Right Next Door by Debbie Macomber Page B

sense. A painful kind of sense.A panicky kind of sense. The common ground between them wasn’t their backyards, but the fact that they were both victims.
    Cole was trying to replace the family that had been so cruelly taken from him.
    Robin was just as guilty. She’d been so caught up in the tide of emotion and attraction that she’d refused to recognize what was staring her in the face. She’d ignored her own suspicions and fears, shoving them aside.
    She and Cole were both hurting, needy people.
    But once the hurt was assuaged, once the need had been satisfied, Cole would discover what Robin had known from the beginning. They were completely different people with little, if anything, in common.

Six
    â€œW hat do you mean you want to meet my cousin?” Angela demanded, glancing up from her desk, a shocked look on her face.
    â€œYou’ve been after me for weeks to go out with Fred.”
    â€œFrank. Yes, I have, but that was B.C.”
    â€œB.C.?”
    â€œBefore Cole. What happened with you two?”
    â€œNothing!”
    â€œAnd pigs have wings,” Angela said with more than a trace of sarcasm. She stood up and walked around to the front of her desk, leaning against one corner while she folded her arms and stared unblinkingly at Robin.
    Robin knew it would do little good to try to disguise her feelings. She’d had a restless night and was convinced it showed. No doubt her eyes were glazed; they ached. Her bones ached. But mostly her heart ached. Arranging a date with Angela’s cousin was a sure indication of her distress.
    â€œThe last thing I heard, Cole was supposed to attend Jeff’s baseball game with you.”
    â€œHe did.” Robin walked to her own desk and reached for the cup of coffee she’d brought upstairs with her. Peeling off the plastic lid, she cautiously took a sip.
    â€œAnd?”
    â€œJeff pitched and he played a fabulous game,” Robin said, hoping her friend wouldn’t question her further.
    Angela continued to stare at Robin. Good grief, Robin thought, the woman had eyes that could cut through solid rock.
    â€œWhat?” Robin snapped when she couldn’t stand her friend’s scrutiny any longer. She took another sip of her coffee and nearly scalded her lips. If the rest of her day followed the pattern set that morning, she might as well go home now. The temptation to climb back into bed and hide her head under the pillow was growing stronger every minute.
    â€œTell me what happened with Cole,” Angela said again.
    â€œNothing. I already told you he was at Jeff’s baseball game. What more do you want?”
    â€œThe least you can do is tell me what went on last night,” Angela said slowly, carefully enunciating each word as though speaking to someone who was hard of hearing.
    â€œBefore or after Jeff’s game?” Robin pulled out her chair and sat down.
    â€œBoth.”
    Robin gave up. Gesturing weakly with her hands, she shrugged, took a deep breath and poured out the whole story in one huge rush. “Cole was held up at the office in a meeting, so we didn’t meet at the house the way we’d planned. Naturally Jeff was disappointed, but we decided that whatever was keeping Cole wasn’t his fault, and weleft for Balboa Park without him. Cole arrived at the bottom of the second inning, just as Jeff was ready to pitch. Jeff only allowed three hits the entire game, and scored two home runs himself. Afterward Cole took us all out for Chinese food at a fabulous restaurant I’ve never heard of but one you and I will have to try sometime. Our next raise, okay? Later Cole phoned and asked to take Jeff and me on a picnic Saturday. I think we’re going to Golden Gate Park because he also talked about flying kites.” She paused, dragged in a fresh gulp of air and gave Angela a look that said “make something out of that if you can!”
    â€œI see,” Angela said after a