He snorted. “My hand would be a damn poor substitute anyway.”
Catherine imagined being bold enough to get in her rental and drive over to his house. She could show up in her coat and nothing else. But she wasn’t that bold, she thought miserably. Never had been. Dang it.
“You still there?”
“Sorry, yea.” She yawned as her body started to succumb to lack of sleep. “I’m getting tired though.” She smiled. “Someone kept me up last night.”
“You’d better get a good night’s sleep tonight, then, because you’ll be up tomorrow night too,” he confirmed, his voice low and filled with dark promise.
She yawned again and knew she was about done for. “I’m glad you called.”
“Me too,” he murmured. “Sleep tight, sweetheart.”
“You too, Dean.”
When they hung up, Catherine thought of what Dean had said. He had a surprise for her. She couldn’t even begin to guess what it might be, but it thrilled her that he’d thought of her. Tomorrow was Thursday, though, and she’d be going home in a few days. Home, which meant miles away from Dean. What was she going to do then?
The thought had her tossing and turning until the wee hours of the morning.
20
The next day, Catherine arrived at Wade and Gracie’s in time to watch Gracie pull out a large pan from the oven. “What is that?” she asked as she laid her coat over a chair. “It smells delicious.”
“Wade made lasagna.” She pointed to a stool by the counter. “Pull up a seat. You’re going to love this.”
Catherine’s stomach rumbled as she took the seat nearest the stove. “Mmm, I can’t wait. You snagged yourself a pretty handy guy there, you know? He cooks and takes down bad guys. Is there anything he can’t do?”
Gracie laughed as she placed the potholders aside and picked up a large knife. “I happen to think he can do anything, but I’m somewhat biased.”
Catherine looked around. “Where is the man of the hour anyway?”
“He and Jonas are working a case. An embezzler or something.” Gracie threw her hands in the air. “I can’t keep track.”
The dangerous nature of Wade’s private investigating job prompted Catherine to ask, “Does it worry you when he’s away?”
“Definitely, but I know he takes precautions. I can’t ask for more than that.”
She admired Gracie for her strength, and for the faith she obviously had in her fiancé. “Has he ever considered a different line of work?”
Gracie started to cut the lasagna into large squares. “Nah, he loves his job. He’d be miserable doing something else.”
A knock on the door interrupted them. Catherine frowned. “Are you expecting someone?”
Gracie put the knife down and wiped her hands on a dishtowel. “I almost forgot that I asked Wade’s mom and sister to come over.” She bit her lip. “Do you mind?”
“Of course not.” Catherine laughed. “I wondered who was going to eat all that lasagna.”
Gracie headed for the door and let the two women in. “You have great timing. The lasagna just came out of the oven.”
“Oh, man, that brother of mine is an amazing cook,” Deanna said as she tossed her coat on top of Catherine’s. “I think that gene skipped me or something.”
Catherine watched as Dean’s mother took off her own coat. The older woman looked her way and smiled. “I hope you don’t mind us horning in on your visit with Gracie.”
Catherine waved a hand in the air. “Not at all. I was just saying that I was glad I wasn’t going to have to eat all that lasagna by myself.”
Deanna pulled out a stool and sat next to her. “No worries. Food never goes to waste when I’m around.”
Catherine laughed. “But you’re so thin. What’s your secret?”