Page 38 of Sing with Me

“When did you start eating organics?” Skye munched on the crispy bacon. It was cooked just right. Was Diehl a secret cook himself?

“Since I was little. Mom made sure Cara only cooked the healthiest food—which didn’t always make my siblings and me happy, especially when our friends from school could eat anything they wanted.”

“Cara?”

“Yes. She’s in charge of the housekeeping staff at my parents’ house now, but back then she was also our nanny and cook.”

“Multitasker.”

“She was. To top it off, after she took care of four rambunctious kids during the day, cooked and cleaned for us, she went home to her own family. She has three kids of her own.”

“Super mom.” Skye wanted more bacon, but she decided not to. She could always cook more at home. She didn’t want to eat her client’s food.

Diehl picked up another strip of bacon and put it in front of her. “Take a bite.”

“What?”

“Come on. You want to.”

“No.”

“Liar.”

Skye made a face.

“I know you wanted to compliment me on the great job I did with the bacon,” Diehl said. “Here I am, not a real chef, and I did not burn the bacon one bit.”

“I turned down the stove for you.” The bacon came closer to her mouth.

“I see you’re not going to give me credit. Try this and give me a rating.” Diehl waited.

“All right. I’ll bite.” She did. It tasted the same as the other strips. Delicious. “I’ll give you an A.”

“A plus?”

“An A is huge.”

“A plus plus?” Diehl smiled.

He had a charming smile, Skye thought. How could this man be so easy to talk with? “Are you this easygoing back home?”

He raised an eyebrow. “You mean back home in Atlanta? At work?”

“I wasn’t going to bring up work since you’re on vacation.”

“Vacation?” Diehl sat back. “Well, it’s turning into a vacation. But I’m supposed to be taking a mental health break. Dad didn’t want me to think about work at all for three months. I don’t know why he’s telling me what to do. I’m turning forty this fall.”

“It’s good to take some time off.”

“I don’t know. If you didn’t let me play accompaniment in your Treble Trio, I might be bored to tears.”

“Maybe you could learn a new skill?” Skye suggested.

“You mean like cooking?”

Skye didn’t expect him to say that. “I was thinking along the lines of learning a new musical instrument or taking an art class. There are plenty of adult programs at the local college and in the village shops.”

“Music can be therapeutic.”

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