Page 30 of Rescued Hearts

“If Felicity hadn’t asked me to stay with her, I’d be somewhere in the foothills now, glamping.”

He laughed but an undercurrent of concern hummed beneath the surface. The idea of her alone, vulnerable, didn’t sit well with him.

“In fact, I have a festival coming up soon.”

He studied her for indicators that she may be concerned about going off alone to this festival, especially if her ex might be lurking around. But she only beamed at him like the ray of sunshine he was starting to think of her as.

Their meals arrived, and they continued to talk while Gray watched how much pleasure Honor got from tasting the Italian dish she ordered. Each bite, she swallowed with relish, taking pleasure from the meal just like she seemed to get from everything she did in life.

Everything except the line at the post office, that was.

Again, he considered what happened between her and her ex and why she might be worried about him coming to Willowbrook. But now wasn’t the time to ask.

When they finished their food, the server cleared away their plates. “Dessert?”

Honor raised a brow at Gray as if challenging him.

“Sure.” He wasn’t much for sweets, but he wanted to draw out his time with her.

He spent years of his life making quick decisions in the cockpit, ones that meant life or death. But now he didn’t know whether or not to trust his feelings. His mind might be creating chemistry between him and Honor where there really wasn’t any. Instant attraction wasn’t a thing for him. Ever.

But every minute he spent with her, that pull between them seemed to grow stronger.

When they had slices of rich chocolate cake with three tiers and something the server called ganache between them, he found himself smiling again. “Maybe next time I can take you dancing.”

Her eyes gleamed. “You dance?”

“Not much, but I learn quick.”

“Country line dance?”

He gave her a crooked smile. “I’ve been known to give it a go.” He thought of Oaks’s wedding and how his sister had forced him into every dance including the damn Cupid Shuffle.

The sweet curve of Honor’s lips at his answer was even sweeter than dessert.

They remained at the table long after the last crumbs were devoured, talking about everything and nothing. He enjoyed himself so much that he almost forgot about the real reason he asked her to dinner until she gave him a nervous glance.

“I hate to bring this up…but you did mention a business matter.”

“Ah, yes.”

“Or was it just a ruse to get me to come to dinner with you?” She leaned toward him. The tumble of waves across her cheek was the most enchanting thing he’d ever seen.

“No ruse. But I’m glad you said yes.”

The soft look in her eyes told him that she liked hearing that he was interested in her.

“For what it’s worth, you didn’t need to mention business—I would have said yes to dinner anyway.”

His chest welled with an unusual heat which left him wondering if she’d experienced the same a moment before.

“Your sister Felicity might have mentioned the veteran therapy program we have at the ranch.”

A tiny crinkle in her brow appeared. She shook her head.

“My brother Oaks founded it after his closest friend lost his struggle with his mental health. A lot of vets suffer, and there aren’t many programs out there to help. We have about thirty men right now in the program.”

“Wow. That’s amazing.”

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