“I knew it,” said Liz, throwing her cards on the table hard enough for them to bounce. “She’s a total shark, I can’t believe I fell for the angelic face and sweet disposition. I’m ashamed of myself.” She addressed someone behind Laura. “Bob, be a dear and go put the kettle on. If I don’t switch to peppermint tea right now, I’m going to be crabby in the morning.”

“Sure,” Bob replied, and Laura turned, surprised to hear his voice. He was sitting on the floor in the open kitchen doorway, leaning back on his hands and watching the game. Daisy was next to him, and Herbert was lying by his feet. Laura hadn’t even realized he was there, and she watched him get to his feet and go into the kitchen. Every single woman around the table noticed her body language change. Except her, of course.

“I’m getting tired, too,” said Nina, tossing her cards toward Liz, who was gathering the pack. “I have to open the store tomorrow.” She looked around. “Where’s the bowl?”

Maggie reached under her chair and pulled out a big blue-and-white-china bowl that Laura had previously seen holding fruit. It was full of candy, and Nina swept her winnings off the edge of the table and into the bowl.

“Wait, you don’t even keep the candy?” Laura asked, surprised.

The women all shook their heads.

“It’s for fun,” said Liz as she passed Laura, and patted her on the arm. “This is California, baby, there’s always more candy.”

Maggie raised her eyebrows. “That’s the worst state motto I’ve ever heard.”

Liz snorted. “Better than California: We hunted the grizzly to extinction, or California, home of a hundred thousand earthquakes a year.”

Maggie gazed at her friend. “You’re really wasted in retail. You should be working for the governor.”

•   •   •

Bob had meant to go to bed, he really had. After sharing another bacon-wrapped date with Daisy and Herbert, he’d even turned in that direction. But then he’d heard Laura’s voice and turned back again.