“What?” Cathy asked, as she pulled away and began fumbling for a tissue.

“Take a hot shower, put on some dry clothes and lie down for a while. Rest yourself and your ankle, too.”

Cathy wiped her eyes and then turned around and just looked at him.

“Yes, I will, and thank you for caring, for helping me with Melvin Lee, and for being the thoughtful man you are.”

It was all Duke could do not to take her in his arms and kiss her senseless, but that’s not what she needed. Yes, Cathy Terry had a sore ankle, but she was already one of the walking wounded when she showed up in Blessings, and she needed to heal from the damage one man had done to her life, before he dared broach the subject of wanting more.

“I have a request,” Duke said. “If I had your phone number, then I wouldn’t be intruding into your life without prior warning.”

“Does this mean your visits aren’t going to come to an end, even after my ankle is well?”

He grinned. “That’s the plan, unless you change it for me.”

“Then you can absolutely have my number,” Cathy said.

“Wait a sec,” Duke said, and pulled up his contact list to add her name. “Okay, I’m ready,” he said.

Cathy gave him the number and felt a sense of something imminent as he hit Save. They were connected now. She had his number in her phone, but she had only felt the freedom to use it should she need help, because that was the offer when he left it.

“Got it,” Duke said, and then dropped the phone back in his pocket. “I guess I’d better get those batteries for the game cameras and get back to the farm. Today is Hope’s day off and I usually find something to do so that they have some time at home together.”

“So you’ve all always lived together,” Cathy said.

“Yes, but I’ve always thought if they ever decided to start a family, that I would move out. I should probably do that now, but the convenience of Jack and me being in the same place tending the farm is too easy to give up. Maybe I’ll just build a house of my own somewhere on the property… or they might want the new house, in which case I’d happily stay with the family home, even if it’s too big for one person… it’s still home.”

“I’ll bet it’s lovely out there,” Cathy said.

Duke looked at her then, trying not to drown in those deep blue eyes.

“I’d love to show you sometime… when you’re up to a trip and a little walking, of course.”

“Oh, I would love that,” Cathy said.

“Awesome,” Duke said. “I am officially inviting you to dinner with the family, and just know that will also include Mercy and Lon, and whoever else Hope and Jack might invite.”

“I can’t think of anything better,” Cathy said. “I happily accept.”