Page 47 of Courting Catherine
“We’ve enjoyed having you,” Coco told him when he’d expressed his appreciation for her hospitality. “I’m sure we’ll be seeing each other again soon.”
Her crystal ball didn’t lie, she reminded herself. It still linked Trent up with one of her nieces, and she wasn’t ready to wave surrender.
“I certainly hope so. I have to say, Coco, how much I admire you for raising four such lovely women.”
“Sometimes I think we raised each other.” She smiled mistily around the room. “I’m going to miss this place. To be honest I didn’t think it mattered to me until... well, until now. I didn’t grow up here as the girls did. We traveled quite a bit, you see, and my father only came back sporadically. I always thought it was the fact that his mother had died here that put him off. Then, of course, I spent my married life and the first few years of my widowhood in Philadelphia. Then when Judson and Deliah were killed, I came here for the girls.” She sent him a sad, apologetic smile. “I’m sorry to get sentimental on you, Trenton.”
“Don’t apologize.” He sipped thoughtfully at his aperitif. “My family has never been close, and as a result, there was never a home like this in my life. I think that’s why I’ve begun to understand what it could mean.”
“You should settle down,” she said, cagily, she thought. “Find a nice girl, make a home and family of your own. Why, I can’t think of anything lonelier than not having anyone to go home to.”
Wanting to avoid that line of thought, he reached down to throw the ball for Fred. They both watched as the dog bounded after it, tripped himself up and went sprawling.
“Not particularly graceful,” Trent mused. He rose and went over to retrieve the ball himself. Scratching the dog’s belly, he glanced over. The first thing he saw was a pair of very slim black heels. Slowly his gaze traveled up a long, shapely pair of legs. With the breath backing up in his lungs, he sat back on his heels.
There was a sparkle of scarlet, snug and sleek over a curvy feminine form.
“Lose something?” C.C. asked as his eyes fixed on her face.
Her lips were curved and red and slick. Trent ran his tongue over his teeth to be certain he hadn’t swallowed it. On unsteady legs, he rose.
“C.C.?”
“We were having dinner tonight, weren’t we?”
“We... yes. You look wonderful.”
“Do you like it?” She turned a circle so that he could see the back of the dress dipped even lower than the front. “I think red’s a cheerful color.” And powerful, she thought, still smiling.
“It suits you. I’ve never seen you in a dress before.”
“Impractical when it comes to changing fuel pumps. Are you ready to go?”
“Go where?”
Oh, she was going to enjoy this. “To dinner.”
“Right. Yes.”
She inclined her head the way Suzanna had showed her and handed him her cape. It was a service he’d performed hundreds of times for dozens of women. But his hands fumbled.
“Don’t wait up, Aunt Coco.”
“No, dear.” Behind their retreating backs, she grinned and raised her fists in the air. The moment the front door shut, the three remaining Calhouns exchanged high fives.
Chapter Nine
“I’m glad you talked me into going out tonight.” C.C. reached for the door handle before she remembered to let Trent open the car for her.
“I wasn’t sure you’d still be willing to go.” He closed his hand over hers.
“Because of the house?” As casually as possible, C.C. slid her hand from under his and lowered herself into the car. “That’s done. I’d rather not talk about it tonight.”
“All right.” He closed the door, rounded the hood. “Amanda recommended the restaurant.” He had his hands on the keys but continued to stare at her.
“Something wrong?”
“No.” Unless you counted his nervous system. After starting the car, he tried again. “I thought you might like dining near the water.”
