“I guess it depends on what it is.” She smirked.
“Fair enough,” he said with a chuckle. “Normally, the gentlemanly thing would be to pick you up. But what if we meet at my place instead? There’s someone there who’d really like to see you.”
Her face brightened. “I’d love that. I’ve missed him.”
Jack was tempted to ask if she’d missed him, too, but didn’t want to come on too strong.
A faint buzzing sound emanated from somewhere inside her coat pocket. Her expression clouded as soon as she read the text message.
“Everything okay?” he asked.
“Everything’s great.” She stuffed her phone back inside her pocket and flashed him a heart-stopping smile.
How could one simple gesture make him forget everything? The tension with Ashley. His long-standing family feud. Nothing else seemed to matter in Kat’s presence.
And it was the kind of feeling he could get used to.
Chapter 18
As Kat stood on Jack’s front porch, she marveled that she’d once again chosen spending time with Jack over finding the brooch. It didn’t make sense. Shewantedto find it. And she couldn’t wait to tell Fern she’d saved the shelter and finally head home for Christmas.
And yet…
When Penny texted earlier, revealing that she’d found another clue inside theWest Side StoryDVD case—just like Graham and Elle had suggested—Kat should have rushed straight over. Instead, she’d replied with a vague message about things with Jack taking longer than expected and she’d pop by first thing in the morning.
Of course, she hadn’t been able to fool her perceptive sister, who’d immediately responded with a winking emoji and an instruction tohave fun.
Filling her lungs with the frosty night air, Kat knocked in swift succession, matching the brisk beating of her heart.
Jack flung open the front door wearing a grin that made her stomach flip-flop.
Before either of them had a chance to speak, Fitz bounded across the cabin, nearly toppling her over in his excitement.
“It’s nice to see you, too,” she said with a laugh, kneeling down to bury her face in his thick fur. When she pulled away, she got a face full of doggy kisses.
“Easy, bud,” Jack told him with a chuckle. “Have a little dignity.”
“Don’t you listen to him,” Kat purred, scratching behind his ears. “I’m glad you wear your heart on your sleeve.”
As she stood, she noticed the cabin smelled like rosemary and garlic. Glancing toward the kitchen, she sucked in a breath.
A plaid tablecloth covered the usually plain dining table. And he’d spruced up a simple place setting for two with fragrant pine branches and holly arranged in a makeshift vase. Beside it, a tea light twinkled inside a clear mason jar.
Astonished, Kat met his gaze.
His eyes held a hesitant glint as he ran his fingers through his hair in a nervous gesture. “I hope you haven’t had dinner yet. I thought we’d have a quick bite to eat and hang out with Fitz for a little while before we head out for the evening’s main event.”
Heat crept up her neck as the reality of the situation unfolded.
Although his original invitation for the evening had sounded more like a casual outing between friends, this most certainly felt like a date.
An intimate date.
The kind of date that might end in a kiss.
* * *
Jack knew he’d taken a risk not telling Kat about dinner beforehand. Not everyone liked surprises. But based on the pink glow brightening her full cheeks, he’d made the right call.
