“Indeed, I did. And I meant every word I said. But seeing her more is not going to help you get over it, Annie. Getting chummy in the kitchen. Inviting her for a drink after. That’s disrespectful to your marriage.”

“We’re friends,” Annie said. “That’s not a process I want to stop.”

“You can be friends all you want, later, once you get this out of your system. I’m only saying this so you don’t make it harder than it already is.”

“You’re blowing hot and cold over this.”

“Yes, well, that was before I witnessed how you behave around her. If you’re like that in the shop and Jane is there, she will surely notice.”

First Caitlin and now Rita. Was Annie really acting like such a love-sick puppy around Kristin? And if she was, why hadn’t Jane noticed? Or Sheryl? Or Kristin herself? Or had they?

“Fine.” Annie didn’t have anything to say in her defense. And she really needed to start frying her chicken. “I’ll handle it.” She stormed back in, letting the silly bout of anger she felt toward Rita wash over her as quickly as possible, so it could peter out. Although Annie might be foolish enough to have a crush on her business partner, she was still wise enough to not be angry with her friend for telling her the truth.

Chapter Sixteen

“What have you been up to tonight?” Annie asked when she got home.

“I watched The Kids Are All Right again,” Jane said. “I love that movie.” She turned down the volume of the evening news that had come on. “How was it?”

“Fine. Kristin was on carrot duty, so Rita was a bit stroppy about that. You’d think they were her carrots and that she had grown them organically in her own garden.”

“Kristin? I didn’t know Kristin was joining you?” Jane sat up, making room for Annie in the couch.

“Didn’t I tell you?” Annie tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “She volunteered. I asked her to join us tonight. I think she’ll be back. Andrew was very impressed with her chopping skills. So was I.”

“No, you didn’t tell me.” Something about Annie’s omitting to tell her annoyed Jane but she couldn’t quite put her finger on what. It wasn’t as if Annie told her every little thing she did and with whom.

“Oh, I’m sorry, babe. Must have slipped my mind. We set it up when Caitlin James was in the shop and maybe I was too starstruck to remember.” Annie sank into the couch and leaned into Jane.

“Everything set for that?”

“Yep. Extra books delivered from her publisher today. Mia has worked her marketing voodoo. All set for tomorrow night.”