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is to marry you, then there’s nothing left to argue about. Go change your clothes, Pru. We’ll go somewhere private and discuss marriage.“
    Her mouth trembled when she tried to find a response. No words came into her head. Pru turned to look at her sister, seeking some hint of how to handle the bizarre situation. But Annie was looking distinctly thoughtful.
    „Go get dressed, Pru,“ she said quietly. „McCord is right. You can’t hold a private discussion with this kind of audience hanging around.“
    Pru glanced at McCord. There was a steady, watchful expression on his face, as if he were afraid she would panic and run.
    The knowledge that he half expected her to react in such a ridiculous manner sent a shot of adrenaline-inspired strength through Pru’s system. With a cool little nod, she excused herself and walked across the patio toward the sliding glass doors that opened onto the living room. A moment later she vanished inside.
    McCord watched her go, aware that his body was already tightening just at the sight of her sweetly rounded bottom outlined by the red bikini she was wearing. God, he had missed her. This past week had been one of the most frustrating and miserable he had ever spent.
    „She was quite sure you wouldn’t come after her,“ Annie remarked, interrupting McCord’s reverie.
    He snapped his attention back from the sliding glass doors and turned to look at Pru’s sister. She didn’t look much like Pru, he decided. Annie was a sassy-haired blonde with blue eyes while Pru’s hair was much longer and darkened into a warm shade of bronzed brown. He liked the golden-green of Pru’s eyes better, too, McCord thought. He saw the protective hostility in Annie’s gaze and sighed inwardly. He wasn’t surprised.
    „I didn’t properly introduce myself earlier, Ms. Gates.“

    „Don’t worry about it. I’ve figured out who you are. Are you serious about marrying Pru, or is this just a trick to get her back to San Diego with you?“
    McCord felt a brief rush of fury at the clear sisterly skepticism so visible in Annie’s face. Coolly, he repressed it. „I’m serious about it. I wouldn’t have mentioned it otherwise.“
    „When?“
    He looked at her blankly. „When what?“
    „When are you going to marry her?“ Annie asked impatiently.
    „As soon as possible.“ He challenged her silently and was briefly startled when Annie merely nodded.
    „Good,“ she said, „I think it’s for the best.“ She turned back to the pool. „All right, kids. Time to get out and get ready for dinner.“
    Katy and her brother moved reluctantly to the steps and clambered out. „Is he going to have dinner with us?“ the little girl asked, her eyes on McCord.
    „No,“ her mother said briskly. „He’s going to take Aunt Pru out to dinner. Run along now.“ She turned back to McCord. „Have a seat, Mr. McCord. My sister will be out in a minute.“ She started toward the house but halted abruptly when McCord spoke behind her.
    „I’ll take care of your sister, Annie,“ he said quietly.
    Annie’s gaze flickered over him in quick assessment. „It’s not going to be as easy as you think, McCord.“
    „What won’t be easy?“
    „Convincing her to marry you. You’ve already done too good a job convincing her you don’t want to marry her.“ She turned away again and continued on into the house.
    McCord stood by the rippling pool and thought about the problem. Annie was right. He’d done a hell of a job convincing Pru he would never marry her. He’d been honest about his feelings on the subject of marriage right from the start, even though at the time he’d worried about losing her because of it. But she’d eventually come into his arms with all the honeyed, passionate generosity of her nature. And then she’d moved in with him and proceeded to turn his house into a home.
    As far as McCord had been concerned, the arrangement between himself and Pru had had a more solid foundation than did most