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to the party?”
    â€œAll right,” he said, although with surprise on his face. “I take it your firm has done work for Scott?”
    â€œFor a number of years.” She led the way down the path toward the pool. She’d been a private investigator for seven years. Her company, ARC Security & Investigations, did consulting and investigative work for many attorneys in the area, especially on high-profile cases.
    â€œI met him eighteen years ago,” Joe said. “He was my training officer after I graduated from the academy. We stayed in touch for a long time.” They emerged from the trail. “Although I hadn’t seen him in a couple of years. He’s been busy.”
    â€œI see him more on television than in the office these days, too,” she said, eyeing the crowd mingling around the pool. She didn’t want to ask her favor tonight at the party. She also didn’t dare leave him alone, since Scott might decide to tell him she’d specifically requested he be invited.
    Now what? She couldn’t leave until he did. And she couldn’t wander away. Small talk?
    â€œDo you know anyone else here?” she asked.
    â€œNo. Did you come alone?”
    I wanted to see you. “Yes.”
    â€œThat surprises me.” He gestured to a couple of chaise lounges. “We should grab those while they’re empty. Can I get you a drink?”
    She’d left hers behind at the waterfall, she realized. “Yes, please. Martini with a twist, extra olives.”
    â€œI’ll be right back.”
    She’d barely settled on a lounge when Scott sat down on the one next to hers.
    â€œDid you know he was here?” she asked, watching Joe talk to the bartender.
    Scott looked at her over his wineglass, then took a sip. “Yes.”
    â€œIs that how you entertain yourself?”
    â€œYou’re a cool one, aren’t you, Arianna?” He settled a little more comfortably. “Controlled. Smart. I’d never seen you ruffled by anything until you found out I knew Joe.”
    â€œIt was a simple favor to ask, inviting him to the party,” she said, wishing she had her drink already, needing the prop.
    â€œMore than that, I think.”
    She hesitated. Joe was walking toward them. “You won’t say anything.”
    â€œI don’t know how this is going to play out.” He smiled, patted her knee and stood, making room for Joe, leaning to whisper in her ear, “You know he’s not engaged anymore, right?”
    Arianna said nothing. She didn’t know he had been engaged. Was that the reason for the battle-weary look in his eyes? Had he broken it off or had his fiancée?
    She thanked Joe as he passed her the drink then raised her brows at Scott, indicating he could move on.
    Scott grinned. “So, how do you two know each other?”
    â€œWe met during Alexis Wells’s attempted murder last year,” Arianna said, aware of Joe taking a seat beside her and stretching out those long legs. His knee-high black Zorro boots made her smile. “Joe was the detective in charge of the case.”
    â€œYou worked together? The cop and the P.I.? Strange bedfellows.” He met Arianna’s gaze and smiled benignly.
    â€œWe shared information without insulting each other’s profession,” Joe said. “She’s a cut above in her field.”
    â€œYeah. Most P.I.s only get to eat what they kill,” Scott responded. “But not Arianna and her partners.”
    â€œWe work hard.” Her irritation grew. She’d always had a great business relationship with Scott. Why was he making things difficult for her now?
    â€œScott,” Joe said, his voice quiet but firm. “I like you. But if you continue to offend Ms. Alvarado, she’s going to leave. And I’m not going to like you anymore.”
    A few seconds ticked by, then Scott lifted his glass to Joe. “To the thrill of the