Rose was just there for him. Then, like now. In the world of politics, that was a rarity. Everyone he interacted with on a daily basis wanted something from him. They were fair-weather friends who could turn on him as quickly as public opinion. His family members were the only people he could count on. They were the ones who would quite literally help him hide a body.

And even though he didn’t always deserve it, Rose was someone else he could count on. And he wanted to be there for her and their son, as well. To start, he wanted to spend the next few days getting to know Rose again. She wasn’t the teenager he’d fallen in love with anymore. She was more.

Unfortunately, they couldn’t just lie in each other’s arms all week. She had work. He had to travel to D.C. in a few days for a charity fund-raiser and book signing. Of course, he also had the police to worry about, but he would make the most of the time they had.

He knew Rose had to work today, so he planned to spend time on the farm and meet her later. “What time did you want me to come by tonight?”

“Nine-thirty, maybe? That will give me a chance to get home and get out of my uniform.”

Xander glanced over at her with a wicked smile curling his lips. The tank top highlighted the curves he’d touched only a few days ago, and yet it felt like years. “I can help you out of your uniform.”

Rose laughed. “I bet you can.”

“Shall I bring some takeout with me? Or do you eat at work?”

“You can bring dinner if you want to. I got burned out on the diner food a long time ago. I usually eat something light when I get home. There’s a pizza place not far from my apartment complex.”

“Pepperoni and green peppers?” he asked. That had always been her favorite in school.

Rose smiled and nodded. “You remembered.”

Xander’s eyes stayed focused on the road. Somehow it was easier to say the words that way. “The night we broke up, you told me to go off to school and forget all about you, but I didn’t. How could I possibly forget about you, Rose?”

Rose didn’t respond, but he heard her sharp intake of breath just before his cell phone chirped. The highway was clear, so he glanced down briefly at the incoming text. He sighed when he saw the message from his brother. One more thing to take away from their time alone together.

“When is your next day off?” he asked.

“Wednesday,” Rose said. “Why?”

“I just got a text from my brother Wade. He wants to go to dinner this week.”

“That sounds nice. I’m sure you’ll have fun.”

“No,” he clarified, “he wants all of us to go to dinner. He’s going to bring his fiancée, Tori, and I am to bring you.”

Rose stiffened in the seat beside him. “Does he...know?”

“About Joey? No.” Unless Heath had opened his big mouth. “But he knows I’ve been seeing you. And Tori wants to see you, too. She’s missed you since their house was completed and she has no excuse not to cook.”

She relaxed a little and chuckled softly. “She ate in the diner nearly every day while she was living in the Airstream. I miss talking to her, too.”

“Shall I tell him that Wednesday night works?”

“Sure,” she agreed.

Xander slowed to turn off to her apartment and parked at her building. Rotating in his seat, he reached out to cup her cheek and draw her close to him. She leaned in, their lips meeting and sending a shot of need down his spine. Her tongue glided along his as his fingers caressed the soft strands of her dark hair.

Reluctantly he pulled away, eyeing his watch. “When do you have to go to work?” he asked. Perhaps there was time to—

“No,” Rose said, answering his unasked question. “But...” she grasped the straps of her tank top and pulled them down her arms until she exposed the edges of the red lace bra she was wearing beneath it “...a little anticipation won’t hurt you. You can spend the day fantasizing about taking this off.” Her fingertip grazed over the curve of her breast seductively. “See you tonight,” she said, adjusting her top and slipping out of the Lexus.

* * *

Rose sipped her wine nervously and chastised herself for it. This dinner should be no big deal. The restaurant was nice, but not so fancy it would intimidate her. The company was pleasant. She’d spent many nights chatting with Wade’s fiancée, Tori, at the diner. They’d talked about Tori’s romantic ups and downs while she navigated the waters of her relationship with the eldest Eden boy. At first the two had been adversaries, battling over land. One day Tori came into the diner fuming and the next time Rose saw her, she was smitten.

Admittedly, Wade was charming when he wanted to be and handsome, as all the Eden boys were. She remembered the upper classman from the high school campus and the trips she’d made out to the farm. Her older sister had had a huge crush on Wade.

But then and now, she’d only had eyes for Xander.

She turned to look at him. He was wearing a well-tailored suit with a narrow tie. He was talking with Wade, who was just as nicely attired, laughing and cutting up the way brothers did. He seemed very at ease, his political facade put away for the evening.

“How is your son doing, Rose?” Tori asked.

Rose turned her attention to the attractive redhead across the table from her. She’d always thought Tori was a strikingly beautiful woman, with flame-red hair, porcelain skin and ice-blue eyes. Tonight she had on a silk dress that was just the same color as her eyes. It was a stunning combination that made Rose feel decidedly dowdy in the floral sheath dress she’d dug out of the back of her closet.

Tori was a brilliant eco-architect who had designed a stunning home on the hill that overlooked the valley. Beautiful, smart and talented—the trifecta. Fortunately, she wasn’t one of those women who realized she was special. She was very down-to-earth and friendly, even with a small-town nobody like Rose.

“He’s great. Getting bigger every day. His broken arm isn’t slowing him down at all. He’s at scout camp this week.”

“Do you have a picture? I haven’t seen him in forever.”

“Sure.” Rose took out her phone and pulled up a recent shot. “Here he is at the parade the other day. Ignore the bright red lips. He’d just eaten a strawberry snow cone.”

Tori took the phone and smiled when she saw the picture. “He’s grown so much. Turning into quite the little man.” As she studied the picture, a curious expression came to her face. Her blue eyes narrowed at the phone and then quickly shot over to Xander and back to the screen. “He’s very handsome,” she said, her tone pointed as she handed Rose the cell phone back.

Rose felt her heart start to speed up in her chest. Tori knew. One glance and she knew. Her eyes grew wide, words escaping her. What should she say? Xander hadn’t wanted to go public yet. He hadn’t even told his own family.

“You shouldn’t have let his daddy out of your sight,” Tori said with a knowing wink. “Oh, I heard about your win at the festival.”

Rose finally let the air escape from her lungs and nodded, thankful for the change in subject. Tori wasn’t interested in spreading around gossip. She’d probably made a point of letting Rose know she’d figured it out only in case she needed someone to talk to. It would certainly be nice to have someone she could confide in about all this.

“Thanks,” she said, a touch of embarrassed color coming to her cheeks. “It’s not a very difficult recipe, really.”

“Have you had that cake at the diner?” Xander injected himself back into their conversation.

“No,” Tori admitted. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen it on the menu. I’d love to try it, though. It sounded divine.”

“It’s a new item,” Rose explained. “I’ve only made it this summer once the berries came into season. I’m sure since it won, we’ll have it on the menu for a while. You two should stop in and have a slice.”