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“You have a lot of purple,” she heard Devyn say loudly, from theliving room. “Oh, and lavender drapes, too.”

She opened the door and craned her neck around it. “I’ve alwaysthought of purple as a calming color. Friendly, too. At least a third of mywardrobe has a touch of something close to it.”

“You know? That’s true, now that I think about it.” She watchedDevyn, in her black tank top, having discarded her button-up shirt, make acircle around her living room, taking it in. She exhaled slowly. What was shegonna do with this woman and their very unexpected chemistry? She wasn’t sure,but the night felt…alive. In fact, she’d never felt so much energy passingbetween two people. Surely it wasn’t just her, right? The vibrations werepalpable.

Elizabeth washed her hands, gave her shoulders a roll, andreturned to Devyn, just in time to see Scout emerge from the bedroom with hersleepy eyes on. She must not have heard them come in, which wasn’t unusual.Scout, it turned out, was a champion sleeper now that she lived indoors, safeand sound.

“Oh, my gosh,” Devyn said, holding out her hand for Scout, whoapproached her with a lowered head and wagging tail. “I didn’t know you had adog.”

Elizabeth smiled. “You didn’t ask. This is Scout. She’s the best,and will likely curl up in your lap at some point soon.”

Devyn knelt and with both hands scratched behind Scout’s ears torave reviews from Scout. “Wait. I’ve met this dog.” Her gaze flew to Elizabeth’sin confusion. “From that day. She was at the site of the crash.”

Elizabeth nodded. “Yep. She’s the reason we found Jill. Felt onlyfitting to give her a permanent home. Don’t worry. I followed the properchannels.”

“You adopted the dog that found Jill?”

Elizabeth nodded. “Turns out we make a great pair.”

Devyn placed a kiss on the side of Scout’s face and spoke quietlyto her. “Thank you. I mean that.”

Elizabeth felt a pang in her chest at the tender moment. Scoutoffered a lick and then headed to the couch to curl up on her favorite blanket,content that people were home.

Devyn stood and seemed to shake herself out of the weightedexchange. “I’m glad you did this for her.”

Elizabeth shrugged. “For me, too. Are you ready?”

Devyn studied her with a mischievous look on her face that saidshe had definite ideas. “Oh, I think you’re going to have to be more specific, becauseone could take that a lot of ways.”

Elizabeth chuckled but let that one go. Their flirting felt moreovert now that they’d acknowledged it. “Follow me.”

“You say that a lot.” Devyn fell in line behind Elizabeth on theway to her back door. When she opened it and stepped out into the darkness, sheheard Devyn’s breath catch. Yep. There it was. She paused, allowing Devyn tosoak in the sight. “So?”

“Oh, my God. I remember these, just not so many at once. It’sgorgeous.”

Elizabeth nodded and stared out at the hundreds of lightning bugsthat took turns illuminating her yard like tiny lanterns assembling. She wouldnever get tired of their beauty, their peace. She turned to Devyn. “It’s reallysomething, isn’t it?” she said quietly.

“There aresomany.” She shook her head and stepped farther onto Elizabeth’s back porch,looking up into the trees and beyond. “When you live in the city, you forgetthat all of this is happening at the very same time. Like two entirelydifferent worlds coexisting. And the silence. You forget anything can be thisquiet.”

“One of the perks of a small town: access to nature and timeenough to enjoy it. Milkshake?”

Devyn turned to her. “That’s what you offer your guests? Not wineor coffee, but a milkshake as if it were the most natural thing?”

“No, not typically. I’m just in the mood for one, and thought youmight be, too. I can pour you wine if that’s what you’re feeling, though thatseems a little boring in comparison to a fantastic milkshake.”

Devyn stared at her like she was a unicorn.

“What? Nobody in Philadelphia has milkshakes?”

“No, no. I’m sure they do.” She laughed. “I’ll take a damnmilkshake. Why the hell not?”

“Now you’re talking.” Elizabeth beamed. “Two homespun milkshakescoming right up.”

As Elizabeth blended what would be chocolate milkshakes with extrawhole milk, Devyn remained outside drinking in the view. She left the door openso they could converse back and forth.

“Did you know Jill is having a lurid affair with Charlie?” Devynasked from the darkness.

Elizabeth paused her ice cream progress mid-scoop, not knowingexactly what to say. She had figured that part out, but she hadn’t been awarethat Devyn had. “Um…”