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“What do you mean?” Autumn asked.

Hadley jumped in. “You’re the one who saidit. You saidwesaw the doctor this week.”

“Oh! Kate went with me.”

Right then and there, four women exchangedglances that said things had just gotten good. Hadley straightened in herchair, the haze of morning snatched from her demeanor altogether. She was nowwide awake, alert, and looking hungry for details. Typical Had. “Kate went withyou, you say? Was the nameKate?”

“I distinctly heard the name Kate,” Taylortossed in.

“Not just me, then,” Gia said.

“You guys are ridiculous.” Autumn brushed offthe questioning stares. “She came to keep me company. That’s it. It’s not whatyou think.”

“And what do we think?” Hadley asked with atwinkle in her eyes. “Say the words.”

“That there’s a burgeoning romance. Thatwe’re falling for each other. We’re not. We haven’t known each other thatlong.”

Isabel tapped her lips. “Well, over a monthnow. Heading into two.”

“She’s great, but we’re not going to have ababy together.”

Isabel turned her hand in a rewind circle.“Let’s just focus on the great descriptor, sans baby issue.”

Autumn tossed a towel onto her shoulder.“Fine. Kateiswonderful. I stand by the statement, but we’re both unavailable, amid wildlyweird times in our lives. A non-issue.”

Hadley took it from there, resting her chinin her hand. “But if youwereboth available? Let’s just play that game.”

“We’re not.”

“Were, though,” Hadley said more forcefully.“Were, were, were.”

“This would be a very differentconversation,” Autumn said, unable to resist the smile that hit at the thought.

“You’re glowing,” Hadley said happily. Shesat back in satisfaction. “Like Isabel, two minutes ago.”

“I don’t glow,” Isabel deadpanned.

“Oh, but you do,” Taylor said, stealing akiss. “It’s the best.” She glanced at her watch. “Speaking of, we should glowour way to the office. There’s an ex-assassin who needs words to say, and anetwork that demands schmoozing.” She turned to the group. “Thanks for lettingme crash your breakfast, everyone. The coffee was heaven-sent as usual, Autumn.Maybe even more so.”

Autumn smiled, proud of the batch. “Roastedthe beans a bit longer this time to enhance the caramelization.”

“No idea what any of that means,” Taylor saidwith a smile, “but it worked.”

“That means you fucking rocked.” Isabelsmiled at her own translation.

“I can work with fucking rocked,” Autumnsaid. “Thanks, Taylor!”

“Anytime.”

Taylor and Isabel headed off to the studio,with Hadley, who was opening the store that morning, on their heels. That lefther with Gia. Gia, who with just one look could understand everything that wasgoing on in her head. While Hadley was Autumn’s soft place to fall, and Isabelwas her kindred spirit in the sarcasm department, Gia was the one she couldtalk to straight up. No holds barred. What was even better about Gia? She was aproverbial vault and came without judgment. She didn’t get caught up in gossipor look for the exciting angle, she simply took each situation for what it was.Gia was no frills, and Autumn appreciated it.

“Saw the smile,” Gia said. “You sure you’renot getting caught up?”

Autumn dropped all pretense, knowing that shecould. “Trying not to. It’s not always easy, though.”

“Call me protective, I just want to make sureyou’re doing what’s right for you, whether that’s Kate or no Kate.”

Autumn decided to put it all out there. “WhenI’m around her, things seem easier and at the same time, more exciting. I don’tknow how to describe it, G, but when Kate’s around, my life gets…better. A lotbetter.”