by Dorien Kelly
He needed this connection; he needed her on the line until he had her in his arms. Her silence cued him in to the fact that she might have taken his response the wrong way, though.
“What I meant was let’s talk. I’ve missed the sound of your voice, Lisa.”
THE LIST OF THINGS THAT LISA had missed about Kevin was endless. For starters, there was his dimple when he smiled, not to mention his smile. She’d missed the way Jamie brightened when he came into a room, and she’d missed that rush of love that shot through her when she saw him, too. And most of all, she’d missed the sense that when the two of them were together, it would always be good…no matter what complications life threw their way.
“I’ve missed you, too,” she said, since the rest of it was just too personal to be blurting in front of Jamie, Courtney, Suz and her mom, who had all gathered in the kitchen to watch her, as though this call was more entertaining than a Thanksgiving parade. She walked past them into the café, and issued a firm command of stay when she caught them creeping toward her.
“Stay?” Kevin asked. “You didn’t get Jamie a puppy, did you?”
She laughed. “No. I might be crazy in what I take on, but I’m not that crazy.” And just because she wanted time to build her courage before she moved on to the serious stuff, she asked, “How’s the weather down there?”
He was silent for a beat, then said, “Cool. Definitely cool for Carefree.”
“Bummer,” she said.
“How is it where you are?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “I haven’t even been outside today, which is weird, you know? With Jamie, I’m always going outside.”
“Careful. You don’t want to break a streak like that. You might as well step outside and check it out, don’t you think?”
Lisa absently dusted off the top of the espresso machine and looked at the slightly coffee-splattered instructions taped to the wall next to it. She really needed to print out a clean sheet.
“I’m kind of liking the inside option, but thanks,” she said.
“Really, I think you want to turn around, go to the café door and check out the weather.”
He’d spoken as though she might be just the tiniest bit dense, but she would put that objection aside because another matter was troubling her.
“How do you know where I—”
Her question was cut short by a squeal from Jamie, who danced in the kitchen door. Courtney was holding him back, a broad grin on her face.
Then Lisa heard a rapping sound….
Slowly, she turned, wishing, hoping, and also knowing it to be true: the most amazing man in the whole, wide world stood outside her door, waiting for her to love him. And because she had grown to be a wise, wise woman, this time, she would let him in.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-4147-7
THE LITTLEST MATCHMAKER
Copyright © 2009 by Dorien Kelly.
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