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cologne. It made her feel weak in the knees.
    “You look beautiful,” he commented softly as he looked at her from head to toe. “These are for you.” He handed her the roses.
    “Thank you, they are gorgeous.” She looked toward the kitchen trying to remember if she had a vase to put them in. “I’ll just put these in water and then we can go.”
    “I talked to some of the boys, would three work tomorrow to pick up the furniture?” Cade called into the kitchen.
    Noelle walked out with a vase and the flowers and set them on the crowded coffee table. She pulled the roses from their bundle and slid them into the water. “I don’t see why not. I’ll make sure to have a good sized path cleared,” she smiled up at him.
    “Ready?” he asked feeling his heart leap into his throat when she smiled at him. In a t-shirt and exercise pants he had found her beautiful, in this dress with her chestnut brown hair falling in waves around her face, she was devastating. He helped her into her coat and held the door open for her making sure it was locked behind them. He opened the door to the SUV and helped her up into the seat admiring her legs briefly, as she climbed in, before shutting the door.
    The trip to the restaurant went quickly for them both. She asked him about his life since high school and he asked about college. They laughed together and listened to music. In fact, by the time they reached the restaurant, Noelle thought that she would have been just as happy if the date was ending instead of beginning. She was having a wonderful time. She felt breathless and pretty and all the things she could hope for as he helped her out of the car and offered his arm to her to walk up the path to the door.
    The place looked like an upscale log cabin. The trees were lit with strings of white lights and she could tell that this place was not some place she could ever afford on her own. As they stepped inside a pretty hostess greeted them. She took them to a waiting area next to a cozy fireplace, with the promise that their table was nearly ready. After taking their drink orders, she disappeared again.
    “This place is...wow.” Noelle offered looking around. The rustic log cabin feel moved throughout the place.
    “I’d hoped you’d like it.”
    A cocktail waitress brought them their drinks while they talked. Noelle was quick to notice her eyes all over Cade and it made her feel predatory.
    “How’s your wine?”
    “Delicious.” Noelle smiled, giving the waitress a ‘Back Off’ stare. “How did things go with your mason?”
    Cade gave her a confused look.
    “You mentioned this morning that you had to show him to the site you’re working on.”
    “Yes, of course, the hotel. It went well. I think he’ll get the job done for me.”
    “It must be enjoyable work for you. Creating buildings like giant pieces of artwork that will be standing long after you.”
    “It can be very rewarding, watching things I design come to life, yes. It can also be very frustrating at times. Clients don’t always understand how things work. They want a glass bottomed pool over their living room because they saw it in a movie once, but don’t understand what it takes to make it happen. That kind of thing.”
    Noelle nodded, imagining what he was describing. “I don’t think I’d feel comfortable sitting under something like that to watch TV.”
    Cade laughed aloud. “Safe enough, just expensive to construct.”
    “Your table is ready now, if you’d like to follow me,” the hostess offered.
    They wove their way through the restaurant and Noelle discreetly looked at the plates of other diners as they passed. Everything looked wonderful and rich. The hostess led them to a table closer to the back of the room where one wall was nothing but bookshelves covered with antiques and all kinds of books. She caught titles of classics among ones with which she was unfamiliar. If they weren’t here for dinner, she could make an evening just