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“I hate knowing that’s true.” Sonya paged through Cleo’s sketchbook. “These are terrific. You already know that. You want oils for the one at the desk.”

“Mmm. And I want to play with shadows and light.Man WorkingLate, that sort of thing. Right now, I’m feeling lazy. Like a movie after dinner.”

“Read my mind.”

While they ate in the sunlight, Sonya smiled over at Owen. “I’ve been looking at chairs for out front, maybe a nice bench, the kind that’ll handle being out in the weather. The thing is, I haven’t found anything that’s not boring and standard. Nothing with the character the manor deserves.”

Eyeing her, he ate a bite of steak. “You want me to build you chairs and maybe a bench?”

“You do have that incredible workshop, and all those tools. I drew up some ideas.”

“Uh-huh.” He glanced at Trey, who shrugged.

“She did it this afternoon. I gotta say, they look good. Interesting.”

“Interesting. And say I find them interesting, what do I get?”

“I thought since Cleo would use them, too, she could offer you sexual favors.”

“I’m already getting those.”

“Yeah? They can be withheld.”

He just turned to Cleo. “But can they? Can they really?”

She laughed and lifted her margarita.

“I also noticed you have a nice collection of old tools. There are more of those downstairs. You could take whatever you wanted.”

“Maybe I’ll take a look at the design.”

When he did, saw the generous seats, the wide arms, the carving on the back that represented the weeper in bloom, he hissed out a breath.

“Okay, interesting. But you’re going to want to angle the seats and backs some.”

“Whatever you think.”

“I’ve got some teak, and that’d work. But black locust, more interesting.”

“Isn’t that an insect?”

“No. Back when, they used it a lot for outdoor work. And you want character, the been-here-forever feel. It can be a bitch to work with.”

“Not for you.” Cleo batted her eyes at him.

“I’m taking those sexual favors, Lafayette. And some tools.” He pointed at Trey. “You helped get me into this, so you help with the build.”

“I’m in. I like them. I’d’ve talked her out of them otherwise.”

“Is that so?” Sonya said.

“It’s what he does. Talks people into things or out of them. Mostly,” Owen added, “they come out of it thinking it was their idea.”

“Let the record show this was Sonya’s idea—issuing the challenge—and yours to accept it. So.” Trey smiled. “How about that movie?”

At three, the clock sounded. On the drift of piano music, Sonya rose. Trey got up quickly.

“I’m awake,” she told him. “I’m awake, but I have to… I need to go.”