gone when she turned toward the window and looked back.
Haley hadn’t missed it. Had Elva?
Haley found herself a little breathless as Claire took a few
steps into the kitchen. “Hi,” she said, her voice warm. She
didn’t extend a hand or anything. She did look at Haley and
give her the smallest of smiles, but it felt like a huge victory. “I
hope you enjoy the beach today. Jean can cook whatever you
would like for dinner. I have to go to the city for business and I
won’t be home until later. You can have free range of the
house. Just not my office.”
Holy. Shit. Had Claire just made a joke? An inside, dirty,
steamy joke that only Haley would understand? Her pulse
quickened and her body felt like she’d just been struck by one
of the many bolts of lightning that were suddenly zinging
through the room.
Haley was so stunned that Claire might have waltzed into
the kitchen wearing a chef’s hat and uniform and announced
that she was going to cook for them. Which Haley knew Claire
never did. Had she cooked at all after what happened with her
dad? After giving up her restaurant? Like not making herself a
sandwich or a smoothie or something simple, but really
cooked? Or even baked?
“Can I play for Amy and Elva?” Haley knew it was a silly
question, but she wanted to keep Claire there for a few
minutes longer. She was watching Claire’s face, drowning in
her dark eyes, but she saw Jenny’s eyes flicker over to Elva
again, while she pretended that she wasn’t looking. Haley
shifted her gaze to Elva, who was still standing there, looking
like she’d gotten zapped by a stray shot of her own lightning.
There were so many currents buzzing around the room that it