Neither Otto nor Stephanie had an answer for that.

In the sudden silence Jared caught another movement on the porch. But this time it wasn’t Anthony’s profile. It was…

“Excuse me for a moment.” He rose from his chair, ignoring their looks of surprise as he crossed to the front door.

“We still have the family home in Naples,” Anthony was saying to Melissa as Jared pushed open the screen door. “And I visit it as often as possible.” Anthony had planted his butt against the log railing of the porch, one arm bracing him on each side while Melissa stood in front of him.

“I’ve always wanted to see Italy.” She sighed. “The Colosseum, Vatican City, the Sistine Chapel.”

Jared scoffed. Pretty big dreams for a woman who couldn’t even make it to Seattle.

Anthony levered himself forward to standing, and Melissa didn’t back off.

“I would love to show you Venice,” he said in a voice that promised more than a tour of the Grand Canal.

Jared wasn’t sure who he should warn-Melissa that Anthony was a player, or Anthony that Melissa’s only life skill appeared to be flirting.

“I assume you moved my horse?” he said, instead, causing her to turn her head. Once again she looked both guilty and surprised to see him. And once again he was stabbed in the solar plexus with a shot of unwelcome attraction.

He determinedly shook it off.

“Melissa and I were discussing the treasures of Italy,” Anthony offered conversationally, but the set of his shoulders and the tightness around his mouth told Jared that he didn’t welcome the interruption. Too bad.

“You’re supposed to be thinking about Sierra Benito,” Jared reminded him, moving through the beam of the porch light, transmitting his clear intention to join the conversation.

“Business can wait,” said Anthony.

Jared made a show of glancing at his watch. “It’s been a long meeting already.”

“Give me five minutes. I will be right in.”