Page 11 of Condemned By Secrets

“ —but it’s better to be cautious.”

She nodded, not wanting to discuss it any further. “I’ll press charges.”

“Okay, well, good. I’ll keep you updated with what I find out. In the meantime, . . . want to have dinner with me?”

Anna blinked; her tired brain was confused at the change in subject. “Dinner?”

Luther’s grin flashed, and she wanted to sink into the well of his dimple.What?Anna mentally scolded herself. No, she didnot.

“Yeah. Have dinner with me.”

Anna shook her head to clear it. Was this a joke? Was Officer Hottie really asking her out? Incredulous, she glared up at him. “Why?”

“Because my mom makes a mean meatloaf, and it’ll be better than whatever you were going to have in your room.”

Anna scowled, wondering how he knew that had been her plan. She needed to explore the food options the town had to offer but eating out alone didn’t appeal to her. When the mention of his mom penetrated, her eyes widened. “Are you asking me to have dinner with your mother?”

“Is that weird?”

“As a first date, yes.” Anna knew her face betrayed her, but, seriously, who did that? Or wasn’t it weird because she’d already met his mother? I mean, the woman did own the bed and breakfast they were standing in.Ugh, why can’t I figure him out?

Luther’s grin slowly spread across his face, and the silver of his eyes danced. “So, this is a date?”

Anna kicked herself for walking right into that one. If it wouldn’t have embarrassed her further, she’d have groaned out loud. “No! I’m not going on a date with you.”

“But meatloaf? Tonight?”

She wanted to refuse, but meatloaf did sound amazing, since she’d been living off cold sandwiches from the corner grocery. Her treacherous stomach growled, and she had no choice but to agree. “Fine. Because it’s with Janet. It’s not a date.”

Luther coughed to hide a chuckle, and Anna’s eyes sparked. If he laughed at her, she might change her mind.

“Fine. Meet me downstairs in half an hour?”

“Fine.”

She started to close the door, but Luther stopped her. “Oh, and Anna?”

Wary, she braced herself. “What?”

“You might want to”—Luther coughed into his hand again, then gestured at her face with a finger—“wash up.”

Anna slammed the door and let out a squeal in frustration. She heard Luther’s laughter as he walked away. Rushing to the oval mirror above the vanity, she looked at herself. There were smudges on her nose and chin. Dirt or rust, possibly, from the locks? She must have rubbed it on her face at the barn.Fudge!Why am I always a mess when I run into him?

???

After a quick bath, Anna changed into more casual clothes than her work suit. She’d already touched up her makeup after scrubbing the dirt off her face. Determined not to give Luther anything else to laugh at her about, she checked herself in the mirror one last time.

She’d pulled her hair up into a half-pony and switched to understated jewelry. With her cap-sleeve blouse and jeans, she looked relaxed—normal. Not like she was trying to impress him. Because she wasn’t. This wasn’t a date.

Satisfied with her appearance, Anna took a steadying breath and headed down for dinner. When she reached the landing, she paused. Luther was waiting for her at the bottom of the staircase. It was a strange meeting, like she was a debutante at her coming-out ball, as she descended the stairs toward him.

His eyes never left her. A wave of self-consciousness almost crippled her and sent her scurrying back to her room, but she straightened her spine and persevered, refusing to let him get under her skin.

When she’d descended, Anna held her head up and breezed past Luther without a word, only to stop a few feet ahead of him. She didn’t know where they were having dinner with Janet.

Rolling her eyes at herself, she turned and put a cheery smile on her face to hide the inner turmoil. “Where are we eating?”

Luther hadn’t moved from the bottom of the stairs. He stood hipshot with his hands in his pockets, watching her with a smile on his face. “You clean up nice.”

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