The doorbell shattered his dream of Africa.
            Jared Hornby shook off the blanket of sleep, raced for the front door and yanked it open. He stifled a groan.
            She stood there--tall, capable and in control; Lady Justice come to dispense her judgment. Her pansy blue eyes completed a quick survey of him before returning to his face. Jared found no emotion on her elegantly sculpted features.
            Only the cascade of flaming orange-red hair that rippled past her shoulders in a waterfall of waves suggested that this woman might have a heart. That would make her substantially different from the other children's services people who'd contacted him.
            He'd put them off as long as he could.
            Today was D-day.
            "Jared Hornby? I'm Ashley Ross." She thrust out a hand and shook his in a no-nonsense manner, apparently oblivious to the lightening jolt that shot from her slender hand up his arm. "I'm here because--"
            "I know why you're here, Ms. Ross." Jared drew his tingling fingers away. Despite the 'electrical' connection, he didn't bother to disguise his frustration with her visit.
            "You do?" She blinked spiky golden lashes.
            "Of course." He considered telling her to come back, but really, what good would that do? "Come in."
            "Uh-thanks." She stepped into his sister Jessie's house, long narrow feet clad in the most un-businesslike red sandals.
            Jared's attention strayed to the glittering turquoise polish that colored her toenails. It--she--was nothing like any of the previous social workers.
            Ms. Ross shifted her stance, emphasizing her height and all six miles of her incredible legs. She wore jeans, a t-shirt the color of her eyes and a fringed chambray vest. Even for Tucson that was casual dress for a social worker.
            Jared had expected something-else.
            "Where should I start?" she asked. She set a metallic bag that looked like it could carry most of her worldly possessions on the dust-covered hall table.
            "I don't know." Jared figured she was new at this. Not one of the other court people who'd shown up to discuss his parenting ability had ever asked his opinion--about anything. "Where do you want to start?"