“My sister came about noon and picked her up. The twins—my sister’s kids—have some school program tonight that she wanted to go to. Then Carla—my sister—is taking Mom into the city for a day of shopping on Saturday. They asked me to go…I told them I’d be way too busy enjoying a root canal instead.”

Cassidy laughed again. “Shopping isn’t your thing, huh?”

“I love grocery shopping. It’s relaxing to me. But a mall? Clothes shopping? God…just shoot me.”

“I know what you mean. I buy most of my things online now.”

“Do you have to dress up? I hated wearing business suits at my old job.”

“Yes, we dress up. Corporate office and all. We have clients that come in. Builders, contractors, and the like.”

“So what do you wear? I guess I can picture you in a power suit. A skirt? No way.”

“No skirts. No dresses. But yes, power suits. I’ve got a closet full of them.”

“Here too?”

“No. As long as I keep my apartment—which is only about fifteen minutes from the office—I don’t really need them here.”

“Do you plan to live here full time someday?”

“I imagine so. In fact, I could work from here on some days. I just haven’t initiated that yet. Why?”

“Just wondering when I’m going to lose my private pool.” Laura put her float in motion and drifted over to the side where the beer bucket was. “You ready for one?”

“Please.”

Cassidy watched as Laura put a bottle in each koozie, then shoved both between her legs as she paddled back over to her. Cassidy’s eyes were drawn to the beer cradled between Laura’s thighs and she had only one thought…a thought that surprised her.

Lucky beer.

Damn…where did that come from? This was Laura, for God’s sake! Not one of her skinny blondes. Not Claudia. Not Larson. Not Becki. Not even Ashly. But Laura.

“Here you go.”

“Thanks.”

Laura smiled at her as she took a drink. “No…thank you.”

Cassidy looked around, finally taking note of the manicured lawn. “The yard looks nice. The flowers are filling out.”

“Thank you. Yes, the flowers are coming along. I turn the planters every couple of days so the flowers don’t grow one-sided.”

“So you’re enjoying your part-time job?”

“I am. So much so that I think I’m going to hit up some of the elderly neighbors and see if I can pick up a few more yards.”

“Won’t that cut into your writing time?”

Laura snorted. “Writing? I think I’ve given that up.”

“Really?”

“I decided the first book was a fluke. Or else I was so intimidated by the whole process that I’ve unconsciously created this writer’s block so that I don’t have to go through it all again.”

“Fear of failure?”