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future." Angrily Rani got to her feet and picked up her dishes. The sunlight streaming through the window glinted off the green stone in her ring as she dumped the leftover pancake batter into the garbage.
    "Wait a second," Flint yelped as the batter disappeared into an empty can, "I was going to have some more."
    "I gave you your chance," she reminded him with a sense of satisfaction. "You didn't answer my question when I asked if you wanted more. So you're out of luck."
    "You run a tight ship," Flint complained as he grudgingly brought his own dishes over to the sink.
    Rani turned to confront him, her hands braced on the sink behind her. "I'm glad you realize that. For a while there this morning I was afraid I'd have to spell it out more clearly. This is my home for the next few weeks, Flint. I run it my way. Stray cats who happen to wander in and out when it pleases them will have to accept that or stay the hell out of here."
    His mouth curved faintly, and he glanced at Zipp. "Is that how you see me? A stray cat who just happened to wander over the threshold last night?"
    "The analogy seemed appropriate."
    "Yeah," he said thoughtfully. "It does. But I don't think you realize yet just how appropriate." He reached out to touch her ring. Rani jumped a little as his callused fingers drifted over the back of her hand. "The lady who commands the ring attracts stray cats. You're the current owner of the ring and therefore only you can wield its power. You can have as many cats under your spell as you wish, but there's only one man in your future, Rani."
    She shivered a little in spite of herself, but her voice was steady. "What a pity. You mean I only get to exercise my power over one man?"
    "And a few stray cats such as Zipp."
    "Do I get to pick the man and the cats?"
    "No. They pick you. Didn't you know that, Rani? When it comes time to settle down, free-roaming alley cats always choose their own homes. A man who's spent his whole life roaming does the same."
    She swallowed at the sight of the subtle green fire in his eyes. "I thought you said that it was one particular man's fate to be summoned to the lady who wears the ring, to be in her power."
    "Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between fate and an act of will."
    He seemed to move closer. Rani could still feel his fingers lightly gliding over the back of her hand. She was suddenly, vitally, intensely aware of him, and the knowledge was frightening. She felt trapped against the sink, far to conscious of the sleek power in his body and the sense of urgency she discovered in herself.
    "I know all about acts of will," she managed.
    "Do you?"
    "I'm going to exercise one right now. Get out of my kitchen and get to work, Flint Cottrell. You were hired to pull weeds and fix broken footpaths. When you're done with that, I'll make out a list of other things that need attention around here, starting with your shower. Now move! Breakfast is over."
    He stared down at her for a long moment, reading the determination in her face. For a few timeless seconds a subtle battle of wills was waged. Rani felt it in every inch of her body. She refused to back down. Instinct warned her that retreat would only be inviting some unspecified disas-ter. She didn't dare back down or turn the small scene into a joke. She was completely serious, and she knew Flint realized it. Without any warning, he appeared to accept the situation.
    "Yes, ma'am. I'll get to work right away. Thanks for the pancakes. Like I said, it's been a long time." He turned and walked out of the kitchen. A moment later the door slammed shut behind him.
    Rani realized she had forgotten to breathe for a couple of tense moments. She inhaled deeply, staring at the closed door. Then, very slowly, she swung around to draw water into the sink. The pleasantly ugly cat on the windowsill cocked one ear inquiringly.
    "I think I won that round, Zipp. It was close, but I did win it. The trick will be to stay on top. Give that man an inch