“My grandmother will thank you. She insisted she’d taught my dad how to dance and she could teach me. And so she did.”
“And quite well.” The song came to an end and Alice stepped back. “We’d better get back to making sure these kids stay on the straight and narrow.”
He bobbed his head. “You go left, I’ll bank right.”
Her chin dipped as her smile widened. “See you around.”
The rest of the evening flew by with little trouble. Though if he were honest with himself, he’d kept hoping for another opportunity for at least one more dance. He hadn’t danced in years, decades more like it, but tonight he’d had more fun over a single dance than he could remember. Apparently, there was a lot about Alice Sweet and her family that was contributing to the best life he’d ever had. On the ride home they shared stories of mean girls, nice girls, daring boys, and the reassuring idea that for the most part, chivalry is not dead in this part of Texas.
Spitting up gravel despite the slow ride down the front drive, he pulled the truck to a stop in front of the Sweet home. Circling the hood of the vehicle, he managed to get to Alice’s door before she climbed out. Or maybe she’d waited for him. He wasn’t totally sure. Tempering his smile, he took a step back. “Thanks for including me tonight.”
“My pleasure. I had a nice time. Thank you.”
“Any time.” He recognized he not only meant it, but hoped she’d take him up on it. And how foolish was that?
Chapter Eleven
The timer on the oven dinged just as tires crunched up the drive. Alice slipped on an oven mitt and pulled out a pan of bar cookies, the caramel still bubbling at the edges. Brady, asleep under the table a heartbeat ago, shot to his feet with a single sharp woof and tore for the door as if someone had shouted his name in a language only he knew.
“Hold it,” Alice called, but the dog was already there, quivering, tail thudding against the hard surface like a drum. The truck door shut outside. Another. Voices. One of them her boy’s.
So excited anyone would think he’d been gone for years, not weeks. She wiped her hands on a towel and hurried to meet them. The knob turned and there Kade was, tall and sun-browned, grinning like he’d never left.
“Hi, Mom.” Kade immediately dropped his duffel bag and closed the distance between the front door and his mother.
Grown son or not, he was still her boy. She threw her arms around him and squeezed hard, before stepping back to greet their guest. Looking up at the man, she extended her hand. “Welcome.”
“This is Josh.” Kade waved a thumb at his friend.
Alice squinted at him. “Welcome, Josh, Have we met?”
“You’ve heard me talk about him. We served together back in the days when Brady and I were a team.”
“It’s nice to meet you in person, Mrs. Sweet.”
The pieces finally fell together and she reached out and pulled the guy into a big old bear hug. “I can’t believe I finally get to meet you.”
Brady, who’d happily been circling Kade’s legs, waiting for his master’s attention, suddenly froze. His nose twitched, and he turned his attention to Josh. The dog let out a soft whine, then bounded forward with such excitement that he nearly knocked Josh over.
“Whoa there!” Josh laughed, dropping to one knee as Brady circled him frantically, tail wagging so hard his whole body shook. “Hey buddy! You remember me, don’t you?”
The dog pressed against Josh, licking his face and whining with pure joy.
“Nah, it’s that hot dog you had for lunch,” Kade teased.
“Now you know you are home.” Alice patted the dog on the head. “Okay, Brady. Let the man catch his breath.” The dog finally settled at her side, Alice waved for the boys to follow her. “Come on in, both of you. The cookies are warm, and I’ve got coffee ready.”
Moving very slowly, Kade glanced around. “Cassie home?”
Alice couldn’t help but smile. She loved the look in his eyes as he searched for his wife. Reminded her of his father.
“What’s all the commo—” Cassie’s mouth dropped open and she pretty much galloped down the stairs, flinging herself into Kade’s open arms.
“There’s a lot of that going on around here.” She tipped her head toward the kitchen and gestured for Josh to follow her. “That hello might take a while.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Josh smiled, and like a good soldier, did what he was told.
“Have a seat. You want something hot or cold to drink?”
