“I do very well. And you?” Jennine was clinging to his arm as if it were a life raft from Titanic.

For the first time Chi-Chi could recall, Abeo had a look of abject fear in his eyes, while Chi-Chi’s were filling up with tears of laughter.

“I . . . I am doing well, too.” Abeo tried to disengage the death grip Jennine had on his arm, but she wasn’t letting go.

“How long will you be in town?” Jennine asked demurely.

Abeo’s first instinct was to say, “Not very long,” and try to escape, but he smiled calmly, and said, “I will be here until Monday.”

Chi-Chi could not help adding fuel to this little campfire. “Abeo is interested in attending the music ensemble this evening, but I am not available. Would you mind showing him around and keeping him company?”

She thought Abeo was going to faint.

“I would be delighted.” She patted his arm. “I will take good care of him. Who will be minding your shop?”

“Alex. He finishes his doggie work at five. Ellie decided to close the dog park for the evening, and he was happy to oblige.”

“Ah. Alex. He’s a cutie-pie,” Jennine said, her voice indicating just how man-crazy she was.

Abeo’s eyes grew wider. He was beginning to think he had made a big mistake trying to surprise his sister. Now she was surprising him by letting this desperate woman take charge.

“So, Abeo, I will come fetch you around five. We can have some wine and get to know each other. The music starts at six.”

Chi-Chi was tickled pink. Problem solved. Abeo would not be at her house when Cullen came to pick her up. She would deal with his ire later. After all, Abeo was a grown man approaching his fortieth birthday. Who knows? He might actually enjoy himself.

“Come. We need to get back to the shop.” Chi-Chi pried her brother’s arm from Jennine’s and put it through hers.

“See you later, handsome,” Jennine said, batting her very long, very fake eyelashes.

Chi-Chi hurried them out of Jennine’s grasp. Chi-Chi was having second thoughts about that introduction. Then she reminded herself again, He’s a grown man.

Abeo finally let out a long breath of air. He didn’t realize he had been holding it for what seemed like half a lifetime. He muttered under his breath, “What are you trying to do to me?”

Chi-Chi slowed her step. “Oh, buroda,” she said, addressing him in Yoruba, “she is a very nice woman. Perhaps a little too friendly at times, but you will certainly be entertained.”

“And who knows what else?” Abeo was still trying to comprehend what he had just witnessed. “That woman is a cheetah!”

“You mean cougar?” Chi-Chi snickered.

“I know the difference, dear sister. The jaguar may have the strongest bite, but the cheetah is the fastest animal on land.”