Only Mine. Susan Mallery

had raised her arm to wave at Jo. She froze in place and turned her brown eyes toward her sister. “Seriously? Anyone interesting?”

      “I’m not sure if he’s interesting, but he’s yummy,” Montana said.

      Dakota knew there was no point in fighting the inevitable. Even so, she tried. “It’s not what you think.”

      Nevada dropped her arm and grinned. “You don’t know what I’m thinking.”

      “I can guess.” Dakota sighed. “His name is Finn and his brothers are here to appear on the reality show.” She briefly outlined the problem—at least the one from Finn’s point of view.

      “You should offer to comfort him in his hour of need,” Montana told her. “A hug that lingers. A soft kiss with a whisper of need. Soul-stirring touches that …” She looked at her sisters. “What?”

      Nevada glanced at Dakota. “I think she’s slipped over the edge.”

      “I think she needs a man,” Dakota told her, then looked at Montana. “Soul-stirring touches? Seriously?”

      Montana dropped her head to her hands. “I need to spend some quality time with a naked man. It’s been too long.” She straightened, then smiled. “Or I could get drunk.”

      “Whatever works,” Nevada muttered, accepting the tall vodka tonic Jo handed her. “Montana’s slipping over the edge.”

      “It happens to the best of us,” Jo said cheerfully, passing Montana a rum and Diet Coke.

      As Jo left, the front door opened and Charity and Liz walked in. Charity was the city planner, married to cyclist Josh Golden, while Liz had married the triplet’s brother, Ethan. Both women saw the sisters and headed over.

      “How are things?” Charity asked as they approached.

      “Good,” Dakota said, eyeing her friend. “You look amazing. Fiona is what—three months old? You’d never know you just had a baby.”

      “Thanks. I’ve been walking a lot. Fiona is sleeping longer, so that helps.”

      Liz shook her head. “I remember those baby nights. Thank goodness mine are older.”

      “Wait until they start wanting to drive,” Nevada told her.

      “I refuse to think about that.”

      “Want to join us?” Montana asked.

      Liz hesitated. “Charity’s been reading my work-in-progress and wants to discuss a couple of things. Next time?”

      “Sure,” Dakota told them.

      Liz wrote a successful detective series that had, until recently, featured victims who looked surprisingly like their brother Ethan. Now that he and Liz were together, Dakota had a feeling the next dead body would be completely different.

      The two women walked to another table.

      “How’s work?” Nevada asked Montana.

      “Good. I’m training a couple of new puppies. I talked to Max about the reading program I’ve been researching. I have an appointment with a couple of school board members to talk about a trial program.”

      Montana had discovered several studies that explained that kids who were bad readers improved more quickly when they read to dogs instead of people. Something about dogs being all support and no judgment, Dakota thought. When her sister had approached her about the studies, Dakota had done a little research and found even more supportive literature.

      “I love the idea of going into schools and helping kids,” Montana said wistfully. “Max says we’re going to have to expect to do it for free in the beginning. Once we show results, the schools will hire us.” She wrinkled her nose. “Honestly, most of what we do is for free. I can’t figure out where he gets his money. Someone is paying my salary and to take care of the dogs. Even if he owns the land and the kennel is paid for, there’s still upkeep.”

      “He hasn’t said where the support comes from?” Nevada asked.

      Montana shook her head.

      “You could ask him,” Dakota told her.

      Montana rolled her eyes and picked up her drink. “That’s not going to happen.”

      Montana wasn’t big on confrontation, Dakota thought. She turned to Nevada. “How are things with you?”

      “Good. The same.” Her sister shrugged. “I’m in a rut.”

      “How can you say that?” Montana asked. “You have a great job, you’ve always known what you want to do.”

      “I know. I’m not saying I want to stop being an engineer and take up pole dancing, but sometimes …” She sighed. “I don’t know. I think my life needs to be shaken up a little.”

      Dakota smiled. “We could always set Mom up on a date. That would be a distraction.”

      Both her sisters stared at her.

      “Mom date?” Montana asked, her eyes wide. “Has she said anything?”

      “Not seriously, but she’s vibrant and attractive. Why wouldn’t she date?”

      “It would be weird,” Montana said.

      “Or uncomfortable.” Nevada picked up her drink. “She would probably find a guy in fifteen seconds. I can’t remember the last time I was on a date.”

      “That’s what I thought, too,” Dakota admitted. “But don’t you think one of us should be successful at the dating thing?”

      “You don’t see the humiliation of that person being our mother?” Nevada asked.

      Dakota grinned. “There is that.”

      Montana shook her head. “No. She can’t. What about Dad?”

      Dakota studied her. “It’s been over ten years since he died. Doesn’t she deserve a life?”

      “Don’t get all logical and therapist-y on me. I’m very comfortable not being the mature one.”

      “Then you shouldn’t worry. We were just joking about it.” As a way to release tension, Dakota thought sadly. As a distraction from the truth about her inability to have children.

      “She didn’t sign up for the show, did she?” Nevada asked. “Not that I wouldn’t support her if she did.”

      “No, she didn’t.”

      “Thank God.” Nevada leaned back in her chair. “Speaking of the show, when do they announce the contestants?”

      “Tomorrow. They’ve already made their casting decisions, but they’re not telling anyone in advance. I think they’re broadcasting live or something. I’m trying to stay out of it as much as I can.”

      “Will Finn be there?” Montana asked.

      “Nearly every day.”

      Montana raised her eyebrows. “That will keep things interesting.”

      “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean,” Dakota said lightly. “He’s a nice man, nothing more.”

      Nevada grinned. “You expect us to believe that?” “Yes, and if you don’t, I expect you to pretend.”

      AURELIA DID HER BEST to tune out the rant as she carefully put dishes into the dishwasher. The tirade was a familiar one. That Aurelia was a terrible daughter, selfish and cruel, who cared about no one but herself. That her mother had cared for her for years so it wasn’t wrong to expect a little support and comfort in her old age.

      “I’ll be gone soon,” her mother declared. “I’m sure you’re counting the days until I’m dead.”

      Aurelia turned slowly to face the