her heart thundering like crazy, she agreed, then qualified it by adding cautiously, âBut only if I can catch Carly before she leaves to run her dogs.Sheâs often in and out and hard to get a hold of. Either way, Iâll see you tonight. Same place by the elevators in the main salon.â She hung up before she could change her mind, then wondered if she was making a huge mistake.
If so, it was too late to do anything about it, so she put it out of her mind, and she was finally starting to settle down again when her doorbell rang. She went to answer it, smiling to see her petite next-door neighbor Ellen Chandler on the other side.
âHello, darling,â the older woman said. âIâm sorry to show up unannounced like this. Have I come at a bad time?â
âNot at all.â Charmed as always with the retired librarianâs manners, she stood back to let her enter, happy for the distraction. âPlease, come in.â She found Ellenâs company soothing, and she loved the way the fifty-nine-year-old often spoiled her with some of the best home-baked goodies sheâd ever tasted. She gave the foil-covered plate in Ellenâs hands a covetous glance.
Ellen caught her at it and extended the plate. âFor you.â
âThank goodness! For a second there I feared I was just a pit stop on your way to deliver it to someone else.â Grinning, she took the plate and headed for the kitchen. âIâll put the coffee on. What did you make me this time?â
âNothing special.â Ellen followed her around the breakfast bar that divided the small, cheerful room from the main living area. âJust a few snickerdoodles and chocolate drops.â
Treena guffawed. âNothing special, she says.â Pulling off the foil, she breathed in the rich, home-baked aroma. âOhmigawd, Ellen. I think I love you.â
âThatâs why I keep baking for you, sweetheart. Youâre so easy.â
âYes, maâam. But Iâm not cheap.â
When Ellen laughed it was a deep, rich, surprisingly bawdy sound at odds with her short salt-and-pepper hair and neat-as-a-pin gray tank top, trim belt, and walking shorts. âSome might say thatâs debatable if I can buy your affection with a plateful of cookies.â
âHey, Iâll have you know itâs a cumulative effect. It took a lot of platefuls to get me to this point.â
âWell, thatâs a reliefâIâd hate to think you were selling yourself short.â She straightened a magnet on the refrigerator, then looked over at Treena. âSo tell me about this new man in your life. A hottie, I believe is how Carly described him.â
The smile slid from Treenaâs face and her hands stilled over the coffee fixings she was assembling. âCarly talks too much.â
Ellenâs brow wrinkled. âOh, dear. Was I not supposed to bring him up?â
âNo. Itâs fine. Iâm being rudeâIâm sorry.â That seemed to be her favorite new phrase. âItâs just that Iâm a little confused about my feelings for Jax at the moment, and I donât think Iâm quite ready to talk about it.â
âThen we wonât. Did I tell you Iâve been debating joining a tour for that trip to Italy Iâve been wanting to take?â
Treena studied the petite older woman for a moment, then released the tension that the introduction of Jax into the conversation had settled in her shoulders. She shot Ellen a smile and resumed getting their coffee ready. âYou have got to be the politest person Iâve ever met.â
âYes, well, what can I say?â Ellen shrugged. âEarly training digs its roots deep.â
âItâs very nice. Iâve never known anyone quite like you. So whatâs the debate?â
âI donât want to go to Italy by myself. But Iâm not sure I care to travel with a bunch of strangers, either.