“Thank you for seeing me through rose-colored glasses.” He leaned down and kissed her. A real kiss, not his usual token lip-brush that was more perfunctory than passionate. “Now why don’t you go do whatever you have to do to get ready for tonight while I fold the laundry? What else is on your to-do list this afternoon?”

“Other than putting those flowers in water—nothing that can’t wait until tomorrow.” Her gaze locked onto his. “You know, I haven’t used our Jacuzzi in ages. It seems like a waste of water for one person.”

His pulse picked up as he caught her drift. “I think you should indulge.”

“I could be a while. Is there anything else we should . . . discuss?”

“Let me consider that while I fold the laundry and take care of the flowers. I’ll come find you after I’m done.”

“I’ll leave the door open.” Smiling, she nudged him with her hip and padded barefoot down the hall, throwing him a wink over her shoulder.

A slow grin tugged up the corners of his mouth. Alison’s flirty behavior did far more to fuel his libido than Carolyn’s suggestive touches and innuendoes.

Yet he’d come dangerously close to falling under the newswoman’s spell. Of succumbing to temptation.

His lips flattened. If the situation with Eve hadn’t occurred, who knew how this would have ended?

At least that was one positive outcome from all the trauma.

Plus, he no longer had to worry about whether Carolyn was involved, as he’d feared. The detective had put that concern to rest yesterday with the news that a suspect was under investigation. She was aggressive and ambitious, but she wasn’t a criminal.

She was also on her own going forward if she wanted to pursue a career as a radio show host.

Doug dived into the laundry, folding at warp speed.

Come Monday, he’d send her one final text—for closure, so there was no misunderstanding about his position.

And now that he was confident she’d had nothing to do with Eve’s problems, he could end that chapter in his life with no lingering doubts or regrets.

“Come on, Meg . . . if you felt well enough to go to church, you ought to be able to handle a little cuddling.”

As Steve gave her an engaging grin, Meg dropped her purse on the kitchen table. She’d managed to keep him at arm’s length since Friday night, but she couldn’t feign sickness forever.

Yet reconciling the information Detective Lange had offered with everything she’d believed about Steve was proving difficult.

Who was she supposed to trust?

She bit her lip and studied the man across from her.