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“Not really. I completely trust Violet and we have thepart-time help. My mom will come in every day.” Jenna chuckled. “I know her.She’ll hover, filling in wherever she’s needed.”

Serenity’s expression tightened slightly. It was only a faintpulling around the eyes and mouth, but Jenna caught it.

“She’s very good to you,” Serenity said.

The words were right but without emotion.

Jenna went over what she’d said, trying to find the place thathad upset Serenity. Was it that she called Beth Mom? Beth was her mother in every sense of the word. Now that Serenity hadcome back into Jenna’s life, did she expect that to change?

Jenna excused herself to help a customer. A few minutes later,Serenity said she was going back to the apartment to pack.

Jenna handled the customer, then reached for the ringing phone.“Grate Expectations.”

“Jenna Stevens please.”

“I’m Jenna.”

“Oh, wonderful. My name is Tara Peters. I’m a book editor inNew York. I specialize in cookbooks.”

Jenna was confused by the call. “Do you want us to carry moreof your books?” she asked, not sure it was an editor’s job to promote sales.

Tara laughed. “That would be nice but it’s not why I’m calling.I just got back from an intriguing trip to Los Angeles. I met someone I thinkyou know. Aaron Candellano.”

“I think we’ve met,” Jenna said drily.

“Don’t worry. I have an ex-husband, too. On my good days I onlywant his legs broken. Aaron’s been working with my assistant. He pitched acookbook to us and we were interested. We have a relationship with the FoodNetwork and were considering him for the show. However, it seems he’s not thecreative genius we first thought. On my trip I found out very quickly Aaron isall flash. From what several people told me, you were the creative energy in therelationship.”

Jenna sank down onto the stool behind the cash register. Sheheard a faint buzzing sound and told herself this was a really stupid time tofaint.

“Someone said that?”

“More than one person. In fact, the only employees I could findwho liked Aaron were the ones sleeping with him. If I flew to Texas next month,could we talk?”

“About what?”

Tara laughed again. Jenna was starting to like the sound.“About a potential book deal and perhaps a show. I understand you have a storein Georgetown. From what I saw of it on your website, I think it would be agreat backdrop for filming.”

“I, ah...” She sucked in air. A cookbook deal? A show? Her? “Wecould talk,” she managed to say. “Sure.”

“Great. I’ll be in touch in a couple of weeks. Oh, and Jenna?It’s none of my business, but I think you’re better off without him.”

With that, the New York editor hung up.

Jenna slowly replaced the receiver. It was Violet’s day off.Tiffany, a pretty, bright, blonde business major at Southwestern University,efficiently handled the few late-morning customers, leaving Jenna free to blinkand breathe and wonder if she’d imagined the whole thing.

When Beth showed up a little before noon, she was grateful tohave her to talk to.

“How are things?” her mother asked, then frowned. “Whathappened? Did Serenity do something?”

“No. It’s good, I think. Weird, but good. I got a call.”

Jenna told her about the short but unbelievable conversationshe’d had with Tara Peters.

“She wants to come here and talk to me. She thinks Aaron is allflash.” Jenna couldn’t explain how validated she felt without admitting to hermother how broken she’d been when she’d returned from L.A.

“I love smart women,” Beth told her. “Good for you. This isgreat. You’re going to write a cookbook and people everywhere are going to knowhow amazing you are. You are so talented.”

Beth hugged her.

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