They each carried an overnight bag, and she led them through the house and into the long hallway where the guestrooms were. She put Erica and Amber in their normal room, then moved down the hallway to open another door. As Claudia brushed by, she smiled seductively at her.

“If you want company upstairs tonight, I do remember the way to your bedroom.”

So that’s how it was going to be, huh? Well, she wouldn’t be rude to her but…

“I don’t think so,” she said with a smile. “There really wasn’t much going on with us anyway, you know.”

“No? I beg to differ. There was a lot going on between the sheets.” She stepped closer to Cassidy. “No lover has ever come close to you.”

Cassidy took a step away from her. “If your sole purpose for coming here this weekend was to get into my bed…it’s a wasted trip, Claudia. I’m sorry.”

“Oh, Cassidy…you’re alone. We all know that you don’t do well alone. I’m just letting you know that I’m available.” She started unbuttoning her blouse. “I bought a new bikini for the weekend. Red. It’s a little bit of nothing but hey, you’ve seen it all already anyway.”

Cassidy turned away when Claudia dropped her blouse on the floor. She closed the door to the bedroom, then went back down the hallway. She could be angry with Erica—in fact, she was angry with her—but it would do no good. Claudia was here now. She couldn’t exactly ask her to leave.

At least she’d picked up an extra steak. She had planned on cooking it for Maggie. She doubted she would want to join them for dinner, but she thought maybe Laura could take her a plate. Speaking of Laura…how was she ever going to explain Claudia being here? Well, she had no time to prepare. Laura was already out by the pool.

She went out onto the patio, smiling as their eyes met. Yeah…she wished they were alone.

“Am I early?”

“No. They just got here. They’re changing.” She walked closer. “There…there is something, though.”

Laura raised her eyebrows. “You’re fidgeting and nervous. What’s wrong?”

“How can you know that?”

“I can read you like a book.” Then she smiled. “I just can’t write a book.”

Cassidy laughed. “You need to give me a copy of your first one. Is it still in print?”

“No. I happen to have like ten or twelve copies, though.” Laura looked her up and down. “Is there a bikini on under that?”

“There is. I see you forgot your cutoff jeans.”

“I didn’t think they were appropriate. Your friends probably don’t even know what cutoff jeans are.” Laura put her hands on her hips. “So what’s wrong?”