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He scratched his head and wondered what other clues he was missing when it came to Cassie. “I guess so.” Still, he was uncertain.

“Don’t beat yourself up, Coop. Most men are in the same boat. You haven’t done anything to ruin Cassie’s life. If you ask me, she’s well-grounded and happy.”

Taylor pushed her hair up and away from her face in an absentminded way, not realizing how pretty all those glossy dark strands looked falling back into place. Coop’s throat hitched a bit. Being around Taylor again was affecting him. In a good way and he didn’t want it to end. She made him feel good about himself, easing his doubts and, well, just being Taylor. “Have dinner with me tomorrow night.”

“Wh-what?”

Her green eyes grew wide. Apparently, he had the power to open her eyes too. “I think you heard me. I’m asking you out for dinner.”

“Like…a…date?”

Hell no. Yes. “Think of it as two people sharing a meal together.”

“Why?”

“Because, first of all, you’ve been great with Cassie, making her dress, giving her pep talks. Clueing her father in on all things female and, secondly, because you want to.”

Taylor put a finger to her chest. “Me? I want to? How would you know that?”

“I just do. You love food, and this place has the best.”

Taylor thought about it for half a second. “Sounds too good to pass up, okay.”

Okay?Man, he hated how thrilled he was that she agreed. It scared him silly. “Okay, then. Dinner, tomorrow night, seven p.m.”

“Yes.” She smiled.

He smiled back.

And just like that, he had a date with Taylor Preston.

Wonder what Blake Charles would say about that.

Coop walked out of the kitchen, wondering if he knew what the hell he was doing.

And more importantly, why he was doing it.

*

Taylor looked ather reflection in Julie’s hall mirror. She must’ve changed her clothes half a dozen times before settling on a solid cinnamon red dress with a V-neck, cinched at the waist only to flare out some. Maybe she should’ve opted for something more casual. Something that wouldn’t give him the wrong impression.

Julie came up beside her and glanced in the mirror. “You look amazing.”

She made a face, wrinkling her nose. “It’s too much, isn’t it?”

“No way. It’s perfect.”

“But I only agreed to this dinner because it seemed important to him to thank me. He was beating himself up about his fathering skills. And I—”

“You want to go, Taylor. Otherwise, you wouldn’t give a fig about how you’re dressed. Just go with Coop and have fun. I think this is your first date, in what, a year?”

Just hearing the worddatein the same breath asCoopput her nerves on edge. “I’m not going to think of it as a date. We’re just two old friends having a meal.”

“Okay, use whatever device you need to make yourself feel comfortable. But promise me you’ll take it one step at a time and see where the evening leads.”

Taylor nibbled on her lower lip. “One step at a time? Sure, I can promise you that.”

“Good, because once Coop takes a look at you in that dress, you’ll knock his boots off.”