Page 30 of Doctor Holliday

“I think so, too.”

“And he is pretty good-looking.”

Lucy laughed as she turned the light off. “For an old guy.”

“Nah. Just good-looking.”

They crossed the room as the doorbell rang.

“Mom?”

“Hmm?” Lucy looked back at Callie as she headed down the entry hall to answer the door.

“It’s okay.”

“What is?” Lucy shook her head.

“If you don’t come home tonight. It’s okay. I get it.”

“Cal.” Lucy sighed, but Callie vanished into the living room, leaving Lucy alone with her out-of-control thoughts and her racing heart. She took a deep breath before pulling the door open. Keaton Thatcher, dressed in gray trousers and a black button-down shirt, made her heart plunge into her belly, sending those butterflies down to stroke their wings over other body parts.

“You.” He shook his head as he dragged his eyes over her from head to toe and back. “Look stunning.”

Glad Callie had talked her into leaving her hair in loose curls around her face and shoulders, Lucy pressed her lips together and nodded. “You do, too, Mr. Shucks-in-a-Flannel-Shirt.”

His laughter shot through her like top-shelf whiskey. Warmth radiated through her belly and her arms, making her fingertips tingle.,

“Let’s go. I can’t wait to show you off.”

Chapter 14

Friday,December 15th

Keaton

“You got off easy.”

“Easy?” he repeated incredulously. “Are you kidding me? Have you ever been interrogated by a ten-year-old?”

“I have, actually.” Lucy smiled at him over her wine glass. “And she only suggested you needed fashion advice.”

Keaton laughed and shook his head. Alyssa had texted him just before he left to pick Lucy up. Ruby had demanded yet again that he send pictures of himself dressed up. Keaton had relented and sent a quick selfie for Ruby, but he had drawn the line at getting a picture of himself with Lucy.

“And, also,” Lucy tipped her head as she continued, “my sister and my eighteen-year-old daughter werequotehelping me get dressed.” She wiggled her fingers in the air when she saidquote.

Keaton thought he detected a little pink in her cheeks. The possible reasons for her to blush at the moment made his heartstir a bit. Made his dick jump to alert, too, but he silently commanded it to stand down. Tonight would be a nice dinner. Maybe a kiss or two. As much as he wanted more—for instance, he was dying to know what she had on under the dress—Keaton had told himself he was not going to rush anything with Lucy.

“I’m dying to know,” he admitted. “But I won’t push.”

Her smile told him whatever he was imagining, the truth was a hundred times better.

“Dinner was delicious.”

Probably wise to steer their conversation away from the clothing items that she may or may not have had her sister and daughter’s help with, but Keaton hated to crash back down to earth already. Though, yes, dinner was delicious. Keaton had enjoyed his tuna steak, though maybe not as much as he had enjoyed watching Lucy eat her scallops and risotto. Sipping her wine. Tonight, with dinner, they shared a bottle of chardonnay. Wasn’t something he would care to drink all the time, unless he was drinking it from her lips or her belly. And yet, it was good, and it had paired well with the seafood.

“Are you ready to call it a night?”

Lucy had been eyeing the bar, but at his gruff voice, at what admittedly sounded like a suggestive question, she jerked her gaze back to him.