Their Divine Doctor(Divine Creek Ranch 9)(41)

“That’s okay,” Gage replied. “We’re still on the waiting list for one of the private dining tables at Tessa’s. We’ll get there eventually.”

“Speaking of lists,” Emma said as she glanced at the party of five at the table next to them, “I know something else I want to add to my list.”

Gage and Duke both leaned toward her when she beckoned them, and Duke asked, “What’s that?”

Surreptitiously, Emma pointed in the direction of the table next to them. “I’ve been watching that family while we’ve been talking.”

They sat back and got a look at who she was talking about. The group consisted of two adults, probably in their late fifties, a younger couple, and a toddler seated in a wooden highchair.

The younger couple sat close together and the husband’s arm was around his wife’s shoulders. Duke watched as the young woman gazed up at her husband as though she wanted to drink him in. Her eyes were shiny, and her chin trembled a bit as though she fought back tears. The husband was clad in the green-and-tan battle uniform of a senior airman, indicated by the green patch with three blue stripes on the sleeve of his jacket hanging on his chair.

Judging by the deep tan from many hours in the sun and the sandblasted, worn appearance of his uniform, he had just returned from Iraq or Afghanistan. He looked at his wife as though he wanted to devour her on the spot. He leaned toward her to whisper something in her ear, and the young woman blushed.

The older man spoke to the young man, and Duke could see great pride evident in his eyes. Duke and Gage looked back at Emma when she nudged them and gestured in another direction across the small dining room.

Next, she pointed at another table where three more elderly couples sat. “See those three men sitting with their wives?” At their nods she continued, “I’m acquainted with all three of those couples. The men all served together in Korea and two of them did tours in Vietnam. All three are decorated combat veterans.” She smiled as though at a memory and said, “You should hear some of their stories. Anyway, they are my heroes. So is the airman at the other table. I’d like to do something for all of them.”

Duke got their waitress’s attention and made the necessary arrangements with her. The three of them watched with enjoyment as the groups at both tables finished their meals and then got the news that someone had picked up their entire bills. Emma bit her lip, trying to appear nonchalant as the recipients of her random act of kindness looked around the room, probably wondering who would do that.

Emma smiled when they both clasped her hands under the table, and she asked, “So what’s next?”

Duke murmured, “The Dancing Pony.”

“I’ve always wanted to go there,” she said, clapping her hands. “I learned some dance moves this week, so hopefully I won’t embarrass you too much.”

Gage grinned in appreciation and said, “You did?”

Emma nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, I was afraid of stepping on toes or falling on my face. The girls taught me how to two-step and waltz. I think I shocked them that I didn’t know how, but I’ve never been to a place like The Dancing Pony where I could learn.”

Duke grinned, wondering what she would think if she knew that Summer had taken them both in hand the weekend before and showed them the very same dances. The woman was wily with her matchmaking. Duke just hoped and prayed he didn’t look like Wile E. Coyote out on the dance floor, a disaster waiting to happen.



* * * *



Emma felt heat steal into her cheeks when she caught Duke and Gage gazing at her admiringly as she rose from their booth to visit the ladies’ room. The lessons with Camilla had helped a lot with her body confidence. There was a time when she’d have been terrified of every awkward step she’d take in the high heels she wore tonight.

As she made her way gracefully through the main dining room at O’Reilley’s, she remembered what Camilla had taught her. Back straight, breasts proud, relaxed hips, and tummy tucked in. She could hear the dance music playing in her head that made a perfect rhythm for walking, which was how Camilla had her practice. She made it to the ladies’ room without landing on her ass and was quite proud of it.

She was lathering her hands in the sink when the restroom door swung open behind her. “Oh, my gosh. It is you!” her friend Jane said as she walked in.

“Hi, Jane. How have you been?” She watched Jane in the mirror as Jane looked her up and down with a frown on her face. Emma looked down, disappointed by the reaction. It would’ve been nice if Jane had complimented her improved appearance.