Page 48 of Forbidden Secrets
“Okay.”
“Okay?”
“Yeah.I’d like to stay for dinner.”
That’s how Gage ended up sitting at her small kitchen table across from Melanie and Addy while they ate soup and crusty bread.Rain drummed against the roof, the aroma of fresh-baked bread scented the air, and the soup was warm and savory.She wondered if Gage was affected by the coziness of a scene that felt very much like a family sharing a meal at the end of the day.
Addy chattered nonstop, thrilled to have guests for dinner.She’d wanted to feed Pancake soup until Gage warned her onions weren’t good for dogs.Now Pancake sat looking forlorn.
“We need to get treats for Pancake for when she visits, Mom.”
“We can do that.”
Gage spread butter over his bread.“Give her a carrot and she’ll be fine until I feed her.”
Addy looked skeptical.“A carrot?Dogs don’t eat carrots.”
“Wanna bet?Pancake loves them.”
“Then you should have called her Carrot.”
“She likes pancakes more.”
Giggling, Addy got a carrot from the fridge.
She held it out and Pancake took it carefully and began crunching.
“She likes it.”Addy beamed at Gage as she returned to her seat.“What other vegetables do dogs like?”
That question was followed by a discussion of foods dogs could and could not eat.
Since the blow-the-socks-off kiss had left Melanie feeling off-kilter, she was happy to let Addy keep the conversational ball rolling.
They finished dinner, Gage and Addy both having seconds, and then it was time for the evening routine to get her little girl settled in bed after which Melanie would have a couple hours to work on her manuscript.
They rose from the table and Gage took the empty bowls to the sink.
“It’s getting toward bedtime, sweet child of mine,” Melanie said.“Say goodbye to Gage and Pancake.Tonight’s bath night so take your pj’s to the bathroom.And don’t forget to lay out your school clothes for tomorrow.”
“Can’t I stay up since Gage and Pancake are here?”
Gage tugged her braid.“We’re going, sunshine.It’s getting toward Pancake’s bedtime too.”
Addy’s shoulders slumped.“Okay.”How could she make a simple word sound so sad?“Bye, Gage.I like it when you and Pancake have dinner with us.”
Gage met Melanie’s gaze over Addy’s head.“It was nice.Thanks for having me.”Melanie didn’t miss his surprise when Addy wrapped her arms around his waist in a hug.He hesitated, then dropped a hand to rub her back.Addy released him to fling her arms around Pancake, who swiped her chin with her tongue.
When the hug looked to stretch indefinitely, Mel urged her along.“Go on, Addy.I’ll be in to run your bath in a minute.”
Dragging her feet, Addy headed for her room.
Melanie retrieved her car keys from a dish on the counter and held them up to Gage.“It’s pouring.Take my car.”
Gage raised his brows.“You sure?”
“Positive.You and Pancake will get soaked and muddy if you walk.If it’s still raining in the morning, though, I’ll need you to bring the car back before eight so I can drive Addy to the bus stop.”
“I can do that.”He took the keys.“Thanks.”
