CHAPTER 22

CHAPTER 22

CAT

“Good morning, Mrs. Winthorpe.”

“Good morning.” I smiled at the chef and poured a cup of coffee. “I’m going to walk through the gardens. If William comes down for breakfast before I get back, please let him know.”

“Certainly.” Philip nodded, and I took my mug and stepped through the back door, inhaling the crisp morning. The hydrangeas were in full bloom, and I took a moment to appreciate the neat pockets of color set off against the roses and grass. The gardens stretched between our home and the pool, then picked back up at the entrance to the orchard at the rear of our lot. I’d spent years cultivating the perfect mix of apple and lemon trees, set off by spice and strawberry bushes.

The privacy hedges between us and the Ryders ended at the edge of our home, the back of their home exposed if you walked deeper into our gardens. I wove around a bed of white roses and glanced over, spotting Matt on their upper balcony, his own coffee in hand.

He leaned against the railing, and even from here, I could see some dark chest hair peeking out of the top of his white robe. “Good morning!” he called out.

“Morning.” I moved closer and lifted my hand in greeting. “It’s actually warm out!” The prior few days had been miserable, the air thick with humidity, the skies dark and gray.

He laughed. “I don’t know about warm, but I’ll take it.”

An awkward silence fell, the distance too far for real conversation. Still, the effort should be made. “The pavers look great.”

He came to my side of his balcony and leaned forward, cupping his ear. “What?”

I worked my way around a bed of lilies and leaned against the low stone fence between our two backyards. “The pavers!” I pointed to the new white bricks that circled their pool. The color would be impossible to keep clean. I’d told Neena that, but she’d ignored the advice, picking a crisp bone color that would require bleaching and weekly pressure cleaning. I made a thumbs-up sign.

He nodded, then turned, a guilty expression flashing across his face. The door behind him opened, and I saw Neena appear, her obligatory workout outfit on. She’d probably already pounded out five miles on the treadmill, then jumping-jacked her breakfast off.

“Morning!” I called, waving up at her.

She came to stand beside Matt, looking down at me without returning the smile. “Cat.” Turning to her husband, she said something I couldn’t catch.

His head dipped, and he gave me an awkward wave. “See you later.”

I lifted my cup in response, my gaze settling on Neena’s face. She glared at me as if I’d pissed in her cereal. I kept my expression light, my voice sunny. “Can you believe this weather?”

She knotted her arms over her chest. “It’s fine.”

“Matt looks great—that keto diet is amazing.” I rested my forearms on the fence, a bit of chill coming in through the gap in my robe. “Maybe I should get William on that.”

She blinked at me, and I could see the inner struggle she had with a response. She was probably warring between telling me to keep my eyes off her husband and reacting to the reference to William.

“How was the wine-festival meeting?” she finally managed.

I was surprised she knew about it. Then again, I wasn’t. It was funny she had asked, since she had come up as a topic of conversation. Valerie Cortenza had mentioned she had seen William leaving Bevy’s Sandwiches with Neena on Tuesday. I’d found that information very interesting, since I hadn’t been aware of that lunch. I’d returned home and examined my calendar. I’d had an early dinner with William that night, and he hadn’t mentioned a word about a lunch meeting with her.

“It was good. Again, so sorry you didn’t make the board.” I frowned in mock regret.

I pushed off the fence and lifted my coffee to my lips, making sure to use the hand with the diamond, the huge stone impossible to miss. He’s mine. “Have a nice day, Neena.”

“You, too.” She smiled, and I smiled, and the morning chill didn’t have anything on us.