“Not your favorite ones,” she murmured back, kissing him back a moment later.
True, his hens had been scattered the day Caroline had tried to meet them, as Dawson let them roam freely. “How does Marshland sound?”
“Sounds like a lot for a Sunday lunch.”
“Does it? They have a great brunch buffet on the weekends.”
“Yes, and it’s expensive.” She stepped out of his arms, and Dawson suddenly got what she meant by “a lot.”
“Good thing I’m rich then,” he said evenly.
Caroline had started to unpin her hair, and she froze, only her eyes moving over to him. “You are?”
He burst out laughing as he shook his head. “No, but that got you to stop, didn’t it?”
Caroline gave him a dry look and continued removing the barrettes from her hair. “Marshland is too much.” She walked away from him. “I’m going to go change.”
“So I have to go in my church shirt and tie, but you don’t?”
She simply threw a grin over her shoulder and kept going, leaving Dawson standing in her kitchen alone. He moved over to the glass doors that showed the outside, and he found Belle sitting on the top step, looking out into the yard. He couldn’t see Judy anywhere, and his pulse sped as anxiety bled through him.
He didn’t want to cause tension between Caroline and her sister. He didn’t want them talking about him later, which he knew Caroline would do. She had a strong mind of her own, which he normally enjoyed just fine, and she wouldn’t let Belle walk all over her.
Feeling a little outside of himself, Dawson slid open the door and stepped outside. Belle twisted to look over her shoulder, and she’d clearly been expecting Caroline. Surprise shot across her face, and she got to her feet, something he felt certain she wouldn’t have done if her sister had come out to check on her.
“Hey.” Belle set down her empty container and hugged herself.
Dawson slowed and stopped a good distance fromher. “Hey, I just wanted to let you know that we’re gonna go out for lunch.”
“Oh.” Belle looked past him, her gaze coming straight back. “Okay.”
“You won’t have to hide out here.” He gave her a smile. “I’m sorry I make it uncomfortable for you.”
“You…don’t.”
Dawson gave her the kindest smile he could. “I know I do, and it’s okay. I know me and Caroline just aren’t something good for you right now.” He stuck his hands in his pockets, his voice about to give out on him. He wasn’t even sure why he’d come out here. He didn’t know Belle; he only knew what Caroline had told him.
He cleared his throat. “I just wanted you to know we’ll be going in a couple of minutes.” He took one step forward and then rocked back again. “And I just want you to know I sure do like your sister.” He ducked his head, his feelings too heavy for his neck to stay straight. He nodded a couple more times, his eyes glued to the wooden decking. “All right. That’s all.”
Dawson turned and did his best not to flee as fast as possible. Back in the air conditioning, he took a deep breath and blew it out as he continued through the house to the living room. Thankfully, Belle didn’t follow him inside, and Caroline came down the hall only a minute later.
“Ready?” she asked brightly.
He got to his feet. “Yep. Ready.”
“Let me just tell Belle we’re going,” she said, turning toward the back door.
“I told her,” Dawson said.
Caroline spun back to him. “You did? What did you say?”
“I told her we were going out to lunch.” He silently begged her not to go talk to Belle right now. She didn’t need the mental load, and he just wanted to go.
Her gaze wouldn’t leave his face, and Dawson once again ducked his head. “She said it was okay.”
Caroline took a breath, and he looked up as she came toward him. She’d arranged her face into one of determination. “Okay,” she said. “Then let’s go.” She unlocked the front door and went out first, leaving Dawson to follow her.
And follow her, he did—with a tiny smile on his face. He had a feeling he’d follow her anywhere, and he could only hope and pray that he could take some of her burdens every now and then, just as he had by telling Belle they were going to lunch.