Shooting him a blazing smile, she bounced away into the kitchen, only to pop her head back out. “Thanks. I mean it. I owe you one.”

Moments later the cottage door closed. He fell back on the pillow, set his coffee mug on his chest, and tried to take it in.

Annabelle had used him as a warm-up act for Robillard?

Chapter Fifteen

As Annabelle approached the gazebo, she saw Ron and Sharon ahead of her on the path, their arms around each other’s waists. She was still shaking, and her stomach felt like an acid swamp. She might not have been the best actress in Northwestern’s theater department, but she still knew how to pull off a scene. In front of her, Ron held the gazebo door open for Sharon. His other hand strayed to her bottom. No mystery what they’d been up to last night. Now all she had to do was make certain none of them got an inkling of what she’d been up to.

As she let herself in through the screen door, everybody called out greetings, and she’d never seen a more sleep-deprived, sexually satisfied group. Molly had a rosy mark on her neck that looked like beard burn, and from the smug expression on Darnell’s face, Charmaine didn’t deserve her reputation as a prude. Phoebe and Dan sat on a wicker couch sharing a single muffin. And instead of nagging Webster as she usually did, Krystal was cooing and calling him “Baby.” The only innocent faces belonged to Pippi, baby Danny, and Janine.

Annabelle turned her attention to the meal Molly had set out, even though she didn’t feel like eating. A sunny yellow pottery vase filled with zinnias sat in the center of a nutmeg-colored tablecloth displaying frosty pitchers of juice, a French toast casserole, a basket of homemade muffins, and the B&B’s specialty, baked oatmeal laced with brown sugar, cinnamon, and apples.

“Where’s Heath?” Kevin asked. “Never mind. On the phone.”

“He’ll be along,” she said. “He’s getting a late start. I’m not sure what time he got to sleep last night, but he was still awake when I went to bed.” As she headed for the buffet, she told herself the lie was an act of kindness, since the truth would have ruined more than a few breakfasts.

Janine, who was filling her plate, cast a disgruntled look at the gooey-eyed behavior going on behind her. “Tell me I’m not the only one feeling sexually deprived this morning.”

Annabelle sidestepped. “Krystal should have been more sensitive toward the two of us.”

“So we were wrong about you and Heath?”

Annabelle simply rolled her eyes. “You guys do love your drama.”

She and Janine settled into a pair of wicker chairs not far from the Tucker family. Annabelle was nibbling at the corner of her baked oatmeal square when Heath made his appearance. He wore khaki shorts and a Nike T-shirt. At least part of what she’d told him was true. She did feel as though she’d laid the ghost of Rob to rest. Unfortunately, another ghost had taken its place.