Love On Anchor Island: An Anchor Island Novel by Terri Osburn

Author:Terri Osburn [Osburn, Terri]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Macie Rae Publishing
Published: 2020-02-10T18:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Stepping onto the Dempsey’s front porch, Alex took a deep breath to allay the nerves and knocked on the door. The barking started immediately, low and menacing as always. So long as Dozer was around, this family would never need an alarm system.

Someone yelled, “Chill out, Doze,” from the other side of the door seconds before Roxie opened it. “Hi,” she said, joining him on the porch.

She wore the trademark leather jacket, but underneath was a muted pink top cut low enough at the neckline to make his heart skip a beat. The dark hair was swept to one side, and the black jeans featured several slits down the legs.

“You’re wearing color,” he said, which was not the greeting he’d planned.

Roxie glanced down and opened her jacket wide. “I own a few pieces that aren’t funeral-wear.”

If she looked this good in the rest of them, a funeral would be in order. His.

“I like it.” An understatement, but his brain wasn’t fully functioning at the moment. “Are you ready to eat?”

“Yes. That PB and J I had for lunch wore off a long time ago.”

“Good, because dinner is ready.” Alex took her hand to lead her off the porch and into his yard.

“How could the food be ready when we haven’t gotten to the restaurant yet?”

Pulling her toward his own porch, he asked, “Who said anything about a restaurant?”

She froze, tugging her hand from his grip. “You asked me out to dinner. That means out to dinner.”

Here’s where he had her on a technicality. “I asked you to have dinner with me. I never said anything about going out.”

Roxie spun on her heels. “Motherfu—”

“Hold on.” Alex cut off her path. “There are two perfectly cooked New York Strip steaks, cheesy baked asparagus, and rosemary roasted potatoes waiting for us in my house. Along with an excellent Cabernet Sauvignon, and a classic cheesecake if we have room. All you have to do is come in, enjoy the food, talk a bit, and then leave whenever you’re ready. Nothing more.”

Jaw tight, she crossed her arms. “I dressed to go out.”

“With me,” he clarified. “And I think you look beautiful.”

Eyes hard, she said, “I don’t like games, Doc.”

Alex held up his hands. “No games. Just dinner.”

Toe tapping, she kept him waiting long enough to break a sweat.

“All right, but I’m taking home whatever’s left of the cheesecake.”

One cheesecake for an evening of her time wasn’t a bad trade. “Fair enough.”

When they stepped inside, he said, “The house is through the door on your right.”

Ignoring him, she stood in the reception area of the practice. “This doesn’t look like a doctor’s office.”

Intended or not, he took that as compliment. “My grandmother has a similar practice, and I used her office as inspiration.”

“Your grandmother is a doctor?”

“She is.” Alex opened the door to his private part of the house and waited for her to step through. “My grandparents live in Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania, not far from the Poconos. Can I take your coat?”

“Yeah, thanks.” Roxie slid the jacket down her arms to reveal bare shoulders above flowing sleeves.

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