I found Dee by the front door, digging through her purse. She located her phone and held it in the air like she just found gold. Such a nut, I wonder who she is calling? I just hang back and watch as her phone call goes through. Before she speaks, she makes eye contact with me. I cannot read what her facial expressions are conveying. "Hello Mae."

Definitely not who I thought she was going to call. Why Mae? I wish I could hear both sides of this conversation but will have to settle on just Dee's end.

"I hope I am not catching you at a bad time, am I? " Dee laughed at something Mae said. "Well I was hoping you could come over for breakfast, but I see it is later than I thought it was. How about coming over for brunch? We have a poker tournament to plan, among other things." A smile graced her face. "Great, see you in an hour then. Don't forget my furry friend." More laugher before she hung up.

Dee walked to the kitchen with me once again following her. "So that was Mae." The way she says Mae, is seems like there is a lost meaning behind the three letter name.

"I gathered when you said hello Mae."

Her eyes sparkle with excitement. "Oh, eavesdropping were we?"

I shrug. "When you left your office, you said you had an idea, so I came to find out what it is. Why did you call Mae?"

"I thought you would be thrilled, when you met her you were full of questions about our neighbor." She laughed making me feel like there was a joke I was not in on.

"Yeah, questions you really didn't answer. I think the only thing I got out of you was that she lived here for about five years and she is a very private person. I haven't even seen her for a couple weeks."

She smirked at me. "I have feeling you know more about her than you think." Her smirk turned into more laughter before she spoke again. "Now, go take a shower and get ready, you look like a mess. Before you speak, let me add not a hot mess."

She knows me better than I thought. "I'm still hot, but I guess with company coming over I should change into something other than pajama pants and an over sized shirt."

"Right."

I went to the back door, but turned around to look at my aunt before heading to my place. "You might want to shower and change too. You smell like sex, and your dress is wrinkled." I ran to the guest house before any kitchen utensils could hit me.

The hot water messages my tired muscles. My thoughts drifted to this morning. Before the phone call, I was having a weird dream. It started out how most of my days start off, with a run on the beach. Shortly into the run, I saw a stranger in the distance looking out into the ocean. Something inside me made me run faster to the stranger. The closer I got the more things I noticed about the stranger. The stranger was a female, around my height, with none other than blonde hair. I couldn't make out her face, so I picked up my speed. I saw her turning towards me in slow motion and then I woke up to my phone. I never found out who the blonde was or why I wanted to make my way over to her so badly.

I dried myself off and choose a pair of blue jeans and a polo shirt. Today which started as sunny had turned overcast, so I grabbed a sweatshirt before making my way back to the main house. Dee said I know more about Mae then what I think I do, what does that mean? I have a feeling she knows something, but why not tell me. What was with all the smirking?

I open the back door. "Honey, I'm home."

"In the kitchen. " I could hear Dee laughing at our role reversal.

"It's like Déjà vu, minus the fact I don't smell like sex and I have clean clothes on." I wink at her.

She hit me with a kitchen towel, twice. I rubbed the spot she hit me on the arm and pouted. "Stop pouting and make yourself useful. Mae," Again with the way she said her name. "Will be here shortly. Seeing as the sun isn't out, our little brunch will be in the dining room." There is nothing little about the amount of food Dee cooked.

I picked up a platter of food to place in the dining room, just as the door bell rang. "Should I get it or should you? "

"I'll take the food in, you greet our guests." She smirked once again at me before taking the food.

I can't make sense of the woman, so I went to the door. When I opened the door, the first thing I noticed was the loveable pooch I hadn't seen in weeks sitting at attention. "Hey Cain, come here girl." Cain instantly left her spot and came to me. Quickly my face was covered in dog kisses making me laugh.

"She missed you." I looked up to Mae who was clad in almost the same clothes I first saw her in. She still sported the very big sunglasses even though the sun was behind clouds. I stood up and opened the door wider for both guest.

"What can I say, I'm a dog person."

My aunt started laughing from behind me. "You were hardly a dog person when you first arrived. When you first laid eyes on Cain, you let out such a loud shriek I was afraid I would never be able to hear again." My cheeks instantly warmed up and my blushed deepened when I heard Mae began to laugh.

"Hey, in my defense I still have scars from being attacked when I was a kid, but after spending time with Cain, I found a special place in my heart for dogs, well Cain at least."

"Agreed, now would you two please come in before the food gets cold?"

I make a hand gesture for Mae to enter and shut the door behind us. As soon as Mae is in the door, Dee's arms come around her, giving her a tight hug that is returned. I never really thought about it, but Dee really likes to hug people.

When they pull apart, both are smiling as I continue to watch the two interact. "Glad you could come over today. Why don't you take off your layers and make yourself at home. No need for the shades."

I am just leaning on the door, curious what the mysterious neighbor looks like without the baggie sweatshirt and sunglasses. Her back is to me so I can only see her blonde hair swept back in a pony tail. "It is very nice to see those beautiful blue eyes again. Now I believe you remember my niece?"

Mae turned to me. Only it's not Mae, it's Spencer. What the fuck? "Ashley, it's good to see you again." She gives me a shy smile.

Dee finds humor in my stunned express. I just glare at her. "Well then, let's eat. I'm sure you two have things to address."

Spencer walks to the dining room, leaving me still in shock and leaning on the door. Is this some kind of joke? What the hell is going on? Dee grabs one of my hands tugging on me and placing an arm around my shoulder. She lowers her voice. "I'm sure Spencer had her reason for telling you her name is Mae when you met on the beach. She told me the same thing. Don't be mad at her, she is a very private person. When you told me she brought you back to her house that day, I was shocked. A handful of people, if that have been to her place. Now let's eat."

I think I lost my appetite but I allow my aunt to drag me to the table. When we get there, I notice Cain lying by the chair Spencer is sitting in and Spencer laughing at something in her hands. I peer over her shoulder on the way to my seat. In her hands is a framed picture of us from last night on the dance floor.

I take my seat across Dee and to the left of Spencer. "Seems like you were a little busy when I was in the shower."

"You two look so hot holding each other on the dance floor, I had to frame it." I look at Spencer who is still looking at the photo, a nice hue of pink covering her cheeks.

Everyone was silent as we started to eat. It must have been hard for Dee with the silence because it didn't last long. "Since you two seem to be lost in your own thoughts, trying to cover it up by being engrossed in this delicious food, I feel the need to share the story how Spencer and I first met."

I looked up from my plate to Dee then to Spencer. I never really heard the story. Spencer stops eating as well and said, "Sounds like a good idea to me. I'm sure Ashley has been wondering about that for a bit now." Spencer looked at me, a small smile on her face.

"Good well, once upon a time..." Despite how corny her intro is, it seemed to break the tension as Spencer and I finally joined in the laughter with Dee. "Anyways, heading to The Office one day, what five years or so ago?" She looked to Spencer for conformation, which she just nodded. "I drove past a house being built. I cannot tell you how excited I was to have new neighbors seeing how the ones closet to this house are boring old people for lack of better words. Most of them have these houses and don't even use them. Guess I am getting off track here."

Spencer laughed. "Honestly, I think I have only seen people driving to and from their houses. But one day when I finally moved into my house, someone buzzed my front gate. I have cameras outside the gate as well as around the yard, so I looked into the monitor wondering who this woman was standing outside the gate. I mustn't forget a plate full of food in her hands. I'm amazed with all the food and drinks around you all the time Dee, you look so fit."

"I find ways to burn the calories off, besides it's not like I cook for myself. I have willing helpers to clean the plates." She pointed at the both of us. "Here I was waiting outside her gate with my sinfully delicious chocolate cake. I may have gotten buzzer happy, but Spencer voice, which I figured was Emma Verde because that was the name on the mailbox, came a crossed the speaker box. "

"I simple said "can I help you?" and she in all her Dee glory replied, 'Yes I am here to welcome you to the neighborhood. I maybe a single person welcoming committee but I brought chocolate.' Now little did she know my kryptonite is chocolate."

"Oh yes, as soon as I said chocolate, I heard a 'be out in one moment'. The gate began to open up and I saw a Spencer, very much so dressed in something similar to what she was wearing earlier come bouncing out the front door, with a beautiful German Sheppard at her side. Cain was the first one to me, instantly licking the hand I placed down for her to smell. As she had told you Ashley, I also received 'my name is Mae'. "

I looked to Spencer and she just shrugged. "My middle name really is Mae and I didn't know Dee. With you Ashley, our first meeting with me as Spencer didn't go over so well, and I really am pretty private as a person. Please don't take offense to it." She looks sad as her eyes plead with me to be okay with this.

I give her a smile; it's hard staying mad at her when she looks so vulnerable. "It's okay. Please carry on; I'm interested how you guys became the best of buddies."

Spencer returns the smile. "I was between films as well as agents so I was trying to get my house set up. This gave Dee a lot of time to make her impromptu visits. Every time she came over, a new dish would accompany her. I'm so used to take out or food catered on the sets, a home cooked meal was hard to come by. One day she invited me over to lunch, it was set up indoors just like this, without the picture of us of course."

"Spencer seemed pretty hesitant to take the invite. I assured her it would just be the two of us and she could even bring Cain along. I figured she had something she was hiding but would allow her to tell me when she was ready to. I love a good mystery after all. Little by little she found trust in me and would open up, until one day she allow me the knowledge that she was none other than Spencer Mae Carlin. "

Spencer placed her hand on top of mine. "Let me tell you, I was a little taken back when she just shrugged and asked if I would like seconds. It's hard to meet people who are interested in the real you, not the starlet most people make you out to be. Soon whenever I had the time, I was visiting with Dee and meeting some amazing people along the way." She gave my hand a squeeze before taking it away. I wish she would have kept it there, but with everything going on, I understand her taking it back.

I really hope Ashley is going to give me a chance with everything now out in the open. If all that comes of this is friendship, then I will be more than happy with that. I am not sure if I could handle more, just touching her hand put my body into overdrive. There is defiantly a strong attraction; I just wonder if it is all one sided.

"Now Spencer," Dee spoke snapping me from my thoughts. "One of the reasons I called you over today was to talk about our annual poker tournament for charity. You will be available for it again Thanksgiving night, right?"

"You mean spending all night playing poker? I don't know I might have plans to get up extra earlier for shopping on Black Friday." I try to come across as serious but when Dee broke out in laughter, I was gone. I turned to Ashley who wasn't in on the joke. "Dee knows I hate shopping, so there is no way in hell I would wake up extra early for some sales, much less be in a crowd of people fitting over some shirt. Are you participating in the tournament?"

"Actually this is the first I have heard of it. What kind of poker are we talking here?" She winked at me, making the heat rise a bit.

Dee throws a piece of pancake left over from her plate at Ashley, making Cain very happy when she retrieved it. "It's not stripe poker if that's what you're asking. Every year we hold a Texas Hold'em tournament to raise money for a local charity. This year the charity is to keep music programs in schools. If either of you have plans you better change them, you both are already signed up. Now if I remember correctly….. you both are at the same table." I smell a set up going on, not that I am going to complain or anything.

"I guess that answers your question Spencer. Just be prepared to lose."

I put my game face on. "Care to make a bet? Only this one won't turn out in your favor, just to warn you."

Ashley began to glare, but her lips quickly turned into a smile. "Ms. Carlin I believe you have yourself a bet. "

Dee just watched the exchange laughing at how silly we must have looked. "As much as I would like to find out what the terms of the bet turn out to be, which when you do figure that out I must be informed, the other reason you're here Spencer, besides how much I have missed you, is this lovely picture here on the table."

I have never liked that side of fame where random pictures and articles turn up about you, but I am hoping Dee will let me take the frame home when this brunch ends. We look so caught up in the moment, and must have been because I never even knew the picture was taken. It had to have been taken during the last song when Ashley was softly singing in my ear. I had to clear my voice after thinking about the night again. "Umm, yeah. My agent informed me of the online article this morning after it was posted. There isn't really anything I can do about it being up, with freedom of speech and all. As far as we know, it's the only thing out in the media about last night. I'm sorry if this upsets you Ashley. Last thing I want to do is have you mixed up in something you don't want to be in." If Ashley wasn't a big fan of celebrities before, I am sure she will really want to distance herself from me with pictures of us put up on the internet. I can't help but feel sad over it.

My feelings must have been transparent because Ashley's soft comforting hand found mine. I looked up to meet her deep brown eyes. I don't know how she does it but when she smiles, I cannot help but smile myself. "It's okay Spencer, really. I wasn't happy at first about, still not really, but it's not your fault. I'm not used to being in the lime light."

"It's not something most get used to." We were lost in each other eyes; I didn't notice Dee picking up the plates, until she picked mine up. "Sorry Dee, let me help you clean up."

"Nonsense, it won't take me long. The sun is out once again, why don't you both go out on the deck and I will join you shortly with ice tea?"

"Yes ma'am." Ashley replied, quickly getting up and pushing her chair in.

"Ash, I told you not to call me ma'am, makes me feel old. Before you reply with ma'am again, remember I do cook a majority of your food." Dee called from the kitchen.

I looked at Ashley who appeared to have her words stuck in her throat. The way they acted around each other was more like sisters then aunt and niece bond. As soon as the three of us were out on the deck with the door closed I asked. "You were going to say yes ma'am again, weren't you?"

Ashley took a seat in the shade, patting the one next it, with Cain already lying next to her. I gladly took the seat and waited for her answer. "Of course I was going to. It's funny how well we know each other. "

"Are you sure you're fine with the TMZ thing?" I really don't want any problems before, before what Carlin? Before you start having feelings for Ashley? Maybe a little too late for that, especially how happy I feel just being in the same room as her.

"I'm fine, better now than when I first heard about it. If it wasn't for my ex and my best friend, I most likely wouldn't have even known about it."

"I have a feeling that there is more to this story. Care to share? She's not your ex because of the photos right?" Damn Madison, you asked if she was a lesbian but not if she was single.

Ashley's laughter caught me off guard. "Don't worry; we were long ago broken up. I haven't even spoken to her since we broke up. Sometime early this morning, when I was off in dream land, a very persistent Jess decided she would keep calling until I woke up. You will have to talk to Jess to understand when she is excited about something; it's hard to get the details out of her. It started about a story of a threesome with twins, then for some reason she answered her phone. Apparently my ex just kept screaming about you and I fucking as she called it. Eventually it ended up with me going online to TMZ and seeing the pictures, followed by the article. "

That still doesn't answer is she is single or not. Before I even asked she answered. "And yes, I am single. I wouldn't have taken the bet otherwise." I hope I didn't say what I was thinking out loud. "But the big question is, seeing as you're so private, are you single?"

The door clicked shut and Dee with a pitcher of ice tea walked out. "Ashley, I can answer that one for Spencer, she is in fact single." Dee winked at me before taking a seat. "Watch out for Ashley, Spencer. She is almost as good with the ladies as you are. " She laughed at her statement.

"What do you mean by that Dee?" I couldn't help myself from asking as Ashley put her head in her hands.

Dee laughed a little more before answering. "Well, the day I brought you to the airport, if you remember I was picking up my roommate which of course is the wonderful Ashley."

"I think that is enough of this story, anyone for more tea?"

I have to hear more if Ashley doesn't want it to continue. I give Ashley a grin. "Please Dee, now I really want to hear the rest of this story."

Ashley gave me a playful slap on the arm and huffed as she crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair. "I didn't actually witness the kiss. When I found Ashley in baggage claim, I scared her shitless by putting my hand on her. Her expression was priceless." Dee tried to mimic what see saw causing me to break out in laugher with her.

"Har har. Spencer, you are not supposed to encourage her." I tried to say I'm sorry but I was still laughing. "Since Dee can't form words any better than you, I will just take over. When my plane landed and I was making my way to baggage claim, I had to go through the security check point again. As I just got through, a blonde woman wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses, about to walk to the gates stopped me." My laughter died when she mentioned a blonde. I know what she is about to say before she does. I kissed Ashley. "Then out of nowhere, she just leaned in and kissed me. So long story short, when Aunt Dee caught up with me, I thought she may be the stranger that kissed me's girlfriend. "

"See, she was in LA for less than ten minutes and was being kissed by a stranger. " Dee said when she could talk again. "Don't worry Ash; I have plenty of stories about our dear Spencer here that could bring some lovely color to her cheek."

I lean forward in my chair and glare at Dee. "Before you go releasing stories about me, remember I do know a thing or two about you. " I can't hold back my smile anymore as I think about the time Dee brought home the wrong car from the bar. She couldn't figure out for the life of her why all her presets were in Spanish.

"Touché Spencer, touché." Dee pushed her chair back and stood. "Well Ms. Carlin, you have kept my beloved Cain away from me for a while now, we have an outstanding date. You two go be young and take a walk along the beach. Go build a sand castle or something. I'll be back to drop Cain off but then to The Office, someone has to bring home the bacon. You guys are on your own for dinner."

As soon as Cain heard her name, her ears perked up. She knew what was to come; she followed Dee inside, not even looking back at us. Ashley on the other hand looks confused. "Did I just miss something?"

"Dee enjoys taking Cain to the dog park; apparently Cain is a babe magnet." Ashley's eyebrow corked up, giving me a disbelieving look. "Hey, Dee's words not mine."

Ashley's grin turned mischievous. "Uh huh, sure. So how many dates has poor, innocent Cain got you?"

I nudged her shoulder and she just laughed. "None thank you very much. Although, when I first met your aunt I thought she trying to get with me, if you know what I mean, by using my dog." Ashley's face held a look of horror. "I soon learned though, she was actually using me for my dog." I shook my head and put my face in my hands as Ashley's sweet laughter filled my ears again.

Ashley stood up much like Dee had, and then stepped in front of me. I looked up at her, seeing that beautiful smile reaching all the way to her eyes. "If I heard correctly Dee told us to go be young. What do you say; care to take a walk with me?" She held out her hand for me.

I grasped her hand in mine, instantly feeling that connection again that I hadn't known I missed. How could I ever say no to her? I'm in so much trouble. "I'd love to Ashley."