The Towers Retreat, the most intimate of the St. James hotels."
"Imagine it." Coco patted her hand at her breast.
At the knock on the front door, Fred was up and howling.
"You stay here and imagine it, Aunt Coco. I'll go answer the door."
In a race with Fred, she clattered down the steps. When the dog's four legs tangled, sending him somersaulting, she laughed and gathered him up. She was snuggling the dog against her cheek when she opened the door.
"You!"
The tone of her voice had Fred quaking. Not so the man who stood at the threshold, grinning at her. "Small world," he said in the same slow drawl he'd used when they'd knelt on the sidewalk. "I'm liking it better all the time."
"You followed me."
"No, ma'am. Though it would've been a damn good idea. The name's O'Riley. Sloan O'Riley."
"I don't care what your name is, you can turn around and start walking." She started to slam the door in his face, but he slapped a hand against it and held it wide.
"I don't think that's such a good idea. I've come a long way to get a look at the house."
Her dark blue eyes narrowed. "Oh, have you? Well, let me tell you something, this is a home, a private home. I don't care what you've read in the papers and how badly you want a shot at looking under loose stones for the emeralds. This isn't Treasure Island, and I've had my fill of people like you who think they can just come knocking at the door, or sneaking into the garden at night with a pick and shovel."
She looked just fine, Sloan thought as he waited out the tirade. Every furious inch of her. She was tall for a woman and lean with it - but not too lean. She curved out nicely in all the right places. She looked as though she could ride hard all day and still have the energy to kick up her heels at night. Stubborn chin, he decided, and approved. When she jutted it out, her warm brown hair swayed with the movement. Big blue eyes. Even while they spit fire they reminded him of cornflowers. When it wasn't scowling or swearing, he imagined her full, shapely mouth would be soft.
Soft and tasty.
"You run down yet?" he asked when she stopped to take a breath.
"No, and if you don't leave right now, I'm going to let my dog loose on you."
Taking his cue, Fred leaped out of her arms. With neck fur bristling, he bared his teeth in a growl.
"Looks pretty fierce," Sloan commented, then hunkered down to hold out the back of his hand. Fred sniffed it, then his tail began to wag joyously as Sloan scratched his ears. "Yep, pretty fierce animal you got here."
"That's it." Amanda set her hands on her hips. "I'm getting the gun."
Before she could turn inside to look for the fictitious weapon, Coco came downstairs.
"Who is it, Amanda?" "Dead meat"
"I beg your pardon?" She stepped up to the door. The moment she spotted Sloan her ingrained vanity took over. In the blink of an eye she whipped her apron off. "Hello." Her smile was warm and feminine as she extended a hand. "I'm Cordelia McPike."
"A pleasure, ma'am." Sloan brought her fingertips to his mouth. "As I was just telling your sister here - "
"Oh, my." Coco let out a trill of delighted laughter. "Amanda's not my sister. She's my niece. The third daughter of my late brother - my much older brother."
"My mistake."
"Aunt Coco, this jerk knocked me down outside of the boutique, then followed me home. He just wants to wheedle his way into the house because of the necklace."
"Now, Mandy, you mustn't be so harsh."
"That's partially true, Mrs. McPike." Sloan gave Amanda a slow nod. "Your niece and I did have a run-in. Guess I didn't get out of her way in time. And I am trying to get into the house."
"I see." Torn between hope and doubt, Coco sighed. "I'm terribly sorry, but I don't think it would be possible to let you in. You see we have so much to do with the wedding - "
Sloan's eyes whipped back to Amanda. "You getting married?"
"My sister," she said tightly. "Not that it's any of your business. Now if you'll excuse us?"
"I wouldn't want to intrude, so I'll just be on my way. If you'll tell Trent that O'Riley was by, I'd appreciate it."
"O'Riley?" Coco repeated, then fluttered her hands. "Goodness, are you Mr.