Laura laughed. “Oh, I love your modesty!” Laura met her gaze. “You’re right. I can’t wait…to taste…your ribs.”

Cassidy leaned closer. “Are you flirting with me?”

“Of course not. I don’t flirt.”

“Because I think you are.”

“You’re delusional,” Laura said with a smile as she swiped a rib. “I was simply distracting you.” She took a bite and moaned. “Oh my God. It’s like…melts in your mouth.”

“I see someone couldn’t wait,” Tanya said as she came out of the house, dressed in dry clothes. She, too, took a rib off the platter.

“Hey…both of you, stay away from my ribs!” Cassidy said with a laugh as she slid the platter away from them.

“Wow,” Tanya murmured as she chewed. “Fabulous. You’re pretty good at this.”

Cassidy grinned as she met Laura’s eyes. “I’m very good.”

Laura laughed. “Again…your modesty—you’re far too humble.”

Tanya laughed too. “I don’t think you’re going to win with this one, Cassidy.”

“Met my match, huh?”

“I believe you have.”

Laura felt her heart flutter as Cassidy stared into her eyes. A slow—sweet—smile appeared on Cassidy’s face, but she said nothing else. Laura finally broke the contact and took a step away, only to have her eyes collide with Tanya’s. She gave Laura a very subtle wink.

“Let’s set the table,” Tanya offered. “Eat out here, right?”

“Unless you think it’s too warm,” Cassidy said. “We can eat inside then.”

“This is fine by me,” Laura said, looking to Tanya for confirmation.

“Yes. It’s cool enough with the ceiling fan.”

Within twenty minutes, the four of them were seated, and they all held their wineglasses up in a toast.

“To good friends,” Cassidy said. “It’s been an awesome day.”

“Yes, it has,” Tanya agreed. “Cheers.”

“Cheers,” Laura echoed, her gaze drifting across the table to Cassidy. Yes, it had been an awesome day. She was so thankful to have been included. Cassidy smiled at her.

“Okay…now you can have a rib.”

Laura took not only another rib but also a piece of chicken—a thigh. Tanya’s potato salad looked delicious and creamy and Cassidy had a pot of beans that she’d been slow cooking all day. Her plate was full, but she managed to squeeze in a spoonful of broccoli florets, just because she felt she needed to. That, of course, didn’t mean that she would eat them. She had to save room for dessert…something chocolate and decadent.

However, when she finally pushed her plate away—her stomach full to the brim—she thought she would surely burst if she attempted dessert. The first thing Cassidy put on the table was ice cream…vanilla. Tempting, but Laura would politely refuse. But then here it came…a plate full of chocolate squares. Creamy chocolate squares.