Promise Them (The Callahan Series Book 6) by Mitzi Pool Bridges Page A

chocolate cake because the man you wanted to woo to your side liked chocolate?”
    “I do remember.”
    “You didn’t get your chocolate cake, did you?”
    “Not exactly. But I remember that what we did have was delicious.”
    “I talked Lela into letting me bake the cake.”
    “You were what? Ten or twelve?”
    “I know. But I liked to cook. Anyway, the cake caved in the middle and looked terrible. Lela was frantic. I took down four of your best crystal wine glasses. You know, the ones with the large tulip shaped bowls that flare at the top? They were perfect for what I had in mind.”
    “What did you do?” Nellie asked, amazed at Dani’s resourcefulness at that early age.
    “I put a few small pieces of cake on the bottom of each glass, squirted chocolate syrup on top of that, added some whipped cream and chopped pecans, then started over. When the glass was full, I plopped a strawberry on top.”
    “I remember the guys lapping it up. I thought Lela had performed some kind of magic, but it was you.”
    “Yeah, it was.” She got up, gathered the dessert plates, put them on the tray, and went to the kitchen.
    Beau went to help Emma out of her chair. Nellie took the opportunity to slip into the kitchen. Dani was busy putting food away. Nellie went to her and hugged her around the waist. “I am so proud of you. Dinner was better than any five-star restaurant. And what you’ve done with Emma and this house…honestly, I’m speechless.”
    “It’s been a challenge.”
    “That’s an understatement. Tell me, how did you get Emma to do her therapy? She flat out refused when she got out of the hospital, even sent two therapists away in tears.”
    Dani laughed. “Wasn’t as hard as you might think.” She plucked a strawberry from a bowl, popped it in her mouth. When she could talk, she continued, “I found the book of exercises, pinned her down as to why she wasn’t doing them. She made all kinds of excuses. I figured out a way to get her moving. You know how Emma loves her sweets. I told her she wouldn’t have another cookie, no more cinnamon rolls from Molly’s, and I wouldn’t make her a single thing that had sugar in it until she did her exercises.”
    Nellie burst out laughing. “It worked?”
    “Like a charm. That woman loves sugar.”
    “Emma always did like to eat. You’re something else, Dani.”
    “I’m struggling and learning every day.”
    Nellie chuckled. “That’s called living.”
    Arm in arm, they went to join Emma and Beau.

Chapter Eleven
    Beau was in his truck and following Nellie home. No need. He didn’t have to do this, as he was tired from working all day. But his headlights in her rearview mirror told her he was determined to escort her to her door.
    A knot formed in her throat. The longer her thoughts strayed to Beau, the larger it became. Soon it would be as big as Texas.
    Did he think her incapable of getting home alone? Did he think her as inept as the Fraziers had? Her next thought froze her; the idea that they would pop into her mind on a night like tonight, at a moment like this was unsettling. Thoughts of the Fraziers were also synonymous with accusations of “tramp” and “tart.”
    No. Beau was a gentleman. He was just making sure she got home safely. But that didn’t keep her thoughts from racing and her gut from churning.
    The night had been one surprise after another. Dani and her amazing skill in the kitchen, Emma and her complete turnaround, plus Nellie had gained some insight into Beau and his relationship with his children.
    What none of them suspected was that she, Nellie, the nice next-door neighbor, harbored thoughts that ranged from wondering what it would be like to do more than kiss Beau Chandler, to wondering if she’d lost her mind.
    But every time she looked at him, her gaze went straight to that enticing mouth. Wouldn’t Dani be shocked to know what her new friend was thinking about her dad?
    And Donovan? He’d idolized his father, as all the