Tessa relieved him of the casserole dish, studying him for an extra second. Almost a year ago to the day, the two of them had stood alone in this same spot as she lectured him about not pushing Sophie for something she wasn’t ready for. Tessa insisted he be her friend first. More might come later.
“They just showed up out of the blue,” Tessa added, her eyes still on Denver. Had he blundered by sending the flowersbeforeseeking permission? “Can’t imagine who Sophie’s secret admirer might be. You’re with her all the time. Have any ideas who’s taking a fancy to our sister?”
He gave her a pleading look, silently begging her to drop it. Later, he’d pull her aside and let her in on his plan. It might be wise to have insider help, and he couldn’t imagine Tessa disapproving. He’d done what she asked. Eventually Sophie would know the flowers came from him, but not now. Denver had a carefully laid-out plan, and he intended to stick to it.
“Cheesy potatoes, huh?” Sophie asked as she set the table.
“Don’t want to fix what’s not broken.” He’d first baked the cheesy potatoes when Caroline begged for them during one of their Thursday nights. She didn’t often talk about her life in Hawaii, but for some reason, she missed the cheesy potatoes more than anything else. Denver was a half-decent cook when he put his mind to it, and with his mom’s recipe he knew he couldn’t go wrong.
He surprised Caroline with the cheesy potatoes the following week, earning a hug from Sophie in the process.
“Hand over some of that silverware,” Denver requested, noticing how Sophie hesitated. Making her nervous was . . .new.
What started out as a kind gesture had inspired a scene in his book too. Malcom made cheesy potatoes in an attempt to soften up Katrina.Kat, he called her. Kat was a reporter who in the first few books caused more trouble than not. But Malcom eventually realized they could work better together than against each other. Though tension still lingered between them that readers definitely picked up on, the cheesy potatoes sealed a new alliance.
Until yesterday, Denver hadn’t been sure when Malcom and Kat would finally figure out how well they worked together. That they could be more than allies. But he decidedthiswas the book when things turned up a notch. Whether or not there would be a kiss was still up in the air.
“You have that faraway look,” Sophie said to him from across the table. “What’re you stuck on?”
He wanted to exclaimSee! This is why we belong together. You know me so well, Soph.“Kat, actually.”
“Is she causing a little extra mischief?”
Denver winked at her. “Always.”
Tessa stretched across the table, setting a covered baking dish on the table’s center. No doubt Rilee’s prized halibut enchiladas, considering the girl instantly appeared beside them. “You ready to head back to school?” Tessa asked her.
“Hey,” Sophie said to Denver as she came around the table closer to him. “You’re sure you don’t mind picking Caroline up from school tomorrow?”
“Of course not,” he said without hesitation, though he wondered what might keep her as she hadn’t shared that detail with him. An appointment with Mr. Jenkins? Another showing? He couldn’t help it. Denver thought about Sophie all the time. “Do you want to take her home to my place? You can meet us over there when you’re free.”
“I won’t make it to dinner this week,” she announced, refusing to meet his eyes as she set the last of the forks on the left side of the plates.So many plates. “I’m riding with Cadence tomorrow.” She glanced over her shoulder, watching Caroline hop up to her feet and lure Sherlock into the living room. It drew Riggs as well. “She’s taking Rilee to the airport, and I’m going along.”
Denver’s immediate reaction was disappointment. His weekly schedule was built around those Thursdays. Sophie had only ever missed one since they turned it into a regular occurrence, and only because Caroline was running a high fever.
“I need to get Caroline some school clothes,” she said, looking over his shoulder and through the doorway her daughter skittered through moments before. “And with any luck, more accurate decorations.”
“Gotcha.” So many other things Denver wanted to say sat lodged in his throat, but for good reason. He promised himself years ago he would never do or say anything that might make him come off as desperate for a woman. A piece of advice his dad had given him on his death bed, and he intended to adhere to it even with Sophie Whitmore. He’d follow through on his plan, but never at any point would he beg.
“I know Caroline would still very much like to make her special lasagna if you’re up for the challenge.”
Tension released out of Denver’s bunched shoulders. Sophie didn’t trust her daughter with just anyone. In fact, outside of her sisters and his mom, she didn’t trust Caroline to anyone else. His eyes flitted toward the bouquet. Why wasn’t this obvious to her? “I’m not afraid of a little lasagna.”
“Good.” Sophie turned toward the doorway, no doubt to find her daughter. “I should also mention she’s determined to beat you in Monopoly.”
A girl as young as Caroline shouldn’t understand the concept of such an intricate board game as precisely as Caroline did. She was good with numbers, and had a knack for memorizing rent amounts for every property on the board. Rarely was she wrong. He was having a special version designed for Caroline as a birthday gift. “Oh, it’s on.”
“Thank you, Denver.” Sophie reached out her hand, but inches from his arm, she dropped it instead.
He tried not to frown, but when he failed, he turned away to hide it. “Better find Sherlock and make sure he hasn’t knocked anything over.”
He found Caroline and both dogs rolling on the floor, all of them on their backs. Two bushy tails swished along the Alaskan-themed rug. Sherlock let out a quiet bark that won him a giggle. Riggs licked her on the cheek.
“She really wants a dog,” Sophie said to him, quietly.
“I think sheneedsone.” It wasn’t only Sophie who had stolen his heart. He loved Caroline as if she were his own daughter. That first day meeting Sophie, he was surprised to learn she had a little girl, but not a bit put off. He’d always wanted a family.
He almost asked her now if she wanted more kids.
