thought you might need moral support. She would have come herself, but Ron didn’t want her to make the drive.”
“That was nice of Trudy,” Star said. “And nice of you.”
“I make the drive all the time. It’s no big deal,” Cade said easily. “Were you on your way out?”
“Yes.”
“Trudy wanted me to invite you to dinner. She said I’m not allowed to take no for an answer. I promise we’ll all be on our best behavior, especially me.”
Star laughed at the pained expression on his face. “Wow, what an offer. Did Trudy make you memorize that invitation? Never mind, I don’t care. I’d love to visit with Trudy and I don’t feel like being alone tonight. Too much has happened today. I know I won’t be able to turn my brain off. Plus, I’m starving, and I know firsthand what a good cook Trudy is.”
Cade grinned at her. “You won’t be sorry.”
Star stood. Cade rose. He held out his hand, taking her laptop case from her. His other hand closed around her elbow, his touch gentle but firm.
Heaven help her, she was going home with Cade O’Brien. By choice. She’d definitely slipped into an alternate universe, and right now, she didn’t care one bit.
Chapter Six
“Oh, my gosh,” Trudy said after hearing the story of Brandi’s son’s birth, her hands on her own pregnant belly. “I can’t wait until it’s my turn. She’s so lucky to have her baby.”
“How long do you have?” Star took a sip of her wine. They were seated around the outdoor dinner table at the O’Briens. The guests had gone into town for dinner, leaving the O’Briens to enjoy a rare night off. At the far end of the table, Emma and Finn played King’s Corner. Brad had already finished eating and had gone inside, leaving the adults to their conversation and after dinner wine.
“Almost three weeks.” Trudy massaged her belly. “I’m so ready to be thin again.”
Star smiled. Trudy might not be svelte now but the smile on her face said it all; she had loved every minute of this pregnancy.
Across the table from Star, Cade watched her, intently. Too intently. Star glanced away, uncomfortable. Did he like her or not? She couldn’t read him. Something had shifted between them at the hospital. It was getting more and more difficult for Star to remember the boy he’d been and easier for her to like the man he was now, yet a part of her didn’t trust him or his motives.
Ron leaned over to pour more merlot into Star’s glass. “This is nice,” he said. “A little downtime is what we all need.”
“So true,” Trudy agreed with a smile. She sipped her herbal tea.
The warmth of the day still hung in the air, settling around them like a soft whisper. Large red geraniums hung from planters attached to the eave of the back porch. Monster flowers. They just didn’t grow like that anywhere but Alaska, home of the midnight sun.
Star leaned back in her chair, feeling sated and happy. “Dinner was wonderful. It’s been ages since I’ve had beef stew and cornbread.”
“Thanks,” Trudy said. “It was easy. I made it ahead in the crockpot.”
Star took another sip of her wine. “I know I should get home and get back to work on Patsy’s place, but it feels so good to sit and do nothing.”
“It’s been a stressful couple of days,” Trudy reminded her. “You’re allowed.”
Star stole another glance at Cade. His eyes held a predatory glow. Was he really that handsome, or was the wine she’d consumed making him look better than he really did? Unsettled, she focused on Trudy.
The back door opened, and Brad poked his head out. “Hey. I got Star’s show on TV. Come look.”
“I love that show.” Trudy pushed to her feet.
They all filed into the house, even the twins, but instead of following them into the family room, Cade detoured, taking the kids upstairs to get ready for bed. Star couldn’t help but feel a little relieved that Cade wasn’t going with them to watch the show. Her stomach tightened a
“That was nice of Trudy,” Star said. “And nice of you.”
“I make the drive all the time. It’s no big deal,” Cade said easily. “Were you on your way out?”
“Yes.”
“Trudy wanted me to invite you to dinner. She said I’m not allowed to take no for an answer. I promise we’ll all be on our best behavior, especially me.”
Star laughed at the pained expression on his face. “Wow, what an offer. Did Trudy make you memorize that invitation? Never mind, I don’t care. I’d love to visit with Trudy and I don’t feel like being alone tonight. Too much has happened today. I know I won’t be able to turn my brain off. Plus, I’m starving, and I know firsthand what a good cook Trudy is.”
Cade grinned at her. “You won’t be sorry.”
Star stood. Cade rose. He held out his hand, taking her laptop case from her. His other hand closed around her elbow, his touch gentle but firm.
Heaven help her, she was going home with Cade O’Brien. By choice. She’d definitely slipped into an alternate universe, and right now, she didn’t care one bit.
Chapter Six
“Oh, my gosh,” Trudy said after hearing the story of Brandi’s son’s birth, her hands on her own pregnant belly. “I can’t wait until it’s my turn. She’s so lucky to have her baby.”
“How long do you have?” Star took a sip of her wine. They were seated around the outdoor dinner table at the O’Briens. The guests had gone into town for dinner, leaving the O’Briens to enjoy a rare night off. At the far end of the table, Emma and Finn played King’s Corner. Brad had already finished eating and had gone inside, leaving the adults to their conversation and after dinner wine.
“Almost three weeks.” Trudy massaged her belly. “I’m so ready to be thin again.”
Star smiled. Trudy might not be svelte now but the smile on her face said it all; she had loved every minute of this pregnancy.
Across the table from Star, Cade watched her, intently. Too intently. Star glanced away, uncomfortable. Did he like her or not? She couldn’t read him. Something had shifted between them at the hospital. It was getting more and more difficult for Star to remember the boy he’d been and easier for her to like the man he was now, yet a part of her didn’t trust him or his motives.
Ron leaned over to pour more merlot into Star’s glass. “This is nice,” he said. “A little downtime is what we all need.”
“So true,” Trudy agreed with a smile. She sipped her herbal tea.
The warmth of the day still hung in the air, settling around them like a soft whisper. Large red geraniums hung from planters attached to the eave of the back porch. Monster flowers. They just didn’t grow like that anywhere but Alaska, home of the midnight sun.
Star leaned back in her chair, feeling sated and happy. “Dinner was wonderful. It’s been ages since I’ve had beef stew and cornbread.”
“Thanks,” Trudy said. “It was easy. I made it ahead in the crockpot.”
Star took another sip of her wine. “I know I should get home and get back to work on Patsy’s place, but it feels so good to sit and do nothing.”
“It’s been a stressful couple of days,” Trudy reminded her. “You’re allowed.”
Star stole another glance at Cade. His eyes held a predatory glow. Was he really that handsome, or was the wine she’d consumed making him look better than he really did? Unsettled, she focused on Trudy.
The back door opened, and Brad poked his head out. “Hey. I got Star’s show on TV. Come look.”
“I love that show.” Trudy pushed to her feet.
They all filed into the house, even the twins, but instead of following them into the family room, Cade detoured, taking the kids upstairs to get ready for bed. Star couldn’t help but feel a little relieved that Cade wasn’t going with them to watch the show. Her stomach tightened a
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