***
Later that evening Drew glanced over the table and rubbed his hands together. The table was set with candles, along with a bowl of salad. The lasagna and garlic bread sat on the kitchen counter ready to be served, and their delicious scents permeated his little cottage. Now he just needed his guest of honor.
When the doorbell rang, he brushed his hands down his green button-down shirt and his best pair of chinos before heading toward the door. He pulled it open, and Kacey stood on the porch holding a bakery box.
She looked beautiful with her thick blonde hair cascading past her shoulders in waves, her blue eyes accentuated by makeup. Her bright smile reminded him of the summer sun. “Hi,” she said, sounding almost shy. Did she seem different tonight?
“Come in,” he said, opening the door wide. “You’re right on time.”
She stepped past him into the house. “It smells heavenly in here.”
“Thank you. Let me take your coat.”
She set the bakery box on a nearby chair and shucked her coat. “This place is amazing! I told you, I always wondered what it looked like inside. Could I have the twenty-five-cent tour before we eat?”
“Of course.” He opened the coat closet and hung up her jacket before motioning behind her. “This is the tiny family room.”
“It’s so cozy!” She walked over to the sofa. “Oh! Here are the kitties.”
“That’s pretty much where they stay too—unless they’re begging for food.” He pointed to his portly orange tabby. “This is Thor.” Then he touched his gray cat. “And this is Loki.”
She gave Thor a head rub, and he opened one eye before rolling over onto his side, facing away from her. “I guess they just want to sleep.”
“Don’t take it personally.”
She laughed. “I won’t.” When she rubbed Loki’s chin, he began to purr. “It’s so nice to meet you both.”
Drew pointed to the kitchen. “Over here is the tiny kitchen, where the table hardly fits.”
“I think it’s adorable.” She set the bakery box on the counter and peered down at the lasagna. “Oh my. This looks amazing.” She spun to face him. “Show me the rest of the house before we eat this incredible meal.”
“It won’t take but a minute.”
She followed him down the short hallway.
He pointed to the right. “The bathroom is here.” Then he opened a door beside it. “Tiny linen closet here.”
She peered into the bathroom. “It’s perfect.”
He pushed on the next door, revealing a desk, bookshelves, and his console piano. “This is my office, music room, and everything else room.”
“Wow.” She stepped into the room and turned, as if taking in every detail. “So nice.” She touched the bookshelves. “You still like to read?”
“I do, but I don’t read as much as I used to.”
“I remember when you always had a novel in your backpack.” Kacey walked past him and he caught a whiff of her sweet perfume, which made his mouth dry. “And this must be your bedroom.” She gripped the doorknob and then craned over her shoulder to look up at him. “Is it okay if I look inside?”
“Of course.”
She pushed open the door and stepped inside his modest bedroom.
He stood in the doorway as she walked around his bed, looking at his dressers, and then spinning to face him.
“I love your house.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “You’re easily impressed.”
“It’s perfect, and since I don’t have a house of my own, I think it’s fantastic.”
