Her brows drew together. “You really shouldn’t call me that.”
“Call you what?” Than asked.
Her scowl deepened. “Seriously?”
He grinned as he shook his head at her. It was way too easy to yank her chain. “What’s wrong with what I call you?”
“It’s not my name. And you’re supposed to be here in a professional capacity. Calling me that doesn’t sound professional.”
Than knew she was right even though it was something he did without thinking most the time. He had a feeling it was one of the things about him that rubbed her the wrong way—his tendency to use affectionate nicknames for the women he came in contact with. And he was well aware that his usual approach with women would not fly on this trip.
He sighed. “Okay. Lindsay it is. But you’ll have to cut me some slack if I slip up once in a while. I mean, I look at you and all I can think of is how super sweet you are, and sugar just slips out.”
Lindsay stared at him, one eyebrow lifted before she started to laugh. “Yeah. I’ve been described as a lot of things, but sweet isn’t usually among them.”
Than grinned. She was right about that. He had kind of settled on sugar as a nickname for her because it wasn’t overtly romantic, and he figured it would probably rankle her. Clearly, he’d been right.
“Well, I’d better go put my stuff together,” Lindsay said. “Don’t want to hold anything up.”
Than got to his feet when she did and walked with her and Barb upstairs to their room. “Let me know when you’re ready to go, and I’ll help you guys with your bags.”
Once all the luggage was loaded again, Than climbed onto the bus and looked around. He noticed right away that Barb was in the seat next to Lindsay. Instead of making a big deal about it, he made his way to an empty set of seats near the back of the bus. The newlyweds were in the seats across the aisle from him, and Lindsay was in the row in front of them. At least she was still in his line of sight.
Though he would have liked to sit next to her, it was actually more comfortable to be by himself in the two seats. He settled into the one next to the window but sat angled so he could stretch his legs out a bit. Five hours was a long time to feel like he was eating his kneecaps.
Mark said a prayer for their trip and then they were off. Than turned his head toward the window and watched the traffic and buildings slip past. Driving was a start and stop process until they finally made it out onto a major highway. At one point, he found himself watching the newlyweds across the aisle.
They seemed so young. And definitely very much in love. The woman had turned sideways in her seat to lean against her husband while her feet were propped on the edge of the seat under the window. The man’s arms were around her and every once in a while she’d turn her head up to look at him, a smile on her face. And more often than not, the man would dip his head to press a lingering kiss to her lips.
They reminded him a lot of his parents and how they were around each other. Even after all the years they’d been together, they still seemed to be totally in love with one another. That could be why his mother was so determined to see them each married. She wanted her children to experience something similar.
And for the first time in…well, for the first time ever…Than was seriously considering it. His gaze went to where Lindsay sat. He could just see the very top of her head, but it was enough. Was there more there than her just being a challenge for him? At the end of the chase, would he really want to keep her? Would they start out like the couple across the aisle but end up fighting? Would the things he liked about her be the things that would drive him nuts later on?
The biggest question for him had always been, how did someone know for sure that a person was their forever? When there were so many women out there, how did a guy know for certain? He’d first asked Lindsay out on a date for the same reason he’d asked any other woman out. He’d thought she was cute, and she seemed like an interesting person. When she’d accepted but then quickly turned the tables on him by dictating where he would take her and what he’d wear, Than had had a moment where he’d wondered what he was doing. But then their date had gone fairly well—or at least he’d thought it had—and he’d been interested in going out again a time or two, but she’d had none of it. That’s when things had changed a bit for him.
Than Miller was not one to be rejected so strongly, particularly after a date that had gone—as far as he could tell—so well. And it bugged him that it was by a woman he found as intriguing as he had found Lindsay.
~*~*~
At first, Lindsay had had mixed feelings when Barb sat down next to her on the bus. She was so used to having Than beside her when traveling—had appreciated the excuse to have him nearby, if she was honest with herself—that initially, she was a bit put out by Barb’s presence. But not for long.
Even as she’d realized that she needed to be interacting more with her teammates and less with her bodyguard, Lindsay discovered that Barb was actually a very interesting person. Her appearance was somewhat deceiving as she came across almost hippy-ish with her graying hair worn long and in a braid. Her style also tended toward a somewhat eclectic, bohemian look.
“Do you have a family?” Lindsay asked after she’d shared a bit about her own.
“I do. I have three kids, in fact. My youngest daughter still lives with me as she finishes up college. My other daughter is a nurse in Chicago, and my son is a professional hockey player.”
Lindsay looked at her in surprise—again! “Does he play for a team close by?”
She nodded. “He’s actually with the Wild at the moment, but you know that can change at any time.”
“Do you go to all his games?”
“You bet.” A proud look passed over Barb’s face. “He got me season tickets so I’m at every one that I can be.”
“And what is your other daughter in college for?”
“She’s going into the medical field, too, just like me and her sister.”
“What part of the field are you in?” Lindsay hoped Barb didn’t mind her questions, but she was quite interested in the woman who had befriended her.
Their interactions were a stark reminder that she usually held herself off from most people she met. She could count on one hand the number of people she might call a good friend, but she wouldn’t consider any of them a BFF—though Lucas’s wife, Brooke, was coming close. It had been difficult never knowing whether someone was a friend because of her money or because they genuinely liked her. In the end, it had just been easier to not allow anyone to get too near to her. But this trip was forcing closeness and for once, Lindsay didn’t mind it.
“I’m an OB/Gyn. I have a focus on high-risk pregnancies.”
Lindsay stared at her. “And this is how you choose to spend your vacation?”
Barb smiled, the skin at the corners of her eyes crinkling. “Yes. Sitting on a beach somewhere soaking up the rays doesn’t appeal to me overly much. Being able to travel and help out like this is more my thing.”
“So you’ve been here before?”
“Not here. I try to go to different countries, so this is my first time to the Philippines.” Barb tilted her head. “What made you decide to come on this trip?”
Lindsay wished she could say it was out of some altruistic motivation or that she’d prayed a lot before joining the team, but she really couldn’t. “To be honest, I’m not entirely sure. I was sitting in church when they made the first announcement asking people to consider participating or at least supporting the mission trip through prayer. Something inside me just said I needed to join. Maybe that’s not the right way to go about things, but here I am.”
Barb smiled. “Sometimes God’s promptings can be just like that. The most important thing is that you listened to that little nudge. I think you’re right where God wants you.”
“I hope so.” While she hadn’t prayed much about it beforehand, she certainly had since the day they’d accepted her onto the
team. “I just hope I can be a help and not a hindrance.”
Barb reached out and patted her hand. “Keep an open heart and have willing hands and that will not be a problem.”
Lindsay nodded and turned toward the window, watching as the foreign landscape slipped by. There was a heavy cloud over the city, and they’d been told it was pollution. It made her have a real appreciation for the quality air they had in Minnesota.
Her elbow was jostled, and Lindsay looked over to see Barb grinning at her.
“So tell me about Mr. Than and what he is to you.”
7
“Than?” Lindsay’s stomach clenched just hearing his name. It was hard, but she managed to resist looking back to where he sat. “For the purpose of this trip, he’s my bodyguard.”
“Oh, come on. You already told me that part. And that he’s a friend of your brothers. I’m more interested in what he is to you.”
“He’s nothing to me. Just an acquaintance.”
Lindsay waited for Barb to call her on that, but instead the older woman looked at her intently then said, “Okay. Then what are you to him?”
“A challenge.” The words were out of her mouth before she even realized it.
“A challenge?” Barb’s eyes widened. “Now that sounds interesting. Do tell.”
Lindsay rubbed her fingers on the jean material covering her thigh. She hadn’t told anyone much about their date. When anyone had asked, she’d brushed it aside saying it had been fine but making it seem like she had only ever expected it to be a one-time deal. “Than has a reputation as a ladies’ man. He’s a consummate flirter and what my sister-in-law calls a serial dater. From what I’ve heard, he rarely does more than two dates with any given woman.”
“And I’m guessing he asked you out?” Barb had drawn one leg up onto the seat and wrapped her arms around it.
“Yep. In front of my whole family, no less. I’m pretty sure he thought I’d say no. After all, I have a bit of a reputation myself. One of being stand-offish, especially where men are concerned. So he was pretty shocked, I think, when I said yes. I told him to wear a suit and take me some place nice.”
“And did he?” When Lindsay nodded, Barb said, “Well, so far it sounds good.”
“It was a nice evening. The restaurant was really beautiful, and the food was good. We even had a fairly decent conversation. I relaxed with him in a way I hadn’t thought possible and was even considering saying yes to a second date if he asked.”
“I kinda sense a but coming.”
“Yeah. A big one. As we were leaving the restaurant, a woman stopped Than and it quickly became apparent he had—at the very least—dated her.”
“Sounds like it might be pretty hard to turn around in Minneapolis without running into someone Than had dated,” Barb commented.
“Yes, you’re right, and I had already anticipated that. And apparently so had he because it seemed totally natural for him to introduce us. There wasn’t any awkwardness on his part at all. But I think the final straw for me came when I thanked him for the evening and commented on how nice the restaurant had been. His response made it clear that he’d been there several times before. And I think that’s when I realized that there would be no special moments for us. No place where he didn’t have a memory of being there with someone else.”
“So when he asked you for a second date, you turned him down?”
“Yep. That night and every other time since.”
“Did you tell him why?”
Lindsay shot Barb a surprised look. “Why would I have done that?”
Barb shrugged. “Maybe he would have understood and made some effort to make it more special for you on the next date.”
She couldn’t help the snort of laughter that escaped her. “I knew Than was only looking for a couple of good-time dates. Me mentioning to him what I shared with you would have made it sound like I was looking for something long term. Than doesn’t do long term. Plus, I’m at a point in my life where I’m not interested in casual dating anymore, so more than one date with Than would have just been a waste of my time.”
“You want someone who makes you feel special. Cherished.”
Barb’s voice was soft, but Lindsay still heard the words loud and clear. And they resonated strongly with her. Yes, that was exactly what she wanted. She didn’t want a man like her father who didn’t care about how her mother felt while he was off with his flavor of the month. And she certainly didn’t want to be with a man like Than who seemed to think it was his job to make every woman feel cherished and special.
“Does your husband make you feel that way?” Lindsay asked, suddenly eager to be done talking about Than. But as soon as she asked the question, she realized that she didn’t even know if Barb had a husband. She wore a simple gold band on her left hand, but in this day and age, it could mean anything.
Barb’s gaze grew distant. “Yes, he did.”
He did? Oh no… Lindsay laid her hand on Barb’s arm. “I’m so sorry.”
The older woman’s gaze came back into focus and met Lindsay’s. “There’s no need to be sorry. We had almost twenty years together. It’s been ten years since he passed. I miss him. Even more when I see couples like the Rosens and the Armstrongs. That probably would have been us if he’d lived.” A gentle smile curved her lips. “But we had good times, and I have three wonderful children who remind me of him every single day. I wish he could have lived to see what they’ve become. He would have been so proud of each of them.”
That was the love Lindsay wanted. That love that Barb had had with her husband. The love Lucas shared with Brooke. And she was pretty sure that she wasn’t going to find that kind of love with Than.
“You ladies want some lunch?”
Lindsay looked up to see Mel in the aisle beside their seats. She balanced a cardboard box on her arm and plucked a paper bag from inside it and held it out. Barb took it and passed it to Lindsay and then took the next one Mel handed her. Then she handed them each a water bottle that must have been in a cooler somewhere because it was still cold to the touch.
“Thanks, Mel,” she said as she opened the bag.
Lindsay couldn’t remember the last time she’d eaten a meal out of a paper bag. She wasn’t anticipating anything great but was pleasantly surprised by the obviously homemade bread and chicken salad sandwiches. There was a bag of chips, a boiled egg and a couple of chocolate chip cookies to round out the meal.
Thankfully, their conversation moved away from the previous topic onto more generic things. She hoped that would be the last time they discussed Than.
“I’m going to stretch my legs a bit,” Barb said as she stood up and moved into the aisle.
Lindsay leaned back in the seat and turned her head to once again watch the world outside the window. What had she been thinking to reveal all that stuff to Barb? It seemed like spilling her guts was all she was doing on this trip. Thankfully, the high seats backs and the noise of the bus had kept others from hearing. At least she hoped that was the case. She could hear murmurs of conversation around her but nothing clearly.
“Doing okay?”
Lindsay jumped and jerked around to find Than sliding into the seat where Barb had been, his face inches from hers. He was so close she could see the black flecks in his dark brown eyes. He had eyelashes that any girl would kill for, she thought. Her gaze dropped. And his lips… She jerked back from him, blocking her thoughts from going in that direction.
Than was not the man for her.
As she stared at him, a corner of his mouth quirked up as if he knew what was going through her mind. “Everything okay?”
Lindsay swallowed and hoped her voice would sound normal when she said, “Yep. Everything is great.”
When Barb had been sitting next to her, there had been plenty of room in the row, but with Than in that seat, it was as if everything had shrunk in size. Without being totally obvious about it, there was no way to sit that at least some part of their bodies didn�
��t touch. Right now, her right knee was pressed up against his. She rested her palms on her thighs with just enough pressure to hopefully dry the moisture that had suddenly dampened them.
“How are you enjoying the trip so far, sugar?”
She lifted her eyebrows at his use of the word, but he looked unapologetic. “It’s been fine.”
“Even though you decided not to sit with me?”
Lindsay regarded him silently then said, “You need to stop doing that.”
“Doing what?”
For a moment, she wondered if he really was unaware of the flirtatiousness of his tone and his words. “Flirting. It seems to be like breathing for you.”
“Are you saying you don’t think I can stop?”
Lindsay nodded. “That’s most definitely what I’m saying.”
Than didn’t reply to that right away. He just sat there staring at her. Lindsay felt herself begin to flush under his observation, but she didn’t look away.
“Well then, how about a bet?”
“A bet? I don’t bet.”
“Oh, come on. Just a friendly little wager. No money involved.”
“Okay. What are the terms?” Lindsay hoped she didn’t end up regretting this.
“If I can go the remainder of this trip without flirting, you go out on that second date with me.”
Lindsay considered it. “And if I win.”
“I’ll stop asking you out and leave you alone.”
As she thought about it, Lindsay figured it was an easy bet. There was no way that Than could go that long without flirting. This would definitely be an easy way to get him off her back. And really, if he stopped to think about it, it was win-win for him, too. He either got the date he wanted or he got the opportunity to move on from her—maybe sooner than he wanted—but there was no doubt he would have moved on eventually.
“Just one clarification.” She held up a finger. “This is flirting with anyone, not just with me. After all, it really isn’t appropriate for this trip.”
A pained look crossed Than’s face, but then it disappeared just as quickly, and he nodded. “No flirting with anyone. Deal.”
Guarding Her Heart: A Christian Romance (BlackThorpe Security Book 1) Page 8
