Hobie’s laughter eased Baylor’s suspicions somewhat. “Why are you always so paranoid?”

“I’ve usually got good reason.”


“Well, I mean it when I say that I understand why you helped Noah the way you did. Frankly, I think I should thank you.”

“Thank me?”


“Uh-huh.” Hobie nodded. “I admit, you were lucky that I didn’t run into you this afternoon. My blood pressure was pretty high when I was on my way home from picking up a boy with a black eye, especially when that boy said you were the one who taught him how to fight.”

“Now about that—” Baylor began.


“I’m not through,” Hobie interrupted. “I was pretty upset, as you can imagine.”

“Understandably so,” Baylor said. “I know how you can get.”


Her last response was a little too enthusiastic. Hobie arched an eyebrow.

“Sorry,” Baylor said.


“Like I said, I was pretty upset. When Noah told me the whole story, I asked him why he told you about Billy Crenshaw instead of me. He said he knew you would get it. I took that to mean that he thought you would understand what he was going through. When I thought about it, I realized he was right. Any advice I would have given him wouldn’t have helped a six-year-old much against a playground bully. I guess I get so concerned with making sure Noah grows up to be respectful of others and a nice boy that I forgot the rest of the world isn’t always so nice.” Hobie looked at Baylor with the expression that made her knees go weak.

“Thanks for being there for him.”


“No problem.” Baylor gave Hobie a half smile. “I owe you one.”

Baylor raised an eyebrow and looked down at her casted leg. “Okay, I owe you a whole lot more than one,” Hobie said. “Now on to more pleasant subjects. How is Juliana enjoying the island?”


Baylor’s smile and amiable expression evaporated. “Um, Jules...well...look, Hobie...about her...”

Baylor had a thought. What if she faced her fears and admitted to Hobie how she felt? Would Hobie shoot her down? She wondered if she had it in her. As much as she hated to admit it, Juliana had been right about Sally. Baylor’s biggest nightmare in life was the fear of being laughed at. It didn’t matter if it was a good-natured ribbing from friends. She feared it as though it were her father himself mocking her. Still, if she didn’t say something to Hobie now, she might lose the chance.

“What about her?” Hobie asked with a confused expression. “Well, actually, it’s less about Jules and more about me...you and me.”


“You and me?”


“You and me. I think...actually, I wonder...” Baylor paused to lick her lips. All of a sudden, her mouth had gone bone dry. I can do this. I can do this. I can tell her I love her. Love her? Where the hell did that come from? What happened to ‘I want to go out with her’? I like her? Okay, shit, come back to that later. Get her to go out with you first, dipshit. Focus, Baylor, focus.


“Hobie Lynn,” Baylor took a deep breath. “I wonder...I-I... Hobie, would you—”

“Well, if it isn’t my favorite old friend and my favorite new friend.”

To Baylor, Juliana’s voice felt like a bucket of ice water tossed over her head. “What do you want?” she asked sourly.

“Did I interrupt something?” “Yes,” Baylor said.

“Well, I can come back later.”


“Of course not,” Hobie said, remembering her manners. “I was just asking Baylor about you.”

“Well then, it’s definitely my lucky day.”


Baylor recognized that Juliana had a charming smile and seemed to know exactly what to say to women. She used to be like that. That is, until Hobie appeared in her life. Baylor eyed Hobie and noticed her flushed face. Great, just great!


“Excuse me, I need a drink,” she said before rushing away toward the bar.

“I wonder what got into her,” Juliana said.


“I wonder, too.” Hobie looked longingly after her. “I guess she’ll be back.” She turned her attention to Juliana.

“I suppose it gives me an opportunity to get to know you a bit better.”

“Me?” Hobie wondered if teeth that white could be anything but caps as she became mesmerized by Juliana’s charming grin.

“I always want to get better acquainted with beautiful women.”

“Jules, are you flirting with me?”


“If you have to ask, I must be doing it wrong.”


Hobie laughed at the honest response. “Do I have a sign on my forehead that points me out as the only lesbian in town or what?”

It was Juliana’s turn to laugh. “No, I figured I’d take a chance and, with a bit of luck, be pleasantly surprised. Actually, I was hoping I could lure you into a little walk on the beach.”


“My answer may surprise you, but I’m not sure how pleasant it will be for you.”

“Meaning?”


“Meaning I am gay, but I’m not in the market for a girlfriend.”

“I see. You’re already spoken for then?”


“Um...in a way.” Hobie was kicking herself for not just blurting out to Baylor that she had fallen for her. Fallen...in love? Where the hell did that come from? Like her...you like her, that’s it. Isn’t it?


“I must have been mistaken then. I’m sorry, Hobie. It’s just that when Baylor told me you and she were nothing but friends, I guess I figured I stood a chance.”

Juliana hated herself right about then. Of course, she still wasn’t certain about Baylor and Hobie; there was the outside chance that Baylor was telling the truth and that friendship was the only thing that existed between the two. She saw her words explode within the green eyes, which suddenly narrowed.

“Just friends?”


“That’s what she said. Am I wrong? Are you two more than friends?” Juliana knew what the answer would be. If she’d ever seen a woman surprised at the notion that she was suddenly single, it was Hobie.

Hobie took a deep breath. “If Baylor says we’re just friends, I guess that’s what we are. Now didn’t you say something about a walk?”

“I did indeed.” Juliana placed a hand on the small of Hobie’s back and turned to usher her down the concrete steps to the beach. She saw Baylor walking their way and winked at her. Baylor’s crushed expression tugged painfully at her heart. Dear Lord, please let Evelyn be right, or a thirty-five-year friendship just went down the drain.




Baylor drummed her fingers impatiently on the tabletop. She had selected a spot near the edge of the patio so she could tell when Hobie and Juliana returned. When they did, they looked much too happy for her liking.


“Just where in the hell have you been?” Baylor was on her third vodka gimlet, which did nothing to mellow her mood.

“I beg your pardon?” Hobie asked indignantly. Juliana took a step back as Hobie and Baylor stared daggers at each other.

“Do you usually just go off and leave your son?” Baylor could see that Hobie was trying to control her temper. She also knew that her first instinct would be to let Baylor have it with both barrels, but there were too many people around. Hobie probably didn’t feel like making yet another scene in front of the whole town.

“If it’s any of your business,” Hobie said in a controlled voice, “my mother is watching Noah.”

“Oh,” Baylor said, the wind seemingly gone from her sails. “Excuse me, I think I need a drink. Jules, can I get you anything?” Hobie asked. “Uh, no, thanks anyway.”

Hobie started to leave but thought better of it and turned back to Baylor. She stood behind her and bent down. Baylor flinched when she felt Hobie’s hands on her shoulders. Then there was a sexy voice whispering in her ear.

“I’m a little surprised you care so much about where I go and who I choose to see.” Hobie stood and gave Baylor’s shoulders a shove. “Considering the fact that we’re just friends!” She turned and stalked away.

Baylor glared up at Juliana, who sat beside her, purposely ignoring her expression. “Holy shit, mate, is she ever mad at you. Did you see her? I think she had little wisps of smoke coming out her ears.” She chuckled at Baylor’s predicament, then reached over and stole a sip of her drink.

“Give me that!” Baylor snapped. “You are a rat bastard. Did you have to tell her I said that? Goddamn it, Jules, don’t you know I like that girl?”

“Oh, my God, time out, time out.” Juliana waved her hands. “Hello! Were you even in the same room when I had that conversation with you earlier? Who the bloody hell was I talking to?”

“Oh, don’t give me that shit!”

“No, that was definitely you I had that conversation with. I said ‘Do you like her’, and you said you liked her, but you didn’t like her, like her. Is any of this ringing a bell?”

“Oh, shut up!” Baylor finished the rest of her drink in one gulp. “I suppose you already asked her to marry you.”

“I would have if I thought I had a prayer of her saying yes.” “She seemed plenty eager to go out into the moonlight with you.”


“Well, maybe it was my considerable charm.” Baylor snorted.

“Or maybe it was the fact that she was so damned surprised to hear that the woman she really has the hots for said they were ‘just friends.’” Juliana used her fingers to make quote marks in the air.

“Did she say that?” “Say what?”

“That she had the hots…I mean, that she was interested in me. You know, in that way.”

“No, she didn’t come right out and say it.”


“Then how in the hell do you know that was what she was thinking?”