“I love talking to him. He’s intelligent and doesn’t make me cringe when he opens his mouth. He doesn’t pretend to know everything and spout off about how superior he is.” She sighed. “Physically? I’m not all that attracted. I wish I were, and I’d hoped if we went hiking and I saw him in that setting, I’d feel something, but so far, nothing.”
“Anyone else? What about that Lucio Vitale?” Zahra asked. “Sam’s father’s bodyguard. He seemed very interested in you.”
Raine shook her head. “Not a chance. I knew him a long time ago. He was a self-centered jerk then, using everyone he could to make his way up the ladder. I would never trust him. He’s doing his best to act like a lamb, but he isn’t.”
“Sometimes there’s great chemistry with enemies,” Vienna said.
“Nope, no chemistry with him.” Raine took a drink of the fruit-infused water. “Shabina, if you get any better at cooking, I’m moving in with you.”
Shabina sent her another smile. “That’s so lovely of you to say.” Cooking was one of her favorite things to do. Knowing others enjoyed what she made for them gave her huge satisfaction.
“What about Rush?” Vienna asked. “Do you have chemistry with him?”
Raine scowled at her. “Rush is a doctor. He likes to be very bossy. That isn’t the same thing as someone who is trying to date me, which he isn’t. He isn’t like your Zale, Vienna. I thought the two of you were getting married immediately. What happened to those plans?”
Shabina thought it very clever the way Raine managed to turn the tables on Vienna. All eyes had instantly turned to Vienna.
“That’s right,” Stella said. “Zale put that ring on your finger and insisted the two of you were getting married without waiting for anything.”
Vienna lifted her chin. “I know. And I agreed. I did.” She flashed a quick grin at Raine. “We have amazing chemistry. But he’s still under contract with my dear old estranged father, Elliot Blom, head of the Special Activities Division, who has no intention of claiming me. I think he hopes Zale will forget all about me if he keeps him busy enough.”
“I don’t even have words to describe your father,” Stella said. “I’m so grateful I met Sam after he was out of that business.”
“But you do intend to marry Zale?” Harlow asked. She gathered dishes and took them to the kitchen while Stella carried empty breadbaskets and butter dishes in.
Vienna rubbed her temples as if she might have the beginnings of a headache. “I’m such a coward when it comes to trusting men. All that brainwashing my birth mother did on me, but when Zale is with me, I don’t have any doubts.”
She helped put the food away, leaving only the trays of desserts. They usually ate their dessert after swimming.
Raine opted not to swim. She’d done her physical therapy in a pool, and she admitted it was difficult to get in and out of a swimsuit. She was tired enough that she just wanted to relax. She’d stay with the dogs and give them their treats while the others swam. Shabina stayed with her, finishing up the work in the kitchen and making take-home packages for each household with the leftovers while her friends swam. Just the sound of their laughter was comforting. The murmur of Raine’s voice as she talked to the dogs kept the uneasiness at bay. For the first time in three days, she felt so much lighter. It was good to have friends.
When the others had showered, changed and were back in the great room, Shabina indicated the desserts and drinks. Zahra immediately removed Misty from her crate and took her out to do her business with the other dogs, and then everyone settled with their favorite dessert.
Stella dipped a chocolate-covered strawberry into the whipped cream on her plate. “Do you remember that terrible tragedy last year? There was a little family found dead up in the Sierras close to one of the trails where your birds nest, Shabina, parents and a toddler? The woman had two sisters. They were triplets—the twoof them and the woman who died. The two sisters stayed in one of my cabins during the investigation. The husband had gone off trail, and they got into the section where that fire had been. The trees were burned, and there was no canopy. Then we got hit with so much rain, and the ground turned into a marsh. After that, the temperatures soared.”
Vienna nodded. “That was so horrible. It’s always bad when a child is involved.”
“It was extremely hot,” Harlow added. “They weren’t carrying adequate water. They were avid hikers but weren’t prepared at all for the hot weather.”
“No one was prepared for the weather,” Vienna said. “So many patients came to the hospital with heatstroke. It was a bad time.”
Shabina remembered that as head of Search and Rescue, Vienna had been called when the family hadn’t been heard from, and their car had been found seemingly abandoned. She’d organized search parties, and the bodies of the three were found four days later in a very unlikely area. Shabina had been heartsick for the family of those dead and just as heartsick for the ones finding and caring for the bodies. Everyone was distraught over the deaths.
Shabina knew that area of the forest very well. The trail was faint, nearly obscure. It had been marked for rehabilitation. Wildlife and weather had damaged signs. She could see how anyone unfamiliar with the trails would get hopelessly turned around. Once they were off the trail and into the section with the damaged trees, it would be even more difficult to know which way to go. Without adequate shade, it would be burning hot.
Shabina sighed. “The two women came into my café often, and I’d sit and talk with them. I felt very bad for them.”
Stella nodded. “They mentioned you several times, Shabina,and how kind you were to them.” She smiled. “And they remembered how amazing the food was. They’ve come back to have a memorial ceremony. I think you’ll be seeing quite a bit of them. They wanted to spend an extended vacation here. They’ve booked one of my nicest cabins for a month, and they’ve been here nearly a week, exploring all around Sunrise.”
“That surprises me,” Harlow said. “What with losing their sister here, I would have thought it would be difficult to come back.”
“They want to learn about all the things she loved. One of the things they want to do is go on Shabina’s bird-watching tour. I’ve got you completely booked for Tuesday. There are students from a university who are very excited to go on that tour too. Will you be driving up Monday night after work?”
Shabina managed not to bite down on her lip. Raine never missed details and she was already assessing Shabina closely. “Yes, but I’m going to camp. It’s still an hour’s drive from Sunrise Resort, so if I’m camping in Yosemite, I can get a little more sleep and also run the dogs before the shuttle brings my clients.”
The dogs were always her best excuse for anything. Her friends had companion dogs and saw to their needs. They understood the dogs would want to run.
Zahra snuggled the ball of fluff in her lap. “This one wants to run all the time.” She gave an exaggerated sigh. “You know how much I detest running.”
