Lakeside Romance (9 page)

Again, Alec hated to stick his nose where it didn't belong, but Sarah's best interests prodded him to speak up. “Do you think Sarah will get much rest with your little monkeys wanting to hang all over her? From what I hear, Auntie Sarah ranks up there with puppies and Disney princesses.”

Caleb laughed and rubbed a hand over his jaw. “Right. I hear what you're saying, but I don't want her to be alone.”

“She won't be alone. The boys are pretty responsible, and I'll be downstairs.”

Caleb leveled Alec with a direct stare that forced him to break eye connect. He wasn't sure he wanted to know what was going through the man's head. “Dude, you seem awfully interested in my sister.”

Alec rolled his eyes. “Don't be ridiculous. I feel bad about what happened to her. That's all.”

“If that's the story you're sticking to—”

“Knock it off, Sullivan—” He swallowed the rest of his words as Zoe and Sarah walked into the waiting room. Under the fluorescent lights, her skin was as washed out as the gray floor tiles. Her right arm was wrapped in a supportive bandage. A streak of dirt still marred her face, but it did little to detract from those high cheekbones or those meadow-green eyes.

Alec greeted Zoe with a quick, one-armed hug before turning his attention to Sarah. “How are you feeling?”

“Like I collided with a freight train...or a six-foot catcher.”

Alec scowled. “I'm really sorry I hurt you.”

“It was an accident. You're not to blame.”

“Would you like to go home?”

“Yes, but Zoe mentioned going to their place.” Fatigue laced her words.

Alec relayed his conversation with Caleb, and Sarah smiled. “Thanks. I love my nieces, but right now I want to sleep.”

Alec placed a hand at the small of her back and guided her to the door. “Let's get out of here, then.”

After thanking Caleb and Zoe, they headed for the parking lot. Alec helped Sarah into the passenger seat while the boys piled into the back. He'd get them home so Sarah could relax for the rest of the night. Then he could remind himself she wasn't his problem.

Only he knew he wouldn't sleep well tonight worrying about her.

He pulled out of the parking lot, headed down Center Street, and less than five minutes later he turned into his driveway. Apparently it was long enough for Sarah to fall asleep. Must be the painkillers the doctor had given her.

After parking the car, he opened her door and shook her gently. “Wake up, sleepyhead. We're home.”

Her eyelids fluttered as a sweet smile spread across her face. She palmed his cheek. “You're cute.”

He grinned. Yep, definitely the painkillers. Wrapping his arm around her shoulder, he guided her out of the car and up the stairs...sort of like helping a baby goat learning to walk.

Once she was settled on her couch, he covered her with the knitted afghan tossed over the arm. “You sure you'll be okay tonight?”

“Yes, the boys will be here. I'll figure out something for tomorrow.”

“What do you mean?”

“The boys are going to the movies with our church youth group. I'm supposed to chaperone, but I'll call Nate to get someone to cover me.”

“So you'll be alone?”

“Just in the evening, but I can hang out at my brother's. The girls think I'm kind of fun.”

Not just the girls.

Instead of dwelling on that sudden thought and before common sense kicked in, he spoke. “How about if we hang out at my place? I'll cook dinner, and then we can watch
My Fair Lady
.”

“Will there be popcorn?”

“As long as you're not making it.”

She stuck her tongue out at him. “One little smoke alarm...”

“You're gaining some pretty good cooking skills, but I don't know if you're a popcorn master just yet.”

Sarah's eyelids fluttered. “Alec?”

“What?”

“Tell me something.” Her voice slurred.

“Anything.”

“Was I safe?”

Alec resisted brushing a kiss across her forehead. “Most definitely.”

She closed her eyes, a smile curving her mouth. Seconds later, her breathing evened out.

He reached into his wallet and pulled out a business card, handing it to Daniel. “Give me a call if you need anything. I'll bring up some dinner for you guys in a bit.”

“Thanks, will do.”

Alec closed the door behind him and headed down the steps. Tomorrow's dinner and movie was not a date. Just helping out a friend.

How many times would he have to repeat it for his heart to believe it?

Chapter Nine

W
hy was Alec so nervous?

He'd been alone with Sarah before. Many times. So what made tonight any different?

Staring at his reflection in the mirror, Alec adjusted the rolled cuffs of his blue-and-white-striped button-down shirt for the third time. He gave his hair a final brush, then left the bathroom, flicking off the light.

The oven timer dinged, setting off a trail of firecrackers inside his chest. A knot coiled in the pit of his stomach. Maybe this was a mistake.

He fished his phone out of his back pocket, thumbed through his contacts to find Sarah's number and then hovered a moment over her name.

What was he going to do? Call and cancel? For what reason? Because he was a big chicken? Afraid to put himself out there? Or more specifically—his heart?

The doorbell rang. His heart skittered across his ribs. Stowing his phone, he wiped his sweaty palms on the thighs of his jeans and pushed out a slow breath.

He opened the door and smiled, about to greet Sarah, only to find Billy, his brother-in-law, standing on his welcome mat. His baseball hat shaded his face. “What's up, man?”

Billy lifted a hand, then shoved it in his jeans front pocket. “Was in the neighborhood and stopped in to see how you're doing.”

Alec glanced over Billy's shoulder, then turned his eyes to his brother-in-law. “Hey, I appreciate the drop-in, but now's not a great time.”

“You got a date?” Billy snickered and punched Alec playfully on the shoulder.

“Not...exactly.”

Billy stilled, then a smile spread across his face. “But a girl is involved.”

“No. I mean, yes, but it's not like that. Sarah's...uh...a friend.” Alec fidgeted with his shirt cuffs again.

“Wait a minute.” Billy jerked his thumb toward the other apartment. “Sarah as in the cute chick who lives upstairs? The one who set off the smoke alarm with the popcorn?”

“How about I give you a call tomorrow?”

“You didn't answer my question.”

“No, I didn't. Good night, man.”

Billy gave him a sly look. “Yeah, whatever. Give me a call, dude. And have fun tonight.” He waggled his eyebrows, shoved his hands in pockets and ambled off the porch, whistling.

Alec exhaled loudly and started to shut the door when he heard Sarah coming down her stairs. He went over to her door and opened it as her foot touched the last step.

His breath caught in his throat as his chest tightened. Her yellow sundress brushed the tops of her knees, giving her skin a sun-kissed look. A coffee-colored necklace made of wooden beads hung around her neck and a matching slim leather belt cinched her waist. Red sandals—wedges—isn't that what his sister called them?—gave her an additional two inches.

One look at her and Alec realized this was most definitely a date. And for the first time since last night, he was glad he hadn't followed through and canceled.

Clearing his throat, he found his voice. “You look lovely.”

“Thanks. I'm probably overdressed.” She lifted her wrapped wrist. “This was the easiest thing in my closet to put on.”

“How's the arm?”

She shrugged. “Fine, as long as I don't move it. The boys wouldn't let me do anything today.”

“Good. We'll have to be careful, then.” He offered his elbow and then held the door for her, leading her into his house.

Once she settled on his leather couch, he excused himself and headed for the kitchen. He turned on the faucet, splashed cold water on his face, then dried it with a paper towel.

“Can I do anything?”

He jumped and spun around, surprised to find her behind him in the kitchen. “Nope, got it under control. Want some iced tea?”

“Sure, sounds great. Thanks.” She hesitated in the doorway.

“Have a seat on the couch, and I'll bring it in.”

Ice snapped and popped as he filled two glasses and carried them into the living room, then set them on the coffee table in front of the couch.

Sarah turned away from his built-in bookcases flanking the fireplace. “Impressive book and DVD collections. Lots of oldies.”

“Uncle Emmett, Granddad and I watch movies together every Sunday afternoon. Granddad prefers John Wayne films while Emmett's a huge Clint Eastwood or Sam Elliott fan.”

“What about you?”

“I prefer the classics. Most anything with Cary Grant, Gregory Peck or William Holden. And, of course, Audrey Hepburn.”

“She's in
My Fair Lady
, right?”

“Yes.”

“I'm looking forward to watching it, but you must feed me first.” Sarah pressed a hand to her stomach.

“Well, let's eat, then. Dinner's ready. It's been such a nice day that I figured we'd eat on the patio, if that's okay with you?”

“Sure. Sounds good to me.”

Alec took her elbow and guided her through the kitchen and out the back door to the small patio, where he set the table for two with red-and-tan-striped placemats. He had considered candles, but that screamed date, which this was not. Something he'd wrestled with the minute he saw Sarah in that dress. Instead, he lit citronella tiki torches to keep the mosquitos away.

Once Sarah was seated, he returned to the kitchen and brought out a square platter that held the main course and a glass bowl filled with mixed greens. He set them on the table, then sat opposite of Sarah. He pulled his napkin out of the wooden ring and spread it across his lap.

Sarah rested her hands on the edge of the glass-topped table. “Mind if I pray?”

“Uh, sure.” What else could he say?

Bowing her head, Sarah thanked God for the food and then asked a blessing for Alec.

Would God skip over that request, marking a giant black
X
in the No column? He hadn't done anything worthy of a blessing.

She turned her attention to the food. “What did you make?”

He turned the serving fork toward her. “This is chicken piccata on a bed of angel hair and a tossed salad with an Italian herb dressing. I hope you like it.”

“If this tastes half as good as it smells, I'm sure it won't be a problem. You really didn't need to go to all of this trouble.” She placed food on her plate, then turned the fork toward him.

“Of course I did. I felt so bad about what happened. If I hadn't tripped over you, then you wouldn't have gotten hurt.”

The light dimmed in Sarah's eyes as she set her fork on her plate then put her hands in her lap. She lowered her gaze a moment, then looked at him. “So this is a pity date?”

The quiet tone edged with hurt speared him.

“What? No. This isn't a date.” As soon as he spoke, he knew it was the wrong thing to say.

She reached for her glass of tea, her voice as cool as the ice in her beverage. “Glad we cleared that up.”

Alec pushed his untouched plate aside and rested his elbows on the table. “Look, Sarah, I didn't mean it like that.”

“How did you mean it?” She dropped her voice and shot him a look he couldn't decipher.

Sighing, Alec sat back in his chair and scrubbed a hand over his face. “I felt terrible when you got hurt. With the boys gone for the evening, I didn't want you home alone. I wanted to do something to help you—friend to friend. Dinner seemed like a good idea. And since you haven't seen that movie yet...”

“Pizza would've been good enough. Or even burgers and fries.” She waved a hand over the table. “This meal is something you'd find in a nice restaurant with linen tablecloths, candles and servers who wear black pants and bow ties.”

She stood, her chair skidding on the concrete, and placed her napkin next to her untouched plate. Her cheeks matched the red stripes on the placemats. “Thank you for going to all of this trouble, but it wasn't necessary. I'm sorry, but I need to go.”

Alec jumped up, his napkin falling to the patio floor. He rounded the table and hurried after her. He pressed a palm against the back door, preventing her from opening it. “Sarah, wait. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to embarrass you. I've made a complete mess of this. This wasn't a pity date. I wanted to make you dinner to help you out. As for the date part...can we not label tonight and just be two friends having dinner? That is, if I can find room around the foot in my mouth?”

She lifted her eyes swimming with vulnerability. “Is that what we are? Friends?”

He raked his fingers through his hair. “I like to think so. The thing is, I don't date.”

“Why not?”

“It's complicated.” He rubbed his bare ring finger.

Sarah crossed her arms over her chest. “I'm a college-educated woman who works with teenagers on a regular basis. Believe me, I understand complicated.”

“Since my wife died, I've had no desire to see anyone else.”

“I see.”

He tipped up her chin. “It has nothing to do with you—it's me.”

“If I had a quarter for every time I heard that, I'd be fifty cents richer. I didn't come here looking for anything beyond dinner and decent company, Alec. Seriously.” She laid a hand on his arm. “This can be a nondate, for all I care. I just don't want to be pitied.”

A slight breeze ruffled her hair. He brushed a wisp off her cheek and cracked a smile. “I don't pity you, except maybe your popcorn-making skills.”

“One time and a girl is marked.” She slugged him playfully on the shoulder.

“I'm sorry for lousing up this dinner. Let's start over. Our chicken piccata is getting cold.”

Sarah stood at the edge of the patio, her gaze drifting toward the stream cutting through the backyard. Then she turned and glanced at their places at the table. She tossed him a quick grin over her shoulder that nearly buckled his knees. “Let's do something about that.”

As she seated herself back at the table and smiled at him again, he realized something—he appreciated the way Sarah challenged him. He was beginning to have her constantly in his thoughts. And that scared him. What would happen if he spent more time with her outside of the community center or his uncle's house? What if he asked her on a real date? Maybe it was time to risk it and find out.

* * *

If Sarah could get through the rest of the evening without humiliating herself, then she'd consider that a major accomplishment.

Alec took his seat opposite her, and Sarah forced herself to pick up her fork even though her appetite had disappeared. All she wanted now was to go back upstairs, trade her sundress for pajamas and bury her nose in a romance novel.

Why had she read more into the evening than Alec intended? Of course, he was only trying to help her out. And she appreciated that. She did. But...

Maybe it was the recent playfulness or perhaps the tender way he'd cared for her at the field and then on the way home from the hospital.

Whatever it was—something had shifted in their relationship, but apparently it was one-sided...her side.

“You're not eating. Change your mind?”

Yes.

She smiled and shook her head. She twirled pasta into the bowl of her spoon and put it into her mouth, the lemony flavor immediately bathing her tongue. “Alec, this is really good.”

“Glad you like it.” His smile created a fluttering like butterfly wings in her stomach.

“What's in this?” She moved one of the small pea-like things with the tines of her fork. Focusing on the meal kept her head where it needed to be instead of venturing into dangerous territory.

“Breaded chicken breasts in a butter and lemon sauce, then I added a sprinkle of capers on top.” Alec poked one of the capers with his fork and held it up to show her.

“Capers?”

“They're unripened flower buds that are sun-dried, then pickled.”

“I learned something new. You're wasting your talents in real estate. You should have your own restaurant.”

“Nah, I don't have the skills needed for that. I've enjoyed cooking since I was about Daniel's age. I don't want to lose my love for it by doing it as a profession.”

“I can understand that.”

Alec toyed with his pasta, then glanced at her. “May I ask you a question that's none of my business?”

She wiped her mouth with her napkin, then smoothed it back across her lap. “Um, sure, I guess.”

“You mentioned you'd have fifty cents over the ‘it's not you, but me' thing. Who owes you the first quarter?”

Sarah set her fork on her plate and wiped her mouth on her napkin. “Adam and I dated for four years—since college. Six weeks before our wedding, he called it off, claiming he wasn't ready for a commitment of that magnitude.”

“You were together for four years before he decided that?”

“Apparently. But the kicker was he married someone else three months later, and now his new wife is pregnant.”

“Man, that stinks.”

“Yeah, something like that. I couldn't continue working with him, so I quit my job as youth director at the same church where he led worship and moved to Shelby Lake to help Caleb with the girls. He'd only been here a couple of months and had his hands full.”

“I remember. I sold him his house.”

“That's right. He and Zoe have talked about moving into something bigger, but for now it meets their needs. Anyway, when they returned from their honeymoon, I needed to find my own place. When your grandma learned I was searching for an apartment, she said she had the perfect place for me. I'm glad you didn't give me the boot after I set off the smoke alarm.”

He smiled, causing her insides to flutter again. “Believe me, I was so tempted, but you signed a lease and paid for the summer in advance. I had no legal grounds for eviction. Why only three months?”

“Quite honestly, I'm not sure what I want to do with my life yet. Like I've mentioned before—the outreach program's a trial run funded by a grant. If it's a success, then there's a strong chance the church will keep it going permanently. Right now, we're trying to reach out to kids who may not attend church and build those relationships so they will want to come on a regular basis. We're talking about doing a pilot after-school program. Plus, I've applied to be a mission coordinator with Proclaim Missions. One of my good friends is the director...and he's also Adam's brother. There may be an opening in the fall, but it's kind of a long shot.”