"Nice to meet you, Izzy. My husband took my sister-in-law along on a business trip, but they should be home tonight, I hope. Tomorrow at the latest. Alisa's near your age, I'd guess. I have plenty of security because lots of people do these days, and also because I have a very overprotective," and very rich, though Maggie neglects to mention that just now, "father. If I wanted my parents to sign over the deed to my grandparents' old farmhouse in the middle of nowhere, that was the condition."

Before they head into the house, she has to ask, "How do you feel about dogs?"