Laura put her chicken down and licked her fingers before wiping them on her napkin. “I’m sorry. I guess I must seem a little simple to you after dining with women like that.”

Cassidy frowned. “Simple? What do you mean?”

“The opposite of sophisticated.”

“Oh, Laura…no,” she said with a wave of her hand. “You’re…you’re real. That’s how I described you to Tanya. Real. No pretense.”

“Who’s Tanya?”

“My assistant. She and her husband are coming next Saturday, actually. You should join us. Ribs and chicken on the smoker.”

Laura smiled. “Why do you keep enticing me with food?”

Cassidy smiled. “Because you’re not shy about eating.”

Laura picked up her chicken again. “I’m going to get fat.”

“I don’t believe it for a minute.” She took a bite of her own chicken. “So does that mean yes?” she asked as she chewed.

Their eyes met across the table, the candle flickering between them. “Will you have weekend company?”

“Like a date? No.”

Laura nodded. “Okay. Then I’ll join you.”

* * *

It started innocently enough. Laura was helping load the outdoor dishwasher when the wineglass hit the granite countertop. She tried to catch it before it shattered. The next thing Cassidy saw was red. Laura’s hand was covered in blood and she held it up, her eyes frightened. Cassidy grabbed a towel.

“Let me see.”

There were two cuts and Laura winced as Cassidy pressed the towel against the biggest cut at the base of her palm.

“I’m sorry,” she said gently.

Laura shook her head. “No. I’m sorry. It slipped and—”

“Don’t worry about the wineglass.” She lifted the towel, only to see blood still seeping from the cut and she covered it again. “It looks deep. Here…sit down.” She walked her over to the table, still holding the towel in place.

“You’ve got blood on you,” Laura said.

Indeed, Cassidy had blood on both of her hands. “What? Should I be worried I’m going to catch something from you?”

Laura smiled. “I’ve been practically a saint my whole life. I’m certain I’m clean.” She raised an eyebrow. “You, on the other hand, have been with more women in the short time I’ve known you than I have in my whole life.”

Cassidy peeked again at the wound. “Just because I have female company doesn’t mean I always sleep with them.”

“No?”

“No. Ashly, for instance.”

“The model? The naked model who was floating in your pool?” Laura smiled. “So you keep saying.”

“Really. And I’m very careful. I get tested. And I’ve given up on oral sex. I absolutely don’t do it anymore. Those dental dams are a big turnoff, in my opinion.”