Abby tapped him on the foot with the tip of her cane, snatching his attention back. “You’re such a good-looking boy. When are you going to settle down?”
“Come on, Abby. Don’t tease me. How can I think about settling down when I can’t find a woman half as nice as you?”
“Save your charm for the younger ladies, dear.” She patted his cheek. “I prefer a wrinkle or two in my men. Makes me feel like we’re even.”
“Give me a few years.”
“Don’t tempt me.” She fumbled for the glasses hanging from her neck, then pushed the specs onto her nose and squinted at him. “Have you been looking for one?”
“One what?”
“A woman, dear. Do pay attention.”
He chuckled. He should have known Abby Van Martin wouldn’t beat around the bush. “Honestly? I haven’t been looking at all.” His priority right now was saving his business, not getting laid.
At that particular moment, though, neither his floundering business nor women were the issue. Diamonds were.
He bent down and pressed a quick kiss to Abby’s cheek, then made his excuses, telling her he was off to circulate with the female party guests.
It wasn’t true, of course.
But he could hardly explain to his godmother that he was heading upstairs to break into his grandmother’s wall safe and steal a diamond necklace.
* * *
MEL SCRAMBLED UPthe ivy-covered trellis, then eased over the balcony railing. She moved silently back toward the wall, slipping into the shadows, then looked around, checking for prying eyes.
Nothing.
She exhaled. So far, so good.
Usually she prepared more for a job, but with thisone she’d had less than a day of prep time. She closed her eyes, drawing a deep breath as she forced herself to relax, forced her heart rate back to normal.
Hard to believe that mere hours had passed since Gramps had given her the necklace, confessing that he’d lifted it from the wall safe of Emily Radley, one of Hollywood’s early stars.
She still couldn’t believe he’d done something so foolish. Overlarge gemstones were too hard to fence, and Gramps didn’t believe in taking unnecessary risks.
This time, though, he’d taken it for her. To secure her future.
She was pissed and touched all at the same time, and it had taken every ounce of strength in her body to reject the gift. He’d been so proud of himself, and she’d trampled all over him. She’d seen the desolation in his eyes, and she’d rushed to tell him how much she appreciated the thought, not to mention the risk. He’d been out of the game even longer than she had, but for her he’d rushed back in, pell-mell.
“And what if you’d been caught?” she’d said. “Did you forget who trained you? Haveyouever been caught?”
He knew, of course, that she hadn’t.
“It’s not a question of getting caught,” she’d said, trying a new tactic. “The point is, I’m trying to go clean. Responsible. A new leaf. How can I start anew life if I’m financing it with Miss Emily’s stolen necklace?”
He’d sighed, a heavy, world-weary sound. “If it means that much to you, then I’ll return the necklace.”
“Good. It means that much.”
“Fine. I’ll just buy you a blender for your birthday. Or perhaps a Barnes & Noble gift certificate.”
Mel had rolled her eyes, then stood up and crossed to the bed to kiss his cheek. She’d sat next to him, the mattress sinking under her weight as she’d squeezed his hand, still clutching the jewelry box in her free one.
“Why on earth did you steal from Emily Radley?”
Gramps had looked confused. “What do you mean?”
