hate my grandparents giving off the worried-about-Caitlyn vibe.”
“So you’re showing them you’re fine by making Lily’s favorite pasta and Hugh’s soufflé.”
She tipped the bottle toward him. “Nailed it.”
“If you want my opinion, which I’m giving anyway, that’s productive and healthy.”
“Since I like that opinion, I’m taking it. And I’m coming by next week. I was going to come this week, but dead kidnapper threw me off. Is any day better than another? I can juggle my schedule.”
“Any day’s fine. I’ve gotta get back. Thanks for the coffee.” He added it to the dishes in her sink. “And you’ve got to scream.”
“Yes, I do. Which reminds me, thanks for the rescue. The fact it wasn’t needed doesn’t negate the action.”
“You’re strangely welcome.”
He crossed into the living room where his dogs piled together for a nap in front of the fire. He gave a short whistle that had them scrambling up and following him.
“Good luck with the soufflé.”
“Thanks. I’m going to need it.”
She moved around to watch through the wall of glass as he walked away through the whispers of fog, the thin curtain of rain.
She hadn’t intended to bring up Denby, had done her best to lock even the thought of him away. But she supposed the odd bond forged when they’d both been children made it easy to say things she said to no one else.
“We don’t even know each other. Not really.”
Bits and pieces, she thought, from Julia’s emails, from something her grandparents might mention.
Not altogether true, she realized, and took her water with her into the studio. Turned the RECORDING IN PROGRESS sign over, shut and locked the door.
She knew he loved the life he’d chosen because it simply showed. She knew he inspired loyalty—at least in dogs, as his clearly adored him. She knew he was the kind of man who’d rush through a door to help someone without thinking of his own safety.
All important aspects, even admirable aspects of the whole. Still a lot of blanks, she admitted. She’d have to decide how many blanks she wanted to fill in.
But right now, she had to scream.
With a successful family dinner and the beginning of a solid workweek behind her, Cate walked to the main house. She wanted to drive to the florist for some flowers, then to the ranch, finally.
She went in the house first, learned from the day maid Consuela supervised that her grandfather was in his office, door closed, and Lily had gone down to the home gym.
She went down the main stairs, turned away from the movie theater and toward the blast of grinding rock and roll. Inside the gym, Lily grunted her way through reps on the leg extension and curl machine.
Sweat gleamed on her face, on her really excellent calves as she pushed herself to match the beat of the music.
Always fashionable, she wore compression capris in a swirling pattern of blues and greens and a blue support tank that showed off damn good arms and shoulders.
It had Cate making a mental note to use the facilities more regularly herself.
With one last grunt, Lily closed her eyes. She swiped at her face with her wristband—green—then, pushing herself up, spotted Cate.
“Oh God, I want to kill myself with a hammer. You know what most women my age are doing right now? Turn off that damn music, will you, my sweets? I’ll tell you what they’re doing. They’re playing with grandkids or knitting or they’re curled up with a book or getting a facial. What they’re not doing is sweating blood on a damn torture device.”
Picking up her water bottle, Lily gulped some down while she scowled at the rest of the circuit machines, the dumbbells, the rolled-up yoga mats, the stack of floor mats.
“That’s why you’re ageless.”
“Hah.” On another long breath, she stood, then considered herself in the wall of mirrors. “I do look pretty damn good for an old broad.”
“My word’s amazing.”
“I’m going to hold on to that because I’m only halfway done. Dear God, Catey, what made me think I could go back to Broadway, keep up that pace?”
“You’ll kill it.”
“If it doesn’t kill me first. Well.” She lifted her water bottle again. “What a way to go. And what’re you up to?”
“I stopped in to see if you and Grandpa—or either of you—wanted to go with me. I’m going to pick up some flowers and go by Horizon Ranch.”
“I’d love nothing better than to do that instead of this. But I have to stick. Then I have to shower