To Max—my babe.

To the ladies who help make all my dreams come
true—Tracy Farrell, Donna Hayes,
Loriana Sacilotto, Dianne Moggy,
Margo Lipschultz, Keyren Gerlach,
Marleah Stout and the amazing HQN
art department. (And everyone else
I stupidly omitted. Sorry!)

To Merline Lovelace—a woman who generously
and warmly gives of herself without reservation.

To Debbie Splawn-Bunch—
who wouldn’t let me title this book
His (Hard and Shiny) Family Jewels.