Page 55 of Forsaken Hearts
“It’s lunch. I already checked the dress code with Willow. She assured me that you don’t need to dress up for lunch here.”
Her eyes went soft again. “You asked Willow for dating advice?”
“In return, I’m sure she’ll make me muck out the barn or something.”
That earned another laugh.
The hostess seated them near the windows, and by the time their food arrived, Summer had finally relaxed completely into the date. Pope watched color glow in her cheeks as she talked and laughed and stole fries off his plate like they’d been doing this for years already.
He liked it way too much.
Not the restaurant or the date.Her.
Every version of her.
The tired single mother trying to stretch grocery money.
The sharp-tongued waitress at the Stockyard.
The soft woman who melted in his arms at night.
The one laughing across the table from him now with sunlight warming her face.
Pope had spent years convincing himself he didn’t need this kind of life. Turned out he’d just never seen a future he wanted badly enough before.
When they got back to the duplex, they headed next door to Granny Helen’s to pick up Ben.
The boy was so excited that he was jumping up and down. “Did you guys go on a date? Did you get ice cream?”
Summer shot Pope a look. “Let’s go inside and I’ll tell you all about it.” She leaned in to drop a kiss to Granny Helen’s cheek before ushering Ben across the porch to their door.
He gave the woman a nod and a smile. “Thanks again for helping with Ben.”
The woman stepped closer, suspicion in her eyes. “Vander, a word please.”
He chuckled. “Am I being threatened again?”
“Depends.” She studied him hard enough to make lesser men uncomfortable.
Pope stood at attention like the woman was his first drill sergeant. “Yes, ma’am.”
She glanced toward Summer’s duplex before twitching her head for him to follow her inside.
Suddenly he had the distinct feeling this conversation might be far more threatening than having a gun pointed at him.
* * * * *
When Vander finally walked back into the duplex, Summer looked up from wiping down the counter.
“There you are.” She narrowed her eyes. “What took so long?”
The corner of his mouth twitched. “Well, Granny had a long list of questions for me.”
Summer froze.
He didn’t look frazzled as he explained. “She didn’t shoot me, so I guess I did okay.”
“Oh my God.”
