Just before the dessert course, Chi-Chi excused herself to go to the ladies’ room. After a while, Cullen checked his watch. She had been gone for almost fifteen minutes. He wondered what was taking her so long. It could have been the jumpsuit. Even though he was a man, he knew it took a bit of gymnastics to get in and out of those things. He kept looking in the direction of the ladies’ lounge. Still no Chi-Chi.

* * *

Luna set her phone down on the console table behind the big ugly brown leather couch. She went to the door on the far wall of the dining room. It led to a small mudroom, where Gaines had positioned the refurbished armoire Cullen rescued from a storage sale. Another door led to basement stairs, and an exterior door opened out to the carport. It was neat as a pin. The whole house was neat as a pin. You’d never guess a man with a teenage son lived in it. Granted, Carter was only there every other weekend and a few nights a week, but that was enough time for an adolescent to cause havoc.

She went back to the dining-room area, where a large sliding patio door opened to the deck. “How’s it going?”

“Grill is almost ready. How are the potatoes doing?”

“Ten more minutes.” She leaned on the railing. “This is really lovely.”

“Thanks. I built the deck in the spring. I wanted to have some outdoor living space. I never understood why the previous owners hadn’t done it. It’s a great yard, with a lot of shade trees.”

“Do you garden?” Luna queried.

“If you mean do I grow tomatoes? Yes. But that’s it. Don’t have much of a green thumb.”

“Then who takes care of the bushes and perennials?”

“Believe it or not, Carter does. Last summer, it was a project for the Scouts.” Gaines laughed. “Keeps me from getting down in the weeds.”

“He sounds like a well-rounded kid.”

“I like to think so.” Gaines opened the grill, salted the steaks, and popped them on the grate.

“I’ll go make a salad and set the table,” Luna offered.

“I didn’t plan on making dinner and putting you to work.” Gaines gave her one of his “be still my heart” smiles.

Luna could swear he had a twinkle in his eye. “It’s not work. I love to cook, but I don’t do it enough.”

“Tell you what. Before you dive into the greens, bring out the bottle of wine that’s sitting on the counter. I’ll uncork it and put in the carafe. It’s a really nice cab. Needs a few minutes to open.”