Page 81 of Serenity Harbor

He laughed, which this time drew her mother’s attention. Even from several yards away, she could see the hopeful expression on Charlene’s face and had to fight her sigh.

She shifted her gaze away, then instantly regretted it when it landed again on Bowie, deep in conversation with Sam. Her friend’s features were animated and happy, and as Katrina watched, Sam placed a carefully manicured hand on Bowie’s chest. She was overwhelmed with the sudden ridiculous urge to race over and smack it away.

What was wrong with her? She had no claim over Bowie. She worked for him, that was it—and she wouldn’t be doing that much longer. She certainly had no business wanting to dictate his social interactions. He could talk with anyone he chose.

Besides, hadn’t she once thought someone like Sam would be good for him? Bowie needed someone sweet and kind and, especially,available.

A cloud of depression settled over her like a gnat swarm. She tried to swat it away by flirting with Jamie for a minute or two, but it was obvious to both of them her heart wasn’t in it. She was almost relieved when Milo started heading for the water’s edge and she had to extricate herself from Jamie to avert trouble.

Milo appeared unconcerned when she joined him.

“No water, remember? We talked about it.”

He held up a rock and pantomimed throwing it in, and she decided that would be fine. Right now, she had to wonder if chucking a big boulder into the water might actually be cathartic.

“Go ahead,” Katrina said. “I’ll watch you from here.”

She set her drink down so she could pull over a couple of her mother’s molded plastic lawn chairs and angled them so she had a good view of both Milo and the party.

As soon as she picked up her lemonade and sank into one of the chairs, Wyn wandered over and sat down in the other.

“I suppose this is the closest we’ll get to a going-away party for you,” her sister said.

“I don’t need a party. I’ll be back home with my daughter before you know it.”

“I’m going to pray that’s exactly what happens,” Wynona said.

“Don’t jinx it. I can’t consider the alternative.”

Some of her own fear must have filtered through her voice, because Wynnie reached over and squeezed her arm. “I know. Same here. I don’t want you to move permanently to another country. What would I do without my baby sis?”

“I don’t want to talk about it. Let’s change the subject.”

“Okay,” Wyn said, a wicked look in her eye. “I guess it’s obvious Sam has a new crush.”

Yeah, that wasn’t a subject she wanted to discuss either. Still, she couldn’t resist following the direction of her sister’s gaze to where Samantha and Bowie still stood close together, engaged in conversation.

Sam was really putting out the vibe. Katrina knew her well enough to see all the signs. She wouldn’t be going to so much trouble if Bowie wasn’t somehow encouraging her.

“Looks like.” She tried to give a casual smile, but she had a feeling Wyn wasn’t fooled.

“They look cute together, don’t you think?” Wyn said.

“Adorable,” Kat said. The word came out more abruptly than she intended and earned a searching look from Wynona.

Shoot. Her sister had been a trained police officer until a year ago, quick to read between the lines. She didn’t need Wyn suspecting she might be jealous.

She didn’twantto be jealous. It made her feel petty and small and stupid. She had been the one to encourage Bowie to ask Sam out. How could she be jealous that he decided to take her up on it?

If Wyn could read her emotions on her features, she decided not to say anything about it, much to Katrina’s relief.

“Speaking of crushes,” she said after a moment, “did I see you deep in conversation with Jamie Caine a few minutes ago? Anything interesting going on there?”

She couldn’t help thinking how much easier her life would feel right now if that were the case. “You’re as bad as Mom. That’s why I don’t dare talk to any man in Haven Point for long. If our conversation dragged on a minute or two longer, she would be ordering wedding cakes.”

Wyn gave her a sympathetic smile. “For the record, Jamie is a great guy. You could do much worse. There’s more to him than a charming smile and a flirty disposition.’

She knew that. She’d seen those same glimpses in Jamie’s eyes. There were reservoirs of something deeper, something he worked hard to keep concealed, for reasons she didn’t quite understand.

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