His words sounded like the lyrics of a love song. Sherry was delighted. But before she could speak, they were interrupted.

“Dad!”

“All right, all right,” Cody said impatiently. “I’m coming.”

Sherry got to her feet, not wanting him to leave. “I’ll be over at the ranch one afternoon this week,” she volunteered hastily. “That’ll give us both time to think about what we want.”

Cody smiled and briefly touched her face. “I’ll do what I can to keep Heather out of our hair.”

“I heard that!”

Cody chuckled and, leaning forward, kissed Sherry gently on the lips. “Your kisses are sweeter than any chocolate-covered cherries.”

“Hey, Dad, that was good,” Heather announced on her way through the door. “I didn’t help him with that, either,” she told Sherry.

CHAPTER NINE

“I hate to impose on you,” Ellie said for the third time.

“You’re not imposing,” Sherry insisted also for the third time. “Christina Lynn and I will get along fine, and Philip won’t even know you’re gone.” As if to confirm her words, Christina Lynn crawled into Sherry’s lap and planted a wet kiss on her cheek. “Now go,” Sherry said. She stood up, with the toddler tucked against her hip, and escorted Ellie to the door. “Your husband wants to celebrate your anniversary.”

“I can’t believe he arranged all this without me knowing!”

Luke appeared then, dressed in a dark suit, his hair still damp beneath his hat. His arm went around Ellie’s waist. “We haven’t been out to dinner in months.”

“I know, but…”

“Go and enjoy yourself,” Sherry insisted. The more time she spent with Luke and Ellie, the more she grew to like them, individually and as a couple. Luke wasn’t as easy to know as his wife, but Sherry was touched by the strength of his love for Ellie and his family. Luke had called her on Tuesday morning to ask if she’d mind staying with the children Wednesday night while he took Ellie out for a surprise dinner to celebrate their third wedding anniversary. Sherry had been honored that he’d want her to look after his kids. He then told her there wasn’t anyone he’d trust more.

Later, when she arrived at the ranch and Ellie was putting the finishing touches on her makeup, Luke had proudly shown Sherry the gold necklace he’d purchased for his wife. Sherry suspected her friend would be moved to tears when she saw it and told him so. Luke had beamed with pleasure.

“If Philip wakes up,” Ellie said, “there’s a bottle in the fridge.”

“Ellie,” Luke said pointedly, edging her toward the door. “We have a dinner reservation for six.”

“But—”

“Go on, Ellie,” Sherry urged. “Everything will be fine.”

“I know. It’s just that I’ve never left Philip before, and it seems a bit soon to be cutting the apron strings.”

Sherry laughed and bounced Christina Lynn on her hip. “We’re going to have a nice quiet evening all by ourselves.”

“You’re sure—”

“Go,” Sherry said again. She stood on the porch with Christina Lynn as Luke and Ellie drove off. The little girl waved madly.