Page 74 of Sing with Me

Skye and Diehl both looked that way.

“Cara,” Diehl said. “Have you met Skye?”

“Yes, we’ve met,” Cara replied.

Skye remembered Cara from some of the Brooks parties and luncheons in years past—the same time she had met Diehl. Whenever Skye’s brother had catered an event for the Brooks family, Cara hung around, although she wasn’t in charge.

“Shopping, I see.” Cara wiggled her eyebrows as though she had just found a delicious secret. “That’s why you’re not staying at your mother’s house, huh?”

“I need my own space,” Diehl said.

“More privacy. I hear you.”

Diehl nodded. “Are you shopping for your own family or mine?”

“The kids—your kids—sent me here. They want cheesecake, all of a sudden. I told them I’d buy them some.”

“Ethan, right?” Diehl asked.

“I’m not giving away names. I’m no tattle-tale.” Cara chuckled. “I’ll let you go now.”

Skye wasn’t sure if it was a good thing for Cara to see them together. She felt nervous.

Diehl held her hand. “It’s all good.”

“Okay.”

“She’s not going to say anything to Mom unless it helps us.”

“It this a secret?” Skye frowned.

“No, no. I mean… That came out all wrong. Let me try again.” Diehl drew a deep breath. “Cara and my mom don’t always get along. However, Cara’s always on the side of the kids. I know we’ve all grown up, but she still defends us.”

“Loyal.”

“We like that. Well, today I had lunch with my parents, and guess what?”

“What?”

“Mom’s playing matchmaker, and invited someone to have lunch with us. She thought I might be interested in that someone. Clearly I wasn’t.”

“Oh?”

“I’ve already found someone special.” Diehl rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb. “And I want to spend more time with her. Walk on the beach with her. Talk with her. Every single day, if at all possible.”

Skye enjoyed the nice words until she remembered her schedule. “Not every day, though. One week from Monday, I’ll be gone for the week to attend a food festival in Miami Beach with my brother. We go there every year. Chef Joseph will cook for you while I’m out of town.”

“I’m going to miss your company,” Diehl said.

Your company.

He showed that he appreciated her for more than just her cooking.

“Will you miss me?” Diehl asked.

Would she miss him? She’d find out in one week.

Chapter Twenty-One