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low-cut front of her flame-colored silk dress dipping to expose most of her small, high breasts. Noah knew enough about women to recognize the gesture as practiced and deliberate, a fact that amused him without lessening the desired effect.
    â€œThe problem, Noah,” Holly had murmured in a confiding tone that could barely be heard above the thumping strains of Joe Jackson, “is my sister.”
    â€œYour sister?” he echoed politely, sipping at the dark whiskey in front of him.
    â€œThe fourth owner. You have to understand, the house is an albatross. It’s simply too large for us to afford anymore. We just keep throwing money at the old monster, and no matter how much we give, it still demands more. It’s falling down around us, and Anne can barely keep up with the repairs. It’s running her life, blinding her to everything, and there’s no way to make her see reason.”
    â€œYou’ve tried?”
    â€œOf course we’ve tried,” Holly replied, her concern not interfering with her ability to bat her eyes. “She’s got afixation about the place—she won’t leave till she’s forced out. That’s why we’ve got to lie about why you’re coming with us. If Anne had any idea we were planning to sell the house, she’d do anything she could to stop us.”
    â€œCould she?”
    â€œStop us? Possibly. Not legally. Wendell James has already checked that out. We only need three of the four owners to agree to sell. But she could make things very difficult, delay things. We’ve all agreed—the only thing we can do is present her with a fait accompli.”
    â€œWho’s ‘we’?” he inquired pleasantly enough over the din, covering the instinctive feeling of distaste that filled him at the idea of more trickery.
    â€œMy father, my brother and me. We’ve accepted the facts of life even if Anne can’t. Wendell is taking care of the legal aspects of this whole mess—he just needs you to check out the local ramifications.”
    â€œSo I gather. He trusts me to make sure it’s what the foundation really wants.”
    â€œI don’t think there’s any question of that,” Holly said confidently. “You’ll fall in love with the place—everyone does.” She toyed with the dregs of her drink. “We’ll have to think of some excuse for your presence this weekend. I think we should just tell Anne that we’re lovers.”
    That trace of diffidence in her voice was admirable, he thought distantly. Just a shy peek from her blue eyes—there it was—and a self-deprecating little smile. He knew his cue and replied with an ironic suavity that was lost on her. “I’m sure I’ll manage to be convincing.”
    There was no question about it, her answering smile had been breathtaking. And it had been a respectable intervalsince he’d spent the night anywhere but in his solitary bed. Holly Kirkland was exactly the sort of woman he liked. Bright, pretty, talented, with a shell around her heart like a chocolate-dipped ice-cream cone. They could pleasure each other’s bodies without endangering any emotions, which was just what he wanted. But not that night.
    It wouldn’t have taken much to move the relationship into bed. Holly’s bright-blue eyes had made it more than clear that she found him attractive. And he had every intention of taking her up on her unspoken offer, once they got to the old house. But that night her calm plans had turned him off as much as her pretty body in that luscious silken dress had turned him on, and he’d made a plausible excuse.
    And now he was practically hiding out in a solitary bedroom, having done everything in his power to deter her. And he couldn’t quite understand why. Unless it was a belated regret over what they were doing to her sister.
    It was a beautiful old house, there was no question about it. And that