"And so what if it is," she mumbled.

Restless and annoyed, she pulled out the bag of kitchen trash to take out to the shed. Once out, she pulled a few weeds, deadheaded her roses. And yes, she looked over toward Fit to see what was going on.

She didn't spot Ryder, which she told herself was just as well. She'd think about the best route out of this stalemate they were in.

Walking back, she started to let herself in The Lobby door, found it closed and locked when she knew she'd left it cracked open for easy reentry. With a shrug, she took her key out of her pocket. It slid in, refused to turn.

"Stop this," she muttered. "Let me back in."

The lever wouldn't budge.

Nor would it budge on the other door, or the second-floor access door.

"For G.o.d's sake! You're being ridiculous."

Hope stormed down the steps again. Fine, she'd just go get Avery's key. And if that failed, she'd call Carolee and ask her to come in early.

With a full head of steam, she started down the sidewalk beside the building, and stopped short a foot from Ryder as he came in her direction.

He took one long look at her face. "Problem?"

"No. Yes, d.a.m.n it. She's locked me out."

"Carolee?"

"No, not Carolee. My key won't work on any of the doors back here."

He simply held out a hand for it, and taking it, walked around to the first door.

The key slid in, turned.

"Works now."

"I can see that."

"What did you do to p.i.s.s her off?"

"I didn't do anything." She s.n.a.t.c.hed her key out, started to step inside.

The fireplace came on with a whoosh of flame. Every light began to flash and blink. From where she stood, Hope heard the refrigerator door slam repeatedly.

"Looks like p.i.s.sed off to me." Ryder nudged Hope aside.

The minute he stepped inside, all the activity stopped.

"Did this just start up?"

"Yes, just this minute. I don't know why she's upset. I've put a solid five hours in on the search over the last couple of nights."

"She's settled down now." He started to turn back to the door, and it started again.

He picked up the remote and again switched off the fire. "Cut it out!"

The answer was an audible click of the lock on the door.

"Maybe she's upset you haven't been around the last couple of days," Hope suggested.

Ryder set the remote down. "I got the impression the innkeeper didn't want me around."

"You got the wrong impression. I didn't like you doing something that involved me without talking to me."

"I didn't like seeing you get slapped." He shrugged. "You can't like everything."

"I'm not wrong to want you to talk to me."

"I'm not wrong to stand up for you."

She started to argue, realized she couldn't. And didn't want to. "Tell me I'm not wrong about wanting you to talk to me, and I'll tell you you're not wrong to stand up for me."

"Okay. You first."

Her laugh snuck through about the same time as his quick, c.o.c.ky grin. "All right. You're not wrong."

"Neither are you. Are we finished with it?"

"No, we're not. I need to know you'll consider how I feel."

Frustration flashed back on his face. "Hope, I considered nothing but. I considered your hurt and your embarra.s.sment. I wasn't going to let it slide."

"If you'd just talked to me first-"

"You wouldn't have talked me out of it. We'd've had the fight sooner than we had it, but I'd've still gone and said what I had to say."

"I wouldn't have talked you out of it," she agreed. "I would have tried, at first. Then I'd have gone with you."

He stopped, frowned. "You'd have gone down there?"

"Yes. In fact, before I knew you had, I'd calmed down enough to think it through. I was going to handle it by letter-a letter listing the details-to Baxter Wickham. Because I realized I couldn't, and shouldn't, let it slide either."

"Face-to-face is better. But I didn't consider that part-the part where you'd have wanted to go. You were crying."

"I stopped. I needed to cry, then I stopped, and I started to think. There were things I needed to say, and I intended to write them down. I admit I would have done several drafts, taken a few days to perfect the tone and language."

"I bet."

"But if you'd told me, and I'd realized I couldn't talk you out of going, I'd have gone, Ryder. I'd have had that face-to-face."

"Okay." His shoulders relaxed as he nodded. "Okay. I can say I'm sorry I cheated you out of that."