Higgins barked, the sharp sound a relief.
Not a date.
Dinner.
That could count as a date.
Stop thinking.
She shifted her weight from one foot to the other and back again. Okay, she was a teensy bit nervous.
The door opened. Elias held Higgins, who squirmed in his arms, trying to get down. “Hey. Great timing. I just got home with the pizza.”
“Hi.” As she stepped inside, the heat wrapped around her like a blanket. A few more minutes of this, and she’d be sweating. She removed her coat and hung it on a nearby rack. Elias wore socks, so she removed her boots and left them by the door.
The sharp scent of pine hit her. A glance to her left showed a live Christmas tree with multicolored lights and bulbs sitting in the corner near the front window. A few wrapped gifts nestled beneath the branches on top of a red tree skirt with gold trim.
He shut the door and placed Higgins on the floor.
Higgins sniffed her feet, turned, trotted to the fireplace, and lay on the floor.
She laughed. The dog had made himself right at home. “Higgins knows where it’s warm.”
“He claimed that spot the first day. Not that I want it.” Elias’s long-sleeved, gray Henley made his eyes silvery blue. “You didn’t have to bring anything.”
Tasha handed him the plate. “If my mom found out I showed up empty-handed, I’d get a lecture.”
“My grandmother taught me the same thing.”
The beamed ceilings and wood floors gave the open floor plan a cozy, welcoming atmosphere. A breakfast bar with three stools separated the kitchen from the living room, making it perfect for raising a family or entertaining. The dining room in the far corner, diagonal from where she stood, could be reached through either room. The décor was done in earth tones, matching the wood and lake setting. Burning logs crackled in the river-rock fireplace. Two stockings hung from the wood mantel. One was embroidered with the name Elias. The second had Higgins spelled out in glitter glue.
None of this was what she expected from a single guy’s house, but she liked it. “Lovely home.”
“Thanks.” Elias stood with his shoulders back and a gleam in his eyes. He was at ease, but she imagined he would make a formidable opponent in the courtroom. “I got lucky. It was a foreclosure. A former rental property that hadn’t been maintained. I’ve been slowly fixing it up. The living space and guest bathroom are the only things finished, but I’ll eventually get to the rest. Ready to eat?”
She touched her stomach. Lunch had only been a quick bowl of soup. “Yes.”
“Come on.”
Two plates, glasses, and silverware were set on the table along with packets of crushed red peppers, Parmesan cheese, and the pizza box.
He placed the dessert plate on the far end and pulled out a chair for her.
Handsome and with manners. An attractive combination.
If Tasha wanted a boyfriend, she could do far worse than Elias Carpenter. “Thanks.”
“I have beer, milk, water, and ginger ale to drink.”
“Water’s fine.”
Elias filled the glasses with water from the refrigerator, placed them on the table, and sat. He flipped open the pizza box’s lid.
The scents of basil, oregano, and other yummy goodness drifted out. Her stomach grumbled. “Excuse me.”
“Mine’s about to do the same.” He motioned to the box. “Help yourself.”
She took two slices. “Looks delicious.”
