when she turned around to take his jacket, he put his hands on her shoulders.
“I’m not sure if it’s the curls or the freckles or the smile on your face, but fair warning here, lady. I’m about to kiss you hello.”
His mouth was on her lips, and the newness of it made her heart skip a beat. He didn’t let himself linger, but the kiss was delivered with unapologetic fervor before he stepped away and took off his jacket and laid it across the back of the sofa.
Cathy’s cheeks felt hot, but the smile on her face was total reflex.
“Am I still invited to dinner?” he asked.
“I think it’s safe to say you’re definitely welcome here…anytime,” Cathy said. “Come with me while everything is still hot.”
Duke grinned.
“Are we referring to food here?”
That’s when she realized what she’d just said, and laughed out loud.
“Just shut up and follow me,” she said, and led the way into the kitchen.
“Hey, you’re not limping,” Duke said as he paused to wash his hands at the kitchen sink.
“I know. I returned the walker to the pharmacy this morning, too.”
He frowned. “You didn’t have to do that. I would have taken it for you.”
She eyed the frown on his face and shook her head.
“You do everything for everybody, don’t you, Duke Talbot? Dinner is ready, so sit yourself down, and let someone do something for you.”
Duke was so touched by what she’d said that he sat without another word, watching as she dished up the food and began carrying it to the table.
“Do you want coffee or sweet tea?” Cathy asked. “I have both, so take your pick.”
“It’s Georgia. Unless it’s breakfast, I’ll always pick tea, and my afternoon drink is ice-cold Coke,” he said.
Cathy took note of that information as she removed the pitcher from the refrigerator and set it on the table, then iced two glasses and set them at their places before joining him.
“This is exciting,” she said. “You are the first guest I’ve entertained since I came here. Welcome to my kitchen, and please help yourself.”
He eyed the juicy slices of beef roast on the platter and took two, then added mashed potatoes and ladled gravy she’d made from the pan drippings over both. He scooted the platter and bowls closer to her, then added green beans to his plate and salad to the small bowl.
“I only have two kinds of salad dressing,” Cathy said. “Italian and the traditional ranch dressing I have come to appreciate here in the South.”
“And I like both of them,” Duke said, and reached for the Italian dressing as she chose the other.
He didn’t hesitate as he cut off a bite of roast, swiped it through the brown gravy, and popped it in his mouth, then chewed. Seconds later, he was rolling his eyes in delight.
“Mmmm, Lord deliver me. The lady is adorable and she can cook, too.”
Cathy sighed. Success. Now she could enjoy her own meal, so she started eating.
The first couple of minutes were fairly silent, and then Duke finally paused to take a drink of tea.
“We had a bit of exciting news out at the farm a couple of days ago. I’m gonna be an uncle,” he said.
“Yes, she and Jack are so excited. I’m just an onlooker, but it’s still cool to know our family is going to grow.” Then he took another bite, chewing thoughtfully as he watched her.
“Is she feeling okay, or has morning sickness hit?” Cathy asked.
“So far, she’s doing great and still working like nothing has changed. And, she has informed us that she has big plans for the holidays, so be prepared for a big Talbot-style Thanksgiving dinner.”
“I can help,” Cathy offered.
“I’ll let her know,” Duke said. “But she has Mercy for backup, and between those two sisters, I’m not worried about a thing.”
Cathy thought about her solitary life up in Alaska. She had always wanted a sibling, but it didn’t happen. And now that she was divorced, she had no actual family left anywhere on earth. She’d been so focused on escaping Blaine’s anger that it hadn’t dawned on her how alone she really was in the world.
“What are you thinking about?” Duke asked.
She blinked. “Uh…just what you said, I guess. Why?”
“You looked…not sad, but kind of wistful.”
“Oh. Well, I guess you read my thoughts pretty clearly, then. Mother always said everything I thought could be read on my face, so I guess my emotions are an open book. I was