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“It’s not a date,” Elena and Cat said in unison.

“Okay!” Nicolas held up both his hands. “Let me take a look in here then I’ll be out of your hair.”

“Would you like to have a sandwich with us?” Elena called to him.

“No,” he said, coming back into the kitchen. “I've got a date.”

“Ohhh!” Elena exclaimed. “Is this the guy you told me about?”

Nicolas scoffed. “No. He’s so last week. I’m meeting someone for drinks. You know, like you did last night.”

Cat looked over at Elena and raised her eyebrows. This is getting interesting, she thought.

“I had a drink with Cat last night. That wasn’t a date either. Yours, however, is a date.”

“Whatever,” he said, once again looking at Elena then at Cat. “It was nice to meet you.”

“You, too.”

“Thanks for the book. I’ll come by and see what else you’ve got,” he said with a grin. He winked at Elena. “Bye, Ms. E.”

Elena walked him to the door. When she closed it she turned to Cat. “That’s Nicolas.”

“He is adorable,” Cat said.

“He’s a mess,” Elena said, walking back over to the island. “Let’s eat over here.”

They carried their plates and glasses to the table in the dining area. Elena sat at the head of the small table and Cat sat at a right angle to her.

“I can see y’all have fun together,” Cat said.

Elena smiled. “We do. He’s always talking about the various guys he meets. That’s why I teased him about you being here.”

“What? You don’t have various women over most nights?” Cat said playfully.

Elena scoffed. “About as often as you do.”

Cat laughed. “You’ve got me there.” She took a bite of the sandwich Elena had made and nodded. “Mmm, this is good.” After she swallowed she glanced at Elena and said, “It won’t surprise you, but I haven’t been on a date or even thought of another woman in that way since Hattie left.”

“Same,” Elena said, taking a sip of wine.

“Liar,” Cat said, taking another bite.

“I beg your pardon?”

“What about the library girl? You’ve had a thought or two about her,” Cat replied.

“That doesn’t count,” Elena said, taking a bite of her sandwich.

“Sure it does. You’ve thought about that kiss.”

Elena chewed and stared at Cat. “And you mean to tell me you haven’t looked twice at anyone who’s walked into the bookstore? I thought you looked for beauty in everyone.”

“I am, but that doesn’t mean I want to go out with them,” Cat said.

“Hmm, I guess you don’t need to when you have one of those little toys from The Bottom Shelf,” Elena said, pinning Cat with a look.

Cat put her sandwich down on her plate and leveled her gaze at Elena. “Do you want to talk about vibrators?”