“Fine.” Tiffany wasn’t sure she liked the idea, but she had more important things to worry about. J.D. and Stephen were at the top of the list.

* * *

At the small table in his room, J.D. reread for the thousandth time the deed and the note his brother had signed.

The contract was ironclad. Aside from a few thousand dollars’ equity, Santini Brothers owned this apartment house lock, stock and barrel. And unless Carlo could be convinced to sell the place, Tiffany couldn’t do anything about it.

So much for her independence.

So what are you going to do about it? he asked himself and felt remorse tear at his soul. He’d made love to her. His brother’s wife. True, Philip was dead, Tiffany was a free woman, and yet J.D. didn’t feel right about what had happened.

Yeah, but you planned her seduction. You took her and the bottle of wine to the Zalinski place for the express purpose of making love to her.

His jaw tightened and he saw his reflection in the window. Alone in the house, his bags packed, he had time to think, time for recriminations, time to realize that, like it or not, he was in love with his brother’s widow. “Hell,” he ground out and reached for the telephone. The room was hot. Stuffy. The heat of late afternoon setting in after a long day. He punched out a number he knew by heart, waited until his father had answered and said, “Hi. It’s me, Dad.”

“Jay. How’s it going?”

“I want out.” No reason to beat around the bush.

His father’s silence was condemning. “You’re kidding.”

“No joke.”

“You’ve hardly been in the job six months.”

“I know, but it’s not working.”

“Why?”

“A dozen reasons. I should never have taken the job in the first place.” He waited a second and softened his voice. “I’m not Philip, Dad.”

“You’re telling me.” Was there a hint of disgust in the old man’s voice? J.D. really didn’t care. He couldn’t be a part of Santini Brothers as long as his father insisted on pulling everyone’s strings.

“Listen, Dad, I’m driving to Portland tomorrow. I’m selling my stock, my boat, my bike and my condo and I’m paying off Philip’s debts to the company.”

“But why—”

“Tiffany needs this place. Her kids need it. I want her to own it free and clear.”

“I’m not trying to push my grandkids out of a home,” Carlo said. “I just want them closer.”

“Forget it. This is their home. Now, I’m paying off the debt and you’re accepting it, or we’re going to court.”

“Always the lawyer.”

“Always.” J.D. wasn’t taking no for an answer.

“You don’t have to do this.”

“Of course I do, Dad.”

“She’s got her claws into you.”