“I’ll give it back. Later.”

“Hey, Jerry!”

The easy smile on Jonas’s face froze. Only his eyes changed, locking on to Liz’s, warning and demanding. His hand remained on hers, but the grip tightened. The message was very clear—she was to do nothing, say nothing until he’d tallied the odds. He turned, flashing a new smile. Liz’s stomach trembled. It was Jerry’s smile, she realized. Not Jonas’s.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were back in town?” A tall, tanned man with sandy blond hair and a trim beard dropped a hand on Jonas’s shoulder. Liz caught the glint of a diamond on his finger. He was young, she thought, determined to store everything she could, barely into his thirties, and dressed with slick, trendy casualness.

“Quick trip,” Jonas said as, like Liz, he took in every detail. “Little business…” He cast a meaningful glance toward Liz. “Little pleasure.”

The man turned and stared appreciatively at Liz. “Is there any other way?”

Thinking fast, Liz offered her hand. “Hello. Since Jerry’s too rude to introduce us, we’ll have to do it ourselves. I’m Liz Palmer.”

“David Merriworth.” He took her hand between both of his. They were smooth and uncallused. “Jerry might have trouble with manners, but he’s got great taste.”

She smiled, hoping she did it properly. “Thank you.”

“Pull up a chair, Merriworth.” Jonas took out a cigarette. “As long as you keep your hands off my lady.” He said it in the good-natured, only-kidding tone Jerry had inevitably used, but his eyes were Jonas’s, warning her to tread carefully.

“Wouldn’t mind a quick cup of coffee.” David pulled over a chair after he checked his watch. “Got a breakfast meeting in a few minutes. So how are things on Cozumel?” He inclined his head ever so slightly. “Getting in plenty of diving?”

Jonas allowed his lips to curve and kept his eyes steady. “Enough.”

“Glad to hear it. I was going to check in with you myself, but I’ve been in the States for a couple weeks. Just got back in last night.” He used two sugars after the waiter set a fresh cup of coffee beside him. “Business is good, buddy. Real good.”

“What business are you in, Mr. Merriworth?”

He gave Liz a big grin before he winked at Jonas. “Sales, sweetheart. Imports, you might say.”

“Really.” Because her throat was dry she drank more coffee. “It must be fascinating.”

“It has its moments.” He turned in his chair so that he could study her face. “So where did Jerry find you?”

“On Cozumel.” She sent Jonas a steady look. “We’re partners.”

David lowered his cup. “That so?”

They were in too deep, Jonas thought, for him to contradict her. “That’s so,” he agreed.

David picked up his cup again with a shrug. “If it’s okay with the boss, it doesn’t bother me.”