tried to tamp down the concerns about Dallas as she applied her eye makeup and then added pink-tinted gloss to her lips. She ran her brush through her hair and then spritzed on perfume and called herself ready.
She left the bathroom and went into the living room and sat on the edge of the sofa. He should be arriving within the next fifteen minutes or so. Lulu sat at her feet, gazing up at her adoringly.
She picked up the dog and then looked around, assured by the neat-and-tidy condition of her living room. She’d spent the morning cleaning, to make sure the house was in tip-top shape just in case Dallas came in.
She’d bought the three-bedroom ranch house right after she’d learned she was pregnant. She hadn’t wanted her babies to be raised in the small apartment where she’d been living at the time, and in any case, she had been thinking about purchasing a house.
The minute she’d seen this place she’d known it was a perfect fit. Not only did it have the three bedrooms and a big eat-in kitchen, but it also had a large fenced-in backyard that would be perfect for growing children.
Every move she had made, every decision she’d reached in the last seven months had been in what she believed was the best interest of her little family.
Family. She felt as if she’d lost every member of her family, and having these babies had been her chance to create a new family unit for herself.
It was impossible to think about family without thinking about Zeke, and thoughts of him always brought a sharp grief that even after a year still had the ability to almost take her breath away.
If only she had done something differently. If only she had—
The ring of her cell phone pulled her from her thoughts. She set Lulu on the floor and dug in her purse for the phone. She looked at the caller identification and then answered. “Hi, Chad.”
“How’s our pregnant lady?” Chad Ruland asked.
Avery smiled at the sound of her fellow prosecutor’s deep voice. “The pregnant lady is doing just fine.”
“I’ve got Danny here with me and he’d like to talk to you.” Danny Jenkins was a file clerk, and he and Chad had been wonderfully supportive throughout her pregnancy.
A knock sounded at her door. “Chad, I’ve got to go. Tell Danny I’ll call him later.” She rose from the sofa as nerves fluttered wildly inside her. She and Chad said their goodbyes.
“You be good while I’m gone,” she said to Lulu. She grabbed her purse and then opened the door. “Hi,” she said.
Jeez, Dallas looked so darned hot in a pair of black jeans and a long-sleeved black polo shirt that emphasized his broad shoulders and flat abdomen. He looked like a cowboy in a pinup calendar, and she looked like a pink-and-black-striped beached whale.
“Hi,” he replied. “Are you all ready to go?”
Lulu gave a cheerful bark, her tail wagging in anticipation of meeting a new friend, but Avery quickly stepped out of the house and then closed her door behind her and made sure it was locked.
“Sounds like you have a friend in there,” he said.
“I do. A friendly little poodle named Lulu. She’s two years old and a complete sweetheart. It’s a nice evening,” she said, changing the subject as they walked toward his truck, parked in her driveway. The air was just a bit crisp, cooler than usual for early September.
“It is,” he agreed. “Fall seems to be arriving a bit ahead of time this year.”
“That’s okay with me. Out of all of the seasons, fall is my favorite.”
“I like it, too. Are you hungry?”
She laughed. “I’m always hungry. Eating for three is a responsibility I take very seriously.”
“Well then, let’s get the three of you fed as soon as possible,” he replied with an easy smile. He opened the passenger door for her and then helped her inside.
His smile had gone a long way in easing some of her nerves. This dinner wasn’t supposed to do anything but allow them to get to know each other better. It was a first date without the expectation of any romance.
Even knowing that, she couldn’t help the way her heart beat just a little bit faster in his presence. Hormones, she told herself...crazy, pregnant hormones. That had to be why a pleasant energy raced through her as he got into the truck, bringing with him a scent of minty soap and a clean, fresh-scented cologne.
“It looks like this is a nice neighborhood,” he said, as he backed out of her driveway.
“It is nice. I bought the place soon after I found out I was pregnant, so picking a good neighborhood and a nice house was very important to me.”
“I’m sorry you’ve had to go through so much of this process alone. Do you have family here?”
Her heart constricted. “I have my father, but we aren’t really close.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Thanks, but it is what it is.”
“By the way, congratulations. I heard through the grapevine you got your man yesterday.” He shot her a quick glance. “I’m not surprised. You were quite passionate in your closing argument.”
She smiled. “I’m quite passionate about getting bad guys behind bars, especially drug dealers.”
By that time they had arrived at the restaurant. The Bluebell Diner was located on Main Street, along with the general store, Lone Star Pharma, a corner store and Kain’s Garage. There were also various other kinds of businesses on the main drag, like a grocery store and an ice cream parlor.
Since it was Friday, the parking spaces in front of the diner were all full. It was definitely a popular place for the people in Whisperwood to dine, especially on the weekends.
“Why don’t I drop you off here at the door and I’ll find a parking space down the block,” he suggested.
“Oh no, that isn’t necessary,” she protested. “Walking is actually good for me.”
“If you’re sure...”
“It’s fine,” she assured him. “I could use the exercise.”
He found an empty space in the next block and they got out of the truck to walk back to the diner. As they went they chatted about the storefronts they passed. She pointed out the boutique where she had bought most of her maternity clothes, and he told her where he bought his cowboy boots. They both agreed that Edwards’s Ice Cream Parlor was a favorite place to visit.
Within minutes they entered the busy diner. The air inside smelled of simmering meats and baked goods, of rich sauces and vegetables. Avery’s appetite came to life. The sounds of people talking and laughing and the clinking of glass and silverware filled the room.
They wove their way to the back and quickly staked claim to a blue-and-white-gingham-tablecloth-clad booth. “At least the noise level is a little less intense back here,”
