Meg looked in the mirror as she applied her lipstick. Hopefully Cade's friends would like her. It couldn't be worse than Cade meeting her mother, although he charmed her. Shannon kept mentioning his blue eyes. Luckily, Meg hardly saw her mother, because she went to Cade's after work until nine or ten. Being with him didn't feel crowded.

As she confirmed the last touchup of her makeup was good enough, she heard the doorbell chime. Cade. Her heart beat faster. She had left his house to give him time to rake his leaves after their run. It felt foolish, but she missed him.

Meg smiled when she found him talking to her father in the hall. He dressed similarly to the way he had the night they met. His eyes danced when he saw her although his jaw looked tense.

"Dad, what are you saying to him?"

"Just updating him on an investigation."

Her eyes met Cade's. "Should we be worried?"

"Not at all. You look lovely. Remember next week, you'll join us at the event your mother is working on."

Meg laughed and nodded. "You know exactly what it's for. Yes, Cade agreed to go."

As she reached for her coat from the closet, Cade stood behind her to help her into it before picking up her small bag. He remembered the little things which were important for her parents' generation. Once outside, she said, "You haven't changed your mind?"

He shook his head, as he opened the door for her. "You promised a sexy dress."

"I have a busy week ahead. I'll hardly see you."

"You told me, but you will if you stay over."

She imagined waking with Cade before starting her workday. "Maybe. Tell me again about your friends."

He chuckled. "Don't be nervous. They'll love you."

The word floated in the air. She was afraid to catch it. If she learned anything from Tyler, it was to not fall into one sided love. Whatever was happening between her and Cade was too awesome to ruin by falling too hard, too fast.

As Cade drove into the parking garage, Meg felt her pulse pounding. What if they hated her? Leigh didn't. The weekend before, she had spent time with Cade's sister. The siblings were close. Meg often wished she had a sibling which was why she and Tyler were so close.

As Cade ushered her into the restaurant, warm air enveloped them. His firm hand on her waist grounded her. He guided her to a table with a couple smiling at them.

The woman stood and laughed. "Cade's on time. Is the earth turning backwards?"

He chuckled. "No, because you're early like always."

"Eden, this is Meg."

Cade shook the man's hand. He looked older than Cade.

"This is Kevin. Come sit. We can talk before Joe gets here. All he talks about is the pregnancy. I don't want to know about the miracle of life. Do you?"

"Not yet." Her rationale about getting a promotion didn't stand up anymore, but spending time with Cade kept her mind off her career disappointment. "How long have you been together?"

"Technically six months."

Cade looked at his friend. "Technically?"

Eden put her hand on his arm. "Our first date was after the sale, but we worked closely. If you know what I mean."

Meg laughed. "It means you took breaks." She squeezed Cade's thigh.

Cade grabbed her hand and held it under the table. "How are the wedding plans?"

"A shitshow. I want to elope, but my mother wants a wedding."

"If we have a ceremony, my ex doesn't want the kids to take part." Kevin frowned. "I've done it before, but I hate to piss off another mother-in-law."

Cade laughed. "Another?"

"I could tell stories all night. I should have realized the apple didn't fall far from the tree."

Cade asked, "Do you like Eden's mother?"

Kevin nodded. "She likes me."

Eden interrupted. "More importantly, does Meg's mother like you?"

Meg smiled proudly. "She does."

Cade frowned. "Until she finds out the truth."

Eden responded while Meg squeezed his hand. "There is no truth, except you were an innocent victim of a corrupt police force."

Meg giggled, as Cade called out. "You're late."

Another couple walked over smiling. The woman with a small baby bump smiled at Meg. "Cade's on time. It must be Meg's influence. I'm Renee."

Meg didn't expect the stranger to give her a hug. After Renee let go, she hugged Cade. With a pinch on his cheek, she warned, "Don't blow it. I like her." It was Meg's turn to blush. "This is Joe. Let me sit next to Meg. Those three talk shop all the time."

"Um, babe, you forgot we don't have the company anymore."

Eden laughed. "What do we talk about now we don't have that in common?"

Joe chuckled. "Cade's not in trouble anymore."

Cade frowned. "Seriously?"

Meg squeezed his hand. It was hard to ignore the ordeal Cade had lived through. It framed their relationship. "Did you know we met almost thirty years ago?"

Joe looked at her. "Who met?"

"Me and Cade. He kissed me."

Renee smiled. "No way!"

Cade nodded. "Our fathers worked together."

"So it's kismet?" Renee looked at them.

"What's kismet?" Cade asked.

"Destiny. It's romantic."

Meg smiled. "I like that." She leaned in and kissed his cheek.

He turned to face her. When she met his blue eyes, the others faded away. He brushed her lips. "I like it too."

"Who are you?" Eden asked. "You know Cade only dated a few women, and I hated all of them."

"Sounds like my best friend. I mean my former friend."

Joe nodded. "Thanks for stepping up even though it ruined your relationship."

"I ruined it by being honest." She felt teary with Cade and his friends. Tyler was busy dating Ariella and Mick left the country, but she was to blame for not seeing Lucy and Emily. Cade was the reason. She cleared her throat. "I hope you don't mind if Cade is my new best friend."

Cade's face softened, and his tender look filled her emptiness. As he nodded, Joe said, "He deserves some luck, and you brought it to him."

Eden groaned. "Look at his bedroom eyes. Joe, have we ever seen them before?"

"Don't ask me. I'm not a woman. Babe, don't answer."

Renee laughed. "I may love those baby blues, but Cade doesn't look that way at me. Eden, it looks like love not lust."

Cade stood up. "I'm leaving." Meg's chin dropped, as he walked away. She attempted to stand to follow him.

"He'll be back." Joe laughed. "After he makes his point. No teasing him. He's thin skinned after everything that happened."

Meg pointed. "I'm going to go find him."

She walked towards the restrooms and stood outside the men's room. Cade stepped out and sighed when he saw her. "I'm really sorry. They aren't usually so annoying "

She put her hand on his chest. "It's okay. They love you."

"They have a funny way of showing it."

"Teasing is love. Think of you and Leigh."

"I know, but you didn't ask for it."

"I know it's their words not yours. Your feelings for me don't include love."

He looked into her eyes. "But what if they might?"

She swallowed with a dry mouth. "Might?"

"Might lean that way. Might want to."

Her heart took on a pitter patter rhythm. "Isn't that what dating is about? Moving towards that feeling as long as something doesn't block the path. I guess it's a problem if only one of us reaches the goal."

Cade frowned. "Like Tyler." She nodded. "It could be a problem if we don't have the same goals for our future."

"True, but I'm not having that conversation in the restroom hallway."

At the end was a door leading into the kitchen area. No one came in or out of it, but there was a constant rattle of dishes.

He smiled. "Thanks. I'm always afraid I'll scare you away."

She laughed. "I was afraid my mother would scare you away."

He rested his forehead against hers. "She might. I haven't dressed in a tuxedo yet."

Meg laughed. "Come on, or they'll tease us about having sex in a bathroom stall."

Cade groaned. "Don't put it past Eden."

When they returned the table plates covered the table. Even at restaurants the gang dined family style. Meg whispered. "Who ordered all that?"

He shrugged. "Any of them. It's for all of us."

There were a lot of small plates. She eyes the large salad. Cade sat down. "Pass me the crab cakes and?" He looked at Meg.

"The salad."

Renee said, "Try this chicken. It's delicious."

Eden told the story of the time their server bent over backwards for them and they learned later she thought she was a restaurant critic. "You work for Beantown. Have you met her?"

Meg laughed. "No, she emails her reviews. Not even her editor knows, and she's a friend of mine."

"What's your segment?" Kevin asked.

"Features." They started talking about some of the cover stories, excluding the mafia one.

The conversation continued long after everyone had their fill. Renee yawned first and Meg followed. Cade and Joe threw their credit cards on the table.

Eden grabbed Kevin's arm. "Let me." She added hers to the pile.

Once they paid the check, Cade stood. They walked out together. On the sidewalk, Meg received three hugs. The one from Joe surprised her.

Cade said, "Next time we'll cook for you at my house."

Eden teased. "You mean Meg."

He shook his head. "Nope, but she'll help."

He held her hand as they walked to the car. "That was fun. I like them."

"I'm glad."

As soon as they reached his house, he took the dog out. When he returned, Confetti greeted Meg. Cade handed Meg a glass of water. "I don't want to put him back in his crate yet."

"It's okay. We can talk."

Cade sat on the sofa and patted the cushion. Confetti jumped up. "Move over."

Meg solved the problem by sitting on his lap. "I like this seat."

Cade kissed her neck. "I'm glad you're staying over again. I sleep better with you."

It would be so easy for Meg to offer to sleep with him every night, but she wouldn't. The irony was six months before she avoided moving in with another man. Instead of words, she kissed his lips. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she tried to convey how much she cared about him.

He looked into her eyes. "Do you want to have the conversation we put off earlier?"

"Not really. I'm afraid to find a roadblock."

He caressed her cheek. "What's a roadblock for you?"

She sighed. "Fine. I'll say it. I want a family."

"You mean a baby?"

She nodded, then shook her head. "Not an only child."

He smiled. "See that was easy. Me too."

Meg smiled as she imagined a baby with Cade's eyes.

Cade clicked his tongue. "Come on, Confetti. Time for bed."

Meg stood. She was ready to get as close as possible, to make love.

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