Sigh- I understand that your answer is the default / native way xcart auth's.... that is why I posted this question, because I want to know how to make it work per my description. If simply "pointing the user to the admin login page" was an option then I wouldn't be in here posting.
Nonetheless, thanks for your response. I know your intentions are good.
How about it, any gurus tell me if this is possible? I know there has to be a way, but not sure how... even some creative solution, like symlinking a "common" directory or something? lol
Thanks!