Zoey knew when she was defeated. “Wow...thank you, Vickie. I won’t be ready for furniture until after the painting is done, though.”

“Good. That’ll give me time to glitz it up before Hazel sees it.”

They went back down to the kitchen, and Zoey took the coffee mugs to put them in the sink. Except...there were already two coffee mugs in the sink. And two sandwich plates in the dish rack. And two forks. “Looks like you’ve had company today...besides me, that is.”

She thought nothing of it, assuming it was Maura or Cecile or one of the other book club ladies. But Vickie’s long silence made her turn in curiosity. She’d known Vickie all her life, and she didn’t think she’d ever seen her blush. Until right this minute. Well, this was interesting.

“If I didn’t know better, Victoria Pendergast, I’d say you’ve had a gentleman caller.” Vickie’s blush deepened. “Oh, my God, you did have a man here. For coffee and...” She glanced at the plates. “Something. Who was it?”

Vickie straightened, her chin rising. “It wasn’t a date or anything.” She ran her hands down her tailored linen trousers. “If you must know, it was just Gordy Lexiter. We were discussing the work he’s doing on the deck. And I served him coffee, because that’s the kind of hostess I am.”

Vickie was a great hostess. But there was more to this story than etiquette.

“And you didn’t want to tell me because...?”

Vickie’s eyes narrowed. “Because I knew you’d make a thing out of it, just like you’re doing right now.”

Zoey looked out the window at the dreary rain that had been falling all day long. “He wasn’t working on the deck today, was he?”

“Not physically, but he still checked in.”

I’ll bet he did...

“And did he check in with you physically?”

“I’m not getting physical with anyone.” Vickie’s voice sharpened. “I just turned seventy, for God’s sake. And I wouldn’t be so tacky or desperate as to hit on my contractor.” She sat and gave Zoey a quizzical look. “But you, on the other hand...”

Zoey shook her head with a snort. “You think I’d hit on your contractor?”

“No. But are you hitting on your attorney?”

The question left Zoe staring, her mouth open. All she could think about was the near miss she and Mike had the other night. He’d wanted to kiss her—she was sure of it. But that was just a moment. It didn’t mean anything. She definitely didn’t want people gossiping about it, so she rushed to deflect Vickie’s curiosity.

“Have you hit your head recently? Are you smoking weed?” Zoey was protesting too strongly, and Vickie knew it.