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dinner.”
    “Want some help?”
    “With what?”
    This time she didn’t move quickly enough. He cupped her chin in his hand and smiled. “With dinner.”
    It had been a long time since a man had touched her that way. He had a strong hand with gentle fingers. That had to be the reason her heart leaped up to her throat and pounded there. “Can you cook?”
    What incredible eyes she had. So clear, so pale a gray they were almost translucent. For the first time in years he felt the urge to paint, just to see if he could bring those eyes to life on canvas. “I make a hell of a peanut butter sandwich.”
    She lifted a hand to his wrist, to move his away, she thought. But her fingers lay there lightly a moment, experimenting. “How are you at chopping vegetables?”
    “I think I can handle it.”
    “All right, then.” She backed up, amazed that she had allowed the contact to go for so long. “I still don’t have any beer, but I do have some wine this time.”
    “Fine.” What the hell were they talking about? Why were they talking at all, when she had a mouth that was made to fit on a man’s? A little baffled by his own train of thought, he followed her into the kitchen.
    “It’s really a simple meal,” she began. “But when it’s all mixed up, Radley hardly notices he’s eating something nutritious. A Twinkie’s the true way to his heart.”
    “My kind of kid.”
    She smiled a little, more relaxed now that she had her hands full. She set celery and mushrooms on the chopping block. “The trick’s in moderation.” Hester took the chicken out, then remembered the wine. “I’m willing to concede to Rad’s sweet tooth in small doses. He’s willing to accept broccoli on the same terms.”
    “Sounds like a wise arrangement.” She opened the wine. Inexpensive, he thought with a glance at the label, but palatable. She filled two glasses, then handed him one. It was silly, but her hands were damp again. It had been some time since she’d shared a bottle of wine or fixed a simple dinner with a man. “To neighbors,” he said, and thought she relaxed fractionally as he touched his glass to hers.
    “Why don’t you sit down while I bone the chicken? Then you can deal with the vegetables.”
    He didn’t sit, but did lean back against the counter. He wasn’t willing to give her the distance he was sure she wanted. Not when she smelled so good. She handled the knife like an expert, he noted as he sipped his wine. Impressive. Most of the career women he knew were more experienced in takeouts. “So, how’s the new job?”
    Hester moved her shoulders. “It’s working out well. The manager’s a stickler for efficiency, and that trickles down. Rad and I have been having conferences all week so we can compare notes.”
    Was that what they’d been talking about when they’d walked home today? he wondered. Was that why she’d laughed? “How’s Radley taking the new school?”
    “Amazingly well.” Her lips softened and curved again. He was tempted to touch a fingertip to them to feel the movement. “Whatever happens in Rad’s life, he rolls with. He’s incredible.”
    There was a shadow there, a slight one, but he could see it in her eyes. “Divorce is tough,” he said, and watched Hester freeze up.
    “Yes.” She put the boned and cubed chicken in a bowl. “You can chop this while I start the rice.”
    “Sure.” No trespassing, he thought, and let it drop. For now. He’d gone with the law of averages when he’d mentioned divorce, and realized he’d been on the mark. But the mark was still raw. Unless he missed his guess, the divorce had been a lot tougher on her than on Radley. He was also sure that if he wanted to draw her out, it would have to be through the boy. “Rad mentioned that he wanted to come down and visit, but you’d put him off.”
    Hester handed Mitch an onion before she put a pan on the stove. “I didn’t want him disturbing your work.”
    “We both know what you think of my