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like.”
    “No, thank you.” Judith rose, graceful as always, and stood tall as a young queen, her mask once again complete. “As you said, it’s none of my business.”
    Just as he was about to respond, his assistant buzzed him. “Mr. Armstrong? London on line one.”
    “Ask them to hold for a minute, please, Margo.” He turned back to talk to his daughter.
    But she’d already made her way from the room.
    William swore softly and vowed to seek her out and somehow make this right.
    But for now, he had business to attend.

    F OR THE SECOND TIME that day, Anne was nervous.
    And once again, William Armstrong was the cause.
    Ridiculous. She was no green girl. This wasn’t a date. It was only—
    She pressed one hand to her stomach.
    —dinner. Simply a meal between two old friends.
    But she sure didn’t feel old in that instant; more like a giddy girl, actually. And were they friends? She supposed they might have been, once, long ago, had she not been a lowly freshman in a girls’ school while he was the dashing football captain, class president and champion debater in his own, and a senior, to boot.
    By the time she’d returned from college, he was already ensconced at The Regency, following in his father’s footsteps, a man of business making his mark in a city she longed to escape. Their mothers were best friends, conspiring so obviously to link their families that he and she were constantly being forced into proximity. He’d been charming and attractive in an intense way that could make her stomach flutter, but clearly not ready to settle down any more than she was.
    And then she’d met Remy, and all bets were off.
    Forty years later, her stomach was fluttering again, despite her best intentions.
    A knock on her door kicked the sensation into giant flapping wings.
    She emerged from the cool mint-and-peach oasis of her bedroom into the living room of the family quarters, smaller than they had been when she and Remy were raising the children. Once the girls were all grown, they’d kept only their bedroom and living room with its small kitchen, returning the two rooms shared by their girls to paying guest suites.
    Nonsense, she lectured herself as she crossed the room to the door.
    She turned the knob. As the opening widened, William perused her from head to toe.
    And whistled.
    “Stop that.” But she couldn’t help responding to his wicked grin with one of her own. “ Mon dieu —I’m a grandmother.”
    He arched one dark eyebrow. “Do you feel like one?”
    “After a day at the zoo, frankly, yes,” she responded tartly.
    He leaned in and captured a quick, heated kiss, but backed off before she could protest. “You smell wonderful,” he murmured.
    His nearness was going to her head. Scrambling her brains in a manner she no longer knew how to handle. “I’m starving.”
    In a glance, he communicated his comprehension of her dodge—and his amusement that she felt the need for it. “Then, by all means,” he said, “Let’s restore your strength.” He paused. “Unless, of course, you’d prefer to order in.” Challenge danced in his tone.
    He’d been a bachelor out on the town for several years. She’d had only one lover. The playing field was uneven.
    But she refused to concede the advantage. She’d always been a quick learner. “I don’t think you want any more tongues wagging around here than are already.”
    “I’m not the one who is uncomfortable about being seen together.”
    She couldn’t find a proper response.
    He rescued her, tucking her hand into his elbow and turning them both toward the door. “So tell me how the delightful Daisy Rose is doing, G-mama.” His grin was quick and sinful and made it perfectly clear that her attempts to hide behind her status as grandmother were transparent…and doomed.
    “She asked after Bo. She wondered if she might play with him and ‘Mr. Will’ again soon.” Sometimes when Anne and Celeste were babysitting, Daisy Rose had joined Anne and