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and poked her on the shoulder. “How could you lie to an old woman?” She placed her hand over her heart.
    Sylvia returned to surfing the Net.
    â€œCut the dramatics, Gran. I didn’t lie. He’s a client. I’m doing his Web site.”
    â€œAnd the ring?”
    Lexie hoped she didn’t blush more and give herself away. “He was just showing it to me.”
    â€œDoes it really look like my necklace?” Charlotte asked.
    Two sets of eyes stared at her, waiting for an answer.
    â€œActually, there are similarities.” Lexie didn’t want to get her grandmother’s hopes up, in case the ring was stolen and had to be returned. Until she knew more, she couldn’t set the older woman up for potential hurt and disappointment. “But there are also differences. Seeing the ring got me wondering how the necklace originally came into Grandpa’s possession.”
    Charlotte and Sylvia exchanged a long, pointed glance. Those two could practically read each other’s minds, which often left Lexie struggling unsuccessfully to interpret the meaning.
    Charlotte cleared her throat. “Your grandfather was given the necklace as a substitute for payment for services rendered.”
    â€œDriving services?” Lexie asked. Her grandfather had been a chauffeur to various wealthy families over the years.
    Charlotte nodded. “So when can I see?” she asked.
    â€œThe ring?” Lexie asked.
    â€œNo, silly girl. When can I see your suitor? I want to meet the man you are going to marry! Then he can show me the ring.”
    Lexie rolled her eyes and waved her empty left hand at her grandmother. “I’m not engaged, Gran.”
    â€œPictures don’t lie,” Charlotte and Sylvia repeated in unison.
    They each had a one-track mind and Lexie realized that until she humored them about Coop, her grandmother would keep changing the subject away from the necklace.
    Lexie closed her eyes and silently counted to ten, breathing in deeply as her yoga instructor had taught her. “I’ll see what I can do,” she said, buying herself time.
    No way was she bringing Coop over here. That would open up a can of worms she wasn’t ready to deal with in more ways than one.
    â€œGood! You let me know when and I’ll plan a meal.”
    Lexie forced a smile. “Mind if I check out the news online?” she asked, hoping to end all discussion involving meeting Coop.
    The two women stepped aside and Lexie lowered herself into the chair. Not even massive doses of caffeine could prepare her for the tornado that was Charlotte and Sylvia.
    She clicked onto the Daily Post, Coop’s paper, for a quick glance at the Crime Beat. She wanted to see more about his writing and his work—and was shocked to find another even more disturbing headline.
    Crime Beat Reporter on Opposite Side of Beat—Again. Coop’s apartment had been broken into last night, though the details were sketchy. The article went on to describe Coop’s recent heroics, his status as the current Bachelor and some more speculation about his relationship with the as-yet unnamed woman in the photo. At least she had anonymity for now.
    But her mind wasn’t on the Bachelor Blog, it was on the robbery and when it had occurred—before or after their date last night? If it was afterwards, there was a possibility the ring had been stolen in the break-in. The thought churned Lexie’s stomach, but even more upsetting was the notion that Coop might have been hurt.
    Lexie excused herself and ran for the shower… Next stop: Coop’s apartment to check first on the man and then on the ring.
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    C OOP’S ADDRESS wasn’t too far from Lexie’s grandmother’s, and she hopped on the subway, arriving at his stop by 9:30 a.m.
    She quickly glanced at the outside of the walk-up apartment where he lived before running up the stairs, her flip-flops smacking against the floor with