Sunrise Point

whispered.
    He went back for more, covering her mouth with almost dangerous intentions. If he didn’t get a handle on this, he’d be a little out of control and he couldn’t remember the last time he’d had that feeling with a woman. Knowing this was where it was going to end, he forced himself to let go of her, to let her slide back onto her feet, to find some stupid thing to say to excuse it all. “That wasn’t so bad, was it?” he came up with.
    “It wasn’t bad at all.”
    “Thank you. I mean for the kiss, not for the compliment. If you can call not bad a compliment.”
    “I hope you’ll be careful with my feelings,” she said, surprising him. “It wouldn’t be good for either one of us if I fell for you.”
    “Are you sure?” he asked, leaning down and smiling against her lips.
    “Pretty sure. Should we get going and relieve Maxie of her babysitting?”
    “If you wanted me to, I could take you somewhere private. For more kissing,” he suggested.
    “Tom, I should go get my kids and get them settled in bed, because I have a long night ahead. I’m going to spend half of it thinking about what a wonderful evening I had and that fantastic kissing and the other half hoping I haven’t made a big mistake.”
    He smiled at her and kissed her nose. “I hope you get some sleep, Nora. Because I’m taking you to the pumpkin patch tomorrow.”
    “I know,” she said with a sigh. “And come Monday morning, I’ll be waiting for the glass slipper to show up at my door.”

Chapter Sixteen
    Tom could tell that his grandmother wanted every detail of his date with Nora. She was practically vibrating with her need to know. But Tom wasn’t talking. Nora assured her that they’d had fun and the most delicious food imaginable. “Of course not better than anything that comes out of your kitchen, Maxie, but I have to admit, it was a wonderful treat. So—are we all meeting at the pumpkin patch?”
    “I’m picking you up, Nora,” Tom said.
    “Oh. So, Maxie, are you riding with us?”
    “Thank you, darling, but no—I’m going on my own steam. I may not be ready to leave when you are or I might want to leave earlier. I like having my own wheels.”
    “I understand,” she said with a laugh.
    “I’ll help buckle in the girls,” Tom said. “I’m going to carry Berry. You get the baby. And I’m going to follow you home to carry them inside.”
    “Don’t be silly,” Nora argued. “I can manage. It’s too much trouble for you.”
    “It’s a couple of miles,” he said.
    “Three-point-four,” she informed him. “I know. I’ve walked it.”
    “That’s why I intend to drive it,” he said, tapping her cute little nose.
    It was always an ordeal, transporting children, especially sleeping children. It required a committee. There were not only the kids, but a port-a-crib to collapse and stow in the trunk, supplies to gather, seat belts to fasten. It wasn’t until Tom pulled up behind her that he realized he’d never been inside her house before.
    He was pleasantly surprised—it was spotless and the furniture was perfectly nice. Holding Berry against his broad chest, her head on his shoulder, he whispered, “This is very nice.”
    “New,” she said. “Compliments of Jed.”
    “He should get upgraded to Dad pretty soon—furniture, supplies and the offer of a college education.”
    She chuckled and said, “Bring Berry to my room and put her on the bed. Carefully.”
    Tom stepped into the only bedroom and was a little startled to find only a mattress on the floor and a very old and weathered chest of drawers. But the bed was perfectly and meticulously made up and there was a soft, thick area rug under it.
    “You need a bed frame,” he told her in a whisper.
    “It’s not a priority right now,” she said. “Besides, until Jed brought the port-a-crib, we all slept together and it was safer for the kids, mattress on the floor—if one of them rolled off, they didn’t get hurt. Just lie her down, Tom, and take Fay for me so I can go get the crib.”
    “I’ll get it,” he said, gently lowering Berry to the bed.
    After everything was accomplished, children settled, she was walking him the ten steps to the door. He turned toward her. “This is nice, Nora. A good little house.”
    “Thank you. With the help of Jed and neighbors, it’s been possible to do a lot with a little. Thank you, Tom. It was such a nice night. I’ll probably never forget it.”
    He leaned down to her and gave