Shauna mixed something by the stove and looked up when Cat came in. “It’s pretty, right? Andi has a good eye for decorating.”

  “It’s nice.” Cat took her empty coffee carafe to the sink and went to the fridge for a bottle of water. “I’m hungry but I don’t want a big meal. I’m going to write until the guests get here, then I’ll play hostess for a bit before changing into my costume.”

  “I’m warming up some soup and making more cornbread for lunch. But dinner’s all about the party. So make sure you eat while you’re chatting. And there will be more than just cookies available.” Shauna looked up from her mixing. “Do you want something now? Seth’s eating before he goes to Denver so he’ll be here probably in about thirty minutes if you want to join him.”

  “I’ll take a bowl of cereal now up to my office.” Cat sidestepped the offer. “I’ll eat later, just before the writers get here. That way, I’m not starving at the party and making a fool of myself.”

  “I’d say that was a well-thought-out plan if I didn’t know it was a total dodge to keep from seeing Seth. What happened last night when you talked?” Shauna set the mixer down and walked over to where Cat was pouring milk into her cereal. “Don’t tell me you got into a fight again.”

  “No fight. It was fine. We ate and talked about the retreat.” Cat put the milk away. With her back turned from Shauna, she added, “He wants to talk about us. But I put it off until after the book gets turned in and the hearing. He said he understood. I guess telling me he doesn’t love me anymore might get a little easier if I have time to prepare myself before he lowers the bad news.”

  “Don’t think that way. Seth loves you. Even my jaded heart can see that.” Shauna came up behind Cat and squeezed her shoulders. “Have faith.”

  Cat headed upstairs with her cereal and a fresh carafe of coffee. The best thing about being a writer was she could get lost in the story and forget about all the stuff going on in the real world. It would all be there when she came back downstairs, but for a few hours, she could make the world the way she wanted.

  By the time she’d finished writing and editing for the day, Seth had left for Denver. She found Shauna sitting in the kitchen with Uncle Pete. Cat filled a bowl with soup and took it to the table to join them.

  “Hey, Cat. I wondered if you’d come out of your cave to see your uncle today or not.” Pete Edwards was her mom’s brother, and since her parents moved to Florida, the only family she had in Aspen Hills. The fact he was the town’s police chief was a bonus in Cat’s eyes. Especially when she needed help with a retreat issue. Like the time she’d found a guest dead in his bedroom. Okay, so twice she’d needed help with that type of problem.

  Cat pushed the memory aside and took a piece of corn bread, slathering butter over it. “I would be down here to greet you if you’d announce you were coming. You can’t just pop in and expect me to know you’re here. I’m not a mind reader.”

  “No? I would have thought you’d figure out I show up for lunch or dinner just before you start one of these retreats. I brought the background check results with me, and Shauna was nice enough to offer to feed me.” He tapped a folder that sat on the table next to him.

  “Anything I should know about?” Uncle Pete had talked Cat into this step after one of the retreat guests turned out to be a stalker. She still thought it was overkill, but it made him more comfortable.

  “No. One person’s got some parking tickets. Another was arrested at a demonstration against a business who apparently doesn’t believe in global warming. And that’s about it. I would have thought with the group being from California, you might have a few drug-related issues, but they look clean.” His gaze dropped to the file like he considered digging deeper.

  “You’re profiling an entire state now? Maybe you should expect clean reports like I do since, as writers, we’re a little boring. We like to watch the world experience things, not do them ourselves. Especially the arrest thing. I’m not sure I could deal with a night or more in a cell.” She sipped her soup. Potato chowder. One of her favorites.

  “You’re a little naïve, my dear.” Uncle Pete went on to tell her all about several issues bed and breakfast owners were having in Denver.

  She met Shauna’s gaze. “But, Uncle Pete, those places are in Denver, not Aspen Hills. Besides, they don’t cater to writers. And finally, they don’t have you popping in all the time. Speaking of, are you coming to the party tonight?”

  “I’m not much for dressing up in costume.” He leaned back and studied the two women at the table. “I guess having Seth here full time now eases my concern a bit about the two of you living with four strangers for a week.”

  “Five,” Shauna corrected. When she saw Pete’s frown, she added. “The Covington student is just as much a stranger as the writers. And, with Covington’s family clientele, I’m thinking we’re safer with the random writers. Besides, you’ve already done the background checks, and nothing popped out. You really should come to the party though.”

  “Sorry, Shirley and I have our virtual date tonight. If I cancelled, she’d be on a plane from Alaska to check out who I was attending said party with. The woman keeps a tight leash on me, even from Anchorage.” He finished his soup and wrapped a piece of cornbread in a napkin. “I’ve got to get back to the house. My cleaner’s there and she’ll be waiting for me to write her a check.”

  “Maybe we should hire her to help out with retreat week.” Cat took a bite of cornbread then noticed Shauna staring at her. “What? What did I say?”

  “Don’t you think I keep the house clean enough?” Shauna asked, clearly offended.

  Cat held up a hand. “Don’t get upset. I’m saying that we should look into hiring a cleaner as a time saver for you. You cook, clean, and manage the retreat. And that’s on top of writing your cookbooks. Not to mention the horse and cats and the barn.”

  “Seth’s handling the landscaping, the construction, and keeping the barn clean and stocked. All I do is feed Snow and ride her. I’m feeling like a slacker.”

  Cat laughed as she swept her arm around the kitchen, showing off the plates of cookies on every flat surface. “If there’s one word that doesn’t describe you it’s slacker. You’re the most driven and productive person I know. Just look at the baking you did for the party you arranged, at the retreat you set up. I’m not sure you can fit anything else into your days without you giving something up like cleaning. You have other things you should be doing.”

  “My cut is based on the chores I do for the retreat. I don’t want you to cut my pay either. Although technically, I really don’t need the money, but my investment guy is always trying to get me to stash some away for retirement. You know that day’s going to sneak up on us.”

  “You two are too young to be thinking about retirement,” Pete said. “Now me, I’m going to have to work until I’m ninety the way the town pension keeps changing. Shirley’s trying to get me to open some sort of account where it doesn’t count against your taxes. Maybe I can have her come over the next time she’s in town and she can explain it to all of us. I just don’t understand what she’s saying half the time. That woman is crazy smart.”

  “Sure, that would be fun,” Cat said, meeting Shauna’s gaze with a wide eyed look.

  Uncle Pete stood and took his bowl to the sink. “Thanks for lunch. Have fun at your party tonight, but don’t do anything that needs police attention. I’m on call tonight and I didn’t tell Shirley. She gets put out if our date nights are interrupted.”

  Cat said her goodbyes to her uncle and then focused on Shauna. “You’re so much more than just what you do for the retreat. You’ve got to know that.”

  “On the outside, probably. But I still want to pull my share here.” She looked around the cozy kitchen. “I can’t believe how soon I’ve gotten used to this place. It’s home.”

  “It is. And you need to remember that. No matter what happens with the retreat, this is still your home. Unless you and your secret admirer run off together. Then I’ll have to teach Seth to cook.”

  Shauna stood and took her bowl to the sink, then she cleaned off the counter. “What makes you think I have a secret admirer?”

  “Flowers have come every Monday for a couple of months. And some nights when you come home, your cheeks are red, and it’s not just from you walking home in the cold.”

  “You need to stop investigating my life. You just keep those skills to drive your uncle crazy on his unsolved cases.”

  Cat sighed. “You have a point. But someday, you’re going to tell me, right?”

  Shauna held up her hand and made a gesture. “Scout’s honor.”

  “I don’t think you were ever a scout.” Cat leaned back into her chair. “I guess I’ll go up and try to write some more. Sometimes getting words is like squeezing a rock and expecting lemon juice.”

  “Maybe having writers here will help you log in more words. You tend to get a little competitive when you all do writing sprints.” Shauna moved the empty plate where the cornbread had been and wiped the table. “At least, that’s what I heard.”

  “I’m not competitive. I just like setting a good example. It’s not my fault that I can really type fast at times.” Cat put her bowl in the sink. “I should have asked. Do you need help with anything before I go back to my office?”

  Shauna gently pushed her toward the door. “I’m fine. Go work. You know you want to.”

  Cat grabbed a soda out of the fridge. “Actually, I don’t. I hate it when I get this way just before a deadline. I want the book to be done, yes, but I really don’t want to work. I think I’m afraid I won’t be able to pull off the magic this time.”

  “You’re always able to finish. Don’t doubt yourself. I know we’ve had a lot on our plates. Maybe after this retreat, you and Seth should take a vacation together. Figure out what you need from him to forgive and talk this out.” Shauna used her ice cream scoop to drop cookie dough on the baking sheet.

  “Better idea. Let’s go on a double date. You and secret admirer and me and Seth.”

  Shauna snorted but didn’t meet Cat’s gaze. “I’m not that stupid.”

  “So, you think it would be a bad idea? You don’t think they’d like us?” Cat pushed but Shauna held up a hand.

  “I’m done talking. Stop stalling and go write.”

  Cat left the kitchen and headed up the three flights of stairs to her office. The one good thing about having her turret office was it kept guests out of her hair during retreats. And she didn’t need a stair machine.

  Shauna was being really secretive about the guy she was dating. Which made Cat want to know even more who it was.

  She pushed the question off and focused on her main character, Tori, and her new college. She’d joined a sorority that was keeping her busy, as well as the campus coven, who mostly hated the sorority girls. It was a balancing act for Tori to keep the two groups separate. Especially since the campus wasn’t that big. And of course, there were two guys. The nerdy human who read her poetry and took her on surprise picnic lunches. And the warlock who had a Harley and enjoyed long rides in the country. She was sure neither one was Tori’s soul mate, but college was time to have some fun. And it was Cat’s job to make the fun screw up her life as much as possible.

  She opened her pop and sat at her desk, reading the last paragraph she’d written before lunch. Then she set her watch alarm for an hour and started writing. Shauna was right: this book wasn’t going to write itself. She didn’t have Tori’s powers.

  3

  The party was in full swing by the time Cat recognized the woman in the witch costume standing next to a werewolf. Harriet Barring, the Covington English professor who had challenged the college’s sponsorship of the retreat stood there, drinking Cat’s wine like she’d been invited. Okay, so Cat had put a flyer up for any English department member to attend, but she really hadn’t expected anyone to show up. Especially not Professor Barring. And yet, there were several members of the English department milling around. Maybe they came to see the fight that was just about to happen.

  She moved toward Professor Barring to give a piece of her mind when Seth stepped in front of her. She tried to move around him, but he grabbed her arm. When she met his gaze and tried to shrug out of his grip, she saw his grin. “I’m busy.”

  “I know what you’re about to do and it’s not worth it. She came with her husband, Stephen, who’s part of Tammy’s writers group. You’d just make a scene and you’d be seen as the bad guy if you did. So just stay here and talk to me.” Seth moved her over to the bar where he ordered her a class of chardonnay and a beer for himself. He paid for the drinks and then moved her away from the dining room where the others had been standing. “Besides, you look stunning in that outfit and I’ve been wanting to tell you exactly how amazing all night.”

  He always knew how to distract her. Cat twirled in the tulle skirt. The glitter sparkled in the low light. “I’m going to regret making a Tori costume for this. I’ll never get all of the glitter out of the wood floors. But I have to admit, playing dress up is really fun.”

  “You should wear it at your book events. I bet your fans would get a kick out of it.” He held out his beer and clinked it on her glass. “I’m glad to be home.”

  She studied him as he took a drink. Her heart squeezed a little at his words.

  Then he lowered it and sighed at the look on her face. “I’ve ruined the night again, haven’t I?”

  She shook her head. “No, I just had this totally biting, sarcastic response that I was going to blurt out, and then I realized I’m just keeping myself in this pain. I don’t want to fight with you.”

  “I don’t want to fight either. We agreed put this aside until after the retreat, but what if we go away for a weekend? I’ll have to sweet-talk Shauna into watching Sam, but I think we need to say some things to each other and see if we can get past them.” He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “I still love you but if you don’t feel the same, we need to put both of us out of this misery.”

  “Truce until after the retreat then?” Relieved, Cat held up her wine glass and Seth clinked his beer bottle. She kept his gaze. She wanted to tell him how she felt, but she was afraid she’d burst into tears at the words. Not a good look for someone who was supposed to be hosting a party. And there was that old song about crying at your own party. Cat seemed to remember it hadn’t turned out well for the singer.

  “Truce.” He pointed out one of the retreat guests. The man was dressed like a vampire, but his pink dreadlocks kind of ruined the dark effect of his costume. “That Deek’s a character. I don’t think he shut up the entire trip from the airport. He’s a surfer but now that he’s here, he’s thinking about coming back to do some skiing or snowboarding later this year. If he can get the time off. I didn’t realize working at a bookstore was that demanding of a job. But don’t ask him about it, he’ll tell you more than you want to know.”

  “Some people like hearing about what it’s like to work at a bookstore.” Cat pointed to the woman next to him. “Who’s the sprite again?”

  “Pixie,” Seth said, and then he chuckled as Cat turned toward him with a question on her face. “Yes, her name is Pixie. She’s part of the California group. I think she’s sweet on Deek, but he’s oblivious. The sexy witch standing next to her is Cari Black. She writes witch stories too, but a hotter, adult romance version. She’s had some success with self-publishing, but she’s working on getting a real deal.”

  “A real deal?”

  “Her words, not mine.” Seth held up his hands to ward off the blow. “One with a big publisher. She says her folks are English professors at a local community college and keep asking her when she’s going to take this career seriously.”

  “Is she paying her own way?” Cat watched the two women. Neither one moved from their claimed corner of the room with their wine glasses in hand. But they were watching everything and everyone. Including Deek, who had just moved from one group to another. He was the social butterfly of the group. Maybe they should move the party to the end of the week when people had a chance to feel more comfortable. Especially the introverts.

  “She said she just bought a house with her writing money, so I think that’s a yes. Especially since it’s a house in California.” Seth studied the room. “Writers are a different breed. They’re all needy and wanting to be proven worthy.”

  “Well, thanks for that, Dr. Phil.” Cat turned her attention to Seth.

  His face pinked even under the white makeup he’d put on for Frankenstein. “Cat, I didn’t mean you. You already have your proof. You’re published.”

  “And so is Cari. I get so tired of us judging each other by how we make our money. Or if we make money at all. Writers are writers. A lot of the greats were seen as hacks when they were alive.” She nodded to the professor and her husband. “Making walls only hurts all of us.”

  “I believe someone said good fences make good neighbors. Maybe Ben Franklin?” A dark-haired young man who looked like a Greek demigod broke into their conversation. He was dressed in a flowy poet shirt with no buttons closed, showing off a chest that only came from a lot of time in the gym. His leather pants completed the outfit. “Sorry for my intrusion, I wanted to introduce myself. I’m Dalton Diggs, your Covington scholarship student for the retreat. Thank you for inviting me to the pre-party. This is cool.”

  “Nice to meet you, Dalton.” Cat held out a hand and tried not to be drawn into looking at his abs. “I’m Cat Latimer, and this is Seth Howard.”

  Seth looked at her for a second, then held out his own hand. “I’ll be here at the retreat full time. In case you need something.”

  “Oh, dude, nice to know. I’m hoping to carve out some runs in the morning, if you’re up to it.” He looked down at the cane. “Sorry, is that part of the costume?”