by Jillian Hart
She thought of her older sisters all happily married. Katherine, expecting her first baby. Danielle, with two small children. Ava, starting to talk about starting a family, and Aubrey, who wanted a family, too. Lauren was newly married and blissfully happy. They were all with great guys who loved them deeply and truly.
“Chad, this is my sister Lauren. I’m sorry. I think I forgot to introduce you to her.”
“That’s all right.” He dipped one of his deep-fried Tater Tots into one of the salsa containers. “Lauren, it’s good to meet you. You aren’t the sister with the little kids, right?”
“Right.” Lauren unwrapped her straw and slipped it into her iced tea. Her wedding ring sparkled like the amazing gem it was.
“That’s quite a diamond you’ve got there.” He couldn’t help noticing. “Lucky man.”
“Thanks.” She looked at her sister. “Rebecca’s the only one who is still single and available.”
“And determined to stay that way.” Rebecca rolled her eyes. “Don’t even go there, Lauren. While she is very supportive of me as always, she is absolutely sure I have made a terrible decision with my No Man policy.”
“What’s a No Man policy?”
“Oh, it’s something our sister Ava started.” She stuck her plastic fork into her bucket of Tater Tots and caught one with a dainty little stab.
Ephraim unwrapped his taco. “She’s the sister with the bakery, right? We’ve gone to her place a few times for our church’s singles’ night.”
“That’s the one.” Rebecca dunked the morsel on her fork into the cup of green salsa. “She’s quite a baker, isn’t she? We’re proud of her. Anyway, she instituted her No Man policy after she had a string of disaster dates. Ava is prone to disaster, so we were never sure if it was her or sheer bad luck.”
“I don’t believe in luck. I believe in God.” He tried one of his Tater Tots—greasy and potato-y. Not bad. He snatched up another.
“Sure, but tell that to Ava after she tried to escape the guy she was dating and accidentally slammed his hand in the car door. Broke two or three fingers. I forget which.” Rebecca studied her Tater Tots as if she expected them to hold some kind of answer. “God was gently nudging Ava along trying to steer her into the direction of the man she ended up with. Her No Man policy didn’t last long.”
“No, it didn’t,” Lauren agreed.
“She had a space of a few months between the broken finger guy and Brice, who was the contractor renovating her shop. That’s when her strict No Man policy worked very well for her. It was the happiest I had ever seen her.”
“Except for now that she’s married,” Lauren corrected.
“So your No Man policy is your quest to be happier.” That meant she wasn’t happy with the other guy. He took a note of that. Maybe it was a smart idea to take notes. “How strict is this policy of yours? I mean, you’re here with Ephraim and me. I’m assuming that being friends is okay.”
“It’s okay. It’s the dating that is waaay off-limits, thank you very much.”
Although she was smiling, it was the little things that spoke to him. The crease of anxiety in her forehead, the tiny crinkle of unhappiness around her eyes, and the hurt that kept her smile from taking over her whole face.
Some might think that her no-dating stance was a drawback considering that he liked her, but he wanted to take small steps slowly. Considering all he had been through, he was wary, too. The last thing he wanted to do was to get his heart broken. He did not want to find out that his fears had merit after all—that a great, wonderful, gorgeous Christian woman like Rebecca would want nothing to do with him if she really knew him.
His chest felt as if he’d inhaled a hive of bees. He took a sip of soda and felt a little better. “I know what you mean. I haven’t dated in a long time.”
“Really? You?” She didn’t seem to believe it.
“I guess that would mean I’ve had a No Woman policy for a while, but I’m thinking about ending it.” He took a bite of taco before any more incriminating words could roll right off his tongue.
Ephraim shook his head at that. “Dude, I have never had to bother with a No Woman policy. What I need to change is women’s policy against me. Do you think it’s the pocket protector?”
“I’ve told you to lose it.” Chad couldn’t believe it. The girls across the table were trying not to laugh, but it really was funny. “Do you two think Ephraim needs help?”
“I think he needs more than that.” Rebecca had the kindest manner. He had noticed it before, but it blew him away now how she gently turned to his best friend. “Which woman in particular has this No Ephraim policy?”
“Sorry. Can’t reveal that.” Ephraim grinned. “It’s privileged information. Classified, even. I could be court-martialed if I told you.”
“Lauren.” Rebecca leaned close and gently bumped her sister’s shoulder with hers. “What do you think—could it be someone in your guys’ Bible study group?”
“Could be. There are a lot of pretty girls there.” Lauren bumped her sister back. “I’ll take scrupulous notes on Friday and let you know. We’ll figure this out, don’t you worry.”
“Joy.” Ephraim scowled as if he were not pleased at all with this development.
Chad wasn’t fooled. Ephraim just didn’t feel comfortable with his feelings any more than most guys did.
Just as he wasn’t comfortable when the attention shifted to him. Both women eyed him as if he were next. “Now, wait a minute. Don’t look at me. I’m on a No Dating policy, remember?”
“Yes, but you were considering altering it.” Rebecca took her plastic knife and fork in hand and sliced a dainty bite out of her soft-shell chicken taco. Ranch and salsa sauces oozed out right along with the cheese.
“What I am considering is ordering one of those next time.” Whew, it looked as though he’d successfully derailed her. “Don’t worry. I’m nothing like Ephraim. If you notice, no pocket protector.”
“Hey.” Ephraim good-naturedly protested as he unwrapped his second taco. “The pocket protector is sensible. I do accounting. I need lots of writing utensils and they always leave marks in my pocket.”
“Then it is a worthy accessory,” Rebecca said sincerely, although it made the rest of them laugh. “What? Was that funny? Well, the solution is obvious. Ephraim, wear the pocket protector at work and no place else.”
“I’m not sure about that. You never know when you’ll need a pen.” Ephraim’s comment made them all burst out in laughter.
This was great, Chad thought, digging into his taco. Tasty food, good friends and laughter. It was an excellent way to spend the evening. He suspected having Rebecca there made all the difference.
It was well after seven by the time Rebecca pulled into her driveway and hit the remote. While the door chugged open, her phone trilled. A new text message.
It was from Lauren.
Any more calls?
No, she typed back. With any luck, Chris had gotten the hint. She grabbed her keys and slung her bag over her shoulder. Birdsong drifted in from the open garage door along with a mellow patch of evening sunshine. The leaves in the trees rustled in the hot breeze as she made her way to the bank of mailboxes across the driveway.
“Great minds think alike,” came a familiar baritone behind her. Chad walking down his driveway. “Did your errand go all right?”
“Yep. Katherine’s husband is on evening shift covering vacations and her seventeen-year-old stepdaughter is off at Bible camp, so we’re all making sure she has what she needs while he’s working.” She waited for him to catch up. “I’m surprised to see you up and about. You said you were going to go home and collapse.”
“I got a second wind. Must have been the food and the company.”
“Are you ready for another whirlwind day tomorrow?” She fell in stride with him.
“No, but I want to be. It’s a lot of fun.”
“I think so, too.” She unlocked her box, not at all surprised to
see bills and junk mail. “Oh, a postcard from Mom and Dad.”
“Are they on vacation?” Chad looked up from rifling through the stack of junk mail and bills.
“They are out exploring the West in their RV.”
“Sounds to me as if you have a fun family. Sisters to do things with. Parents who go off and explore.”
“I like to think we are a fun group. We have fun together, anyway. I take it your parents aren’t the kind to go off and enjoy their retirement?”
“No. My mother is very busy with her charity and my father isn’t retired yet. He’s one of those workaholic types.”
“My father has a very strong work ethic. I think that’s why my brother is the same way. He learned at Dad’s knee—” She saw a familiar black sports car out of the corner of her eye. She turned without thinking and there was Chris behind the wheel. She could see him plainly through the rolled-down window.
“Uh-oh.” Maybe she was wrong about the calls. Her stomach fell.
“What’s uh-oh?” Chad asked. “Do you know that guy?”
“It’s Chris.” She closed the mailbox. “I didn’t think he would show up.”
Chad sure was giving Chris a hard look as he climbed out of his car. He squared his shoulders protectively. “I can get rid of him for you.”
A confrontation. That’s all she envisioned. Loud angry words and roughness. Panic fluttered inside her. “N-no. I don’t want trouble.”
“It won’t be any trouble, believe me.” Chad drew himself up, as if ready for a fight. “I’ll put him back in his car and that will be that.”
The sight of Chris powering toward them seeming ominously angry made her panic intensify. She did not want to be alone with that man. But she didn’t want to make this situation much worse than it had to be. And there was a bigger reason, a deeper one that had her taking a step away from Chad, too. She was afraid to lean on another man again. She was afraid to trust. “Chad, no thanks. I can handle this.”
“No, I don’t think so.” He looked determined and protective. If ever there was a man who appeared to stand for what was right, it was Chad.
But hadn’t she believed in that before and been wrong? The proof of it was stalking toward her. She took a shaky breath and gathered her courage. No, she would be far better standing on her own two feet. “Chad, I said I can handle this.”
“But—” He sounded confused, but didn’t move a muscle.
She watched in dread as Chris looked from Chad to her. His perfectly baby-blue eyes hardened.
“Who is this, Rebecca? Just what is going on here?” He fisted his hands.
“I’m Chad Lawson. Good to meet you. I understand you aren’t welcome here.”
Rebecca sighed. Taking him up on his offer would make things easier. “Thanks, Chad, but I want you to go.”
“But—”
“Please.” Her stomached tightened into one big knot. He meant well, she knew he did, and she meant well, too. “If you want to help, then please go home.”
“Yeah, go home.” Chris came to a stop, shoulders braced. “I need to talk to my girlfriend.”
“Chris, I’m not your girlfriend. Not anymore. Chad, please.”
“Fine.” Chad looked angry. His mouth worked, as if he had more to say but wasn’t about to say it. His eyes conveyed hurt. “You’re sure?”
It was tough seeing his hurt, how much he only meant to help her, and she was rejecting him. But she had to. Couldn’t he see that? “I’m sure. Thanks, Chad.”
He nodded once, saying nothing more and walked stiffly away, his gait tense and a little too fast.
She had upset him. Air wheezed out of her tight throat. She hadn’t meant to sound harsh. She’d only wanted to do the right thing.
“Now I see why you have been ignoring my calls.” Chris straightened his shoulders as if posing, looking as handsome as ever in his polished, captain-of-the-football-team kind of way. “You didn’t answer my messages, Becca. I must have left a half dozen of them.”
“Lauren listened to them for me and erased them.” Rebecca was glad she had her cell phone with her. She steeled her spine and gathered up all the courage she had. She wasn’t good with ultimatums, especially with Chris. She wasn’t good with uncomfortable situations. But right now she had to be. “I told you I don’t want to see you. Please leave or I’m calling my brother.”
Chapter Five
“What’s so fascinating out the window?”
Chad winced. He hadn’t meant to get his roommate’s attention. He wasn’t ready to tip his hand just yet about his like for Rebecca, especially since he had no idea if Rebecca liked him—or if she would ever amend her No Man policy. He stepped away from squinting through the open aluminum blinds. “I ran into Rebecca when she was getting her mail, too. And guess who drove up? That jerk she was dating.”
“That can’t be good. She’s too nice for someone like that.”
“No argument there.” Chad turned back to the window. “I just wanted to check and make sure she was okay, since you told me that guy might have gotten physical with her.”
“Maybe we should go out there and back her up.”
“She said she wanted to handle it alone.” He didn’t know her well enough to have refused to go. She might have thought he was the one being a jerk. He shook his head. “I thought I would keep an eye on her.”
“Good plan.” Ephraim joined him at the window. “She doesn’t know yet, does she?”
“Know what?”
“That you like her.”
How had Ephraim guessed? Chad grimaced. What if Rebecca had guessed, too?
“Dude, you do like her, right?”
“No comment.” It seemed the safest answer. He didn’t take his gaze from her. She was standing straight and tall, her feet braced, her arms crossed in front of her like a shield. She didn’t seem happy. The Chris guy didn’t, either.
Suddenly a green new-model pickup roared around the corner and came to a stop in the middle of the street. Two men leaped out. The driver was a big guy.
“That’s the brother,” Ephraim pointed out. “The other one is Lauren’s husband. Caleb’s a city cop. If I were that dude, I would be shaking in my sandals.”
“Looks to me like he is. Think we outta go out and provide backup.”
“They don’t need it. Look, he’s leaving.” Ephraim sounded relieved.
But not as relieved as Chad felt. He watched Rebecca’s ex head back to his pricey car. Her brother and the cop walked her toward her condo, out of sight. He let the curtain fall. Ephraim had already wandered off to the TV and was flipping through the on-screen channel guide.
Rebecca hadn’t wanted him to hang around. He had to remember that. Everything in him wanted to go next door and make sure she was all right. He was torn between doing what he wanted and what she’d needed him to do.
“She gave you her cell number, right?” Ephraim dropped on the couch. “Text her. Calling might be too intrusive right now. She’s with her family.”
Another car drove up, and he recognized Lauren’s newer-model economy sedan. She wove around the brother’s pickup and parked in Rebecca’s driveway.
Chad stepped away from the window. The cavalry had arrived. Rebecca McKaslin didn’t need him, not one bit. Why that struck him hard, he couldn’t say. He just knew that he liked her. He knew without her having to say it, without knocking on the door and seeing the look on her face, that she didn’t need him.
So that was that. He dropped into the nearby chair, propped his feet on the battered coffee table and tried to focus on whatever Ephraim was watching.
Now that it was all over, the shaking kicked in. It was all Rebecca could do to hold the teapot and not spill as she poured two cups of steaming lemon chamomile. Her pulse knocked in her ears, drowning out the sounds of Lauren getting settled in the second bedroom. Her sister had announced she was spending that night, end of story.
Rebecca set the pot on the counter. Her hands were still shaking.
She hadn’t been afraid of Chris, not exactly. She didn’t think he had come to threaten her. No, he had come to apologize and try to get back together. He had looked sad tonight, as if he were truly hurting.
I still love you, Rebecca, he said with all sincerity. I’ve never stopped loving you.
Wasn’t that the trouble? She thought of his erratic behavior over the last few years. His moods had been up and down. Sharp and unpredictable. Then she thought about the better times when things had gone really well. He made her feel needed and important to him. She was special. And he had loved her. Her heart gave a little twist.
Love. There was that troublesome word again. She had been blissfully happy and dismally unhappy, felt safe and afraid for her safety, and all because of love.
If this was love, who needed it?
Her cell phone chimed. A text message.
“Is that Chris?” Lauren called from down the hall.
Rebecca picked up the phone she’d left on the table and checked the screen. Seeing Chad’s name on her new message list soothed away some of her shakiness.
“No,” she called back to her sister and, smiling to herself, opened the message.
How R U?
OK, she sent back and, still smiling, slipped the phone into her pocket. Chad. Her heart warmed remembering how he had wanted to help her. And although she had refused him, he still cared how she was. He was a good guy. She stirred milk and honey into the cups and carried them in to her sister.
Lauren zipped her overnight bag closed and shoved it into the closet out of sight. “There. All settled. That smells like perfection.”
“And calming, too.” She wanted to keep things light. She wanted to wish Chris away. “Are you sure you want to do this? I told you, I will be just fine.”
“I know, but we haven’t had a sleepover in a while. It will be fun.” Lauren sat on the edge of her twin bed. “This is for the best, you know.”