“Mama is getting dressed,” Dove said quietly, as if shewere confiding a really juicy secret. “She’s going to look pretty.”
“She always looks pretty,” he replied without thinking about it.
Dove giggled.
“What are you laughing about?” he demanded. “Are you telling me your mama isn’t pretty?”
“Sheispretty,” Dove laughed helplessly. “Sheis.”
“That’s more like it,” Dalton said, nodding to himself. “Because I would have a big old argument with anyone who said she wasn’t. I might have to challenge them to a duel.”
That made Dove fling herself onto the loveseat with delight just as her mother came down the stairs.
“What’s going on down here?” Ella’s voice floated down teasingly in front of her.
But all their laughter was forgotten the moment she came into view.
Ella wore her long blonde hair down around her shoulders. A soft sweater the color of fresh cream hugged her curves a bit more than her every day work clothes, and a camel-colored skirt came all the way down to the ankles of a pair of suede boots with a slight heel.
Dalton found himself speechless, and was just thankful his jaw wasn’t hanging on the floor.
“Wow,” Dove squeaked, hopping off the loveseat to attack her mother with a big squeeze.
“What a nice hug,” Ella said, smiling down at her daughter while Dalton’s heart melted into a giant puddle.
What’s the matter with me?
He’d been out with plenty of girls, most of them a lotless modestly dressed than Ella was right now. So why did he feel like a teenager with his heart thundering in his ears and electricity dancing through his veins?
“Are you ready?” Ella asked, glancing up at him for the first time.
When her eyes slid over his shirt and jeans and her cheeks colored slightly, he felt a wild surge of pleasure.
“Yes,” he told her. “I’m ready. Dove, are you sure you’re okay staying with your grandparents?”
“Very okay,” Dove told him. “We’re making cookies, withfrosting.”
“Oh wow,” Dalton said. “Well, I wouldn’t want to keep you from that. Let’s walk to the kitchen together.”
Dove giggled and the three of them headed into the kitchen, where Michael was sitting at the table, going over the books while Mary pulled ingredients out of cupboards to set on the table.
“I hope you’re ready to work, young lady,” Mary told Dove with a big smile. “We’re going to make a lot of cookies tonight.”
Dove cheered and Ella went over to give her mom a kiss on the cheek.
“Have a nice time,” Michael said quietly to Dalton. “Get her home in one piece.”
Dalton met the older man’s eyes and was relieved to see humor there.
“Of course,” Dalton assured him. “I’ll bring her back just as I found her. But with a full belly.”
“Very good,” Michael chuckled, offering Dalton his hand.
Dalton shook it and while he was leaned forward, Michael shoved an envelope into his pocket.
“What’s this?” Dalton asked.
“Back pay,” Michael said sternly. “And I don’t want to argue about it. I heard you were taking her to The Village Green. I want you to enjoy yourselves without worrying over the bill.”
