Temple laughed, but Kristi pursed her pouty lips like the prim nerd she was inside that knockout body. “Go ahead and mock. I like men with brains. Thoughtful men who read real books and have interests beyond playing beer pong. But guys like that won’t come near me. Instead, I get all the players—actors, athletes, zillionaire fifty-year-olds looking for a trophy wife.”

Lucy rubbed an ink stain on her thumb, then decided to hell with it. “What about Panda?”

“A fascinating exception,” Dr. Kristi said. “He looks like he should be the leader of the beer pong gang, but it doesn’t take long to realize how intelligent he is. Last night we spent an hour talking about Puccini. He has an incredible grasp of politics and economics. And a social conscience. Did you know he still works with street gangs? Too bad he’s completely unavailable emotionally.”

“Because he’s in love with Lucy,” Temple said pointedly.

“Right,” Lucy drawled. “That’s why he keeps coming over here to see me.” Even though she knew it was better for him to stay away, it rankled that he hadn’t even made an attempt to contact her.

“Temple hadn’t told me about your relationship when I made a play for him,” Kristi said earnestly. “I don’t believe in poaching.”

“If you really want a man,” Bree said, “you should do what Lucy did. You should disguise yourself. Make yourself ugly so regular guys aren’t afraid to approach you.”

Lucy pointed out the obvious. “Making Kristi ugly would take a Hollywood special-effects team.”

A silver Subaru sped by. Temple gasped and shot out of her chair.

“What’s wrong?” Kristi said.

Temple’s hand flew to her throat. “That was Max!”

“Are you sure?” Bree asked.

But Temple was already running toward the house.

The three of them gazed at one another. Finally Lucy said exactly what they were all thinking. “I’d give anything to see what happens next.”

“You and me both,” Bree said. But just then a van filled with women and kids stopped. With a glance of regret toward the woods, Bree went to help them.

Which left Lucy.

“Stay right where you are,” Dr. Kristi said. “This is a private affair between Temple and Max.”

“I know,” Lucy replied. “But—” She jumped up from the chair and made a dash for the path.

“Don’t let them see you!” Kristi called out as Lucy disappeared.

Lucy knew this was crazy. She didn’t want to go near the house. But she also needed to believe in happy endings, and if there was going to be one, she wanted to see it firsthand.