Are you attracted to him?”

Taylor shifted uncomfortably. “I’ve never met anyone like him,” she admitted.

“Is that good or bad?”

She hesitated only a second. “It’s good.”

“So stop letting grumpy old Judge McCorkle turn you into a timid little field mouse. Have confidence. Enjoy life. Enjoy your life. You’re beautiful—”

“I think that’s going too far.”

“It’s not. You’re really pretty, Taylor. You could even be very sexy if you just lost the sweater sets, grandma pearls, and men’s glasses.”

“I don’t want to be sexy, but even if I did dress like a hipster, Troy would still be this city slicker—”

“You don’t know Troy. He’s not a city slicker.” McKenna sounded almost frosty. “Yes, he lives in San Francisco but that’s because he’s brilliant and innovative and it’s where technology and opportunity are, but that doesn’t mean he’s not real, and solid. Because he is. He’s smart…loving…loyal. He’s a wonderful man and he deserves to be treated like a man, and not like a shallow, insincere playboy.”

Taylor flushed, hearing the criticism in McKenna’s voice. “I’ve never said Troy is an insincere playboy.”

“No?”

“I just don’t think we’re suited.”

“Maybe because you haven’t even given him a chance.”

Taylor took a long drink from her wine glass, nearly draining it. The wine warmed her, and gave her courage. She set her glass down with a little thunk and looked at McKenna. “If you’re such a Troy Sheenan fan, why didn’t you fall for Troy, instead of Trey? Why wasn’t Troy the right Sheenan?”

But the moment the words left her mouth, Taylor knew they were the wrong words. She’d said the wrong thing. Taylor didn’t even need to see McKenna’s face to know she’d hurt McKenna, she could just feel it in the air and the sudden heaviness at the table.

Worse, McKenna said nothing and Taylor’s stomach was now filled with knots. “I’m sorry,” Taylor whispered, ashamed of herself for saying something so flippant and thoughtless when McKenna had been nothing but kind to Taylor since she’d moved here at the end of the summer. “That was terrible. Forgive me.”

“It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not.”

“It is, and actually, it’s a very good question,” McKenna said, smiling faintly. But the smile didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m sure everyone wonders the same thing. Why didn’t I fall in love with Troy? My life would have been so different. So much… easier.” McKenna pushed her glass away from her and glanced at her watch. “Oh dear, it’s late. I need to go. My sitter has a big test tomorrow.