Page 36 of Betrayal

“The buttery yellow feature wall is gorgeous,” Anna said.“Perfect for my niece.”

“I finished it today.You’re as bad as Niall, only he’s expecting a nephew.He’s bringing his cradle by tomorrow.”

“Oooh, I can’t wait to see the finished product.”Anna clapped her hands.

“Okay.We’re in the sunroom tonight.And I am so ready to roost.”Kate led the way toward the back of the house.“I’ll apologize in advance.I’m not very hungry, and I’ll probably be comatose in an hour.”

“Suits me.I spoiled my appetite by sharing a pizza with Hunter.”

“When am I going to meet him?”

“Mm.Not sure.”Anna’s heart skipped a beat.Introducing a man to Kate was another one of Anna’s tests.

“You like him?”

“More than I expected to.I was distracted by the buzz between us.”A chemical cocktail of pheromones that disarmed her defences.“The buzz complicates what else we might have.”

“A buzz is good.”

“Says the professional romance writer.He was following the buzz and tripped over himself.”The care he’d taken with their kiss in the darkened hallway had seeped into her soul.He claimed he wanted a one-nighter, but his actions betrayed him.

“You make a kind of sense.He only wanted the buzz, but you’re making him wait.”

“At this stage, I think we’re making each other wait.”The anticipation was a backbeat to every encounter.Anna was aware of him now, picturing him on one sofa, Casildo on the other, a pizza between them.

“Ah.”Kate sank into an armchair and lifted her feet to a footstool.

“Maybelline, you’re looking like a matron.”The southern belle nickname was more suited to the svelte, unpregnant Kate, but Anna teased her anyway.

Kate’s eyes narrowed.“I’ll remind you of that when your time comes.Now fetch.”She pointed dramatically at the door.“There’s a platter of goodies on the top shelf in the fridge and a jug of non-alcoholic mint Mojitos.”

Anna did as instructed.And fetched.

“A drink first?”She held the jug with its aromatic sprigs of mint aloft.

“Please,” her sister replied.“I’ve been waiting all day for this one bit of decadence.”

“You are so ready to have this baby.”Anna dragged a side table to her sister’s armchair and placed the drink within easy reach.

“That’s my line.I am soooo ready to have this baby.I’ve got a few weeks yet.At this rate, if she’s a girl, she’ll be a quarterback.”Kate took a slow sip of her drink.“Yum.”

“I’ll hold up items of food, and you nod if I make the right selection.”

“Deal.”

“Half a hard-boiled egg.”Anna placed it on the plate, then added some cherry tomatoes, some avocado segments, and a thin slice of multi-grain bread sliced in quarters.

“That’s enough for now.”

“I’m guessing the mixed berries and yoghurt I saw are our dessert.”Anna’s hand hovered over the platter before choosing the rest of the avocado and some bread.

“Real men only eat yoghurt with curry.”

“Didn’t Dad use that in his last play?”Anna sipped her own Mojito.

“To mixed audience reaction.”Kate giggled.“He asked me if he was losing his touch?”

“Hedidnot!”When her sister nodded, Anna started to giggle, then laugh until she brushed tears from her eyes.“When did Mr.Romance Is Crap start seeking your opinion on his writing?”