She sucked in a breath. “Johnny Remington passed away a couple of months ago. I’m the new owner.” Just what she didn’t need-concerned family, conveniently late to help, but just in time to grab what they could.

The one called Cooper narrowed his eyes. “Um, ’fraid not. Johnny’s will, filed in a New York State court, left the boat to us. We’re his nephews. So whatever arrangements he made with you are null and void.”

“Null and void? Really?” She cocked her head to one side. “Are you by any chance a lawyer?”

“I am, but that’s immaterial.”

Allie’s hackles rose. “I knew it. I can spot lawyers from miles away.” She’d been afraid this would happen. The powerful Remingtons wouldn’t just let a valuable asset like the Dragonfly fall into a stranger’s hands without a fight.

She flashed back in time to another boat, another slick lawyer, another disagreement about who owned what. Allie had lost that battle. But she didn’t intend to lose this one. Though Johnny’s will was handwritten, it had been witnessed and she felt certain it was entirely legal.

She crossed her arms. “Johnny’s more recent will, filed in the state of Texas, names me as the one to inherit the Dragonfly. So get off my boat.”

“And just who might you be?”

“For the second time, my name is Allie Bateman.”

“And what’s your relationship to Johnny?”

She could have told him that Johnny was her employer for more than ten years. He’d been her teacher, her father-figure, and her dear, dear friend. But she knew what this guy was thinking-that she was some floozy who’d somehow fleeced Johnny out of his boat when he’d been sick and feeble.

Let him think whatever he wanted. “That’s none of your business.”

“Hey, Allie!” The greeting was from Jane Simone, her next-door neighbor. “Is everything okay?”