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softly just above her knees. It was rich burgundy chiffon with a vee neckline and faux ties on each shoulder strap. The color brought out the color in her cheeks. It wrapped snuggly around her waist giving her slim frame a more curvy appearance. Del had taken her to have her nails and hair done as well. She felt amazing. It’d had been a long time since she had dressed up for anything.
    “Are you going to be all right on your own until he gets here?” Del asked.
    “Of course, it’s just a date. I used to go on them all the time.” She waved her sister off. “Kiss the boys for me when you get home.” She followed her sister out to the door. “Thank you for your help today.” Noelle leaned in and gave her sister a warm hug.
    “I’m glad I could do something to help Elle. Call me tomorrow?”
    Noelle nodded as she closed the door. Alone in the house amid half-packed boxes and her mother’s things, she began to have doubts about going out with Cade tonight. What did she expect to come of any of this? She didn’t have anything to offer anyone right now. No income, no place to call her own and not in the position to say she would have either problem fixed in the immediate future. Today was supposed to be about getting organized and moving forward toward her own life and instead she spent the majority of it getting gussied up for a date with a man she’s lusted after in high school. She was sorely tempted to give Cade a call and cancel. Precious rubbed up against her bare ankles.
    “What do you think love? Should I call him?” She asked the cat. Precious meowed at her and walked off toward the bedroom. “Well, that was helpful,” she muttered and then laughed softly at herself. “I’m already dressed up, I guess, no use putting it to waste.” Besides Del wouldn’t let me live it down if I don’t go.
     
    ***
     
    Cade was excited. There was no other word for it. He had made reservations for one of his favorite places and had bought flowers. He ran a comb through his loose waving dark brown hair. He looked at his watch for the third time in as many minutes and decided it was time to head out. He locked up the house and chose against his truck in the garage opting for the SUV instead. He shrugged into his coat and climbed into the vehicle. It was an hour and twenty-minute drive to her house and then an hour back into the city for dinner. He plugged in his playlist for the evening and backed out of the garage. Being later in the evening, it was already dark and traffic was light. The moon was out shimmering off the snow and making the evening seem like something out of a movie.
    As he pulled up to her house, he felt a tremor of anticipation run through his body. He hoped that she would be impressed by his choice of restaurant. He killed the engine and grabbed the pale yellow roses from the passenger seat. The porch light flickered to life, as he climbed out of the SUV and onto the sidewalk. The evening was crisp and cold against the skin, but he felt comfortably warm already. He couldn’t keep his mind from thoughts of Noelle. They had been tormenting him all day.
    Noelle heard Cade pull up out front and switched on the light refusing to give in to her urge to peek out the window at him. It felt too eager. She pulled her wool coat from the coat closet and laid it across the armchair where her purse sat. She looked around the room to take stock of everything and mentally check off any last minute things she should do. No, she was ready. The house being in the state it was, she felt that meeting him at the door was appropriate. She didn’t really have comfortable seating anyway. The couch cushions had been stacked to one side and the coffee table was holding a half filled box. Even knowing he had been walking to the door, she still jumped a little when he knocked. She twisted the knob and opened the door. Again, she was struck by his looks and as he crossed the threshold into the house, she could smell his