crust. “He knows a little, but I’m not ready to reveal all yet. Besides, I don’t know what will happen between us. I’m going to grab today and not worry so much about the future.” She pointed her fork at him. “You should do the same and ask Rachael out.”

     Harry groaned. “I’ve been practicing my speech for months but every time I get close my mind goes blank.”

     “Slip her a note with your phone number on it.”

     “I’ll have an anxiety attack.”

     “Harry, she’s going to say yes. I bet she has the hots for you and just wants you to make the first move.”

     “Yeah, maybe.”

     She smiled at his glum tone. “Come on buddy. Dessert is on me. How about the chocolate mousse?”

     He raised an eyebrow and glanced at her tiny waist. “How can you lecture on nutrition and still keep a straight face?”

     “I will ignore that remark and chalk it up to negative feelings regarding your inability to take a chance on life.”

     Harry snorted.

     After a rich, creamy dessert and ten vows to starve herself for the next few days, they paid the bill and walked out of the restaurant. It was a cool, summer evening which brought hints of the fall to come. The breeze lifted her hair and caressed her skin. The night sounds swarmed around them as they made their way to their cars, the click of her high heels echoing in the smog infested air.

     Chandler thrived on the nighttime activity in Manhattan, enjoying the atmosphere without getting drawn into the tension and stress of everyday life. Taxis hurtled down the streets; brakes screeched when the traffic lights had the nerve to turn red. Swarms of people walked in unison and ignored DON’T WALK signs, jumping around buses and screaming drivers without a glance back. Vendors urged pedestrians to stop and buy their wares, from Coach purses to 14 karat gold necklaces, all at fifty percent off and so hot the merchandise burned the fingers immediately. Vagrants begged to wash the windshields on passing motorists, and called out for spare change. Chandler threw quarters and dollar bills into the cups of the homeless who held signs from I AM BLIND to I HAVE NO LEGS, and never wondered about the truth of the statements.

     She knew Harry shook his head at her gullibility. Native bred New Yorkers were supposed to be more hardened to people who lived in the streets, but she slept better at night believing the money helped. Every winter she bought a number of coats and gave them out to the homeless. She volunteered for soup kitchen duties around the holidays, especially since her rift with her father. Her community may be filled with a variety of con artists, but it was her home, and she needed to give back something to one of the most diverse melting pots in the US.

     Harry stopped beside her ancient red Chevy and waited for her to unlock the door. “Well, I wish you luck. You are now exactly one hour late for Grant’s call.”

     Chandler glowered at him as she fished around in her purse for her car keys. “Thanks for the support. Tonight was a real blast.”

     He laughed. “I hope it was worth it. What’s the matter?”

     She dug frantically through the leather compartments. “Dammit, I can’t find my keys.”

     “Did you leave them in the restaurant?”

     “No, I clearly remember getting out of the car, reaching for my purse, and—uh, oh.” He followed her pointed stare. The car keys dangled neatly from the ignition. The car was locked up, safe and sound.