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“Because they sell merchandise,” Dr. Steve Carter answered simply, approaching the group in time to hear the question. “The manufacturers are playing on the public’s fear of germs. And people are confused about what exactly antibiotics are best used for. That’s why they pressure doctors to prescribe antibiotics for every little cough and sniffle, even those caused by viruses. Antibiotics used in those cases cause more harm than good, actually, and we’re seeing the results in bacterial infections that are not responding to longtime standard antibiotics.”

“That’s what Lydia was just explaining to us,” Kelly told him. “Thanks for clarifying this for me,” she added to Lydia. “All the conflicting news stories get confusing sometimes.”

Scott crossed the room to lean cozily against the arm of Lydia’s chair. “Lydia has a knack for making complicated subjects relatively easy to understand. You should hear her talk about forensic DNA.”

Steve smiled. “I would probably find that interesting, myself.”

Heather, who’d been notably quiet for the past few minutes, suddenly spoke up. “Did I mention to anyone that Steve and I have been able to book the Elroys for our wedding reception?”

“The Elroys?” Judy Chang almost squealed the name. “Oh, they’re wonderful! But I’ve heard they’re almost impossible to book locally these days because they’ve become so popular. How did you manage?”

Looking quite pleased with herself, Heather beamed. “That’s a very funny story, actually.”

She launched into a colorfully enthusiastically embellished anecdote that soon had the others laughing. It briefly occurred to Lydia that Heather had deliberately drawn everyone’s attention to herself and away from Lydia. But then she told herself it didn’t matter—nor was it further evidence that Heather didn’t care for her. People didn’t go to parties to hear about bacteria and the other things that especially interested her, she reminded herself. They wanted to laugh and gossip and have fun, not be lectured to by a microbiology professor.

Cameron, it seemed, was still more interested in microbes than music groups. Discreetly drawing Lydia aside, he asked quietly, “I know Scott’s consulted with you occasionally about forensic DNA. Would you mind if I call you with a question now and then? In my reporting, I sometimes cover crime stories that hinge on DNA and the conflicting ‘expert opinions’ I hear in the courtroom often need clarifying.”

“Conflicting opinions are the only defense against strong DNA evidence.” She dug in her purse and drew out a business card with her office number printed on it. On the back, she scribbled her home number. “Feel free to call anytime. I’m always happy to answer questions about my work.”

Cameron pocketed the card and gave her a high-voltage smile. “That’s very generous of you.”

From across the room where he had moved to munch chips and talk to Shane, Scott suddenly reappeared at Lydia’s side. He draped an arm around her shoulders and gave Cameron a bland smile. “Trying to make time with my date, Cam?”

Cameron glanced pointedly across the room to where Alexis looked almost comatose with boredom. “Actually, I’m going to take my date home before she completely ruins the evening. She’s ticked off at me because I won’t go with her to some sort of family reunion next weekend. You know I don’t do family things.”

“So this is your last date with Alexis?”

Cameron nodded fatalistically. “I believe it is.”

Scott’s smile had a wicked edge to it. “I’ll tell Heather. I’m sure she would be absolutely delighted to fix you up with someone. She says she has a talent for that sort of thing.”

Cameron shuddered. “Thanks, but don’t bother. I’ll find my own companionship when I want it.”

Scott looked pointedly at the shirt pocket in which Cameron had slipped Lydia’s card. “Is that right?”

Cameron only smiled at Scott before turning to Lydia. “It’s been a pleasure talking to you. You’ll be hearing from me.”

She nodded, well aware that Cameron was much more interested in her education than anything else about her. She wasn’t oblivious to the attractions of his bright blue eyes and flashing smile, but there was no real chemistry between them. Maybe they could be friends, she mused. She always welcomed new friends.

Scott’s arm tightened a bit around her shoulders. If she didn’t know better, she would think his behavior indicated masculine possessiveness. She assumed he was putting on this act to further discourage his sister’s matchmaking, but she intended to ask him to stop. She had agreed to keep him company at a couple of social occasions, but she saw no reason to resort to outright deception.

Chapter Four

“Hey, Shane,” Michael said after Cameron and Alexis had departed, “did you get that new truck you were looking at?”

Kelly groaned. “Yes, he did. And he’s hardly gotten out of it for the past three days.”

Shane grinned expectantly. “You guys want to see it? It’s a real honey.”

Michael, Steve and Scott all jumped at the offer to examine Shane’s new wheels. The women chose to remain inside. Inviting them all to sit down and make themselves comfortable in the den, Kelly poured coffee all around.

“Kelly, have you heard from Amber lately?” Heather asked, settling on the couch beside Judy.

From a wing chair that matched the one in which Lydia sat, Kelly nodded. “She called a couple of weeks ago. She loves living in Austin, and she’s dating a guy she says is really nice. It sounded like it’s getting serious.”

“Oh, good. I hope she’s happy. She deserves to be.”

Kelly glanced toward Lydia, seeming to realize that she was being left out of the conversation about someone she didn’t know. “Amber’s a friend who moved to Austin last spring. She was a part of our group for years, and it still seems odd at times for her not to be here.”

“She made the mistake of getting involved with Cameron,” Heather added. “It was a disaster from the beginning, as everyone who knew them realized, but she wouldn’t listen when we tried to warn her, and she ended up with a broken heart.”

Lydia wondered if Heather was trying to make a point toward her, then told herself again to stop being paranoid.

“Cameron tried to make it work,” Kelly said mildly, sounding as though they’d had this discussion many times before. “He and Amber just didn’t want the same things in life.”

Heather shrugged. “I knew from the start it was a bad match. I have a sixth sense for that sort of thing, you know. I knew the minute I saw Steve fourteen months ago that he was the man for me.”

Judy looked encouragingly at Lydia as if she, too, wanted to make sure Lydia didn’t feel left out. “How long have you and Scott known each other, Lydia?”

Aware of Heather watching her, she answered, “We met last year in the parking lot of our apartment complex.”

“And have you been dating long?”

Again, Lydia worded her answer carefully. “We’ve dined together a few times. And we attended the charity thing last weekend, of course.”

“We’re all very fond of Scott,” Kelly commented with a smile. “My husband has known Scott and Heather since they were fourteen.”

Heather nodded. “Shane and his father had just moved to Dallas. They moved into the apartment complex where we lived with our mother. Shane, Scott and I became such close friends that our parents made arrangements for us to see each other often, even though Shane went to a different school since he grew up here on the ranch. Cameron and Amber were our schoolmates and met Shane through us. The guys met Michael in college.”

“I was brought in when my best friend—Shane’s cousin—and I moved to Dallas a few years ago,” Kelly added. “Brynn and I were in a serious car accident the night we arrived in town. Brynn wasn’t hurt, but I messed my legs up pretty badly, which left me with a limp—and some very special friends among the kind people who took care of me.”

Lydia had noticed the limp although it was slight. She found it interesting that Kelly seemed to think of the accident in positive rather than negative terms. She was, apparently, the type who looked for the silver lining in every dark cloud—a trait Lydia had always admired.

“Michael and I married four months ago,” Judy said proudly. “Now I’m part of the gang, too.”

Lydia couldn’t help smiling. Even though Judy made it sound as though she had been accepted into an exclusive society of some sort, Lydia suspected that they welcomed newcomers because they were so casual and friendly. They’d been very pleasant to Alexis, for example, even as badly as she had behaved in return.

As for herself, everyone had been extremely nice. Heather had actually been the least friendly, Lydia mused with another glance at Scott’s twin. She remembered that Scott had told her Heather never approved of the women he chose to date. Was she threatened by outsiders in her brother’s life? Did she fear losing his affections?