they came down to get things started. Bobby’s been hellishly busy, so for the past few weeks Bess has turned to me—out of boredom, I’m sure. At first I suspected she wanted to use me to get Bobby to notice her again—you know, make him a little jealous. But it’s getting complicated now.” He shrugged, smiling faintly. “She’s always been special to me, and I’m only human, if you get my meaning. But I don’t want anyone to get hurt. That’s where you come in.”
“I’m going to run interference, I gather?” she murmured.
“That’s it,” he agreed pleasantly. “By the way, you’ve been in the States for the past few months because we had a quarrel. But now we’ve patched it up, and we’re quite serious about each other.”
“I’m beginning to see the light,” she mused, grinning. “So we’re lovers, is that it?”
He chuckled. “Can’t keep our hands off each other,” he agreed. “Mad to be together.”
“What fun.” She smiled. “Now explain my missionary parents to her and how you so easily led me into a life of sin.”
He groaned. “Don’t, for heaven’s sake, even mention your parents to her. Well, not what they do for a living, at least.”
She sighed. “I hope she doesn’t pin me down and start asking embarrassing questions.”
“I’ll try not to leave you alone with her. You’ve got to save me,” he murmured drily, although there seemed to be something serious behind the gibe. “Bobby and I are getting along better than we ever have. I can’t come between him and the one thing in life he really values.”
She sighed. “Okay. I’ll play along. But I have to go back to the States in about three weeks, so you’d better get her convinced fast.”
“They’ll be going back any day now, I hope,” he said. “Otherwise I don’t know if I can stand it much longer. It’s a good thing I saw your lights on before Bobby got me to pick up Bess at their villa. I barely had time to pressure you into cooperating before I had to leave.”
“Lucky you,” she agreed with a grin. “I hadn’t planned to come back for two more weeks.”
He groaned. “I’d have been in over my head by then, for sure.”
She glanced up at him. “Well, don’t you worry. I’ll save you.” She frowned, moving away from the disturbing touch of his hands. “Let’s see now, what did I do with that red cape—you know, the one with the big S on it?”
“Never mind the Superwoman cape,” he said. “Just hold my hand.”
“The one with the Rolex and the diamond ring?” She pursed her lips. “Careful I don’t steal them. I’m not rich yet, you know.”
He laughed. “You will be,” he said. Then he glanced toward the door. “Get dressed, will you? I’ll wait for you.”
Heavens, he had it bad, Elissa thought, if he was afraid to face the other woman without reinforcements.
“Chin up,” she said lightly. “I know karate. If she makes one move—just one move—to undress you, I’ll defend your honor with my very life.”
He chuckled. Once, he’d thought his new neighbor was a complete eccentric. He still did, actually, but she could be quite a gem at times, too. And right now she was saving his neck. “You’re a nice girl,” he said playfully.
She winced. “A nice girl? Thanks awfully. I like you, too.”
She turned, picked up her clothes from the chair and headed toward the bathroom.
“You can’t dress in front of me?” he asked unexpectedly, watching her from his relaxed position against the door.
She glanced up at him. “No,” she confessed with a somewhat wobbly laugh. “I’m not quite as liberated as I might seem. I—I’ve never undressed in front of a man in my life, except for my family physician.”
The confession seemed to shock him. “Never?” he asked.
“Never,” she emphasized, knowing exactly what she was revealing to him.
He scowled. Because of her physical aloofness, he’d somehow taken it for granted that she’d been hurt in love somehow. To think of her as a virgin was vaguely disturbing.
“Why?” he asked with characteristic bluntness. “Did something happen to you?”
“My father’s a minister, remember? And he and my mother were missionaries to Brazil when I was growing up. Try being Ms. Liberation in that kind of atmosphere. I dare you.”
He was learning more about her in minutes than he’d learned in two years. He studied her intently, his gaze taking in what he could see of her body in that very revealing gown. Her breasts were full and