Jo arrived with their lunches. After everyone had their food, Shelby picked up her fork. “I never thought of teenagers,” she admitted. “But fourteen. Isn’t that too young to be working?” Training wouldn’t be an issue. It was basically coloring, but on cookies.

“There are strict labor laws in the state of California,” Felicia announced. “They could only work for a couple of hours a day. There are also caps on the number of hours in a week. They’d each need a work permit. If you were in the entertainment industry, it would be easier, but it’s still doable.”

“How can you possibly know that?” Madeline asked.

Felicia shrugged. “I can’t help it. I read.”

“I don’t remember an article on child labor laws in my latest issue of Vogue, but maybe I missed it.” Taryn smiled at Felicia. “You are always entertaining and I say that with love.”

“Then I accept it the same way.”

Shelby laughed. “Okay, now I have a starting place for my research. Thank you.”

“I can be a temporary worker,” Isabel offered. “When I’m on bed rest. It’s not like I’ll have a lot to fill my day.”

“Poor you,” Taryn said, hugging her friend. “I’ll visit. That will be entertaining.”

“Yes, but not nearly enough. I’ll be going over the books for the store and ordering inventory, but I think I’ll still have some extra time. Decorating cookies would be fun.”

“If you didn’t eat them all,” Madeline teased.

Isabel wrinkled her nose. “These days I’m more into salty foods than sweet ones.”

Shelby thought about Isabel’s cravings for pretzel bread and figured her cookies would be safe.

“Thanks for the offer,” she said. “I may take you up on it.”

“Assuming you have time for your new business venture,” Felicia said. “What with your love life heating up.”

Everyone turned to Shelby, who was busy gaping at Felicia.

“What are you talking about?” she asked, just as Taryn murmured, “That would be my question.”

“You’re seeing someone?” Madeline asked, sounding hurt.

Shelby shook her head. “I’m not. There’s no one.”

“I heard you were out with Aidan over the weekend,” Felicia said. “I’m sure my source is very reliable.”

“Oh, that.” Shelby shook her head. “No romance. Our relationship is strictly as friends.” While Madeline knew the details of her past and Shelby was fairly sure there were plenty of rumors, she wasn’t one to discuss her problems in a crowd.

“I don’t have any guy friends,” she said by way of edging around the truth. “Aidan doesn’t have any female friends. We thought hanging out would be good for us.”

Madeline relaxed, but everyone else stared at her as if she had grown a second and possibly third head.

“Why?” Isabel asked. “You have us.”

“It’s different. A male perspective is nice.”

“She’s right,” Taryn added. “I love my boys very much. While their advice is always different than yours, sometimes it’s helpful to hear it. I think all women should have male friends.”

Taryn’s “boys” were three retired football players who were also her business partners at Score PR, but Shelby still appreciated the support.

“See? It’s not weird.”

“It’s kind of weird,” Destiny said, “but good for you. Just don’t go falling for him romantically. From all I’ve heard, he’s not the long-term-relationship type. I’d hate to see you get hurt.”