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  Falling into step beside Annie, Jennifer followed her into the den. “He seems very nice,” Jennifer said.

  “I thought you’d like him.”

  “He’s charming and well mannered and—”

  “And every bit the gentleman that Daddy was.” Annie finished the sentence for her.

  “Is he, dear?” When Jennifer tilted her head, her chin-length auburn hair swayed slightly.

  “Don’t play coy with me, Mother. I’m your daughter. I know you.” Annie dropped onto the floral chintz sofa, kicked off her flats and tucked her feet up under her. “Dane is exactly what he seems. My guess is that he was born and raised with a silver spoon in his mouth, just as I was.”

  “What, other than his good manners, makes you assume that?” Jennifer sat beside Annie, crossed her ankles and smiled pleasantly.

  “He was married to Richard Hughes’s daughter.” Annie wiggled her toes as she stretched her arms over her head and leaned back into the plush sofa.

  “Was he? How interesting,” Jennifer said, her smile enlarging just a fraction. “I believe Vera told me that Richard’s daughter died about ten years ago.”

  “I don’t know. We haven’t discussed his wife. All Dane told me is that he’s a widower.”

  “And he’s the CEO of a private security agency in Atlanta—is that right?”

  “The Dundee agency.” Annie entwined her fingers and cupped her open palms behind her head.

  “You have no idea how thankful I am that you hired Mr. Carmichael. The very thought that someone is trying to kill you frightens me terribly. I can’t believe that poor little Halley might be dead.”

  “Mr. Carmichael is my temporary bodyguard,” she said. “Just until another agent is free.”

  “Why is that, dear? Does Mr. Carmichael have a previous commitment?” Jennifer stared at Annie, a look of puzzlement in her brown eyes.

  Loosening her entwined fingers, Annie sighed, then brought her hands down and around to her lap. She lifted her head from the soft sofa back and looked directly at her mother. “I asked Dane to arrange for another agent. He and I don’t—we have a difficult time… I’d feel more comfortable with someone else.”

  “But why would you be uncomfortable with him? Dane Carmichael is obviously a fine man and a perfect gentleman.” Jennifer’s eyes grew bright as she uttered a silent, Ah. “He reminds you of Preston, doesn’t he? You’re attracted to him and that upsets you.”

  “You’re much too smart, Mother.”

  Dane stood in the doorway, suddenly feeling as if he were a voyeur secretly listening to a private conversation. He was about to make his presence known, but Annie made a confession before he could clear his throat or shuffle his feet.

  “It would be much too easy to give in to the feelings I have for Dane, and it would be disastrous if I did. The man saved my life and he’s been at my side, protecting me, for the past four days. The danger that surrounds me combined with the feeling of safety I have when he’s near is getting all mixed up with physical attraction.”

  Jennifer glanced past Annie, her gaze locking with Dane’s for just an instant. She quickly returned her full attention to her daughter.

  “Why would it be disastrous for you to give in to the feelings you have for Dane?”

  “Good heavens, Mother, stop and think! Dane is cut from the same cloth as Daddy. And yes, of course, he reminds me of Preston. Not physically, of course, since there’s no resemblance. But that smooth charm and old-fashioned good manners and—”

  “Preston Younger was a fraud. He only pretended to be a gentleman, unlike your father, who was a gentleman.”

  Dane wondered just how long Jennifer Harden would continue the conversation with her daughter, knowing full well that he was listening. Not liking the feel of being an eavesdropper, Dane cleared his throat.

  When both women jerked around, he thought what an accomplished actress Mrs. Harden was.

  “I left the bags in the kitchen,” he said.

  “Do come in, Dane,” Jennifer said. “Annie can show you to your room later. My sister and her husband are due here anytime now. I’d like for you to meet them. Royce is a business associate of your former father-in-law’s. He owns a substantial amount of stock in Hughes Chemicals and Plastics and I think I might own a few shares, too. I’ll have to ask Royce.”

  As if on cue, the doorbell rang before Dane had a chance to respond.

  “That’s Vera and Royce, now.” Jennifer brushed past Dane on her way out of the room, then paused to look back at him over her shoulder. “Would you be a sweetheart and play bartender for me?” She glanced at Annie. “Show him where things are, will you?”

  “The liquor is in the mahogany secretary.” Annie inclined her head toward the large antique piece situated along the wall to the right of the sofa. “Nothing for me, thanks. Mother and Aunt Vera will take sherry and Uncle Royce will want whiskey…neat.”

  Dane nodded, then busied himself at the makeshift bar. Moments later Jennifer reappeared, along with a woman who could have been her twin, except that she was several years older and a few pounds heavier, and a tall, slender man with a shock of snow-white hair and piercing gray eyes.

  “Sweetie.” With her arms open wide, Vera Layman rushed toward Annie, who stood and went into her aunt’s embrace. “We’ve been worried sick ever since Jenny told us about Halley Robinson’s disappearance and the attempt on your life.”

  Annie’s uncle sized Dane up quickly, then extended his hand. “Royce Layman.”

  “Dane Carmichael,” he replied, and shook the older man’s hand.

  “So you’re the young man who saved our Annie’s life. Well, we’re mighty grateful, I can tell you that. This girl—” his gaze fell on Annie, the look warm, caring and paternal “—means the world to us.”

  “Jenny tells us that Annie has hired you as her bodyguard.” Vera released her niece and turned to Dane. “If you’re playing bartender, I’d like a sherry, please.”

  Dane poured the sisters’s drinks, then took the glasses to them. Each responded with flirtatious smiles of appreciation.

  “Dane was married to Richard Hughes’s daughter,” Jennifer informed her sister.

  “Is that right? Oh, my, we’re friends with Richard and Gloria,” Vera told him. “They’re lovely people. Richard is a candidate for governor, you know.”

  Royce Layman looked at Dane oddly, then nodded to himself and said, “We appreciate your taking the job as Annie’s bodyguard. I feel reassured knowing what sort of man you are. I believe Richard’s daughter married a young man who was with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, is that right?”

  “Yes, sir. I was with the Bureau nearly thirteen years before going to work with the Dundee agency.”

  “Shouldn’t y’all be leaving?” Annie asked. “We don’t want to keep y’all from your dinner plans.”

  “We’re just going over to Stillwater,” Royce said. “I don’t think they’ll run out of steaks anytime soon. Besides—”

  The doorbell rang. All four people in the den stilled instantly.

  “Are you expecting anyone else, Mother?” Annie asked.

  “No, dear,” Jennifer said.

  “Would you like for me to go to the door, Mrs. Harden?” Dane offered.

  “I’ll get it,” Royce said. Taking charge with his usual gusto, he marched out of the room.

  Three minutes later he returned, a small package in his hand. “Nothing to get upset about. It was a special delivery for Annie.” He held out the small rectangular object to his niece.

  Annie eyed the brown paper-wrapped parcel as if it were a poisonous snake. Could this be the little gift Halley had mailed to her from Point Clear four days ago, the day Halley had disappeared?

  The rush of her heart pumping blood through her body thundered in her ears as she reached for the package.

  “Wait!” Dane called to her.

  All eyes turned toward him. Annie dropped her hand away.

  “What’s wron