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“What about this?”

“Nope.”

Kate set about examining each inch ofAutumn’s ankle for acute pain, checking in with her as she went. “I thinkyou’re in the clear as far as any broken bones go. Do you think you can stand?”

“I can definitely stand,” Autumn said, anddid so. She took a couple of wobbly steps.

“Careful. You okay?”

“I am. Just putting weight on it hurts atad.” And she was limping slightly. They both saw it.

“Tell you what,” Kate said, and scoopedAutumn into her arms. “I can help with this.” She then proceeded to carryAutumn across the beach to Hadley.

“Whoa!” Autumn laughed. “You should warn agirl before you…” But the words died on her lips when she realized herproximity to Kate. She smelled like the beach and oranges. The perfect combo.Those full lips were inches from hers as they walked, her own arms aroundKate’s neck, holding on. She fixated on those lips and wondered how they’d feelbeneath her fingertips or, better yet, how they’d taste. Sweet like oranges?

“Autumn?”

“Yep?” she said, snapping out of it.

It was Hadley’s voice that had burst thebubble of her quick little daydream. She sat on her towel looking up at themwith a knowing twinkle in her eye. “You okay?”

“More than okay,” Autumn heard herself saythrough the fog.

Hadley laughed. “You can drop her here,Lieutenant.”

Kate gently set her on the towel next toHadley and ran back for the drinks and Frisbee.

“You’re bad,” Hadley said.

Autumn laughed. “Lately I seem to be. It doeshurt, though. I’m not making that part up.”

“Of course it does,” Hadley said with a grin.“But I don’t think the ache has anything to do with that foot.”

Autumn answered with a flip of her sunglassesonto her face and big smile. “Just having a little fun is all.”

“Like I said, the new you is bad. And I loveit.”

Chapter Five

When Kate met Eva for the first time, she wascounting the ants on the sidewalk. She’d seen the dark-haired little girl outin front of the dilapidated house on the end of her street multiple times, andwondered, with concern, if she was too young to be so close to the street onher own, no adult in sight.

“Hi,” Eva had said, as Kate approached. Shehad her hair in a messy braid she’d likely assembled herself and looked up atKate with bright eyes and a friendly smile—as if her day had just been made byKate’s presence on her sidewalk.

Kate was on her way to meet friends atRicardo’s Cantina for a birthday celebration for her pal Keri, who she’d knownsince grade school. She’d opted to walk instead of drive in case she decided tohave more than one drink. The work week had been killer, with several assiststo neighboring towns, but this little girl seemed like a bright spot.

“Hi back,” Kate said in return. She’d neverreally spent much time around kids, but she liked them well enough. “What areyou up to out here?” She glanced around for an adult, but saw no one.

“Counting the bugs,” Eva had said, pointingat the line of ants marching dutifully into the storm drain beneath the curb.“There are a lot. See?”

Kate knelt to survey the ants. “There are.How many do you think?”

“Probably more than a hundred.” The littlegirl looked up in awe. “Tons!”

Kate nodded. “I think you’re right.”

“What’s your name?” Eva had asked,straightening.

Kate did the same. “Kate.”