Not wanting to abandon her friend two seconds after arriving, or be bossed around by Paula, Kelly didn’t move until Nicole gave her a quick nod conveying she was okay.”

By the time Kelly re-emerged, Nicole had been introduced to Grace and Colette and, presumably, Ashleigh who was moving the sprinkler around the backyard.

Her tight skirt rode up as she bent to pull on the hose giving Kelly a mouth-watering view of tanned thighs and a flash of pink panties.

Not wanting to be caught staring, Kelly quickly diverted her gaze. An irrational sense of guilt stabbed at her conscience as though she’d physically touched the woman when all she’d done was cop an eyeful. Admittedly, a very nice eyeful.

Her fiancé was a lucky man. Or was he? Perhaps he was a miserable man if their relationship was on the rocks. Dragging her mind from where it had no business being, Kelly turned back to the group gathered on the deck.

The first person her gaze landed on was Grace. It made sense she was there, considering it was her home for the time being. The next person she saw was Colette. What in the hell she was doing there, other than sucking up to her boss, was anyone’s guess.

It was a shame the one person she’d hoped to see was missing. “Where’s Lucy tonight?” Kelly asked no one in particular.

Smirking, Nicole handed Kelly a cold vodka and lime out of the esky bag they’d bought with them. She’d insisted they bring their own booze, so Paula could never accuse either of them of mooching off her.

Paula’s abrupt reply wiped the smile off Kelly’s face.

“Out, she has a life, why?”

Colette, hogging most of the shade provided by the umbrella, and rubbing copious amounts of sunscreen into her pale skin, scoffed.

It was on the tip of Kelly’s tongue to retort, “at least she has a life, unlike your P.A.” but Ashleigh’s voice coming from behind her, and her warm hand on Kelly’s bare shoulder left her speechless.

“Chill out, woman, she only asked.”

Unfazed by Ashleigh’s reprimand, Paula wiped her forehead with the back of her hand. “I’ve had enough heat for one day.” She picked up her wine glass from the top rail of the deck. “Come on, ladies, let’s move inside where it’s cooler.”

“Good idea,” Grace said. “We’ll be able to eat without worrying about bugs landing on our food.”

Chairs screeched across the deck like a synchronized chorus of agreement.

Certain she was the only one who thrived on the heat, Kelly reluctantly followed suit.

Halfway across the patio, she looped arms with Nicole. “You okay?”

Slowing her pace, Nicole tugged on Kelly’s arm and spoke in a low voice. “I’m impressed, but slightly disappointed.”

The cryptic words confused Kelly. “How so?”