“For?”
“Tonight. I had no idea Nancy brought you here under false pretenses.” She shot him an apologetic glance. “I went to ask her a question after she went to meet you and accidentally overheard.”
Judah grimaced. “To be fair, I should have realized. I adore Nancy, but I’m well aware of her penchant for playing matchmaker. I guess when she’s had me over for dinner twice with no ulterior motives, I got too comfortable.”
Laughter bubbled out of her. “I know that feeling. Nancy and her crew have left me alone for a while, but when she came with an invitation on a Wednesday, I knew something was up.”
“A Wednesday? What does that have to do with it?” He pulled out a chair and motioned for her to sit.
She lowered herself onto the chair. “Tuesday nights, especially the first of the month but was moved up a week for their normally scheduled meeting, are when she gathers with her friends to work on various projects and ministries. And scheme their next potential couple.”
“Thanks for that tip. I’ll have to remember for the future.” He sat down in the chair opposite her. “As awkward as this is, I want to be upfront- I have no interest in dating right now.”
His comment grated on her nerves at first, but a split second later she decided he was a breath of fresh air. It’s not as though she wanted a romantic entanglement either. “Nor do I. Convincing Nancy, however, is not as easy.”
“Unfortunately, you’re probably right, which means the next few months will be fun until Nancy gives up,” he said with notes of sarcasm. “Don’t get me wrong. I adore Nancy and would do almost anything for her, but I draw the line at being paraded around to a different eligible woman every week.”
“I’m afraid now that I agreed to this one dinner, she’ll take that as encouragement to try again.” A shudder coursed through her.
She really should have thought through her acceptance of tonight’s invitation. Just because everybody else thought it was time for her to move on from Jess, didn’t mean she was ready. Not that she wasn’t over Jess- she didn’t care what he was doing or where he was, rather it was the emotional baggage he’d left with her that she couldn’t get past, and she didn’t know how to let it go.
A moment of silence filled the space between them, until Judah’s eyes widened. “I think I have a solution that will benefit both of us.”
Her ears perked. “Oh?”
Noise from the kitchen drew their attention as dishes clattered.
“I’ll be right there,” Nancy called. “Sorry for the delay.”
Judah leaned forward. “We don’t have long before Nancy comes in. Will you be at your shop tomorrow?”
“From nine until five.”
“I get off shift at three tomorrow. Would it be all right if I stop in and tell you the idea? That will give me time to think it through.” He laughed to himself. “By tomorrow, I might realize it’s completely ludicrous.”
“I’m intrigued.”
Before she could press for a hint, Nancy entered the room, carrying a large tray loaded with serving bowls, plates, and utensils. “I still need to get the drinks. Maegan, would you mind grabbing them from the counter by the sink, please?”
“No problem.” She jumped up and left the room. While she would have liked another minute alone with Judah to hear about this plan, she welcomed the moment alone in the kitchen to gather her thoughts.
She wasn’t sure what she’d expected from tonight, but she knew it hadn’t met the reality.
Chapter Four
Judah stopped by the bank and made a deposit after taking his time leaving the sheriff’s office. He’d lain in bed for hours last night, debating if he was doing the right thing. Maybe he was overreacting. Nancy would respect him if he had a heart to heart with her and explained he was not in a place to date.
But Nancy also thought she knew what was best for him. He didn’t fault her for that. Truth be told, she often did know and could see the situations he faced with clearer judgment than he could. She had that uncanny ability. Not in this case though.
After all the turmoil with Alyssa, he wasn’t sure he’d ever want to be in a relationship again. Alyssa’s betrayal, and all the drama in the aftermath, destroyed him. His heart had mended but would never be whole again. When she’d left, she forever took a piece of him.
His phone alarm beeped.Three-thirty. Maegan would be expecting him, and making her wait wouldn’t help his case at all. The thought of her bolstered his otherwise downtrodden spirit. Whether due to the lack of sleep or trudging up memories of Alyssa, today had been rough.
From the little he knew about Maegan, he liked her- as a friend. Goodness knew he could use a friend his age in Dogwood Creek. She was down-to-earth, unassuming, and had the rare ability to laugh at herself. The look on her face last night when she realized she’d called herself a pot stirrer had been priceless. He still laughed when he thought about it.
She also hadn’t pressed about his black eye. Even when he’d told the story later that evening, she’d offered sympathy buthadn’t become overly dramatic. She seemed the type of person to take life in stride, and that’s what he needed in a friend.
The other advantage she had was Nancy’s seal of approval. Although he had no desire to be set up, he also knew that Nancy would only make the attempt with a female she fully approved of and saw as worthy-which meant she’d be a woman of integrity. More than anything, integrity was important to Judah for any relationship- romantic or not.
