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the same street—Cilla in the compound and Jewel at her grandmother's funky rambler down the road where chickens roosted in the trees and a couple of goats lived and were loaned out to help with weed abatement.
    But their chat had been friendly and Jewel had promised to stop by one day soon and introduce Cilla to her newborn baby daughter. That day, apparently, had arrived.
    Hurrying to the narrow side gate where Jewel said she was waiting, Cilla was grateful for the distraction. Jewel was a willowy brunette, already slim at the waist though her baby was just a few weeks old. She slipped through the now-unlocked opening, an infant wrapped in a soft pink blanket in her arms.
    Cilla peeked at the small face revealed between the folds of the blanket and a bow-topped pink band circling a nearly bald head. "Oh, she's precious."
    "This is Soul," Jewel said, then made a wry face. "I know, I know, it's horribly Laurel Canyon of me to choose such a hippie-dippy name, but there's an old song...'Heart Full of Soul,' that means a lot to me."
    "I love the name Soul," Cilla assured her. "What's her daddy think of it?"
    A flush crawled over Jewel's face. "Soul's father is...not around at the moment."
    "Oh, I'm sorry." In the store, the subject hadn't come up. "I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable..."
    "No, of course not—" She broke off, her gaze shifting over Cilla's shoulder. Her body went still. "Has Beck come back?"
    Cilla craned her neck, and saw the tall, dark-haired figure in the distance. "No. That's Ren. Ren Colson," she said as he seemed to spot them and began heading in their direction. Crossing her arms over her chest, she tried appearing calm and collected, as if a simple kiss had not caused her an inner riot. "Do you know him?"
    "Just by reputation," Jewel said, and then she was smiling in response to the dazzler that Ren directed her way as he strode up.
    A glance was flicked at Cilla. "Company?" he asked, and Cilla swore she saw him checking out the other woman's bare left finger. Telling herself that was good news, she pasted a smile on her face and made the necessary introductions.
    Ren shook hands, gave the baby a quick look, then smiled at their neighbor again. "So, Jewel and Soul?"
    The brunette shifted her daughter to her shoulder and laughed. "And I actually make jewelry for a living. What can I say? Native of the canyon."
    "Me, too," Ren said. "We've got that in common."
    Was that an interested gleam in his eye? Cilla stared at his face, trying to determine if he was truly flirting with a woman he'd met just this minute—who was also a brand new mother to boot.
    "What are you frowning at me for?" Ren asked, glancing her way.
    "I'm not frowning."
    "Yes, you are." He pointed at a spot between her eyebrows. "It's giving you a furrow right there."
    Cilla resisted the urge to iron the spot with her fingertip. "I don't furrow."
    "Well, you glare pretty good," he muttered.
    Turning away from him, she addressed Jewel, who appeared to be biting back an amused smile. "You said on the phone you had something to ask me."
    "That's right." The baby began making snuffling noises and her mother started swaying while rubbing the tiny back. "My grandmother is after me to get out and I wondered if you want to visit one of the music clubs on Sunset with me tonight. I know it's short notice, but I've been wanting to hear," she glanced over at Ren, "someone you both know. Cami Colson."
    "Cami!" Cilla snatched at the chance. Not only did she like Jewel and also Cami's music, but going out for the evening would free her from Ren's unsettling presence. "I'd love to."
    "Count me in," the man on her right added.
    Cilla let loose her glare once again. "Did I hear her invite you?"
    "It's my sister," he pointed out. "I'm curious. And by the way, you're furrowing again."
    Jewel laughed over Cilla's humph of outrage. "Of course you're invited, Ren," she said. "Meet you there at eight o'clock?"
    "Eight o'clock it is," he answered.
    How could