So while she was getting out the desserts, Sully got down the plates and brought them to the table.

She went to get cups, then joined him at the table. They were as comfortable together as if they’d been doing it for years.

“This is nice,” Sully said as she settled in the chair across the table from him.

“The desserts? They do look amazing.”

“No. I meant you—me—together like this. You’re so easy to be with. I’m surprised some man hasn’t already snatched you up, but selfishly, I’m glad he didn’t.”

“I wasn’t snatched because I was not available for snatching,” Melissa said, and cut a couple of slices of the apple praline bread, then moved to the pie and cut a couple of slices there, too.

“And now you are?” Sully asked.

She licked a sticky spot on her thumb. “Only for you,” she said. “If it was anyone else, I wouldn’t have given him the time of day, even if he’d saved my life. You and me here in this place is because we have history. A good history. A history I trust. And a little love history, even if we didn’t go past first base.”

Sully’s thoughts were spinning. “Now that we’re long past the age of consent, would you be interested in seeing what second or third base are like?”

She looked up at him and grinned. “What happened to home runs?”

Sully laughed. “I wasn’t going to push my luck.”

“Don’t ever sell yourself short,” she said.

“I’ll remember that,” Sully said, and when she cut the mini-cheesecake in half, he held out his plate.

Melissa noticed the coffee was ready and got up to get the carafe and filled their cups before setting it back on the stand.

“Cream or sugar?” she asked.

“I drink it black,” he said.

“Are you a fan of flavored coffees?” Melissa asked as she sat back down.

“Not so much. You?”

“I like mine black, as well.” Melissa ate another bite, then paused. “What happens when your search is over?”

“What do you mean?” Sully asked.

“I mean, will you be going back to Kansas City?”

“Only to pack up my stuff,” he said.

“Are you moving?” Melissa asked, trying not to be too inquisitive.

Sully reached across the table and grabbed her hand.

“Girl, stop playing around. You know where I want to be. There’s nothing in Kansas City for me anymore. I want to be near you. I want to make Blessings my home.”

The joy in her eyes spread across her face.

“If you want to be near-near me, I have many bedrooms.”

He laughed. “Yes, near-near was the optimum destination I had in mind.”

“So, while you’re waiting for new leads, if you want, you could stay here…but only if you want,” Melissa said, and then picked a pecan off her slice of bread and popped it in her mouth.

Sully tugged at her hand. “That is a most generous offer, and I would be honored.”