“I’m going to grill steaks for tonight. The delectable dinner will be tomorrow night. Chicken scaloppini. I’ve got a nice Riesling to go with it.” She raised her eyebrows. “Unless steak is not to your liking. I can grill you something else.”

Becki nodded. “I’m not really crazy about steak, but I suppose I could eat a little.”

Great. Another one who doesn’t like beef. “I’ve got extra chicken breasts. I’ll be happy to grill one for you.”

Becki swam over to her. “That would be super. I much prefer chicken.” She brushed her naked body against Cassidy. “But I’m not in any hurry for dinner.”

Cassidy looked past her, noting that dusk was approaching. She’d also skipped lunch. Her gaze drifted up to the neighbor’s house. There was a light on upstairs. She sighed, wondering why she wasn’t more attracted to Becki—a very attractive woman of thirty-four. Oh, well. She supposed she could fake it. It wouldn’t be the first time.

“Let’s go inside.”

Chapter Fourteen

Laura sipped her coffee, absently listening to the rapid hammering of a woodpecker over in one of Cassidy Anderson’s trees. It was barely daylight, but cardinals were already at the feeders, their sharp, metallic calls piercing the air. Thick clouds drifted over, and she wondered if they might get rain this morning. The lawn could use it, that was for sure.

She stretched her legs out, mentally planning her day. She would take a few hours to write. Yeah, right. Then, her mother had wanted to get out of the house so they were going to meet Carla for lunch. Laura was having Mexican food withdrawals, and Carla was happy to recommend a place. On the way home, they would make a quick trip to the grocery store—her mother had requested an old-fashioned roast with potatoes and carrots for their Sunday dinner.

She had to admit, it had been fun cooking. When she lived alone, it wasn’t something she did often. Even though she complained to her mother that she didn’t like to cook, she had been enjoying it. And occasionally her mother would venture into the kitchen to help, if only to peel potatoes or chop veggies.

“Hey…you out there?”

Laura’s head popped up and she stared at the fence. “It’s not even seven. What are you doing up?”

“What? Do you know my sleep schedule?”

“Just assumed…since you have company and all.”

“Oh? How do you know I have company?”

Damn! “I heard voices.”

“Oh? Now you’re hearing voices? Have you seen a doctor for that?”

Laura rolled her eyes. “What do you want?”

“The yard looks nice. And the flowers.”

“Yeah…I’m just getting started with the flowers.”

“Did you keep the receipts?”

“I did.”

“Okay.” A pause. “So I’m having coffee.”

Laura raised her eyebrows. “Is that…not a good thing?”