porch steps, a casserole dish in his hands. “Your mother sent you dinner. It’s chicken enchiladas.”
Surprised, Star took the warm dish from him. “Really?” Her bravado faded. “My mom isn’t the greatest cook, but she does make decent enchiladas. Thanks, I’m starving.”
Cade followed her inside. Star snagged a plate from the rack near the sink.
“She sent enough for two,” Cade said. “Mind if I join you?”
“You haven’t eaten yet?” Star asked. She took a second plate from the rack.
“I was going to, then your mother sent me here.” He smiled. “She’s not very subtle.”
Star shook her head. “No, she’s not. Have a seat.” She set the plates on the table. The spicy scent of chicken and chili sauce filled the air. “Diet soda or wine?” she offered. “That’s all I have.”
“Soda.” Cade sat.
Star returned with two cans of soda then took a seat. “You’re a lifesaver. I was just about to make myself a cheese omelet for dinner. Boring.”
Cade forked up some enchilada. “This is great.”
“Um hum,” Star agreed, her own mouth full.
They ate in companionable silence, and it seemed easy between them for once. No agenda. Just two hungry people enjoying a good meal.
“How’s Trudy?” Star asked between bites.
“Fine. Resting.” Cade chewed, his expression thoughtful. “Your mom’s doing a good job.”
“When do John and Ernie leave?” She had no desire to bear witness to another late night sex fest.
“Not until Saturday. They booked the full week.”
Star’s hopes sank. “That long, huh?”
“Why?” Cade asked. “Is there a problem?”
“No,” she said a bit too quickly. She wasn’t going to rat her mother out, no matter how much she disapproved of her actions.
Cade finished his enchilada and took a long drink of soda. “I’m stuffed.”
“Me, too.” She stood. “Let me wash the dish so you can take it back.”
“Sit down.” Cade gestured to her chair. “I don’t think your food’s even hit your stomach yet.”
“Oh.” Star lowered herself back onto the chair. “I thought you’d want to get home.”
“Why?” He leaned back, looking entirely too male to suit her.
“The kids? The guests?” she said, reminding him of his life.
“Ron’s covering for me.”
“I see.” He stared at her, the hungry look back in his eyes. Her mind screamed danger, yet she didn’t move.
“Any interest in seeing a movie? They’re showing Yours, Mine and Ours, the original, at the park tonight.”
“They still do that?” Star had loved the outdoor movies when she’d been a kid. They’d always gone. A free event was not something her family passed up.
“Every Sunday night during the summer.”
She looked hard at Cade, not sure how to take his invitation. “I don’t know.”
“It’s just a movie, Star,” he said, as if reading her mind. “In a public place.”
What could happen? “Okay, I’ll go. I’m a sucker for Lucille Ball.” This time when she stood, he didn’t protest. He rose, too, taking his own plate to the sink. Star washed the dishes, and Cade dried. Again, it was too easy between them, and more alarm bells sounded, but Star ignored the warnings and went to freshen up.
Quickly, she showered, dressing in jeans and a simple white T–shirt edged at the neck with pretty lace. She slid her feet into her turquoise flip flops with the monkeys on the soles, and grabbed a thick blue hooded sweatshirt. The nights here were cool, and she knew she’d need the jacket later.
She found Cade on the porch, sitting on the top step, the can of soda in his hands.
“That was fast,” he said when he saw her. Then, “You’re beautiful.”
The compliment heated her skin, and made it even harder for her to think about keeping him at arm’s length. “I feel better now that I don’t smell like baby spit up.”
“I’ll take you any way I can get you, Starlene White.”
Desire curled low in her belly. He was doing it again, seducing her with sweet words.
“Don’t, Cade,” she said, tamping down the confusion his compliment stirred. The way he looked at her, as if she were the only woman for him, made her want to give in to him, to the romance he promised, yet she couldn’t let go. Not with him. “Let’s just go to the movie, okay?”
* * *
It didn’t get dark in Seward until nearly daybreak this time of year, but that didn’t stop the town from showing the outdoor movie.
A covered area in the park was darkened on three sides with black cloth. The movie screen was inset and surprisingly easy to see, even in the muted daylight. Although they’d