"So, what you're suggesting is that women are superficial beings who only get upset when unattractive men hit on them, Dr. Ryder?" Alexis was holding back a smile as she talked into her microphone.

Chace laughed, his blue eyes filled with mirth. "No, I'm not saying that, Dr. Reyna. What I am saying is that it's a well-known stereotype that women often overlook a man's advances as harassment if he is considered conventionally good-looking."

"So if someone good-looking like Ryan Gosling were to hit on me, I would be fine with it but if someone who looked like Mr. Bean asked me out, I would be dialing Human Resources?"

"According to the stereotype, yes."

"Well ladies and gentlemen, what do you think? Is the stereotype true or would you call BS?"

Mack, the producer signaled they had a female caller on the line.

Alexis pressed the button to take the call. "Hello, you're live on Heartbreakers with doctors Ryder and Reyna."

"Hi, this is Gina."

"Hi there, Gina," Chace said before Alexis could respond. He noticed her eyebrows rose at his behavior but she didn't say anything. Instead, she waited to see how he would deal with the caller.

"Hi, Dr. Ryder. Can I just say that you two are wonderful together! I listen to the show every night and today has been amazing! I can't wait for them to put your face on the website so we can see what you look like."

Chace laughed. "Oh no...I hope I don't disappoint you. You may think I'm a troll."

"A troll?" Gina repeated.

Alexis piped in, "Gina, don't worry. Dr. Ryder is only kidding with you. He's incredibly handsome and he knows it...unfortunately."

"I do believe that was a compliment you just paid me." Chace smiled and Alexis could have sworn he was blushing before he moved on. "So Gina...who do you think is right? Me or Dr. Reyna?"

"Well, I think you're right. I had a creepy guy hit on me at work and I complained about him but if he had been better looking, I probably wouldn't have minded." Gina began giggling on the phone.

"For shame, Gina! How could you side against a fellow female?" Alexis laughed.

Mack signaled that another caller was on the line. The call with Gina was disconnected and Chace pressed the button to accept the next call.

"Heartbreakers, you're on the air," Chace said.

"Hi, my name is Jose."

"Hi, Jose," they both said at the same time.

"I think Dr. Ryder is right, too. Women only want to date good-looking guys."

"Well, Jose," Alexis interrupted. "Couldn't you say the same for men? Are you honestly going to say you wouldn't rather date a beautiful woman over an unattractive one?"

"Well, a woman is a woman so it wouldn't matter to me," Jose said.

"Thank you for your support, Jose. It means a lot to know that both women and men think I'm right and that Dr. Reyna is wrong." Chace was laughing as Alexis gave him the stink eye.

"Fine. If we're going to talk about stereotypes, then I guess it wouldn't matter if we switched the roles and had a woman hitting on a male employee. According to your logic, men would never complain because they'll go after anything with two legs. Is that right?"

"Harsh!" Chace said into his microphone. "Men, can you believe this beautiful lady just said that? What do you have to say in defense?"

Mack signaled another caller.

Chace welcomed the caller, "Heartbreakers, you're live."

"It's me again. Jose."

Alexis laughed. "Hi Jose. Do you have us on speed dial?"

"No, but I did press the redial button. I just wanted to say that I agree with Dr. Reyna. I would also like to know if she would give me her number."

"Her number?" Chace grinned. "Do you feel you need some one one one therapy?"

"No."

"No? Then why would you want Dr. Reyna's number."

Jose's laughter filled the airwaves before he answered, "She sounds hot."

Both Chace and Alexis started laughing. "I'm sorry Jose but she's too beautiful to not have a boyfriend so I don't think you'll be getting her number."

Mack signaled that time was almost up and to read the last letter of the day.

"Alright, it's time to wrap it up. As usual, we'll end the day with a letter from one of our listeners. This was actually an e-mail that was sent to us." Alexis slid her laptop to Chace. "Would you like to read it Dr. Ryder?"

Chace nodded. "I'm officially being initiated."

"Dear Dr. Reyna,

I have listened to your show on and off for the past two years. I only listen because my past girlfriends have all loved your show. My last girlfriend felt I was too controlling and she broke up with me. So that this doesn't happen again, I'm going to start listening to your show religiously. I'll be listening to your every word. I won't miss a single syllable that comes from your mouth. I'll be like a stalker that watches his prey. I'm going to learn everything there is to know about being in a relationship so that I can finally find my soul mate. I'm putting my trust in you. My fate is in your hands. Teach me well and don't let me down. -Your Nightly Listener."

"Well, that was interesting" Alexis said, unsure of how to respond to the e-mail. "I hope our nightly listener knows our advice is only to be used to help listeners consider their possible steps before taking action in their relationships."

"That's true. We are technically an advice and entertainment show," Chace said as he scanned the e-mail again. "Nightly listener, if you're listening, please know that letters like these aren't appreciated. I would advise you to never ever send a woman a letter saying you'll be like a stalker that watches his prey. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the cops show up at your home tonight."

Alexis laughed at Chace's attempt to lighten the mood. "We get all kinds here at Heartbreakers."

After the show was over, Alexis stormed into Mack's booth, Chace right behind her. Hands on her hips, she asked, "What the hell was that, Mack?"

"I'm sorry, Alexis, I didn't get a chance to read it over. We've never gotten creepy letters like that before. It won't happen again."

"Forget it. It was just a little weird. To compare himself to a stalker means he wants to intimidate me," Alexis muttered to herself.

"You shrinks should come with a warning sign. You're always trying to analyze people. Just forget about it, Alexis. He was some crazy crackpot, that's all."

Chace didn't agree. "It wouldn't be a poor idea to be more careful. I agree with you that comparing himself to a stalker indicates he wants to form some sort of intimate connection with you."

"Wow! He does it too," Mack said and shook his head. "Anyway, you did great, Chace. Absolutely amazing! You two have incredible chemistry. I bet people are going to come up with cute names for you two like Chalexis or...I can't think of another one."

Chace smirked, shaking his head.

"And on that note, I'm out of here. My brother is waiting for me so have a good night, everyone. Chace, you did great. I enjoyed working with you. I'll see you on Monday." Alexis gave a wave as she headed toward the exit. She could hear Mack stop Chace to talk about eating out in celebration of his new role on the show.

"Shouldn't we invite Alexis?" Chace asked.

Mack laughed. "No. I already told her she was uninvited. No women allowed. C'mon let's go."

"Why not?" Chace asked suspiciously.

Mack giggled. "You'll see."

Alexis was relieved to be back at home.

"So, what did you do tonight?" Alexis asked.

Nicholas was stuffing popcorn in his mouth. He pointed to the television and said, "I watched movies."

"You didn't listen to my show?" Alexis pouted, going through her mail. There was a Psychology magazine she wanted to dig into later.

"Hell no! Why would I want to listen to all that girly-talk?"

"It's not girly-talk! Besides I have a male co-host now. You would know that if you pretended to be a supportive brother and listened to my show."

"Ooooh really? Let me set my alarm for the next time your show plays," Nicholas said sarcastically. "Besides, I am supportive. I got rid of all your popcorn for you."

"Yeah, by eating it." Alexis said daily before playfully hitting him with her magazine. "Bad brother."

Nicholas laughed before tossing more popcorn in his mouth.

"So, what's the plan for this weekend?" Nicholas asked, still eating his popcorn. He looked at Alexis expectantly.

"The plan?

"Yeah. What are we going to do?"

"I don't know about you but I'm going to work. I have a few clients coming in."

"Are you serious? You're having your nut jobs coming over the weekend?"

"They're not nut jobs. They're my clients, Nicholas."

"You say tomato I say potato."

"That's not how the saying goes." Alexis chastised, laughing.

"I missed you, Alexis."

Alexis hugged her brother as they both sat on the sofa. "I missed you too, Nicholas."

"Can you imagine how we would've ended up if we hadn't been adopted?" Nicholas asked after a few moments passed. He leaned against the sofa, his arm still around her.

"No, I can't imagine it at all," Alexis answered.

Growing up she was bounced around from one foster home to another until she was adopted at the incredibly old age of ten. By foster care standards, that was old. Her adoptive parents were Deidre and Alejandro Reyna. They had adopted Alexis and then Nicholas two years later. It was an instant family connection between the two of them. The few people who were told Alexis and Nicholas weren't blood related were always surprised of the revelation because of their closeness.

"I miss mom and dad too," Nicholas whispered.

Deidre and Alejandro Reyna had passed away a few years ago, leaving Nicholas and Alexis to carry on the family without them. The two always tried to spend major holidays together but Nicholas was always traveling and Alexis was always working.

"Me too," Alexis echoed.

"So, what do you want to do tonight?"

"Sleep."

"C'mon. Let's go somewhere. It's boring here," Nicholas whined.

"Gee, thanks."

"You know what I mean."

Nicholas was an adventurer. To him,, staying at home was the worst sort of way to spend the evening. Alexis was about to suggest they go see a movie when her phone rang. It was a number she didn't recognize. She clicked the button to take the call.

"Alexis?" A male voice asked.

"This is she. Who is this?"

"It's me, Chace. Sorry for calling you out of the blue, but I got your number from Mack's phone. Can you please help me out?"

Alexis sighed and asked, "Which strip club are you two at?"

A beat of silence passed before Chace asked, "How did you know?"

"You went out with Mack, right? He always wants to go to a strip club. He'll end up sloppy drunk and won't be able to get himself home."

"Why didn't you warn me?"

"It's your initiation." Alexis smiled.

Chace told her where he and Mack were at so that she could pick them up. After she hung up, she turned to her brother. "So, bro...you wanna go to a strip club?"

"Never in my life would I ever imagine my sister saying that to me," Nicholas said. "Nor could I imagine myself answering as I'm about to."

Alexis shrugged, expecting him to pass on the invitation. "You don't want to go?"

"No. My answer is hell yeah, sister. Let's hit that strip joint!"

"You're disgusting."

"I don't deny it." Nicholas grabbed his jacket and the two of them headed off into the Houston night.

A short drive later, Alexis and Nicholas found themselves at Topless Mermaids. It was a strip joint for men who had a thing for women dressed as mythical creatures.

"This place is disgusting," Alexis groaned. She grimaced as she walked in with Nicholas to meet Chace and Mack.

"Oooh...they have a fish buffet," Nicholas cried. He was about to make himself a shrimp plate when Alexis stopped him.

"Don't even think about it. Who knows what diseases that food has?"

"You worry too much," Nicholas said, rolling his eyes and reaching for a plate.

"Don't do it, Nicholas. It smells weird...like the ocean."

Nicholas looked around at all of the women dancers. "That's probably not the food."

Alexis passed her brother her car keys. "Go bring the car upfront."

"Fine. I never get to have any fun," Nicholas said, putting down the plate. He pretended to pout like a kid, making Alexis laugh before he headed outside.

She spotted Mack and Chace. Mack was getting a lap dance from a woman who resembled Ariel from the Little Mermaid. Well...if Ariel had a drug problem. She waved at Chace who tried picking Mack up. He had to give the red-headed stripper some bills before she walked away.

"Thank you for coming," Chace said.

"No problem. Do you have his keys?"

Chace nodded. "Yeah. I took them away once he started drinking. I've only had a bottled water."

"Why don't you bring the car around and I'll wait here with Mack."

"Okay, I'll be right back."

"Alexis!"

Alexis turned around to see Nicholas back inside the strip club. A blonde woman wearing giant coconuts had caught his attention.

"I thought you were waiting outside?" Alexis asked her brother, snapping her fingers in front of him to distract him from the blonde.

"She has coconuts," Nicholas said, pointing to the blonde.

"You're a coconut," Alexis said, annoyed. She shook her head. "We're not staying so don't even think about it."

"Fine, I already brought the car out front. I guess one of the perks of being a freelancer like myself is I don't have to pick up drunk bosses."

"Honestly, I don't think most people have to pick up their boss at a strip club in the middle of the night." Alexis frowned.

"Did you need help bringing him outside?"

"Good thinking. Let's go."

Nicholas helped walk the tipsy Mack out into the fresh air. Longer than she thought it would take, Chace was pulling up in Mack's car.

"I guess we'll follow you and then take you back to the station so that you can pick up your car," Alexis said.

"Okay, sounds good. Thanks again." Chace smiled from behind Mack's SUV. Alexis and Nicholas struggled to get Mack in his car.

"No, I don't want to go. I want Ariel," Mack slurred. "Arieeeel! Let me be part of your world!"

"Don't ever let me get this drunk, Alexis," Nicholas whispered to her.

"No one should ever get this drunk," she whispered back.

After they got Mack inside, Alexis walked back to her car with Nicholas in tow.

"What's that?" she asked.

"What's what?" Nicholas looked in the direction her index finger was pointing. Behind her windshield wiper was a small red envelope.

"What the hell? That wasn't there when I parked a few minutes ago," Nicholas said.

He pulled out the red envelope from the windshield wiper and opened it. "There's a letter inside."

"What does it say?" Alexis asked, a feeling of apprehension filling her belly.

With apprehension, Nicholas read the note to her, "I'll be watching you."