Chapter twenty. Jay punched the remote to the garage as soon as she turned in the driveway, winding through the oak trees toward the back where the garage was

Jay punched the remote to the garage as soon as she turned in the driveway, winding through the oak trees toward the back where the garage was. But she slammed on her brakes, frowning.

Katherine's BMW convertible was parked inside.

She glanced at the clock on the dash. Six thirty. What in the world was Katherine doing home at this hour? Was something wrong? Was she ill? Questions swirled through her mind as she pulled into the garage and parked beside Katherine's car. Nothing looked out of order, but she hurried through the side door and into the backyard, stopping up short at the sight of Katherine lounging in the pool.

" You're home."

" No, you're home, " Jay said, going closer. " What's up? "

Katherine lazily splashed water on her legs, putting the float in motion as she drifted toward Jay. " I was tired."

" Yeah, about six months ago."

Katherine laughed. " I made partner. And I met my client goals."

" Congratulations."

Katherine stretched her arms behind her, uttering a satisfied moan as her eyes closed. " So, I'm taking a break. And don't worry about dinner. I've ordered. French okay? "

" Sure."

" Why don't you join me? "

" Okay. Let me change."

" And I'll have another drink, " she said, pointing to the empty glass at the pool's edge.

Jay nodded, stopping to collect the glass. She was tired too. She'd had a long day, starting, at seven that morning and only breaking for a quick lunch. And she still had work to do. But a dip in the pool sounded refreshing after the heat of the day.

So she shed her clothes, slipping into the sleek, black swim-suit—her favorite. Katherine would say the color wasn't flattering on her, but she didn't care. She refused to wear the bright, flowery one Katherine preferred. She thought it made her look old.

As she made Katherine's drink, she changed her mind on the iced tea she'd already poured. It was hot and she was tired. So she left the gin out, making a Tom Collins for herself too.

" So does this mean you'll be getting back to normal hours? " Jay asked when she joined Katherine in the pool.

" For awhile, yes. Until the end of the year. I think by January, I'll be ready to seriously consider going off on my own. Of course, that'll mean more work as I try to build my own practice. But I've made a lot of contacts." She pulled her long hair behind her, holding the wet ends off of her back. " But I'm ready for a break. And I'm glad you're home. I found us a wonderful place to stay."

Jay frowned, drifting idly in her pool chair. " Stay? Stay where? "

" In Hawaii. Ten days. And I don't want ten days in a hotel room. How does a bungalow on the beach sound? "

" That sounds... sounds lovely. When did you want to do this? "

" Oh, I've already made reservations. Didn't I tell you? The first week in August."

Jay's eyes widened. " August? Kath, you can't expect me to just drop everything without notice. I have deadlines. I'm under contract."

" For what? "

Jay bit her lip. " I have a business, remember? "

" Oh, that. Well, I can't see how ten days can make a difference. Besides, it's still four weeks away. I'm sure you can make arrangements."

And most likely she could. The three houses she'd originally signed on for were all but done. And she knew Kline was about to finish up on another one and she'd most likely get that job as well. But it was just the principle of it all, as if her work was not important. As if she could just put it on the back burner because Katherine decided they needed a vacation.

" I just love the name of the place. Cedars Under the Rainbow. There's some sort of legend that goes with it."

" What are you talking about? "

" The bungalows that I've reserved. They're on Maui."

Jay's eyebrows shot up. " Plural? We need more than one? "

Katherine laughed. " Well, Jenna and her date will need one."

Jay was taken aback, shocked by this news. " Jenna? You're planning to invite Jenna? "

" Didn't I tell you? " Katherine asked, waving her hand dismissively. " It's been so great to see her again, but we just don't have time to catch up. I thought this would be the perfect opportunity. Besides, she enjoys a lot of the things that I do. I thought that would let you off the hook."

Jay stared, speechless.

" You can do your snorkeling and water stuff, and Jenna can keep me company while we tour museums and art galleries, and squeeze in some shopping."

" And her date" Jay asked. " I'm to what? Babysit? "

" Well, I assume she'll invite Drew. You two seemed to hit it off the other week at dinner. It won't be like it'll be a complete stranger."

Drew? In Hawaii? Oh, God. " Okay, wait, let me get this straight. You wanted to go to Hawaii because we haven't had much time together lately and you needed a break. Fine. But you're going to invite Jenna and her date so that you'll have someone to do the things you like, and I'll have someone to keep me company while you two are out and about together. Is that the plan? " Are you kidding me?

" I think it's perfect. That way I won't have to beg you to get some culture in your life for once and go with me, and you won't expect me to go spear fishing or something equally disgusting."

Spear fishing? Since when have I ever wanted to go spear fishing? Snorkeling, yes. " I guess I'm just a little surprised you'd plan all this without consulting me. I mean, our first vacation in years, you'd think we could both have some input."

" Jay, you're surely not upset about this, are you? I mean, it's a free trip for you. You should be thanking me, not questioning my plans."

Jay stared, at a total loss for words. Thanking her?

" We fly out on the second, and we'll pick up a connecting flight in Houston. Ten days in paradise. I hope you're as excited as I am."

Excited? No. How about angry? How about apprehensive? How about scared to death? Ten days with Drew in Hawaii. Drew in a swimsuit. Oh, God. She and Drew hanging around together, playing on the beach while Katherine and Jenna did mature, cultural things. Not playing in the ocean like she could imagine she and Drew doing. In swimsuits.

" I'm sure it'll be fun, " she finally conceded.

" Of course it'll be fun. I can't wait to get away."

Well, so much for her worrying over them spending two weeks together. There would be no lulls in the conversations, no debates over what to do or where to eat, no uncomfortable moments alone. No, they would have none of that. Because they would have companions with them. A playmate for both of them. God, how sad was that?

She kicked her feet, setting the pool chair in motion, moving away from Katherine. Katherine didn't seem to notice. She was laying back on her lounge float, eyes closed, seemingly lost in thought. What was she thinking, Jay wondered. Was she mourning the collapse of their relationship? Was she thinking of ways to hold on to it? Did Katherine even want to hold on to it? For that matter, did she? Because really, there wasn't anything left to salvage. Was there?

Maybe if they both worked at it, yes, maybe they could salvage it. But Katherine's decision to invite another couple on their vacation—two people who were, in theory, strangers to them—told her everything she needed to know. Katherine wasn't trying to salvage anything. She was trying to make things as stress-free as possible by limiting their alone time together.

Wonder what she'll do when it comes time for bed?

" So what do you say? "

" Hawaii? Are you serious? "

" All expenses paid. How can you turn that down? "

Drew stared at Jenna, still shocked by her offer. Ten days in Hawaii. Air fare and lodging paid for. And all she had to do was occupy Jay's time while Jenna and Katherine got to know one another again. " And you're serious? "

" Of course I'm serious. Well, I'm not footing the bill.

Katherine's taking care of all that. My only chore was to talk you into going."

" So Katherine knows you and I aren't really dating? "

" Yes, of course, but she hasn't told Jay that."

Drew rubbed her temples, knowing she really didn't have a choice. If she said no, Jenna would simply find someone else to go. Someone Jay didn't know, some stranger to keep Jay company while the two of them slipped off to be together. In essence, Jay would be alone while her partner of eight years, the woman she lived with, quietly and unceremoniously slithered away to be with Jenna.

How could Drew not go? And really, if she was a true friend, how could she not tell Jay what was going on? If their circumstances were reversed, she'd want Jay to tell her. She wouldn't want to be played the fool. But that was another problem. As far as Katherine and Jenna were concerned, the one and only time she and Jay had met had been at dinner. Would that be making matters worse if she told Jay what was going on, if Jay then confronted Katherine, if they got into a huge blowup over it all? And if they did end up breaking up, would Jay blame her1?

Damn, those tangled webs would get you every time.

So she did what she knew she had to do. She nodded. " Okay, m in.