"My American upbringing made me incredibly intelligent, and believe me, I can spot one of your pathetic Carpathian plots to protect the helpless woman from information you consider would make her fragile little delicate self unnecessarily fearful." He grinned at her. "Carpathian males understand the fragile nature of women's nerves. Women--especially women--just cannot take the adversity that we men can." "I think I should have enjoyed meeting your mother. How a woman could manage to raise two domineering tyrants like you and Mikhail is beyond me."