"Yes, all."
Jay laughed. "No wonder you're still single."
"I don't think it's that unattainable. You, for instance, meet all but two of them," Drew said seriously.
"Two?"
"Yes. You have all the qualities except two. You're not single and you're not madly in love with me," she said quietly.
Jay met her eyes, letting herself be pulled into the dark green depths. No, she wasn't single. But Lord, if she let herself, Drew would be so easy to fall in love with. She finally pulled away. "I like you... a lot, Drew," she said softly.
Drew sighed, a heavy sigh that caused Jay to look back at her.
"Maybe we should rethink this friendship thing," she suggested. "It's harder than I thought."
But Jay shook her head. "You're one of the very few bright spots in my life right now. Don't you dare disappear on me."
Drew held her gaze for a moment longer, then gave a slight smile. "Okay." She held her glass up. "After all, you do make a killer daiquiri."
"Wait until you taste my pot roast."
"Oh? Should I add cooking to my list, you think?"
Jay nudged her arm. "Want me to show you around?"
"Do you suppose we should find out what they're up to?" she asked, motioning to the closed door Katherine and Jenna had disappeared behind.
"I don't really care." Jay looked intently at Drew. "Do you?"
"No. So how about we start outside then?" She looked around the large living area. "No offense, but it seems kinda sterile."
Jay stifled her laugh. "Really? You'd dare say that about the mansion}" At Drew's confused look, Jay took her arm and led her out to the patio. "Audrey refers to it as the mansion. She hates it here."
"Well, I'm just surprised by it. It doesn't have your personality at all."
"Me?" Jay shook her head. "Oh, no. I didn't design or decorate anything here."
Drew frowned. "You didn't? Why?"
Jay bit her lower lip, surprised that it still stung. She was a designer, after all. But she tried to be diplomatic about it. "Katherine and I have different tastes."
Drew raised her eyebrows, but said nothing.
"Very different tastes," Jay added. At Drew's amused look, she laughed. "Oh, hell, you know what I mean." She looked back toward the double doors leading inside. "It's all so over the top for me. Even though I'm far removed from it, I'm still just a girl from a middle-class family in a small, conservative city. And this, well, this reeks of money. Wasted money, I might add." She turned back to the patio. "I enjoy the pool, of course. But still, it's not something I would have designed. You're right. It's sterile. It lacks feeling."
"That's a good way to put it. But I'm still surprised you weren't a part of the planning. That is your profession. I mean, it'd be like me buying one of these new houses and getting Apollo to do the yard."
"Okay, I'll admit I was totally pissed off at the time. This monster was everything she wanted and nothing for me. So our arrangement was she would pay the mortgage. And if she paid the mortgage, then she got to decorate. So she hired Wilkes and Bonner, but I wasn't allowed to participate."
"That's just wrong."
"Yes. My coworkers at Wilkes and Bonner were quite amused by it all." Jay stared again at the house. "And not that I'm dying for their company, but isn't it a bit odd that they only said a handful of words and then disappeared into her study?" She glanced at her watch. "Do you think I—"
But the doors opened, interrupting her. Katherine stood in the doorway, Jenna beside her.
"There you two are. I was wondering where you'd gone off to." She motioned back inside. "I was about to give Jenna a tour. Drew, are you interested?"
Jay saw Drew's hesitation, then watched as she nodded.
"Sure." She glanced at Jay. "Are you going to tag along?"
"Actually, I think I'll check on dinner. You all go ahead."
And as the doors closed, leaving Jay alone, she turned toward the pool, absently watching the water shimmer in the early evening light. Damn, how weird is this? Drew is dating Katherine's old flame. Dating, but not sleeping with. She didn't know why, but that news was pleasing to her. Not that it mattered who Drew slept with. Not that it's any of your concern, she told herself. But really, they didn't go together at all. Jenna was short... and not heavy, but certainly not thin. She seemed far too serious for Drew. Not that you could get a good read on a person after only exchanging greetings. But still, not her type.
And good Lord, Jenna and Katherine} Of course, who knew how they were all those years ago in law school. But now, no. No way.
Drew pushed her plate away, her eyes finding Jay's across the table. "That was absolutely delicious. I'm stuffed."
"Thanks. But I hope you saved room for dessert."
"I have to agree, Jay," Jenna said. "I can't remember when I've had better pot roast."
"It's my favorite meal," Katherine chimed in. "But I did save room for dessert. Apple pie with ice cream?" she asked, looking at Jay.
Jay nodded. "I'll bring it right out."
Drew was about to offer to help, but Jay had already hurried from the table. She glanced to her right, surprised to find Jenna blatantly staring at Katherine. She frowned, wondering at the extent of their relationship. Jenna had simply said old friends, but there was something intimate in their looks.
"After dessert, Jenna, you'll have to come into my study. I forgot to show you my collection of law books. Some date back two hundred years."
"Oh, I'd love to see them."
Katherine turned to Drew. "You'd be bored silly, dear, but you're welcome to view them too."
Drew smiled, but took the hint. "Maybe I'll get Jay to show me her portfolio. We're sort of in the same business."
"Oh, really? Jenna said you did yards. I assumed mowing and the like."
Drew laughed. "We do that too. But we're a landscaping service. I work with builders designing new homes."
"Well, I'm surprised you and Jay haven't run into each other before."
'Yeah, that is kinda weird." Drew looked up as Jay carried a tray laden with four plates and a large bowl of ice cream.
"What's weird?" Jay asked, setting the tray on the table. She handed the first piece of pie to Katherine.
"That you and I haven't run into each other before." Drew took the plate Jay handed her. "Thank you."
"Well, I've seen your trucks around. Does that count?"
Drew noticed the slight smile around Jay's mouth. "I'm not really on site all that much anyway."
"Don't do a lot of grunt work anymore?"
"As little as possible."
"Who else wants ice cream?" Katherine asked as she held up the bowl.
"None for me, thanks," Jenna said. "Goes right to my hips."
"Then I'll have your share," Drew said, reaching for the bowl. "This pie looks great."
"I can't take credit," Jay said. "It's from Dora's Bakery."
"Then I know it'll be good. I usually get my breakfast there." She passed the bowl of ice cream to Jay. "Have you had her breakfast pastries stuffed with scrambled eggs and sausage?"
"The ones with all that cheese melted on top?" Jay laughed. "I'm surprised I haven't run into you there as well."
Katherine slid her plate away from her, her pie only half eaten. "While the two of you chat about pastries and such, I'm going to show Jenna my law book collection." She stood, motioning for Jenna to join her.
Drew watched them go, then looked back to Jay. Jay met her eyes with a shrug.
"I'd rather chat about pastries and such," she said, mimicking Katherine.
Drew took a bite of pie, the melted ice cream oozing off the top. "Mmm, I'd rather eat pie."
"It's sinfully good, isn't it?"
Drew nodded. "And not that I'm prying or anything, but you and Katherine, you don't talk much, do you." It was intended to be a question, but she knew her tone indicated it was simply an observation.