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“You have a lot in common with her.”

“That's the second time you said that.” Jenna wrinkled her nose. “I cook with butter, eat meat and the universe has never once sent me a message. Or the Force.”

He laughed. “I was thinking you shared other characteristics. You look alike.”

“True.” At least she knew she would age well.

“You're both caring, nurturing people.”

“I don't nurture,” Jenna protested.

“The act of cooking, of feeding people, is nurturing by its nature. Food is life.”

“I think you're taking my work a little too seriously.”

“Or you're not taking it seriously enough.” He mitigated the intensity of the words with a smile. “Appreciate the gift you bring.”

“Now you do sound like Serenity.”

“Occupational hazard.” He took her hand in his. “Have I totally scared you away?”

“No,” she said honestly. “You've intrigued me. You're full of contradictions. And, according to Serenity, you give a great massage.”

He chuckled. “You've already had a sample of that.”

“I have and I'm surprised you have time to do anything else in your day. I would think your massage clients would keep you busy.”

“I don't usually offer massage to my clients,” he said, releasing her hand.

“Really?”

“Serenity's a special case.” He hesitated for a second. “What with her being from out of town and a temporary client.”

Before she could ask anything more, the server returned with the bread basket.

“Is it hard for you to eat out?” he asked, leaning toward her and speaking quietly. “Are you thinking about how you'd do it better?”

“I try not to,” she admitted. “Eating out is fun and I don't want to lose that by being critical.”

“Sort of like me taking an over-the-counter pain reliever for a headache.”

She turned to him, pretending shock. “You don't.”

“Sometimes.”

“What would your patients say?”

He laughed. “They'd be appalled. Can I convince you to keep my secret?”

She found herself getting lost in his blue eyes again.

“Maybe,” she said, trying to sound casual. “For a price.”

“A woman who negotiates. I like that.”

Which was good, because she was quickly beginning to realize that there were many things that she liked about him.

J
enna floated home from her date. Oh, sure, a car was involved, but that was a technical detail. In her heart, she was floating.

They'd laughed and talked and laughed some more all through dinner. She couldn't remember anything she'd eaten because she'd been so wrapped up in Ellington. Then he'd walked her to her car and kissed her with an intensity that had left her breathless.

As she parked in her garage, she told herself not to get too excited. That one great date did not a relationship make. But it had been so long since she'd had such a good time with a guy, including the last few years in her marriage. Sad but true.

Instead of going directly into her townhouse from the garage, she went out the open double door to collect her mail. On her way back, a man stepped out of the shadows.

She stopped in midstep, not sure what to do. Run?
Scream? With her garage door standing open, he could get directly into her house, possibly dragging her with him to do who knew what. Except this was Georgetown, not exactly a hotbed of murderers and rapists.

Indecision kept her in place, and in that second when she couldn't decide, she realized the man was on his cell phone. More than that, he was holding up his hand in the universal “wait and be quiet” signal.

“…the Baxter files. Email me the results. And double-check the billing. They screwed up the hours last month. Thanks, Cathy. Have a good day.”

Jenna relaxed. She doubted many criminals left messages while on a stakeout or told anyone to have a good day.

“Sorry about that,” the man said, stepping closer to her and into the light from her garage. “Work stuff. My assistant gets frantic when I'm gone, and that's never good.”

She recognized him immediately from the pictures Serenity had brought to the brunch.

“I know you,” she said.

He flashed her a smile then, one that looked exactly like Tom's.

“So you're feeling it then,” he said. “The connection? Our familial oneness?”

She laughed. “Actually I recognize you from a picture your mother showed me. Hello, Dragon.”

“Hey, sis. I'm glad it was a picture because, honestly, the oneness thing is so last year.”

She laughed. “It's nice to meet you. What are you doing here?”

“I came to meet you. Sorry it's so late, but my flight was delayed. I would have waited until morning but my curiosity got the better of me.”

Jenna studied her clean-cut brother. He seemed so normal. “Want to come in? I can make you something to eat.”

“That would be great, if you're sure? Mom said you were a chef. Very convenient. I'll bet you never go hungry.”

“And you do?” She led the way through the garage and into the house.

“Not now, but when I was a kid, it was a nightmare. All that vegan food.” He shuddered. “I started working in the vineyards when I was seven just to earn money. I told my parents it was for comic books but it was really so I could buy my lunch at school. No kid wants lentil loaf in his lunch box.”

She set down her purse in the living room and made her way into the kitchen. “What happened to the connection that flows between us?”

He grinned and took a seat on one of the bar stools next to the island. “Total crap,” he admitted cheerfully. “I'm a constant disappointment to my parents. Now, Wolf is perfect. Totally into everything organic. I'm the bad, nonorganic seed in the family.”

Jenna checked her refrigerator. “I could make you chicken piccata over angel-hair pasta with asparagus. How does that sound?”

“If you weren't my sister, I'd kiss you. I'm sorry I didn't bring wine.”

She motioned to the small under-counter cellar. “Help yourself.”

He did as she suggested, pouring them each a glass. Because she had been so busy talking with Ellington that she hadn't even finished her wine at dinner, she accepted and took a sip. Then she got to work, making the meal.

“Mom said you were on a date,” Dragon said as he took
his seat again. “As your brother, I don't want any details. I'm not looking for more responsibility in my life.”

“What responsibility would you have?”

“Beating him up if he hurt you.”

The matter-of-fact tone was kind of comforting. She finished buttering bread from a baguette she'd bought, then squeezed on crushed garlic, topped it with fresh Parmesan cheese and popped the slices into the broiler.

“I already know everything about you,” he continued. “Mom's been making regular calls. You probably want to know about me.”

Jenna finished pounding the chicken and dredged it in flour. “Every detail,” she told him, holding in her amusement.

“Well, I'm a lawyer. Corporate. When I first said I wanted to go to law school, my parents expected me to study something like immigration law and then spend my career working for earnest praise.”

“Not your style?”

“Hardly. I'm corporate all the way. Gotta pay for the steaks and fancy car some way. It's worked out great for me. I'm in San Francisco. Do you know what it's like to be successful and straight in that town? It's good to be me.”

She supposed Dragon could easily fall into the arrogant jerk category, but he was so at ease with himself that she couldn't help liking him.

“Trust me,” he added. “I'm due. Growing up with a name like Dragonfly wasn't easy. I got beat up on a regular basis.”

She turned the lightly browning chicken and added the pasta to the water. The diced asparagus would be parboiled and served on the side. While he was talking, she pulled out the browned garlic bread.

“Something to keep you from fainting while the rest of this cooks,” she said.

He took a bite, then moaned. “Amazing,” he mumbled over his food. “I saw you make this in, what, a minute? I can't believe how good it is.”

“You're an easy audience,” she said.

“That's what all the girls tell me.”

Jenna laughed. “I'm sure there are dozens.”

“Of course. Although lately…” His voice trailed off.

She squeezed lemon juice into the pan. “No way. Don't tell me you're thinking of settling down.”

“Maybe. I'm nearly thirty. Wolf is married and Jasmine is pregnant.”

“Jasmine?”

Dragon grinned. “They're perfect for each other. Jasmine never met a bean sprout she didn't like. Her nose wrinkles when I walk in the house, like she can smell the animal products on me. But she's sweet and pretty. Wolf runs the winery.” He grabbed for his glass. “You know about that, right?”

“Butterfly Wines?” she asked drily.

“It's not like they named it after me.”

“I wish they had. And Butterfly?”

“Hey, you're complaining to the wrong guy. Do you know what it was like the first day of school?”

“Sorry, no, but I can imagine.”

She dropped the asparagus into the boiling water in the small pot, then dumped the pasta into a colander. While it drained, she stirred the sauce, spooning it over the chicken.

“We're ready,” she said and grabbed a plate from the cupboard.

After scooping pasta onto the plate, she collected the chicken breast and poured the sauce over it. By then the as
paragus was done. She dashed a little extra virgin olive oil onto the pasta, topped it with grated cheese and passed it to him.

“Enjoy,” she said. “Oh. Flatware.”

She handed him a knife, fork and napkin, then took the seat next to him.

“It'll get cold,” she said, when he didn't move to take a bite.

“I know, but I'm savoring the moment. This looks great, smells better. If I could meet a girl who cooks like this, I would so marry her.”

“You're easy.”

“Tell me about it.” He cut into the chicken. “The boyfriend. What does he do?” She hesitated.

Dragon chewed and swallowed, then looked at her. “What? It's not a difficult question.”

“He's a naturopath.”

Dragon groaned. “Let me guess. Mom introduced you.”

“Yes, but he's really nice and smart. He went to Harvard medical school.”

“I'm a Yale man, myself.”

“Really? Ivy League?”

“I could have gone to Stanford, but it was too close to home for my taste. And I do mean taste. My mother could smell a burger on my breath from a mile away.”

He devoured his dinner while asking her questions about her life. When he was done, he leaned back in his chair and sighed.

“That was the best. Thanks.”

“You're welcome. If you'd like, I could teach you how to cook a few simple things.”

He picked up his wine. “Do I look like a guy who cooks?”

“No, but that could change.”

Dragon grinned. “No, thanks. Now when I find the one, I'll take you up on that offer. Not for me, of course. For her.”

“Pig.”

The smile never wavered. “That's me.”

 

“I met one of my brothers,” Jenna told Violet Monday morning as they opened the store.

“I was going to ask about your date, but this might be better. Which one?”

“Dragon. He's completely adorable, in a confident, cocky, lawyer kind of way.”

“You liked him,” Violet said. “I can tell by the look on your face.”

“I did. He looks a lot like Tom. He's actually really handsome. It's weird, but I already feel like I know him.” She wasn't completely sure about extra parents, but siblings she could deal with. “He's nothing like his family. Expensive suit, loves meat. I'm going to guess his car is a gas-guzzler. He jokes about growing up eating tofu surprise.”

Now that she thought about it, Serenity hadn't mentioned any of what she would consider Dragon's “negative” characteristics. She'd said her son was a lawyer and not much else.

Serenity was accepting, Jenna thought. And not judgmental. Her birth mother had that in common with Beth.

“He sounds great,” Violet said.

“He is.”

The front door opened and Robyn from Only Ewe stepped in.

“Morning,” she called. “I wanted to let you know our beginning knitting class is starting next week, in case you're interested.”

“I am,” Violet said.

“Let me think about it,” Jenna said. “I really want to learn, but I have some things I need to work out for the store.”

“No problem. We always have them starting. Your mom, ah, Serenity, is in one of my classes. She's pretty good.”

“I didn't know that she could knit.”

“She's great. She helps the other knitters. Actually, she's assisting in a couple of my classes.”

“I shouldn't be surprised,” Jenna said. “She does love to get involved.” A couple of weeks ago the information would have annoyed her, but now she accepted it as a part of who Serenity was.

“I need to get back,” Robyn said, moving toward the door. “But I wanted to let you know. Oh, and thanks for those marshmallow cookies. They were fabulous. Thank goodness I had a class come in after you brought them over or I would have eaten them all myself.”

She waved and left.

Jenna turned to find Violet studying her.

“What?” Jenna asked.

“Is everything all right with the store?” Violet sounded concerned.

“Of course. I just want to make a few more changes.”

Violet tensed.

Jenna touched her arm. “I was going to ask you to stay a few minutes later today so we could talk about it, but I don't want you to suffer. Everything is fine. In fact it's wonderful. You're doing a terrific job. I love the girls you hired to work part-time.”

“Okay. Good.” Violet's expression relaxed.

“It's me. I'm not loving taking care of all the details. Ordering, managing the supplies. I really want to spend more
time with the classes. I was wondering if you would be willing to manage the store. I could either give you a raise or cut you in for a percentage of the profits.”

Violet's voice caught while she was answering. “I'd love handling things for you.”

“I was really hoping you'd say that. Let's talk more after work.”

“Absolutely.”

A half dozen or so customers arrived together, interrupting their discussion. Each had a question about a different class. At one point Jenna looked up to see her mother discussing Bundt pans with one woman and Serenity demonstrating a Swiss-made cheese grater to another. She wasn't exactly sure when they'd arrived, but she was grateful for the help. Finally about eleven-thirty, there was a brief lull.

“You're doing well,” Beth said. “It's a Monday morning and you're still crowded.”

“I know. It's so good, it's almost scary.” She led her mother toward the kitchen. “I'm making Violet the manager of the store. We're going to talk details tonight after work. I want more time to focus on the classes.”

“What a great idea. Violet is organized and experienced.”

“I'm organized,” Jenna said with a laugh.

“True, but running a store is new for you. I'm glad you're having fun.”

“I am. I thought I'd made a huge mistake when I rented the store, but I didn't.” She was about to mention her date with Ellington when the door opened and Dragon strolled in. “Check it out,” she said, pointing.

Beth turned in time to see Dragon and Serenity embrace.

“Who is that?” Beth asked, sounding slightly shocked.

“One of my brothers. He's a corporate lawyer. I'm not sure it's possible for him to be more different than his parents.”

“Really?” Beth eyed him. “Come on. You can introduce us.”

 

Violet wrapped a set of pots in the generic gift wrap they had in back. As she cut and folded and taped, she found it tough to keep from breaking into a happy little dance. As it was, she settled on grinning like an idiot.

Her promotion probably wouldn't mean all that much to a lot of people, but to her it was confirmation that she'd made the right choice to take the job. Her gut was in working order—something always good to know.