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envelope. “Well, at least have some of my homemade cookies before you go. I baked extra for when the grandkids come by.”
    Dawn gave Tim a look that was more warning than anything else as she said, “No, no. You should save them for the children.”
    “Nonsense. There’s plenty. You two just stay put for a second and I’ll get you a taste. I can always spare a few.” She was leaving the room. “Be right back!”
    Tim closed the distance between Dawn and himself before he asked softly, “Why not take a cookie? What would it hurt?”
    “Depends,” Dawn said with a lopsided grin. “If she remembered to put the sugar in this time, it won’t hurt a bit. If she got it mixed up with the salt like she did the last time, that’s another story.”
    Ada returned before Tim could comment. She held out a plastic bag containing four puffy discs of dough that resembled lumpy oatmeal. “I packed ’em up so you could take ’em along.”
    “Thank you, Miss Ada,” Tim said, graciously accepting the gift. “We’ll enjoy them while we drive. I’m pleased to have met you.”
    The elderly woman eyed Dawn. “He’s got manners, too, bless his heart.”
    “That, he does.” Dawn was already on her way to the door. “Good night, Miss Ada.”
    “Night, children,” Ada said. “Y’all be good, y’ hear.” She tittered. “But not too good. Life’s too short to pass up the chances the Good Lord gives us. Take it from me. If I had it all to do over again…”
    Dawn had reached the door, pushed it open and flung herself through. Tim was following too slowly to suit her so she grabbed his shirtsleeve and tugged him along, not letting go till they were at the car.
    “I take it she’s a widow,” Tim said.
    “Yes. Has been for ages. If anyone should be out looking for companionship, it’s Ada Smith.”
    Tim chuckled. “Something tells me it would take a very special man to satisfy her. Someone hard of hearing, maybe?”
    That made Dawn laugh. “And tolerant. And definitely someone who loves her grandchildren, which is a pretty tall order.” She climbed into the car unaided and was fastening her seat belt when Tim slid into the driver’s seat.
    “She was right about one thing.” His hands were on the wheel, his eyes staring straight ahead.
    “Oh?”
    “Yeah,” Tim said quietly. “You really do have pretty hair.”

Chapter Four
    A fter they’d completed the meals-on-wheels deliveries and dropped the carrying boxes back at the church, Dawn expected Tim to merely let her off at her apartment and be on his way. However, when he parked, he got out.
    She looped the strap of her purse over one shoulder and hesitated on the sidewalk. “Thanks for the ride.”
    “No problem. I actually enjoyed myself. Some of those people are fascinating.”
    “Told you so.” He was still not making any move to get back into his car and she wasn’t sure what to do about it. “Well, good night.”
    He quickly circled the BMW and joined her. “I’ll walk you up.”
    “That’s not necessary.”
    Tim was firm. “I think it is.”
    “Well, I don’t. I come home every night by myself and go in without an escort.”
    “Tonight, you have one.”
    “I don’t need one.”
    “Humor me. I’ll feel safer knowing I took you all the way to your door.”
    “Are you implying that my neighborhood isn’t safe at night because I don’t live in a gated complex like you do?”
    “I didn’t say that.”
    “No, but you implied it.”
    Tim stared at her, his expression unyielding. “Look. I don’t care where you live or what your neighbors are like. You heard what happened to Felicity Simmons. My brother Chris had to be assigned as her bodyguard.”
    “That was a stalker, not a random crime. Felicity told me all about it.”
    Tim folded his arms across his chest, struck a nonchalant pose and began to smile. Dawn could tell by the smug look on his face that he wasn’t going to back down.
    “You’re going to stand there all night if I