Chapter Three
At six fifty-five that night, Jane walked downstairs in the outfit she’d finally decided on. It was the fifth of six that she’d tried, a pink-on-teal dress with a form-fitted bodice and flowing skirt that fell to just above her knees. She stopped in front of Aunt Millie, who stood in the foyer. While Jane fought against hyperventilating, thinking about the impending date, Millie’s face softened. She moved forward to cup a soft, wrinkled hand on Jane’s cheek. “You look so much like your Mama,” she murmured. “Beautiful.”
“Thanks.” Jane leaned forward and rested her cheek against her aunt’s for a moment. This was what she needed. Just a quiet couple of moments to rein in her emotions, to calm her nerves, before Ransom showed up. “I got my red hair from you, though,” she said as she straightened.
“Your gorgeous red hair,” Millie corrected with a wide smile. She took a few steps back. “Are you ready? Do you have everything you need in that tiny little purse?”
“Yes, ma’am. I have my driver license and a credit card, just in case. Lip gloss—”
“Is it flavored? Men like flavored lip gloss.”
Jane rolled her eyes. When she looked at her aunt again, the old lady stood there with an innocent look on her face, but schemes danced in her eyes. Jane had to press her lips together against a grin. “Yes, it’s flavored. Peach.”
“Oh, good. Something other than cherry or strawberry. I bet Ransom has kissed lots of girls who wore cherry or strawberry. Tarts.” She patted Jane on the shoulder. “Peach is understated. A nice surprise.” Leaning forward, she peered at the small handbag. “What else you got in there?”
“A compact, my phone, and my readers.”
Millie’s eyes widened. “You’re taking your reading glasses? Honey, no.”
“But I won’t be able to read the menu if I don’t take them.”
“So? Let him order for you.”
Jane frowned. “That’s rather disingenuous, isn’t it? He knows I’m forty. Not using my readers isn’t going to change that.”
“It’s not disingenuous. It’s…camouflage. He might know it, but that’s no reason to shove it in his face. Not if you plan to get lucky tonight. Speaking of which,” the old lady went on, “you should put some condoms in that little clutch. And a clean pair of panties for tomorrow.”
Jane threw her head back with a sigh and stared at the ceiling.
“What? Am I wrong?”
Jane closed her eyes. “Where should I start?” Tipping her head down, she looked into her aunt’s eyes. “Remember those women who wear cherry and strawberry lip gloss? What did you call them?” She tapped a finger against her chin. “Oh, yeah. Tarts. You called them tarts. What do you think I’ll be if I fall into bed with Ransom on the first date?”
“Lucky. And very, very happy, I wager.”
Jane barked out a surprised laugh. “You’re just so…so…”
“Modern? Realistic? Right? Hopeful, because my niece is goin’ out with a smokin’ hot firefighter and could use some good sex?” Before Jane could respond, the older woman barreled on, “No, not good sex. Great sex. Magnificent sex. Sex that you’ll feel between your legs for days. Sex that’ll put a smile on your face. Sex that—”
“Oh, my God! Enough already. I got it, okay?”
“I’m just sayin’…” Millie mumbled. “You’re not getting any younger. You should have a companion for your old age.”
“I have you, my darling,” Jane said and placed a quick kiss on her aunt’s paper-thin, powdered cheek. “Besides, you’re a fine one to talk. Seems to me you’re not getting any younger either. Where’s your companion for your old age?”
Millie wagged an arthritic finger. “Don’t be smart. It isn’t becoming.” The twinkle in her eyes belied the stern tone of voice. “Anyway, if the old fogey at the senior center doesn’t work out, I have my eye on young Deacon Hollister.” She winked and nudged Jane’s side with a bony elbow.
Jane grinned and kissed the older woman’s cheek again, this time with a loud “Mwah!”
“You lavish some affection on Ransom, and I guarantee he’ll show you a good time.”
“Aunt Millie!”
The doorbell chimed. Jane gripped her clutch and wondered if maybe she should leave her readers at home. But she quickly decided against it and moved to the front door. What greeted her when the door opened caused the breath to hitch in her throat.
She locked her knees and tried to ignore the whoosh that wobbled through her belly. She’d seen Ransom in jeans and tight tee-shirts before and had thought he was handsome. She’d seen him in his turnout gear and thought he was heroic. This was her first time seeing him somewhat dressed up, and it left her speechless.
His royal blue polo shirt emphasized the darkness of his skin and hair and drew her gaze to broad shoulders covered by soft cotton. The blue complemented and somehow drew out the green of his eyes. The shirt was paired with navy slacks and completed by a brown leather belt with a large silver buckle.
“You look beautiful,” he said, his voice a low, raspy rumble.
“So do you,” she whispered.
He grinned. “Men aren’t beautiful, Jane.”
“You are.”
His smile faded, and he took a few steps forward to slide the backs of his fingers along her cheek. “Are you ready to go?”
That tender touch against her face set her heart thrumming behind her ribs. Already he was the best date she’d had in years. She nodded, drawing in a breath, then had to fight from swaying toward him when she caught how good he smelled. Rugged and woodsy, good enough to lick from his head to his toes. Maybe spending some extra time in the middle. Hmm. Aunt Millie might just be onto something here.
Ransom looked at her aunt and tipped his chin down with a respectful, “Ma’am.”
“Ransom.” Millie glanced from him to Jane and back again. “You two make such a cute couple. You fit together like…like…well, I don’t know what, but it’s sweet.”
Ransom’s grin showed off his even, white teeth. “Well, personally, I think Jane’s a perfect fit for me.” He slid an arm around her waist, drawing her gently against his side.
Jane widened her eyes at Aunt Millie, who just smiled and clasped her hands in front of her.
“We should head out,” Jane said. “We have reservations, right?”
“Yep.” Ransom let go of Jane. “Good night, Miz Millie,” he said. “I won’t have her out late.”
“Oh, don’t worry none ’bout that. Matter of fact, you’ll lose some of my esteem if you bring her home too early.”
Even as Jane groaned, he laughed and leaned forward to place a light kiss against Millie’s cheek. Then he straightened and put his hand at the small of Jane’s back to guide her out the door.
“Good lord, he smells divine,” Jane heard her aunt mutter as she followed them to the open doorway. The elderly woman called after them, “Have fun, children. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do! Jane, sweetheart, call me if you’re going to be late. Or if you decide to spend the night elsewhere.”
“Oh, my God,” Jane mumbled under her breath. She wasn’t sure which was worse—the mortification she felt over her aunt’s less-than-subtle commandment, or the mini-orgasm that threatened just from watching Ransom walk. He had the grace of an athlete coupled with a natural confidence that was a huge turn-on.
* * *
Ransom shot a glance at her and had to grin at the red streaking her cheeks.
“It’s not funny,” she muttered. “Now all of our neighbors will know.”
“Know what?” he asked. “That we’re dating?” He opened the passenger door of his late model sedan and helped her in. “They could figure that out just by lookin’ at us, darlin’.” He closed the door and walked around to the driver’s side. As he folded in behind the wheel, he added, “It doesn’t bother me if people think we’re intimate. Does it you?”
“We might be in Dallas, Ransom, but most of Aunt Millie’s neighbors are from the South. The deep South, where there are still certain views about what women should and shouldn’t do when they’re not married, regardless of how progressive and metropolitan Dallas overall is.” She fastened her seatbelt. “Regardless of how ridiculous I think it might be. I don’t want Aunt Millie upset by a bunch of judgmental asshats.”
“I think your aunt can give as good as she gets. Anyway, let ’em judge. It’s not like they’re gonna tell me I can’t put out a fire at their home or tell you they won’t adopt a pet because of your quote unquote loose morals. Besides, it isn’t any of their business.” He started up the car and checked his mirrors before pulling away from the curb. As they drove by the fire station, Deke and a couple other guys were in the driveway, playing basketball. Even with the windows up he could hear them catcalling.
“See?” Jane twisted in her seat and looked at the men through the rear window. “Even they’re doing it. Crap on a cracker.” She turned back to the front and shot him a horrified look. “They probably heard Aunt Millie, too.”
“They’re just a buncha yahoos,” he retorted, making a turn onto a busier street. “Ignore ’em. That’s what I do.”
“Easier said than done.”
“Yeah, I suppose so. But I’m tellin’ ya, they don’t care one way or the other.” He pulled to a stop at a red light. Deciding a change of topic would be best, he looked at her and asked, “So how’d the adoption event go? It looked like a lot of dogs went to good homes.”
The soft glow from the late evening sun showed her face lighting up. It was the prettiest thing he’d ever seen. Her eyes brightened, that courtesan mouth widened, and her entire body seemed to vibrate with excitement. He loved how passionate she was about her volunteer job. It was obvious she had a big heart.
“Fifty dogs went to new homes this morning. Fifty!” She sighed and leaned back against her seat. “The shelter is still overcrowded, though. They’re taking dogs to the local pet stores this weekend, and we’re planning another big adoption event for two months from now.”
The light turned green and he eased the car into motion. “I admire what you do. Not a lot of people would give up their free time like you do.”
Soft pink stained her cheeks. “Thanks,” she said softly. “But my job as a web designer means I make my own work schedule. I can be flexible.”
There was another piece of the puzzle that was Jane Champion. She was a little on the shy side, which he liked, but she was genuine in her responses, which he also liked. And now he knew she was uncomfortable receiving compliments. He imagined that, when they were troweled on like Millie seemed to do, it could get embarrassing. He’d remember that, and do his best to be as authentic as Jane was.
When he pulled up in front of the swankiest restaurant he could afford, he saw Jane swallow. “Would you…” She trailed off.
Ransom glanced toward her. “Would I what?”
“Never mind.”
“No, ask me.”
He held up one hand, index finger raised, to signal to the valet to give him a minute.
She turned in her seat so she partway faced him though remained buckled securely in the seatbelt. “I know you made reservations, but…” She chewed on her lower lip before her gaze sought his in the soft lights from the dashboard. “Would you mind if we didn’t go someplace this fancy? I’m really nervous, and I have visions of knocking my wineglass over, or my water glass, and dropping food on my dress. As a kid, if anyone was going to knock over a full glass of iced tea at the dinner table, it was me.” She raised her hand and grimaced. “I’d be so embarrassed to do it here.”
He suspected she’d feel badly more for doing something clumsy in front of him than for any public embarrassment it might bring. He didn’t know why she was so nervous—good God, she was gorgeous, and funny, and smart. He didn’t get why she didn’t see that in herself. But at the moment she didn’t, and he wasn’t going to stress her any further.
“No problem, honey,” he murmured, waving off the valet and pulling back out of the lot. He made a left at the next light, taking them toward his house and away from the restaurant where, yes, he had made reservations. But it wouldn’t be much of a date if she spent the evening worrying about making a good impression. “You okay with eating at my place?”
The sun shone through the windshield and hit her eyes, turning them a vibrant blue. Her teeth bit into her lower lip, and he thought she was about to say no. Instead, she nodded and smiled. “If that’s okay with you. We can order in.”
“Or I could whip us up something. I make a pretty mean spaghetti Bolognese.”
Her eyebrows dipped. “Doesn’t Bolognese usually take a while to cook? Low and slow?”
“Mmm.” Ransom turned the car onto his street. “I have some in the freezer. Best way to do it is in a big batch in the slow cooker, then freeze it for later use. Well…” He shot her a quick grin. “Freeze whatever’s left over. For tonight, we’ll just need to defrost and heat it up, cook some noodles, and put together a green salad.” As he directed the vehicle into the driveway, he added, “I can even toast some garlic bread.”
“Wow.” Jane’s grin was teasing and infectious. “I had no idea you were so domesticated.”
“Just wait.” He slid her a side-eye, then winked, gratified when she loosened up enough to laugh.