"All right. Naomi."

"Much better."

Cal moved closer to watch the show.

Naomi looked Walker over. "If you're just back from overseas, you might want someone to show you how Seattle has changed. I'd be more than willing."

"I appreciate the offer, but I understand you're seeing my brother."

"Reid?" Naomi shrugged. "I was. But you know Reid. Fifteen minutes is about his attention span."

"You don't seem too broken up about it."

She smiled. "That's because my attention span is two minutes shorter. No bruised hearts. I'm not into getting serious, just getting involved."

The invitation was clear. Cal had to admit that Naomi embodied s.e.xual availability in a way that called to men.

Penny looked between them. "Whatever you decide, I still expect you to eat dinner with me, Walker," she said.

"I wouldn't do anything else," he said, tugging on her long braid.

"Please have something to eat." Naomi sighed. "You'll need your strength."

Walker looked at Naomi for a long time. "I appreciate the offer," he began.

Her eyes widened. "You're turning me down?"

"How about if I take a rain check?"

Cal braced himself for the explosion. To the best of his knowledge, no one had ever turned Naomi down. Then she surprised him by laughing.

"Your loss, soldier. If you change your mind, and you will, Penny has my number."

She strolled back into the kitchen. Walker watched her go.

"Interesting lady," he said.

"That's the rumor," Penny told him. "Are you really not interested, or are you playing hard to get so you can have her full attention?"

Walker's expression shuttered. "I don't play games."

"Ha! It's hard-wired into your gender. Okay, go find a seat. I'll bring out food."

"I don't get to pick what I want?"

"Oh, please. On what planet?" She glanced at Cal. "Are you hungry? I can get another plate together."

"Thanks."

She returned to the kitchen and Walker looked at him. "Yours?"

Cal figured he meant the baby. "She would be my ex-wife."

"You wanted to punch me out when she launched herself at me."

Cal didn't see how Walker could have known what he was thinking. He would have bet money it hadn't shown. "No idea what you're talking about."

"Right. So you just hired your ex-wife because she's a great chef?"

"Have you forgotten the year she cooked our Christmas dinner?"

"Good point. So how's it going?"

"Good. Better than I would have thought."

"And the baby?"

"She decided it was time. Went to a sperm bank. There's no guy."

Walker's dark gaze locked with his. "Lucky break."

THE THREE OF THEM SAT at one of the tables by the kitchen. Penny served two different salads, her famous fish and chips, a poached salmon dish, smashed potatoes, green beans with a mustard sauce and she promised something special for dessert, although she wouldn't say what.

"Do you have any idea what you're going to do now?" Penny asked after all three plates were full.

"Get my own place," Walker said. He looked at Cal. "Not that I don't love living with you."

Cal chuckled. "You're welcome to stay as long as you like."

"I appreciate that, but I want my own place. An apartment at first. Until I figure out where I want to live."

"Are you rich?" Penny asked.

Cal and Walker both looked at her.

"What?" she asked. "It's a serious question. I'm curious. Didn't you invest in The Daily Grind?" she asked Walker.

"Uh-huh. Cleaned out my savings account for my big brother."

"And you made a fortune," Cal reminded him.

Five years ago Reid had been on his second multimillion-dollar contract and had offered to bankroll the whole thing. Cal had refused and instead had taken on multiple investors. Walker had been one of them.

"I did okay," Walker said, then shrugged. "I don't have to go to work anytime soon."

"Will you get a job?" Penny asked.