“Has he?” Jeremy pressed.

“No. He’s fishing.”

Straightening, Jeremy walked into the kitchen and stood very close to her. “I think you’re in over your head, Ashley.”

“I can swim.” She moved quickly past him and got down two mugs. “What else did your buddy Mac have to say?”

“He doesn’t want to see you hurt.”

“Which, I’m sure, is why he stole my Jaguar and is deeply worried about my own uncle getting in touch with me. What’s Barky supposed to do? Suddenly grab all my money when for the past four years he wouldn’t even take a cent to buy new linoleum? You don’t seem to understand, Jeremy Carruthers. My uncle doesn’t like money.”

His face was expressionless, but Ashley sensed an underlying determination, even fear. “Mac says he’ll want the tiara and the choker.”

“So? He can have them.”

“I don’t think that would be wise,” he said cautiously. “Mac says—”

“I don’t give a damn what Mac says.” She slammed the cabinet door and thrust the mug at him, but she was more annoyed with herself for losing control than with him for being so tenacious. “Look,” she began reasonably, “it’s pretty obvious where your loyalties lie. That’s fine: Mac Stevens is your friend. Well, Barky’s my uncle.”

His pale eyes shut briefly, and when they opened, the fire went out altogether in Ashley. He looked tired, honest, concerned. “Trust me,” Barky had said. She had to. But that didn’t mean Jeremy Carruthers was untrustworthy. Nevertheless, just because Stevens had no qualms about involving Jeremy didn’t mean that she could do the same. Or should. Whatever was going on between the lawyer and the farmer, it had nothing to do with Jeremy. She recalled how he’d looked yesterday morning answering his door. She could see again his tanned muscular calves. How strange, she thought.

“I’m sorry,” she said suddenly. “I’m a jerk.”

The corners of his mouth twitched slightly. “It’s all right—so am I.” But the good humor didn’t last, and in another second he was serious again, and he said quietly, “Tell me what happened to your brother.”

“He’s a klutz. He fell—”

“Don’t lie to me.” Jeremy didn’t raise his voice.

She rested back against the counter. “Why not?”

“Are you always this trying?”

“Frankly, no. I sympathize with your frustration, Jeremy, but if David had wanted you to know, he’d have told you himself. Now. Coffee’s ready. Make yourself at home. Cream’s in the fridge and you’re welcome to go up to the deck. I have a few things to do at the office.”

He looked at her in surprise. “You trust me enough to leave me here alone?”

“Are you a Winslow Homer fan?”

“I can take or leave him.”

She grinned. “Well, I hope you leave him. Anyway, reporters are probably staked out all over the neighborhood and will have good sharp photographs of anyone leaving or entering my building. If you walk off with the silver, Carruthers, I’ll have you arrested.” She wriggled her fingers under his nose in farewell. “Enjoy.”