Jack gave a little smile. “I heard he was back. Did he ask you on a date yet?”
“He did, actually. We go out on Saturday.” Kate settled back in the chair.
Something about the warm, balmy air was peaceful. And oddly, this man made her feel calm—the exact opposite of Alastair.
“I knew he wouldn’t waste any time. He’s a good guy, though. A little too old and a little too perfect, but he’s okay. Who else did you meet?”
“Melissa at Tayla’s office.”
He gave a snort of laughter. “If you sell houses and get along with Tayla, she’ll be jealous.”
“She already is—because of you. If you’re Jack, that is.”
“I am and you’re right. She follows me around town. Who else?”
The pounding kept on. It wasn’t a regular rhythm. It went fast, stopped, then slowed. “Bessie at the tea shop.”
“She loves all things Stewart. Thinks they’re royalty.”
“I can see that.” Kate closed her eyes and held her face up to the warmth.
Contrary to what she’d dreaded, she felt like she was talking to someone she’d known for a long time. “How is my aunt?” She prepared herself to hear the worst.
“Sounds like she’s doing well.”
“What does that mean?”
When he looked at her, he seemed to be puzzled by her expression. But then he turned back to face the fountain. “Today she’s hitting something besides me.”
“Oh.” Kate’s eyes widened. “Does she hit you because of her bad temper?”
Jack looked shocked. “Bad temper? What in the world have you been told about her?”
Kate didn’t answer.
“I know that look! It’s just like hers. You aren’t going to tell me, so you’ll just have to go and meet her for yourself. Go back through those doors and out through the living room. I’d go with you, but—” He tossed the blanket back to expose his left leg, which was in a cast that reached above his knee.
His drunken car wreck, Kate thought, but didn’t say. She went through the apartment, then outside past an outdoor kitchen. The swimming pool was in front of her and to the right—under the deep roof overhang, she saw a woman from the back. She was wearing red boxing gloves and slamming away at a big leather bag. Her pounding reverberated through the house.
The woman was short, trim and obviously strong. She had blond hair that was wet with sweat in the back. Who was this? she wondered. A caretaker for her aunt Sara?
Kate was about to speak when one of the sliding doors between her and the woman was thrown open.
Jack stood there, leaning on crutches, and he was looking at the woman. “Juan just called and that big poinciana came down. I have to go see about it. You want to shoot it?”
“Damn right I do! Oh.” She saw Kate and halted, staring at her.
Jack hobbled to the woman—he wasn’t good on the crutches—and she held out her arms so he could pull off her big boxing gloves. “Kate, Sara. Sara, Kate.” He looked to Kate. “You wanna go with us?”
“You’re Sara?” Kate asked. The woman was older but she certainly didn’t look to be in her late sixties. “But I thought... I mean...”
Sara nodded. “Ava told you about me, right?”
“Yes. She said—”
“Can you two do this later? If that tree hit the roof, I need to get the men to fix it. It might rain today.”
“It’s Florida,” Sara said. “It’s always about to rain. Maybe Kate wants to freshen up or maybe I should stay here so we can talk. Or—”
