Page 40 of Her Devoted HERO

She tried. She really did try. She pursed her lips together, clasped her hands in her lap and sat straight. “Yes?”

“I thought there was hope when you joined that dating site. That’s why I had Buddy look into it. He cares about you like I do, so he aggressively bought out Lyle even when he didn’t want to sell. After all that bother, we watched you, and you just sat there like a bump on a log. We could see how many men approached you. It showed that you were opening their e-mails, but you never responded. Then eight weeks ago, a miracle happened, and you responded! I’ve waited four years for the day to come that you actually showed interest in a man, talked to him, spent time with him. I’m ninety-two. I could die at any moment. You have to tell me how that dinner went!”

For just a second, Kenna was confused. What was Rosalie talking about, she and Dex weren’t due to go out on their fancy date until this coming Saturday. Then she realized she was supposed to update her on last Saturday’s dinner at her house. Damn, how had life gotten so confusing?

“Are you going to keep me waiting?” Rosalie demanded impatiently.

“After that heartfelt and dramatic performance? Of course not.” Kenna grinned.

Rosalie gave her a considering look. “Was it Oscar worthy enough that you will tell me how the dinner went?”

Kenna leaned forward and took one of Rosalie’s hands. “I love you.”

“That’s very nice dear. Now talk!”

“Mom made pot roast,” Kenna began.

“Young lady,” Rosalie said menacingly.

“Okay, okay. He brought flowers for my mom. She was over the moon. Gave me the look.”

“What look?”

“The look that I had a good thing on the hook and I better not blow it.”

Rosalie smiled. Apparently, she understood what she was talking about.

“What about Austin?”

“Austin took a bit longer to win over. First, did you know that Austin wants me to have a boyfriend? By the way, that word sucks! I never intend to date a boy.” Kenna made a face.

“I don’t think either you or Austin wants him calling the potential men in your life lovers...”

Kenna shuddered. “’Nuff said.”

“Go on with your story.”

“Even though Austin might want me to have a manfriend, he wasn’t positive Dex was the guy. He had a lot of questions for him. Wanted to know where he went to college, what his degree was in.”

“Was everything smooth sailing after that?”

“Mostly.” Kenna went over to the mini fridge. “What can I get you?” she asked.

“Lemonade.”

Kenna pulled out two bottles of sparkling lemonades, and then got glasses and poured. She handed Rosalie her glass.

“Austin actually asked Dex if he’d ever been married before. When he said no. Then he asked him if he had any kids. I thought Mom was going to choke on her potatoes.”

“Buddy should have forwarded him the report. How did Dex handle the questioning?” Rosalie asked.

Kenna took a sip of her lemonade and her gaze warmed. “He took it great. He didn’t talk down to Austin, he talked to him like an equal, and he didn’t get frustrated. He made it part of the conversation. He asked Austin questions, too. I ended up finding out about Denny’s girlfriend, and I didn’t even know he had one.”

“Sounds like he knows how to talk to kids.”

“He’s a natural,” Kenna concurred. “Then Austin found out that Dex played baseball when he was at UNLV. That was even cooler then him being a SEAL if that was possible.”

“Does Austin know what he wants to study? What he wants to be when he grows up?” Rosalie asked.