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       Contents

       Acknowledgment

       Chapter 1

       Chapter 2

       Chapter 3

       Chapter 4

       Chapter 5

       Chapter 6

       Chapter 7

       Chapter 8

       Chapter 9

       Chapter 10

       Chapter 11

       Chapter 12

       Chapter 13

       Chapter 14

       Chapter 15

       Chapter 16

       Epilogue

       Acknowledgment

      To the 1971 class of William M. Raines High School, Jacksonville, Florida. And to Raines Vikings everywhere. Ichiban!

      To Debbie Bowen, Rosemarie Baker, Mary Anne Coursuti, and Marge Smith (aka Elizabeth Sinclair) for their invaluable critiquing.

      To Brenda Arnette Simmons for her helpful feedback on the finished product.

      To my family and friends for their continued support.

      To all the readers who fell in love with the Madaris brothers. This one is for you.

       Chapter 1

       “G irl, take a look at the brother who just walked in.”

      “He’s definitely a good-looking man.”

      “A real work of art.”

      “Handcrafted in all the right places.”

      “I wonder who’s the lucky sister meeting him here.”

      “Wished it was me.”

      Feminine whispers rippled through the restaurant as a number of heads turned, and admiring eyes glanced toward the man entering the establishment.

      Dex Madaris was oblivious to the attention he was getting. His gaze roamed the room before zeroing in on the dance floor. A few couples were dancing, locked in each other’s embrace, slowly moving to the soft sound of the jazz music being played. No doubt they were caught up in their own private world, sharing whispered promises of love like he and Caitlin had once done.

      Caitlin.

      He took a deep breath. Everyone was entitled to at least one mistake in life, and Caitlin had been his.

      “Welcome to Sisters. Will you be dining alone?”

      A soft voice broke through Dex’s reverie. He glanced down into a hostess’s smiling face.

      “I’m meeting my brother here. I believe he made reservations.”

      “What’s the name?”

      “Madaris.”

      The woman’s smile widened. “So you’re Clayton’s brother?”

      Dex raised a brow. “Yeah, one of them. I gather you know Clayton.” It was more a statement than a question. He knew there weren’t too many females in Houston who didn’t know his younger brother, the confirmed bachelor.

      A soft chuckle erupted from the woman’s throat. “Oh yes, I know Clayton.”

      He slanted her a curious look, not failing to notice the light dancing in the depths of her dark eyes. He couldn’t help wondering just how deep her acquaintance with his brother went.

      “Clayton hasn’t arrived yet, but if you’ll follow me, I’ll show you to your table.”

      She led the way to a table overlooking downtown Houston. Sitting down, Dex couldn’t help noticing the number of females that were either dining alone or together in groups.

       Sisters.

      It suddenly dawned on him the connection between the name of the restaurant and the number of women that were there. Although quite a few men were in attendance, they were outnumbered by the women two to one. Evidently this restaurant was a meeting place where the sisters came to hang out and bond.

      “Would you like to order now, or do you want to wait until Clayton gets here?”

      “I’ll wait.”

      “All right.” A grin curved the woman’s lips. “Clayton has told me a lot about you.”

      Dex gave her a dry look. “Really? And just what did he tell you?” Evidently, Clayton hadn’t told her just how much Dex enjoyed his privacy.

      “He said you’re a workaholic and somewhat of a loner.”

      Dex moved his shoulders in a noncommittal shrug. A workaholic and a loner. He knew in all honesty there was more than a little truth to Clayton’s claim. Since his divorce from Caitlin four years ago, he had drowned himself in his work. He’d volunteered for longer hours and had taken on projects other geologists with Remington Oil hadn’t wanted to be bothered with. Since returning to the States from Australia, he had formed his own company, Madaris Explorations, almost a year ago. He worked day and night to assure its success, and to prevent his mind from idle wandering to the past. The memories were too painful, and work, he’d discovered, was the best antidote for a distracted mind.

      The waitress had said something.

      “What?” Dex shook himself out of his distraction and back into awareness.

      “I said Clayton’s here. He just walked in. I’ll be back to take your order.”

      Dex glanced around and watched with amusement as Clayton stopped at a number of tables to greet the ladies. Dex shook his head as he reflected on just how different the three Madaris brothers were. Justin, his older brother by eighteen months, was considered the warm, loving, sensitive one. After suffering the pain of losing his first wife nearly twelve years ago, he was a happily married physician living near Dallas.

      Dex knew that he himself was often viewed as a true-blue Scorpio man—deep, complex, intense and as serious as a heart attack. He was the Madaris not to cross.

      Baby brother Clayton, two years younger, was a prominent attorney here in Houston and a womanizer of the third degree. Outgoing and friendly, the only time he was completely serious was in the courtroom. Unfortunately he was also a notorious busybody. He acted as if it was his God-given right to stick his nose into his brothers’ affairs whenever he felt it was necessary.

      “Sorry I’m late,” Clayton said, sitting down. A mischievous grin played at the corners of his mouth. “So what do you think of this place? Have you ever seen so many gorgeous sisters under one roof before?”

      The glint in Clayton’s eyes confirmed Dex’s suspicion that his brother was up to something. “No, can’t say that I have.”

      Clayton leaned back in his chair. “Did you get the chance to check out any of the ladies?”

      Dex decided to sidetrack Clayton’s question. “And how was your day?”

      “It was just another day. And don’t change the subject. Did you get the chance to check out any of the ladies?”

      “No.”

      “But you will.”

      Dex gave an exasperated sigh as he picked up his menu. “Maybe.”

      Clayton