“Maybe I should have been a teacher,” she laughed.“But no.I enjoy the law, and my mom’s been a huge help the past couple of years.”
“You must miss her.”
“I do.But we’re adapting.”She smiled at the shrieks and giggles emanating from the other room.“And we now have Dash to occupy our time and keep us out of trouble.”
“What do you do when you aren’t working?”he asked.“Do you have any hobbies?”
“I swim a few times a week.I like how I can leave all my stress in the pool.And this summer I have to keep up Mom’s garden so she can have her fresh tomatoes to can—and fresh veggies all summer.”
“I haven’t got the room, unfortunately,” said Simon.“We live in a town house, so my garden is a container garden, which I often forget to water.”
“Ah, and plants do enjoy their water.”
“But gardening for vegetables intrigues me.I have my name on the list for one of the community garden plots but wasn’t lucky this year.The waiting list is long, and the number of people who give up their plots is short.”
“Well, if you ever want to practice your weeding skills, let me know.”Sarah looked over at his empty cup.“Would you like some more coffee?”
“I would, but I think it’s best we get home and give Dot some more time to settle in.I thought tomorrow, if you like, I can take Dash and Dot to my place while the girls are in camp.That would give them a few hours together for the next few days.”
“And I can drop both girls off and pick them up afterward,” said Sarah.“The camp is at the college gym, and I work nearby.”
“That would be great.It’ll give me time to do some tasks I’ve been trying to get to for months.I’ve managed to go three weeks without a lightbulb in the laundry room, but I need to do something about that now.”
She chuckled.“Perfect.”
“Oh, and tomorrow, if you like, I can return the favor of dinner.I make a mean spaghetti.”
A few minutes later, after dealing with the girls’ objections by promising they would see each other in the morning, they were standing together in the doorway.He was close to her, or perhaps she had somehow gravitated toward him.For one wild moment, she thought it would be the perfect time for him to kiss her good night.She stepped back before she could do more than think about that idea.
“Good night,” she said, closing the door behind her and turning to lean against it.This cat adoption idea had been a huge mistake.How would she keep her growing attraction to him at bay?
Riley came into the room, carrying Dash.“Look, Mom,” she said, putting him down on the floor and pulling a feather from her back pocket.“He wants to catch the feather.”
And as Riley scampered around the floor on her knees, holding a feather in front of her new friend, Sarah remembered herself.She had to keep all thoughts of Simon in the friend zone.Anything beyond that would be dangerous and could hurt Riley.
And the last thing she wanted to do was hurt Riley.
Her phone buzzed in her purse again, and she got up to check her messages, thinking it could be her mother.But it was Graham again.
Chaz said he saw you shopping at the pet store with Riley and a man and his daughter.What’s going on?
What exactly do you think is going on?she thought, a flash of anger rising before she got it under control.And what business is it of yours anyway?
She took a deep breath, her fingers hovering, considering what to say in response.The last thing she wanted was to start a fight.Since Graham had left, they’d been very civil, always putting Riley first, though at times like this she wanted to scream.She hadn’t asked for any of it.She hadn’t been the one to walk away from their marriage.
She drafted a response—You don’t get to audit my life—then erased it and tried again.
Riley and her best friend have adopted a bonded pair of cats, and we are coordinating their care.The girls are happy, and that’s what matters.
She didn’t wait for a response.Instead, she plugged the phone into her charger in the kitchen and leaned against the counter to close her eyes, gathering perspective and resolve.
The last thing she needed this summer was trouble with Graham, or for Riley to get hurt.
Yes, she decided.It was best to keep Simon in the friend zone.
ChapterEleven
The cell phone on the bedside table vibrated and woke Raven.She lay a moment longer, reveling in the weight of Lance’s arm across her stomach, and stared at the offending device.Though they’d spent several hours together in the past, this was the first time he’d stayed here, in her bed.The first time a man had stayed in her bed in years.Before she had time to consider what that meant, the phone vibrated again and she heard a soft groan.
