Remember When

were a specialty when Uncle Willy was involved in a job. It was likely whoever'd broken in, searched, stolen, would have a record. Vince would trace that, identify them, and it was well within the realm of possibility that they'd get picked up.
    It was also in that realm that they'd be stupid enough to tell the cops why they broke in. If that came down, she'd claim mistaken identity.
    She'd be shocked, outraged, baffled. Acting the part-whatever part was necessary-was second nature. There was enough of Big Jack in her veins that running a con wouldn't be a stretch of her skills.
    What was she doing now, Laine Tavish of Angel's Gap, but running a lifetime con?
    Because the thought depressed her, she pushed it aside and immersed herself in refiling her paperwork. Immersed enough that she nearly jumped straight off the floor when she heard the knock on the front door.
    Henry bolted out of his mid-morning snooze and sent out a furious spate of throaty, threatening barks-even as he slunk behind Laine and tried to hide his bulk in the crook of her arm.
    "My big, brave hero." She nuzzled him. "It's probably the window guy. No eating the window guy, right?"
    As a testament to his great love and devotion, Henry went with her. He made growling noises and stayed one safe pace behind.
    She was wary enough herself after the break-in to peek out the window before unlocking the door. Her brain, and her blood, did a little snap and sizzle when she saw Max.
    Instinctively she looked down, in disgust, at her oldest jeans, her bare feet, the ancient gray sweatshirt. She'd yanked her hair back in a short tail that morning and hadn't bothered with makeup.
    "Not exactly the look I wanted to present to the man I considered getting naked with at the first reasonable opportunity," she said to Henry. "But what're you gonna do?"
    She pulled open the door and ordered herself to be casual. "Max. This is a surprise. How'd you find me?"
    "I asked. You okay? I heard about..." He trailed off, his gaze tracking down to her knees. "Henry?
    Well, that's about the homeliest dog I've ever seen." A big grin split his face when he said it, and it was hard to take offense as he crouched down to dog level and aimed the grin at the dog.
    "Hey, big guy, how's it going?"
    Most, in Laine's experience, were at least initially intimidated by the dog. He was big, he was ugly, and when he was growling in his throat, he sounded dangerous. But Max was already holding a hand out, offering it for a sniff. "That's some bad face you've got there, Henry."
    Obviously torn between terror and delight, Henry inched his snout forward, took some testing whiffs. His tail whapped the back of Laine's knees before he collapsed, rolled and exposed his belly for a rub.
    "He has no pride," Laine stated.
    "Doesn't need any." Max became the newest love of Henry's life by giving the soft belly a vigorous rub. "Nothing like a dog, is there?"
    First there'd been lust, she thought, naturally enough. Then interest and several layers of attraction. She'd been prepared-or had been trying to prepare-to shuffle all those impulses aside and be sensible.
    Now, seeing him with her dog, she felt the warming around the heart that signaled-uh-oh-personal affection. Add that to lust and attraction and a woman, even a sensible woman, was sunk. "No, there really isn't."
    "Always had a dog at home. Can't keep one in New York, not the way I travel around. Doesn't seem right." His hand slid up to rub Henry's throat and send the dog into ecstasy.
    Laine very nearly moaned.
    "That's the downside of city living for me," Max added. "How'd they get around him?"
    "I'm sorry?"
    He gave Henry a last thumping pat, then straightened. "I heard about the break-in. Big dog like this should've given them some trouble."
    Down, girl, Laine ordered herself. "Afraid not. One, he was shut in the mudroom. That's his place when I'm out. And second, well..." She looked down at Henry, who was slavishly licking Max's hand. "He doesn't exactly have a warrior's heart."
    "You okay?"
    "As good as it gets, I suppose, the morning after you come home and find somebody's trashed your house and stolen your property."
    "You're pretty secluded back here. I don't guess anyone saw anything."
    "I doubt it. Vince, the police chief, will ask, but I'm the only house back on this lane."
    "Yeah, I met the chief. Another reason I came by was to make sure you didn't think I asked you to dinner to get you out of the house so this could happen."
    "Well,