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“Let’s make sure.” Sonya sliced off a bit, divided it into three. She handed one to Cleo, tossed one to Yoda, then sampled herself. “I believe you’re right. I am, officially, a pot roast genius.”

“There may not be room for my pie after this.”

“They’re men.” Sonya put the platter in the warming oven. “They’ll have room for pie.”

Hip cocked, sipping wine, Cleo watched Sonya whisk up gravy.

“I am seriously impressed. Here, I’ll whisk awhile. Take a wine break.”

They switched positions.

Yoda scrambled up with a joyful bark to race toward the front of the house. The doorbell bonged, and Clover switched to the Black Eyed Peas singing about how tonight’s gonna be a good night.

“I agree.” Reaching over, Sonya turned down the heat. “Let’s let them in and get it started.”

Chapter Three

When Sonya opened the door, Mookie galloped in. Jones swaggered.

On the third floor, doors slammed like gunshots.

“Somebody’s not happy to see us,” Owen commented, and held out a bottle of wine. “He’s flower guy, I’m wine guy.”

“And both are appreciated.” Sonya took the bouquet of white tulips. She kissed Trey, then Owen.

“I got a kiss last night,” Owen reminded Cleo when she simply shut the door.

“Circumstances,” she said.

“Come on back. Can I ask how your client is? The one in the hospital.”

“She’s good. Better. They’ll keep her another day, maybe two. Owen spent more time with her than I could manage today.”

“You went to see her?” Sonya asked.

“Her ex used to work for me. Us,” he corrected. “She’s doing okay. Looks like she got the crap beat out of her, but doing okay. She’s counting on Trey to get her full custody of the kids and permission to move out of state with them. Back with her family.”

“She can count on it. I remember this smell,” Trey added. “And it’s just as good as the first time.”

“With special additions. Beer bread and apple pie.”

“You made pie?”

Cleo smiled at Owen, and poured two more glasses of wine. “I learned.”

“It looks good. You look good,” Trey added. “Both of you.”

“We had a good day.”

“Did you actually burn my shoes?”

“We did,” Cleo answered. “In a spot back near the woods, in a circle of stones and salt. Doused them with lighter fluid, tossed a match, and whoosh.”

“It wasn’t pretty,” Sonya told him, “but effective.” She got out three rawhide bones. “Now, you dogs take these and go behave yourselves. The humans are going to have dinner.”

“How do they feel about cats?” Cleo wondered.

Trey watched his big Lab/retriever mix gallop off with his bone. “Mookie’s fine with them.”