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Cole.”
    Catherine smiled. “Happy to watch him, and it’s easy when you put him to bed.”
    Megan always put him to bed when she wasn’t working late. As she headed for the door,
     she said, “I won’t be later than eleven.”
    “Megan.”
    Pausing, she looked back.
    “Do you know what you’re doing? It’s not like you to keep secrets, like who you’re
     seeing tonight.”
    She didn’t want to have this conversation. The only thing she and her mom had ever
     really fought about had been her decision not to find Adam somehow to tell him about
     Cole. But she wasn’t going to lie, either. “As soon as I figure it out, I’ll tell
     you.”
    “Respecting your privacy here. Remember that come Mother’s Day.”
    Megan laughed. “Or at least until I get home tonight, right?”
    “That’s why you’re a doctor, sweetheart. You’re so smart.”
    As she walked to the car, she wasn’t at all sure it was smart to get involved with
     Adam Waters. But at least this time she didn’t have any false expectations, so her
     heart was safe. He wouldn’t catch her by surprise.

    Megan looked around the backyard in surprise. Lanterns hung from the patio cover,
     and mouthwatering scents filled the air from the covered warming trays. The table
     in the center of the patio had a white tablecloth, flowers, and two place settings.
     She took it all in.
    Then she turned to Adam and…he looked better than the food smelled. His brown hair
     was brushed back with just enough wave to soften the hard lines of his face. He had
     on a black pullover opened at the throat with sleeves pushed up. Molded jeans. Even
     in her heels, Megan had to look up to meet his eyes.
    “Wine?” He picked up a bottle and poured some red into two long-stemmed glasses. “Come,
     sit down.”
    She walked to the table and took the glass he held out. “Adam, what is all this? I
     mean…those are catering trays.” This close, she caught the scent of him, rich with
     an edge of spice, and all male.
    “You wouldn’t let me take you to dinner, so I had dinner brought to us.” He pulled
     out her chair. Once she was settled, he said, “I’ll be right back.”
    Less than a minute later, he returned with two chilled baby spinach salads. “We also
     have tri tip, rosemary-flavored baby carrots and potatoes, and for dessert, chocolate-dipped
     strawberries.”
    The salad was crisp with a light dressing. Delicious. “I didn’t think I was very hungry,
     but this is wonderful.”
    Adam smiled. “So. Weren’t you just starting your practice last time I saw you?”
    “I’d had it about a year and was still building my clientele. It wasn’t until I took
     over the care of a champion show dog that the business took off.”
    Adam looked over to the thick quilt he’d brought outside for Ellie. She was resting
     on her good side, a stuffed gray elephant under one of her paws. When she saw Adam
     looking at her, she thumped her tail.
    Meg saw him smile in response. When she’d arrived at the house, the dog was following
     every step Adam made until he’d told her to lie down.
    “You don’t need a show dog to prove you’re good,” Adam said. “You were great with
     Ellie. She’s already doing better.”
    Megan flushed under his praise. “Thanks. But taking over the care of a champion dog
     put me on the radar. There’s a lot of overhead in running a vet business. Loans for
     all the equipment…” She trailed off, embarrassed that she’d revealed so much. She
     smiled over her discomfort and said, “I love my job. What about you? Tell me about
     starting your own security agency.”
    Adam collected their finished salads and returned carrying plates heaping with tender
     tri tip and potatoes and carrots. He also topped off her wine.
    Finally, he sat down and answered. “It was a dream of mine and Trace’s. But I came
     home, and Trace…didn’t.”
    Megan’s bite of food turned to dust as she realized what he meant. Setting her fork
     down,