Another thought struck. How did he know about the necklace? Had he been spying on her that night too?
A perplexed frown crossed his face. “About that night…”
Dammit, she didn’t want to dredge up those painful memories again. Not now. Not here. And definitely not with him. Before she had a chance to respond, his cell phone rang and he excused himself.
Anna swallowed her unease and turned her focus to the ironing board and sewing machine she’d set up in the front room, and to the curtains awaiting her attention. She sat down, prepared to run the hem through the serger when Candace showed up, looking a little hot, bothered and flustered herself. Anna wasn’t surprised, really. She’d seen the man Pamina had hired to help Candace build furniture. She wondered if her friend was having as hard a time as she was at keeping to the pact.
“Lunch?” Candace asked.
Anna powered down the serger, deciding a few minutes away from the inn was exactly what she needed.
“Love to,” she said eagerly. “Let’s check in with Lindsay.” Perhaps over lunch they could all reaffirm their vow to steer clear of men and that would help get her head on straight and her focus back on her work, where it belonged.
Anna and Candace climbed the staircase and popped into Lindsay’s room, which was coming along quite nicely. Unfortunately Lindsay couldn’t join them because her shipment of BDSM equipment had just arrived. Too bad. With the way Daniel was affecting her, Anna really could have used a good stern talking to.
A few minutes later they stepped out into the fresh outdoors and walked down the street to the quaint restaurant around the corner. After lunch, Candace decided to go for a run, while Anna returned to her curtains. Much to her delight, the rest of the day passed quickly, with no incidents or encounters with Daniel. He stayed in the room working, and she stayed on the main level sewing and ironing.
As nighttime closed around them, Anna tidied her work area, checked in with her partners, then headed back to her condo. Her mother was right. She’d been so busy working that she hadn’t had time to visit. So tonight, with Daniel tied up in the room, it seemed like the perfect night to attend their dinner party and placate them.
Less than an hour later, dressed in her comfy jeans and a knit sweater, she exited her condo and jumped into her car. Her breath turned to fog as she turned her engine over and flicked on the heater. Even though the days were warm and sunny, the nights had turned cool and brisk, a sure sign winter was just around the corner.
The streets were fairly quiet as she made her way to her parents. Numerous cars lined the driveway as well as the cul-de-sac, and Anna smiled, thinking this was just the thing to take her mind off matters for a while.
With her mom and dad’s driveway full, she parked on the street, just outside Daniel’s parents’ house, and made her way up the walkway to the home that she’d grown up in. Her designer’s eye took in the beautifully finished two-story with its welcoming country decor. Her mother really did have a knack. Anna had obviously come by her designer skills honestly. Laughter and music reached her ears as she pushed open the front door. Her mother, Margaret, moved through the crowd to greet her, a wide smile on her pretty face.
“I’m so glad you decided to come.” She looked past Anna’s shoulders. Her mother frowned as she tucked a silver strand of hair behind her ear, a habit Anna had picked up long ago. “Is Daniel with you?”
“Why would Daniel be with me?”
“Well he’s working with you, isn’t he?”
“That doesn’t mean we travel together. Besides, he’s working late.” Her mother’s eyes sparkled, like she knew something Anna didn’t. Needing to set her straight, Anna cupped her mother’s hand. “Mom, look. Daniel and I are just friends. Nothing will ever develop between us.”
“We’ll see.”
Anna rolled her eyes heavenward and groaned, “Mom,” but she knew any efforts to convince her mother otherwise were futile. Simply and utterly futile. When her mother put her mind to something, there was no changing it.
Ignoring her protest, her mother ushered her to the dining room, and with a wave of her hand she gestured for the other guests to follow. Anna gave her father a kiss on the cheek and took her regular seat. She politely smiled at Daniel’s parents, who sat across from her and were assessing her over the brims of their wine glasses. Then she proceeded to exchange pleasantries with the three other couples who gathered around the long oaken table, which was dressed in a vibrant orange and red tablecloth, perfect autumn colors. Anna was quick to notice that the seat beside her was still empty, and she could only guess who it was meant for.
Anna inhaled and took in the medley of food in the center of the table. Her stomach grumbled. Goodness, she’d forgotten how much she loved her mother’s home cooking. As everyone began to fill their plates and Anna helped herself to a heaping spoonful of mashed potato, her mother initiated conversation.
“So, Anna, I haven’t seen you in a while. Is there anyone special in your life that you’d like to tell us about?”
With the serving spoon poised over her plate, Anna was about to open her mouth and tell her mother no, but slammed it again when questions about her marital status—or lack thereof—came at her fast and hard from the other women sitting around the table.
“Are you dating anyone?”
“Do you have any plans to get married?”
“Have you met Mr. Right yet?”
“Have you and Daniel gone out yet?”
“He’s back for good now, you know.”
“Time for that boy to settle down too.”
Okay, this was a twist she hadn’t—yet should have—expected from her parents’ longtime friends. She
