Talk about deja-vu. Wow! So much had happened since the last time she’d knocked on this door.
“Hiya, Debbie.” He smiled, showing the edge of his front tooth that had started growing in.
“Hi, Cody. How are you.” She still wanted to tuck him in her pocket and take him home with her. If for no other reason than his dad would have to come pick him up.
“I’m tired.” He let out a dramatic sigh.
She crouched a little to look him in the eyes and put her hand on his forehead. “Why are you tired?” Was he coming down with something?
“Because Dad made us clean the whole house today! So we could make a good ’pression.”
“Cody!” Austin’s deep voice coming from behind the open door sent shivers racing down Debbie’s spine. “You’re supposed to invite Debbie in. Not make her stand on the porch all night.”
Austin stepped into view, and she had to catch her breath. He’d skipped shaving today and the two-day stubble on his jaw looked incredibly sexy. Not to mention the dish towel he had slung over his shoulder.
Sheila always insisted there was nothing sexier than a man with an apron and a dish towel. Debbie had to agree. Of course, Sheila also joked that a man was sexiest when he wore nothing but an apron.
Heat filled Debbie’s face as she pictured Austin’s broad, naked chest peeking out behind an apron. She stopped her imagination there, before it could wander any further.
Austin leaned toward her, a concerned look on his face. “Are you feeling okay? You look flushed.”
Debbie forced a laugh. “I’m fine. So are you going to invite me in? Or do I have to stand on the porch all night?”
Cody had disappeared, but Austin’s body now blocked the doorway. There was no way Debbie could get in without pressing impossibly close to him. Nothing about that move would say, “Just friends.”
“Right. Sorry.” He stepped back and waved her in.
“So is Caleb here?”
“He just arrived a few minutes ago.” Austin led Debbie into the kitchen to the sliding glass door. He motioned outside where Dallas, Savannah, and a tall boy sat around a fire. Cody was already making his way to the others.
“Ooh, heiskind of cute,” Debbie said. “So, what do you think of him?”
Austin shrugged. “He seems nice. Respectful. But it’s obvious he didn’t come to see me.” Austin held out a cookie sheet loaded with hot dogs, buns, and condiments. “Would you mind carrying this out for me?” Then he picked up a crockpot and walked out.
“We’re eating outside?”
“Is that a problem?” Austin turned and regarded her with raised eyebrows.
Was this some kind of test? If she said the wrong thing, would she fail?
She smiled. “Not at all. But you promised to cook for me. Making me cook my own hot dog over a fire is cheating.”
“I did cook for you.” He held the crock pot up. “We’re having chili dogs. Unless you’re one of those boring people. In which case, you can have a bowl of chili with a hot dog on the side.” He winked at her before making his way to the fire pit.
Debbie spotted a card table off to the side of the fire pit, holding paper products and roasting sticks. She set the cookie sheet on it.
The next thirty minutes were filled with lots of noise and laughter while Austin helped the boys roast their hot dogs and stack chili on them. Because there were only three roasting sticks, Debbie sat back and waited. She enjoyed watching Austin help his children. There was something about a man that loved kids that melted her heart. And a good-looking man with strong, broad shoulders and an easy-going personality was enough to make her fall head over heels.
She looked up in surprise when Austin handed her a plate with a roasted hot dog on it. He winked. “Now you can’t say I didn’t fix you dinner.”
Debbie laughed and accepted the plate. She’d never been a fan of chili dogs because they were so messy to eat. In fact, Cody wore as much as he’d consumed, but he was happy as could be. Accepting Austin’s challenge, she piled chili on top of her hot dog then followed it up with a sprinkle of cheese.
After making her way back to her seat, she debated on the best way to eat the concoction without ending up like Cody. Finally, she just picked it up and went for it. The rush of flavors that filled her mouth—savory and slightly spicy—made her smile. She looked up to find Austin watching her.
“Delicious,” she mumbled as she chewed her food.
He smiled in return, and her heart leaped in her chest. This man affected her in ways no other man had. Not even her first husband Keith, whom she had been so in love with, made her feel like this.
