The tender yet suggestive question posed by the female calling on his cell phone would have put a wicked grin on Collin Masters's face if he didn't immediately recognize that it was his sister. Watching elevator floor numbers light up as he descended from his high-rise condo, he replied, "Not for long if there's any justice in this world. I'm in the elevator on my way to meet someone who has legs more fabulous than her red hair and an appetite for champagne and yours truly."

"Cancel," Cassidy Masters replied, all semblance of gentleness vanishing from her voice. "I'm on my way over there."

Collin adored his kid sister and only sibling, but he didn't appreciate her ordering him as though he was a member of her USAF chopper crew. "Not remotely funny, Captain Masters. You stay in San Antonio at—" He never could remember which of the Texas bases she was currently stationed at.

"I'm within ten minutes of your building. I borrowed one of the club planes and flew into Addison Airport."

Although it gave him pause that she was only a few miles north of his location in Dallas, Collin opted for humor. "For your information, this is the first date I've been on in weeks. Catch my drift? Lonely boy needs some TLC."

"Keep Lonely Boy zipped away for another hour or two. This is important."

"But—"

"Darn your hide—don't make me say this over the phone!" Cassidy sighed. "I'm being deployed, Collin."

The news hit him with such a jolt, he thought the elevator had abruptly jerked to a halt between floors. When instead it settled calmly on the ground level and the doors opened, his stomach eased back i