Way to Her Heart. Melanie Schuster

she admitted. “But the food is so good, I can’t resist.”

      After placing their orders, Lucas reached across the table to take her hand. “You don’t have to explain. I’m a fiend for good barbecue and, luckily, I like to grill so I’ll make some for you whenever you want. And I agree that the food here is excellent. I’ve eaten here several times.”

      They chatted companionably over dinner and shared a big portion of blackberry cobbler for dessert. She looked so animated and pretty that Lucas asked what she was thinking about.

      “I was thinking that this is the best date ever,” she told him before licking the last of the cobbler off her spoon. “If I’d known how much fun this was I would have started dating a while ago.”

      “I’m glad you didn’t,” Lucas countered. “I’m glad I’m the one you allowed to have the pleasure of your company. And I hope you aren’t tired because I have something else planned for us.”

      She didn’t have to wait long to find out what he had in mind. After taking care of their check and leaving a generous tip for their server, Lucas started driving them to a club. He turned to Sherri as he drove and said, “I hope you like music.” She assured him that she did. “Good, because the place we’re going to has some of the best blues I’ve ever heard.”

      The name of the club was Night Flight. The music was great; a singer who sounded just like the late Katie Webster was performing. Between sets a DJ played a mix of blues standards and jazz and when Lucas asked if she wanted to dance, Sherri gladly accepted. She used to love to dance, but she didn’t get to do it very often except in her Zumba class or when she and Sydney were playing with the Wii. Dancing with Lucas was a totally different experience. Feeling his big arms wrapped around her as they moved to the music was really, really nice. She loved the way he smelled and the warmth of his body. She relaxed into his strong, muscular arms and everything dropped away from her consciousness, everything except the way her body felt pressed against his.

      When the song ended she felt slightly disoriented for a moment. She didn’t want to let go of the feeling of being surrounded by Lucas, but once the music stopped she had no choice in the matter. Back at their table she sipped her ginger ale and looked at Lucas, really looked at him, examining every bit of his face. He gave her a slow smile and leaned over so that she could hear him over the music and loud talking. With his lips touching her earlobe, he said, “You’re looking at me awfully hard. Do I scare you or something?”

      A sensation she hadn’t felt since the night Sydney was conceived washed over her like the spray of a warm, gentle shower. She held perfectly still so he wouldn’t see her trembling. “That would be ‘or something,’” she murmured. This time her lips brushed against his ear because it was the only way he’d be able to hear her soft voice.

      An odd expression raced across his face, replaced almost immediately by a big grin. “Let’s get out of here so we can talk about it. Is that okay with you?”

      She nodded and he rose to hold her chair. As they left Night Flight, her hand slid into his like they’d been holding hands for years. They drove to her condo in relative silence, although the idea was that they were supposed to be talking. In a short time they arrived in her gated complex, and he once again opened her door for her and took her hand as they walked to the house. If he’d been expecting her to give him a demure and chaste thank-you and good-night in the doorway, Lucas was mistaken. Sherri calmly opened the door and invited him in, saying she’d make iced coffee. And just like that, the two of them were alone in the house, together.