Jillian Hart - Her Perfect Man

“It’s not my business,” he had to admit. “Just curious.”

“Didn’t curiosity get the cat into trouble?” She slipped through the door.

“Who said I wasn’t trouble?”

“Yep, that’s just what I thought about you.” She grabbed her purse and keys and shut the door. “I’m babysitting for my other sister and her husband. They have a date night tonight.”

“That’s nice you do that for her. So family’s important to you.”

“Absolutely. What about you?” She squinted at him. “It’s only fair that you answer a question. How do you know Ephraim?”

“He and I have been summer buddies since we were six.”

“Summer buddies?” she asked with a quizzical look as she turned the dead bolt.

“When my mom and dad wanted to get rid of me for the summer, they sent me to my aunt and uncle’s.” He saw the question forming on her expressive face and kept talking; he tried not to mention his parents if he could help it. Too complicated, too painful, too everything. “Ephraim lived next door to Uncle Calvin. He came over and offered me a Popsicle and the rest, as they say, was history.”

He liked the way she seemed to be in a good mood, even on a day of doom, as she’d claimed. She had the prettiest sparkles in her cinnamon-brown eyes that shimmered with warmth and humor.

“A Popsicle tends to cement the important relationships,” she said. “Especially a grape one.”

He chuckled, his heart just…feeling. He didn’t know how to describe it, only that it was nice. Real nice. “That’s where I’ve been wrong in the past. I neglected to offer a Popsicle.”

“A fatal mistake.”

She was one of those totally organized girls who seemed completely together. Although she was dressed casually, everything was coordinated and that purse she had over her shoulder was no cheap knockoff. His aunt had one almost like it. That, along with her spring-sunshine goodness, made Rebecca McKaslin an awesome combination. She slipped her keys into the outside pocket on her purse and descended the steps like a cool breeze.

He really should go. So why weren’t his feet taking him farther down the walk? “How old are your nieces or nephews?”

“Isn’t it my turn to ask the questions?” She dug her sunglasses out of her purse. “Are you serious about the Bible study group?”

“Wouldn’t have asked if I wasn’t.”

“Why aren’t you going to Ephraim’s group?” She slipped the glasses on, pausing to study him hard for any obvious flaws. She really wanted to find some flaws.

“I have obligations on Friday evenings.”

“A girlfriend?” Now, why did she ask that? She was teasing him, because he’d been just a tad curious about her. She leaned through the doorway to grab the bag she always carried to church with her. Inside was the flyer with all the group’s specifics. She handed it to him, realizing he was blushing.

Blushing. She didn’t know guys did that. Maybe the decent ones did. What did she know?

“Uh—” He looked flustered. “Currently, no.”

“See how personal that question can be?”

“I do. You’re making a point.”

“Yes. You are a smart guy.” She decided that a guy whose ears turned pink when asked about a girlfriend had to be okay. “Will I see you there?”

“Count on it.” He waved the flyer for confirmation.

“Good, our group has been losing numbers lately. A lot of us graduated last May. Well, I’ve got a pizza waiting.”

“Pizza. Sounds good. Is it for your niece? Nephew?”

“One of each.”

“Must be nice to have family.” He joined her on the walk, his gait easy and athletic, his voice amicable.

“It is.” She paused at the end of the walkway, where the sidewalk would take her left to the driveway, where her car was parked. “I don’t know what I’d do without my family. I have one older brother and five older sisters.”

“Sounds like heaven to me. I’m an only kid.”

“Was that a little lonely growing up?”

“Sometimes.”

It was hard not to feel for him. “As a kid, I always had someone looking out for me and someone to do things with. I was hardly ever alone. It’s probably why I like spending so much time alone now.”

“I pretty much had to figure things out for myself when I was little.” He knelt to grab his box of books. It was packed with what looked like mysteries. Though it had to be heavy, he lifted the box with ease.

So he was a serious reader. That didn’t surprise her one bit. He looked nearly perfect standing in the golden brush of the light, with the gentle breeze ruffling his blond hair and an expression of seriousness on his face. Why, she suspected if her sister Ava were to drive up right now she would call him a Mr. Wishable.

Worse, she would probably go on to call him Mr. Right, and there was no way he could be that. Knowing her luck, she had probably missed the boat to Mr. Right and would be forever standing on the dock. “It was good to meet you, Chad Lawson. I’ll see you on Wednesday night.”

“Definitely.” He folded up the flyer and slipped it into his book box. “Have a good time with your niece and nephew.”

“I will. Tyler’s five, he’s total fun, and the two-year-old keeps me on my toes.” Why wasn’t she leaving? You’re late, late, late, Rebecca. So exactly why was she lingering, as if she didn’t want to go? “Good luck with the moving. It’s a special kind of torture. I hope it goes all right.”

“Thanks. I’m lucky that I packed light, but it’s still a pain.”

“Did I say thanks for stopping to help me out? I can’t remember if I did.”

“You did.”

“Good. Forgive me, I’m more scattered than usual. I’m not normally like this. Goodbye, Chad.”

“Bye.” As if she was ever scattered at all, he thought, dismissing her self-deprecating sense of humor. He watched her saunter over to her little red Honda parked in the driveway in front of her closed garage door. The car suited her, zippy and fun and cute all at once.

Yep, she was real nice.

The sun’s heat beat down on him, and he realized it was getting late and the box he was holding was getting heavier. He resisted the urge to give Rebecca one last look as her car backed slowly out of the driveway. But as he headed for his apartment, he thought of her.

“Rebba?”

Madison wobbled into the TV’s glare. The little girl was pure sweetness with her light brown curls, big wide eyes and pixie’s face. Tonight she wore her pink-and-purple Cinderella pajamas and a sleepy frown.

Rebecca was out of the chair in a second, scooping up the warm, sleep-snuggly toddler into her arms. “What is it, princess?”

“Thirsty.” A huge yawn, and then both little arms wrapped around Rebecca’s neck. “Where’s Mommy?”

“She’s still out with your daddy.” Rebecca started for the kitchen. “Let’s get you that water and put you right back to bed.”

“I want Daddy.”

“I know you do, princess.” She opened the cupboard door with one hand, found the pink cup with the princesses on it and turned on the tap. The water was nice and cold and she filled the cup partway. “He’ll be home before you know it.”

“Ye-ah.” Madison sighed, clearly missing her parents. Hers was a loving and secure world. Heaven knew that Danielle and her husband, Jonas, did everything they could to ensure that for their kids.

As she held the cup to her niece’s lips and tipped it so she could drink in dainty little sips, Rebecca had to wonder. Would her life have turned out differently if her biological dad had been a good man? She had been wondering this a lot lately. The breakup and the man Chris turned out to be was still troubling her.