Lina threw back her head and laughed. “It’s going in the vault. I won’t tell a soul.”
“What’s in the Tupperware?” he asked, probably to change the subject.
“Pumpkin cake. Are you a fan of pumpkin?”
“Heck, yes.”
“Well good. I’ll make sure to cut you out the biggest slice when I serve it.”
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Chapter 4
The dogs did greet them with their barking the second Dillon pulled his truck onto the long driveway up to his mother’s house. When he lived here, the dogs were a lot better behaved, but Mom had added a few more since then, one an excitable Australian shepherd, and the other an energetic chocolate Labrador retriever.
He whistled to them as he put the truck in park and held the collars of the new ones after getting out. “Jester, down.”
Lina slid out and gripped her cake container to her chest. “I’m okay, I swear.”
“I know. But they’ve obviously rolled in the puddles, and I’d hate for them to get your nice jeans all muddy. Just walk ahead, and I’ll let them go after you’re inside.”
She shrugged. “These jeans aren’tthatnice.”
“Just trust me on this.” He was feeling a little cranky with the dogs reaching back to lick his hands to death and their big paws renderinghisjeans a muddy mess.
Lina’s eyes widened at him, but taking in his struggle, she gave a quick salute in response and walked briskly toward the house, dodging the mud puddles created from worn in tire tracks. Dillon followed, keeping a tight hold on the dogs.
Jester, the lab, stretched forward to try and sniff the new guest as they walked, but Dillon pulled him back. “Don’t even think about it, buddy.”
Lina glanced back at Dillon with a raised eyebrow, her eyes asking if it was him or the dog checking her out from behind. The dog, absolutely. Dillon… okay, maybe a little bit. Those jeans looked absolutely amazing on her. Everything about her was amazing. She was so out of his league, and too nice to ever insinuate it.
Lina was almost to the porch when the front door flew open and Mom burst out, rubbing her nervous hands together. “Is this Lina? I’m Brenda, and I’m so happy you’re here.” The last part came out a little sing-songy.
She and Lina hugged before she shook a finger at Dillon. “I can’t believe you only gave me a few hours’ notice that you were bringing a girl. First Kip and now you.”
It was all bluster, but he apologized anyway.
He reached the porch, and the dogs jumped forward to greet their favorite person in the world. Dillon let go of their collars, brushed off his jeans, and hurried in with Lina, leaving Mom to love on her babies for a few minutes.
The familiar smell of home and delicious food took over his senses, flooding his mind with memories of many Thanksgivings here. He led Lina into the kitchen to drop off her cake, and that was as far as they got before Josie and Alec descended on them.
Josie put a hand to her hip. “My, my, my. Dillon brings home a girl. I thought I’d never see the day.”
Alec cut her a look. “Have a little class, Josie. Maybe she’s just a friend who can’t fly home for Thanksgiving.”
They both turned to look at Dillon expectantly. Right. Introductions. “This is Lina, my … girlfriend. Lina, this is my sister, Josie, and my brother, Alec.”
Lina gave both their hands a good shake. “Nice to meet you both.”
“How long have you two been dating? You haven’t said a word about her.” Josie ignored the elbow in her ribs from Alec. Curiosity came before tact with her. Always. But that was just Josie. And Mom.
Lina gave Dillon a quick I’ve-got-this look and launched into a detailed story about how they’d met in their apartment gym, and how she had to drop hints for weeks before he asked her out. The closeness to the truth had him pulling at his collar, wondering for a moment if shehadbeen dropping hints and he was too dense to pick up on them. This was still a temporary ruse, last he’d checked.
Josie tugged at Lina, eager to take her off for a look at baby pictures of Dillon, what else, and Alec sidled up next to him.
“Relax, man. She’ll still like you after today. Sixty-percent sure of it.”
“Gee, thanks.”
