Fed up with fending off the attentions of Big Bill’s hotshot young neighbor, Juliet slipped into the house through the kitchen. Her mood might have been foul, but she congratulated herself on keeping her head. She hadn’t taken a chunk out of the free-handed, self-appointed Adonis. She hadn’t snarled out loud even once in Carlo’s direction.

Attending to business always helped steady her temper. With a check of her watch, Juliet decided she could get one collect call through to her assistant at home. She’d no more than picked up the receiver from the kitchen wall phone than she was lifted off her feet.

“Ain’t much to you. But it sure is a pleasure to look at what there is.”

She barely suppressed the urge to come back with her elbow. “Tim.” She managed to keep her voice pleasant while she thought how unfortunate it was that most of his muscle was from the neck up. “You’re going to have to put me down so I can make my call.”

“It’s a party, sweetheart.” Shifting her around with a flex of muscle, he set her on the counter. “No need to go calling anybody when you’ve got me around.”

“You know what I think?” Juliet gauged that she could give him a quick kick below the belt, but tapped his shoulder instead. After all, he was Bill’s neighbor. “I think you should get back out to the party before all the ladies miss you.”

“Got a better idea.” He leaned forward, boxing her in with a hand on each side. His teeth gleamed in the style of the best toothpaste ads. “Why don’t you and I go have a little party of our own? I imagine you New York ladies know how to have fun.”

If she hadn’t considered him such a jerk, she’d have been insulted for women in general and New York in particular. Patiently, Juliet considered the source. “We New York ladies,” she said calmly, “know how to say no. Now back off, Tim.”

“Come on, Juliet.” He hooked a finger in the neck of her top. “I’ve got a nice big water bed down the street.”

She put a hand on his wrist. Neighbor or not, she was going to belt him. “Why don’t you go take a dive.”

He only grinned as his hand slid up her leg. “Just what I had in mind.”

“Excuse me.” Carlo’s voice was soft as a snake from the doorway. “If you don’t find something else to do with your hands quickly, you might lose the use of them.”

“Carlo.” Her voice was sharp, but not with relief. She wasn’t in the mood for a knight-in-armor rescue.

“The lady and I’re having a private conversation.” Tim flexed his pectorals. “Take off.”