“I doubt she expects that right away. Maybe you could start just by getting to know her. She makes quilts, and she’s an amazing artist. But she doesn’t know that about herself.”

“I guess.” He jerked his hands from his pockets and did exactly what he’d been trying to avoid since last Friday. “I’m going stir-crazy. There’s this place about twenty miles away. Let’s get out of here.”

He saw right away that she was going to refuse, and he didn’t blame her. At the same time he couldn’t be alone now, so he whipped the notebook off her lap and pulled her to her feet. “You’ll like it.”

An hour later the two of them were soaring over the Au Sable River in a sleek little German-built glider.

Chapter 18

18

Sexual daydreams and fantasies are normal. They’re even a healthy way to pass time while you’re waiting for the right person to come along.

—“My Secret Sex Life”

for Chik

It’s nice that Kevin finally decided to spend some time with you. Maybe he’ll agree to marriage counseling.” Amy finished putting the strawberry jam cake on a Wedgwood plate and regarded Molly with her familiar pitying expression.

“We don’t need marriage counseling,” Kevin snapped as he came through the door with Marmie padding at his feet. They’d just gotten back from their gliding adventure, and his hair was windblown. “What we need is that cake. It’s five o’clock, and the guests are waiting for tea.”

Amy moved reluctantly toward the door. “Maybe if you’d both pray …”

“The cake!” Kevin growled.

Amy gave Molly a look that indicated she’d done her best but that Molly was hopelessly doomed to life without sex. Then she disappeared.

“You’re right,” he said. “That kid is irritating. I should have given you a hickey.”

This was a topic Molly definitely didn’t want to discuss, and she focused all her attention on arranging the tea tray. She hadn’t had time to change out of her rumpled clothes or straighten her own windblown hair, but she forced herself not to fidget as Kevin took a few steps closer.

“In case you were worried, Daph … My ears have just about recovered from that scream.”

“You were heading right for the trees. And I didn’t scream.” She picked up the tray and shoved it at him. “I squeaked.”

“One hell of a squeak. And we weren’t anyplace near the trees.”

“I believe that our female guests are anxiously awaiting you.”

He grimaced and disappeared with Marmie.