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“What was your favorite dish of hers?”

Kate got a faraway look in her eye, as ifshe’d been transported to a happier time. “Without a doubt, her spaghetti andmeatballs. She always winked and gave me an extra meatball. I didn’t tellRandy.”

Autumn smiled. “I like her already. And theystill live in Slumberton?”

“She died when I was seventeen, of ovariancancer.”

Autumn’s lips parted in surprise, but Katedidn’t slow down.

“My father owned his own locksmith companyand was everyone’s best pal. It probably helped that he practically gave hisservices away. He was loud and fun, the life of most parties. The beststoryteller you’ll ever meet, hands down. He was killed when he ran his truckinto a tree coming home late one night from the bar. He was never really thesame after we lost my mom. Drank a lot to mask the pain he was too tough toacknowledge.”

Autumn struggled to come up with the rightwords, when in fact, there were none. “I’m so sorry, Kate. You lost them both.Doesn’t seem fair.”

“It’s okay. You rebound over time. Feelsstrange talking about them, though. I haven’t in…years.”

“Then I consider it an honor. And Randy?”

“Still lives in Slumberton with his wife,Tessa. He’s a good guy. We look out for each other, check in every couple ofdays. He owns a bookstore. Was always the academic in the family.”

Autumn headed to the couch, where she’d becloser to Kate. “Is it odd that I haven’t heard of your town?”

“Nope.” Kate shook her head. “Would be odd ifyou had. About eleven hours north of here, just across the Oregon border.Unsuspecting, quiet little place.”

“Which explains why you don’t talk a wholelot.”

“True.” Kate smiled at the thought. “I talkto you. That’s rare for me. Not sure you realize.”

“You do. I’m lucky. And if you think aboutit, that’s twice for me tonight.” She pointed at Kate and grinned, proud of herown cheeky reference.

Kate studied her. “You’re a firecracker, youknow that? That’s the word that comes to mind when I think about you.”

“A firecracker, huh? Explain.”

Kate shook her head as if not sure quite how,until the explanation seemed to occur to her. “Well, you’re always full ofenergy, fire. Plus, there’s the hair.”

“The hair?” Autumn smiled. “Aha, a redheadreference. Okay. All right. I’ll take firecracker and raise you a brooding hottie.”

Kate pulled her chin back. “I can’t believeyou just called me a hottie. You can’t do that.”

“Well, I did.”

She raised a finger and sat forward in herchair. “And I do not brood.”

“But you do.”

Kate’s eyebrows scrunched. “Well, then I needto stop that immediately.”

“Oh, please, don’t,” Autumn said, dipping herhead and catching Kate’s gaze. “The brooding is good.Reallygood.”

Kate held Autumn’s gaze and nodded, her eyesdarkening. “Do you know what else was good?”

“Tell me.”

“The shop earlier.”

Autumn felt her temperature climb at just thevague mention of what they’d done in her storage room. “The night is young, youknow. I could leave if that’s what you prefer, or…”

Kate’s cheeks dusted with a formidable blushand it was enough of an invitation for Autumn, who was aiming to even out thescore. She placed her glass on the coffee table and crossed the short distanceto Kate, where she climbed easily onto her lap. “Hi,” she said quietly, lookingdown at her. She traced the line of Kate’s collarbone as Kate watched with raptinterest.