“Go away.”


“Come on, we could be sisters, too.” Baylor grinned.


Hobie shook her head and tried not to smile. “Somehow, I don’t think the family resemblance is there.”

“Sure it is. We’re practically identical twins.” Baylor dropped to one knee and put an arm around Hobie’s shoulder. “Bubba, what do you think? Your mom and me look alike, right?”

“Oh, stop,” Hobie ordered.


“Um...” Noah pushed his glasses up.


Baylor offered a wide, toothy grin and nodded for Noah to see. “Come on, Bubba, how ’bout it?” Again, she nodded.

“Yes,” the youngster said, then burst out laughing. “See,” Baylor said as she turned to Hobie.


“My own child, thank you very much.”


“Hey, my man here only calls ’em as he sees ’em. So let’s dance.”

Hobie watched as Baylor used her cane to get to her feet. “There’s something seriously wrong with you. You know that, right?”

“What? I bet plenty of gals here would dance with me if I asked.”

“Well, by all means.” Hobie smiled and spread her arms wide. “Don’t let me interrupt a master at work.”

“All right, smart ass.” Baylor turned toward the tables surrounding the dance area. “She thinks I can’t get a dance partner,” she said to herself as she searched the area. She noticed there weren’t many women there who weren’t collecting Social Security. She looked at Hobie, who sat there with a smug smile.

“Okay, so the pickings are a little slim. I bet even the old broads will dance with me.” She spotted a familiar face. “Mrs. Emberly...”

“Oh, God.” Hobie groaned.


“Mrs. Emberly, would it bother you to dance with me?” “Why no, dear. Although you are rather tall, and you seem a little incapacitated with that leg.”


Baylor turned and walked over to Hobie. “See,” she said with an air of triumph.

“That’s because she doesn’t know you’re gay.” Baylor spun on one heel. “Mrs. Emberly—” “Don’t even think about it, Baylor Warren!”

“Mrs. Emberly, I’m gay. Would that affect your decision to dance with me?”

“Why no, dear. I love to see you young women happy.” “Um, it’s not really that kind of…never mind.” Baylor gave up when she saw Hobie giggling. “Thanks anyway, Mrs. Emberly.” “Have a heart and quit laughing so hard.” A dejected Baylor sat beside Hobie. “One dance and I promise I’ll leave you alone for the rest of the evening.”

“I should be so lucky.”


“Ow, that hurts. Okay, guess I’ll just have to tell a few more of the old broads I’m gay and try to get a dance out of them.” Baylor made as if to rise but hesitated long enough to hear Hobie’s hurried response.

“Don’t you dare!” Hobie pointed a finger at Baylor. “One dance, then you behave. Right?”

“Scout’s honor.” Baylor drew a cross against her chest. “Why do I doubt that you ever did Girl Scouts?” Hobie

immediately regretted her choice of words. She waited with a scowl for Baylor to comment in some lewd manner.

“What are you looking at?” Baylor asked.


“I was waiting for you to respond with some sort of indecent remark about what I said.”

Baylor smiled. “Hmm.” “What?”

Baylor leaned closer to Hobie, who now stood beside her. “Oh, nothing, just wondering.”

“Wondering what?”


“Wondering if it’s sex you’re always thinking about or whether it’s me that’s always on your mind.” Baylor whispered the last few words against Hobie’s ear. She put on an arrogant grin when she saw the goose bumps rise on Hobie’s skin.

“I suggest you concern yourself a little less with what I have on my mind.”

“Don’t be that way,” Baylor teased. “Even though you are rather cute when you’re mad. Come on, how about that dance?”

“I have an idea.”


Baylor knew she’d crossed a line by the look in Hobie’s eye. “Yes?”

“Why don’t you go ask one of your Girl Scout friends? Better yet, go ask Mrs. Emberly to dance with you!” Hobie turned, grabbed Noah’s hand, and walked away, leaving Baylor speechless and badly in need of another drink.



“Oh God,” Baylor groaned. “Why do I turn into such an ass when I drink?”

“Only when you drink?”


“And you’re supposed to be my best friend.”

Juliana chuckled. “Mate, the way you’re going, I’m your only friend.”

“My life is over.” Baylor let her head fall against the table once more.

Juliana had been thinking the exact thing, but in regard to herself. Especially because she knew that very shortly, she would have to remind Baylor that she was going on a date with Baylor’s girl.



“Do not do this, Baylor. You said this morning that you could handle this.”

“I lied! You of all people should know what a compulsive liar I am.”

Juliana and Baylor faced off. Baylor was a good three inches taller, but Juliana stood her ground. She knew her best friend would never really hurt her, though she wouldn’t have been able to tell by the smoldering gaze now leveled at her.

“You want me to stay home?” Juliana asked. “Yes.”

“Then tell her.”


A moment’s silence passed while they glared at each other. “I just need a little more time.”

“For what? So you can get drunk again and actually throw up on her this time?”

“The time has to be right.”


“Unless the time becomes right in the next five minutes, fork over the keys because I’m going out to dinner with her.”

“You are evil, you know that?”


“Jesus Christ, Baylor, you are driving me out of my mind! I’m tired of babying you through this. Either act like an adult or step aside.”

“Fine, just fine, but I’ll drive over there with you. Try going on a date in that zoo-mobile she drives.”

“You can be such a git sometimes,” Juliana said in exasperation. “Fine, let’s go.”

Juliana focused on the road during the short drive to Hobie’s house. The women said little to each other, and Juliana hoped it was all worth it. She had placed a quick phone call to Evelyn earlier while Baylor was in the shower. Evelyn had told Juliana that even though Baylor—and their friendship—appeared to be suffering greatly, Juliana should do exactly what she had been doing. It was hard, though; she didn’t like to see her friend hurting. Even so, there was another part of her that had to struggle not to kick Baylor in the head for her infantile behavior.

When they pulled up in front of the house, they found Noah playing on the front lawn.

“Baylor!” He ran up to Baylor and dove into her arms. “Are you and me goin’ out on a date, too?”

Baylor laughed in spite of herself. Noah had a way of pulling her out of her funk with his infectious enthusiasm for life. “I don’t know about that, Bubba. Where’s your mom?”

“She’s getting dressed. Hi, Jules.” “Hey there, Noah.”

Noah showed Juliana his new bicycle and explained that he planned to have the training wheels removed as soon as he could ride it on two wheels. Juliana paid close attention as he took her around the yard. He explained all his favorite toys and play spots. She smiled as he spoke about Baylor and what good friends they were.

Baylor, in the meantime, took the opportunity to slip inside the house. All she wanted was a few moments alone with Hobie. Perhaps in that time, she could find a way to open up to her.

There was no one else in the medium-sized guesthouse, but Baylor heard a familiar voice coming from the back. She silently made her way there and listened outside the door.

“Definitely not this dress. I look like I’m asking for something,” Hobie said to her reflection. It was the third outfit she’d tried on in the last half-hour.

Part of Hobie approached the evening with trepidation, mostly because she wished it had been Baylor who had asked her out. The disheartening fact was that Hobie was falling for Baylor a little more each day, and Baylor had yet to show any real interest in Hobie. Why doesn’t she say anything? Yeah, right, like you’re so much better. But what if she doesn’t feel the same? The only conclusion was that Baylor wasn’t interested in Hobie, at least not anything long term.

Hobie’s other half was genuinely looking forward to her night out. It had been a long time since she’d sat across from an intelligent woman, especially one who looked as good as Juliana Ross. She was everything any woman could want in a potential partner. In Hobie’s opinion, there was only one thing wrong with Juliana. She wasn’t Baylor.

Hobie finally settled on a pale green tank top and cream-colored slacks with a matching jacket to wear inside the restaurant. She casually tossed the jacket over one shoulder and pulled the bedroom door open, nearly screaming as Baylor came tumbling through her bedroom door. “What in the hell?”

“Hi there.” Baylor waggled her fingers from her prone position. “I bet you’re wondering why I’m here.”

“What I’m wondering is how I can shoot you for trespassing and not go to jail!”

“Okay, you’re angry, I can understand how seeing me outside your bedroom door might do that.” Baylor appeared to be struggling for a way out of the mess in which she now found herself.

Hobie took a deep breath and closed her eyes. How did the woman she had so many good feelings for always make her angry enough to want to inflict bodily harm on her?

“I am going to pretend that there is a good reason for this.” Hobie took another cleansing breath and opened her eyes. “I can’t talk to you while you’re lying there. Get up.”

Baylor held a hand out and Hobie folded her arms across her chest. “Okay, I can see we’re still a teensy bit angry,” Baylor said as she rose. “Look, Hobie, this is going to take a little bit of faith on your part—”