“Right. Well, we’re ready. Would you be able to get me a list of the vendors? I like to have their contact information in case we need to coordinate on anything. Also, our pastry chef has almost finalized a few drawings for the cake, which I’ll have for you soon. Would you prefer email or face-to-face? I can come to your office. Same time in two weeks?”

Another chance to see her. The thought popped in Jill’s head before she had a chance to stop it. She clenched her jaw at the unsettling reaction and replied, “Fine.” Without looking back, she walked out the door.

As soon as she stepped out of the building, her shoulders dropped and she let out a sigh. It wasn’t every day she got caught ogling another woman. She couldn’t even think of the last time she’d done anything like that. What was it about Reagan that drew her in so easily? It wasn’t just her looks. Reagan was obviously beautiful, but it had to be more than that because that alone had never been enough to draw Jill to any person. Maybe it was her humor or her perceptiveness when Jill had told her she’d been right about her mother. Something captivated her, but she was having hard time identifying what it was.

As if her mother could read minds, her phone rang. “Hello, mother. I just met with the caterer.” Figuring out Reagan’s appeal would be a question for another day.

Chapter Seven

It had taken a couple of weeks, but Reagan had found a good balance between working and helping her mom at home. Working had the added benefit of giving her mom time alone with her dad. But as the days passed, her father began sleeping more and more so most of the time Reagan had spent with him was just sitting with him as he slept.

While Betty, today’s nurse, attended to his needs, Reagan went into the kitchen for coffee.

“So, how does it feel to be back at work?” her mom asked.

Reagan released a slow breath. “Honestly? It’s been great.”

“Good,” her mom said with a smile. “Are you still working on that catering gig or is that already finished?”

She groaned before taking a sip. “I wish it was over. Oh, crap. I didn’t tell you, did I?”

“Tell me what?”

“Remember that lunch I had with that one woman a few weeks ago?”

“The one you had the hots for?”

“Oh, my word. Yes. Wait, no. I definitely did not have the hots for her.” Her mother laughed loudly and Reagan threw up her hands, glaring. “Are you done?”

Her mom coughed and wiped at the corner of her eye. “For now.”

“Okay, so I think she’s attractive.”

“Think?” her mom raised an eyebrow.

“Thought! That day. I thought she was attractive.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“God, you’re impossible.”