“I’m here, aren’t I?” Zach grumbled. He certainly wasn’t in one of his more charming moods.

“Listen, if you’re going to act like this—”

“Like what?” he demanded, standing up. He walked over to the polished oak sideboard and poured himself a cup of coffee. When he’d finished, he ambled toward the fireplace and leaned against the mantel.

“Like you’re doing me a big favor,” Janine elaborated.

“You’re the one who’s left me dangling for three days. Do you realize what I’ve been forced to endure? Anton kept giving me these smug smiles, looking so pleased with himself and the way things worked out in Scotland. Yesterday he went so far as to mention the name of a good jeweler.”

Before Janine could stop herself, she was on her feet, arms akimbo, glaring at Zach. “I thought you were going to call me! Weren’t you the one who said communication is the key? Then it’s as if you’d dropped off the face of the earth! And for your information, it hasn’t exactly been a Sunday school picnic around here, either.”

“It may surprise you to learn that I have other things on my mind besides dealing with you and your grandfather.”

“Implying I don’t have anything to do with my time?”

“No,” he said slowly. “Damn it, Janine, we’re arguing again.”

She sighed regretfully. “I know. We’ve got to stop this squabbling. It’s counterproductive.”

Zach’s nod was curt and she saw that he was frowning. “What bothers me most is the way your grandfather found us the other day. We were standing so close and you were staring up at me, practically begging me to kiss you.”

“I most certainly was not,” she denied, knowing Zach was right. Her cheeks grew pink. She had wanted him to kiss her, but she hated having to admit that she would’ve walked into his arms without a second’s hesitation. She decided to blame that unexpected longing on the exhausting flight home.

Zach shook his head and set his coffee cup carefully on the mantel. He thrust both hands into his pockets, still slouching against the fireplace wall. “The problem is, I was ready to do it. If your grandfather hadn’t walked in when he did, I would’ve kissed you.”

“You would?” she asked softly, feeling almost light-headed at his words.

Zach straightened, and a nerve in his jaw pulsed, calling her attention to the strong chiseled lines of his face. “I’m only human,” he said drly. “I’m as susceptible to a beautiful woman as the next man, especially when she all but asks me to take her in my arms.”

That was too much. Janine pinched her lips together to keep from crying out in anger. Taking a moment to compose herself, she closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath. “Instead of blaming each other for something that didn’t happen, could we please return to the subject at hand, which is my grandfather?”

“All right,” Zach agreed. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.” He went to the leather wingback chair and sat down. Leaning forward, he rested his elbows on his knees. “What are you going to say to him?”