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the kitchen, Parker had come back downstairs and started peppering Zach with questions about
the car.
 Well, I know it s traditional for a Texas boy to get a truck, but after spending the last
twenty years driving big ol Humvees and such, I just wanted something fun. He glanced out
the window, beaming at the shiny sports car.
 Well, good for you. Laney set the tray down on the coffee table then sank into the old
bentwood rocker next to the couch.
Zach helped himself to a glass and added a generous spoonful of sugar, while she
squeezed a lemon wedge into hers.  I like your house. It s warm and colorful sort of like its
owner.
 Thanks. Laney was sure her skin turned as red as the sofa. With lots of plants in bright
pottery containers and throw pillows matching the colorful Navajo blanket draped across the
back of the couch, her home did look warm and inviting at least, she d hoped so. But her? She
was just plain old Laney the librarian.
 Anyway, what I came to ask you was if you d like to have dinner with me tomorrow
night at the Roadhouse? I meant to call, but I forgot to ask for your number, and you re not in the
phone book.
 No, we don t have a house phone, just cells. It was easier to process that part of his
statement than the beginning. Was he really asking her out? On a date?
 Me, too, for the moment at least after this weekend. I m moving into my own place on
Saturday, and I ve been debating on whether to bother with a land line. Seems kind of silly to
have both for just one person.
 Where are you planning to live? Parker seemed to have lost all restraint with the older
man and asked openly, lounging on the opposite end of the couch from Zach.
 Well, my dad inherited his folks farmhouse, Zach said. He swallowed, seeming almost
choked up about it.  I guess they rented it out for a while, but there are no tenants now, so
they re signing it over to me. My sister already has a place of her own, and my brother runs the
ranch.
 I remember your grandparents home, Laney said.  Your grandmother and I were in
the same garden club. She always grew the most beautiful roses.
Zach nodded.  It s a great house needs a little updating, but it will be nice to have my
own place again.
She could see that he was touched at his parents gesture and wanted to say something,
but Parker burst into the breach.  Are you getting Wi-Fi? I wanted to get DSL, but the best we
could do was a cable modem.
Laney sipped her tea while the two males talked about various computer applications,
including which games worked best on which systems. It was easy to see Zach was a closet geek,
not just the stereotypical cowboy she d expected. Parker didn t get a lot of positive attention
from adult males. Zach was a natural with the teen, treating him with the same respect he d give
another adult, but not trying to pretend he was just one of the kids. He d be a great dad someday.
She almost choked on an ice cube. Don t go there, girl.
Finally, their talk came back around to phones. Zach pulled a slim black model the
fancy kind with internet access and all the applications from his shirt pocket and showed off
some of the features to Parker.  We could trade numbers.
With wide, astonished eyes, Parker whipped out his older, black flip phone with skull
stickers, and typed in Zach s number.  Cool, thanks. He looked at the tray.  Hey, you didn t get
a glass for me. Then he dashed off into the kitchen.
Zach looked at Laney and raised one eyebrow.  Can I have your number, too?
 Sure. She lifted up off the chair to pull her phone, identical to Parker s, but in pink, out
of the back pocket of her jeans. She rattled off the digits while he typed it into his phone, thumbs
flying. Then she entered his number and name into hers, with more painstaking care.
 So, we re on for tomorrow night? What time should I pick you up? He gave her
another of those breathtaking smiles, and she felt the room get warmer.
Tomorrow night? She blinked up at him.  Umm tomorrow s Thursday.
His lips twitched as if he were fighting a grin.  Last time I checked, yeah. So, is that
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