Whatever trepidation Lane felt melted the second her eyes latched on to the man standing on her porch. The blue polo shirt highlighted his tan and was fitted enough that she could make out the muscled definition beneath.

“You look amazing,” he said when she opened the door.

Lane blushed. “You’re exaggerating.”

“No, I’m not.” He spoke with conviction, and the way his eyes sparked made her believe the compliment wasn’t superficial. “I brought you flowers.” Charlie lifted a pot of white gardenias in one hand and held a candy bar in the other. “And chocolate.”

“They’re beautiful.” The sweet fragrance filled her house. “They smell so good. I know the perfect spot for them outside my window.”

The strong angles of Charlie’s jaw shifted with a smile. “Is Noah here? I brought him a gift too.” He lifted up a plastic dinosaur. “I hope he doesn’t have an . . . Archaeopteryx.”

Lane couldn’t help but giggle at his practiced pronunciation of the winged dinosaur’s name.

“It kind of looks like an eagle, don’t you think?”

“It does and he’ll love it.”

“Is he ready?”

“He’s already there with my sister and Pops.”

Charlie hooked his elbow and lifted his arm. “Shall we join them?”

Hesitating a second, Lane set down the flowers and chocolate and looked at Charlie with his arm raised. Her heart raced, as she was very aware of the attraction growing inside her. Was this how dates started? It was so long ago . . . and the people of this town thrived on juicy gossip. Being escorted by the handsome new deputy was sure to get their mouths watering.

“My mom taught me all the ways to be a gentleman around girls.” Charlie lowered his arm and for a second his lips dipped down at the edges, but a second later the dimples returned. “But more importantly, she taught me that respect goes a lot further than chivalry.”

A whoosh of air left her lungs. Without her saying a word, Charlie seemed to pick up on her inhibition to take his arm. To announce to the town of Walton that the young widow was on her first date. “You have a sweet momma.”

“She’s wise too.” Charlie winked.

Together Charlie and Lane walked across the street to the park. A bluegrass band was set up at the edge of the grassy field near the old brick church. Families set up lawn chairs and laid out quilted blankets across the grounds as children skittered between them chasing each other. Lane searched for her sister and Noah, trying in vain to ignore the way the breeze picked up the spicy scent of Charlie’s skin or the way curious eyes seemed to follow them.

“Lane!” Meagan called over to them from a playset.

“Hey. Where’s Noah?”