“Lori!”
Lori turned from the conversation in time to see Haley maneuvering through the gymnasium, eyes bright and cheeks flushed. “Hey, there. You look excited.”
“I had a super idea.” Haley tugged Lori’s arm, pulling her slightly away from Summer and the other teens.
Lori ducked her head toward Haley. “Let’s hear it.”
“I know the perfect guy for you.”
Lori let out her breath in a slow rush and checked to make sure no one had overheard. Perfect guys didn’t exist. But no use bursting Haley’s bubble at this young age. “Who would that be?”
“It’s a friend of a friend.” Haley beamed. “He’s meeting you for lunch Friday at Café Du Monde.”
“What? Haley, no.” Lori’s thoughts raced together in a tangled maze. She couldn’t meet a stranger for lunch, supposedly perfect or not. “I can’t.”
“What about Saturday, then?”
“No, I mean I can’t date a complete stranger. Ever.”
“Come on, he’s a great guy. You’ll have a blast.” Haley nudged her arm and winked. “He’s cute, too.”
“Well, in that case…” Lori rolled her eyes. “No.” The steady thump of a basketball across the gymnasium echoed her pounding heart. Did she seem so desperate for love that she’d resort to a blind date set up by a member of the youth group? How embarrassing. But Haley couldn’t have known about Monny, or her feelings for Andy, or even about Jason and their past. So why the setup?
“Please, Lori, it’s already planned. He’d be really disappointed if you didn’t show.” Haley clutched her hands together. “Just one date. Not even a date, really—just lunch.”
Lori shook her head.
“Seriously. One beignet, then you can leave if you don’t like him.”
Lori nibbled on her bottom lip. It didn’t sound that bad when Haley put it that way—unless this mystery man had the same plan and ended up ditching Lori before she could ditch him. She frowned. She was definitely not up for any more rejection, especially from a complete stranger—and especially not with Valentine’s Day breathing down her neck. The holiday would be difficult enough to go through alone, without an extra memory of embarrassment lingering. She had plenty of those already.
Haley held her breath, waiting, bouncing on the soles of her shoes. Lori stopped the no hovering on her lips and paused. Haley seemed excited—really excited. What if she knew something Lori didn’t? What if her secret admirer was someone at the church and had put Haley up to this as a means of revealing his identity? She could be blowing her chance by refusing. Better yet, if it was her secret admirer, then she obviously wouldn’t be rejected first, but would have the option of doing the rejecting.
“I’ll do it.” Lori covered her ears at Haley’s squeal. “Just this once!”
“You’ll have fun, I promise. This guy is so perfect for you.” She gave Lori an excited hug.
“Whatever you say.” Lori hugged her back, then held Haley at arm’s length, gripping her shoulders and lowering her head to Haley’s level so she could see the girl’s eyes. “No more making plans without asking me first, okay?”
“Deal.”
Lori released her grip, and Haley scooted across the gym toward Jeremy. Summer caught Lori’s gaze and raised her eyebrows. “Later,” Lori mouthed. She rejoined the conversation, but her head wasn’t in it. She was already nestled at a corner table at Café Du Monde with her mystery man.
Problem was, in her fantasy, her mystery man had Andy’s face.
Chapter Fifteen
The rich aroma of warm beignets and powdered sugar filled the air as Lori stood in line at Café Du Monde. She rubbed shaky hands down the front of her jeans. How could she have agreed to a blind date with a total stranger? The odds of it being her secret admirer were pretty slim. She must have gotten caught up in Haley’s excitement and lost all sense of logic. She hadn’t done something this silly since dropping a hundred dollars on a pair of polka-dot shoes.
The man in front of her stepped closer to the counter, and Lori inched behind him, keeping her head lowered. She peered from beneath her curtain of hair at the crowded restaurant, searching the maze of tables for a man sitting alone. So far, no one fit the description Haley had offered. Blond hair, average build, late twenties. Great smile.
Lori took another step forward. What if she got stood up? She’d be mortified. Haley wasn’t exactly the best secret-keeper in the church. If that happened, the entire congregation would soon be offering their stream of condolences and matchmaking schemes. She’d forever be the girl getting set up with someone’s great-nephew or grandson or third-cousin-twice-removed.
She’d rather take a vow of celibacy.
A flash of blond hair at a far table caught Lori’s eye, and her heart launched in her chest like a rocket at takeoff. Was it him?
Lori scooted around the man in front of her for a better view, but the blond’s back was to her—a very nice, muscular back. She clutched the strap of her favorite flowered purse. She could do this, one step at a time. Walk, just walk. But her shoes refused to move across the slippery, sugared floor.
She took a deep breath and closed the distance between the line and the blond in a matter of seconds. She drew within arm’s length, admiring the way his hair curled over the collar of his polo shirt. The colors, blue and gold, looked familiar, almost like the shirt the staff had worn for a youth retreat last summer.
Lori’s hand reached out to tap his shoulder, then hovered in midair. It was the same polo shirt. And that long hair curling over the man’s ears also looked more than a little familiar. “Andy?” Her voice squeaked.
Andy turned in his seat to face her, surprise covering his features. “Lori! What are you doing here? Needed a sugar fix?” He rose from his chair with a grin.
“I’m, uh…Actually, I was just…” Her voice trailed off. “What are you doing here?”
His cheeks pinked, and he shuffled his feet. “Meeting someone.”
Lori’s stomach pinched. Not another date. She chewed on her lower lip, almost unwilling to ask the question hovering in her mouth. “Eva?”
“What? No!” Andy cleared his throat. “I mean, no. It’s a blind date.”
Lori blinked twice. “A blind date?”
“I know that’s lame. Two in one week.”
It couldn’t be—but it was. Haley had set her and Andy up. Disappointment filled Lori’s senses, then relief. At least she wouldn’t be forced to make small talk with a complete stranger. But now the hope of meeting her secret admirer was also gone. How dare Haley do this to her? Though she supposed it was a decent prank. Anger mixed with amusement, and Lori choked out a laugh.
“It’s not that funny, is it?”
“No, you don’t understand. I’m supposed to be on a blind date, too.”
“Oh.” A momentary shadow crossed Andy’s face, and then realization brightened his eyes. “Oh!”
“We’ve been tricked.” Lori tsked with her tongue.
“I never even saw it coming.” Andy shook his head. “I’m slipping.”
“Or maybe the kids are just getting good.”
“Maybe so.” Andy tilted his head, his gaze lingering on hers. “Why don’t we go ahead and get a beignet while we’re here? It’d be a shame to waste the opportunity.”
“Excellent point.”
“Want to get it to go, and sit outside somewhere?”
“Sure.” Another measure of relief washed over Lori. At least outside it wouldn’t feel quite so much like a date.
They rejoined the to-go line to order, Lori’s heart thudding painfully the entire time. Standing behind Andy, she drew a tight breath as the scent of his familiar cologne stirred up another round of the feelings she kept trying to bury. She mentally kicked herself. Technically, this was no different than any other time she and Andy had come here together. But with the weight of Haley’s manipulation hanging over their heads, it sure felt different.
She was definite
ly going to have a word or two with that skinny little blonde.
“Hey, look. Our table is open.” Andy gestured toward the corner of the patio. “Let’s sit there instead.”
Lori’s eyebrows rose with surprise. He thought of it as their spot, too. She wanted to insist they eat outside where the busy French Quarter traffic could distract from this weird feeling in her stomach, but Andy was already hurrying toward the vacant table. Reluctantly, Lori left the line and followed him across the floor.
She took a seat and focused on looping her purse over the back of the chair so it wouldn’t get coated with sugar from the floor. Andy’s fingers drummed a fast beat on the tabletop. They looked at each, smiled, looked away, back, and then burst into simultaneous laughter.
“Wow, this is awkward. I’m sorry.” Andy exhaled loudly.
“It’s not your fault.” Lori tossed back her hair and smiled. “Haley’s really going to get it for this one, isn’t she?”
“I’m thinking snack duty at church for life.” Andy laughed. “But, hey, it got us here, and we needed a chance to catch up. I feel like I haven’t really talked to you in forever. I barely saw you at the Wednesday-night service.”
“The kids kept me busy, and with Summer there…” Lori’s voice trailed off. She knew the excuse sounded petty, but she couldn’t admit that ever since that near kiss, being around Andy was sometimes more painful than pleasant. That would ruin their friendship for sure.
Andy cleared his throat. “I’ve missed you.”
Lori swallowed. “I—I’ve missed you, too.” Her heart hammered, but doubt tickled the fringes of her mind. He couldn’t mean it the way she hoped. He probably meant he missed all their joking around or ragging on her many shoe purchases—not that he missed her, personally. If that was the case, he would have kissed her when he had the chance last weekend.
Mercifully, a waitress came then and took their order, and minutes later whisked back with plates of beignets and two cups of coffee.
Lori shoved a piece of beignet in her mouth, and instantly her stress eased. Too bad there wasn’t any chocolate syrup to drizzle on top. At least filling her mouth saved her from having to say anything else about missing Andy.
Andy bit into his pastry. “So, how did Summer like the youth service?”
“She enjoyed it. She’s excited about the retreat.” Lori forked another piece of beignet from her plate.
“The kids seemed to take to her well.”
“I knew they would.”
Andy sipped at his coffee and then paused. “I have a question. Might sound stupid, but I have to ask.”
Lori nibbled on her lower lip, having a sinking feeling she knew where the conversation was heading. Please don’t be about us, please don’t be about us.
“Are you mad at me?” The vulnerability in Andy’s gaze nearly tore out Lori’s heart.
She busied herself with brushing her sugary fingers on a napkin. “Why do you ask?” He had to be referring to her distance at the shop, but Lori couldn’t admit to being frustrated without starting an argument. This nondate was awkward enough without adding a fight to the mix. Or maybe he was referring to the taboo topic of last weekend’s movie night. Either way, not something she was up for discussing.
“Every time I see you lately, you seem upset.”
Lori played with the crumbs on her plate. “I didn’t realize.”
“Lori, come on. Be honest with me.” Andy scooted his plate aside and leaned forward.
She stared at her coffee cup, unwilling to meet his eyes. “I guess maybe I am a little upset.” She drew a deep breath. “So, now I have a question for you.” No, don’t go there. Stop talking. But Lori’s mouth wouldn’t listen to her mind. “Are you checking up on me for your aunt? Is that why you’re always popping in the store and asking me about business and profits at church?”
Andy lifted one corner of his mouth in a half smile. “Busted.”
“You really are?” Lori shouldn’t have been surprised, but she was a little shocked that he admitted it so freely.
“Yes. Bella asked me to keep it a secret. She was worried about your finding out and losing confidence in yourself. She didn’t want you getting paranoid about managing the shop. She just wanted me to keep an eye on things. To be there in case you needed help.” Andy released a heavy sigh.
“Did you not think I could do the job?” Hurt laced Lori’s tone, and she couldn’t help but frown.
“Of course I thought you could—knew you could,” Andy corrected. “But I couldn’t turn down my aunt. She was already stressed about her family, and she needed to be able to relax and not worry about the store.”
“I guess I can understand that.” Lori fingered the edge of her coffee cup. “Have you been giving her good reports?”
“Yes, because you’ve been doing a great job.” Andy’s brow furrowed. “Hopefully she won’t be too upset that I told you.”
“I won’t tell if you won’t.” Lori smiled, glad the truth no longer stood between them. At least now Andy wouldn’t have to pretend to be asking from his own interest, and she wouldn’t have to wonder if he believed in her capabilities.
“So you’re not mad?”
“No. I’m not mad.” She narrowed her eyes playfully. “I do think that this calls for another beignet, though, your treat.”
“Coming right up.” Andy ran his fingers through his hair as he scooted his chair back, then noticed the sugar on his hands. He patted at his head. “Uh-oh. How bad is it?”
“Let’s just say I didn’t realize you were going gray before your time.” Lori winked.
“Very funny. Help me get it out, would you?” He leaned forward, and Lori reached to brush the powder from the fine blond strands.
Andy’s eyes met hers, and his grin faded to a more serious expression, their faces close together. “Lori, listen. There’s something you should know.”
Lori flicked at another lock of his hair, frowning slightly at the glazed powder refusing to budge. “What’s that?”
His mouth opened, but before he could speak, Lori’s gaze locked on something over his shoulder. A man with a thin goatee and wire-rim glasses heading toward their table. No. It couldn’t be. But the green eyes behind those familiar black frames flickered to meet hers, and she knew it was.
Her fingers curled into Andy’s hair.
“Hey!” he yelped and pulled backward, rubbing his head. “What was that for?”
“Him.” She couldn’t breathe.
“Him who?” Andy twisted in his seat. “Who is that?” Andy’s eyes darted back and forth between the tall, distinguished-looking man approaching their table and Lori.
He was back. Jason was back in town. Her town. Lori clenched her fists on the table. Her knees felt weak, and not from being swept off her feet as Jason had once done. No, this time it was out of sheer indignation. She gritted her teeth.
“Who is that?” Andy asked again. Lori’s mouth opened to answer, but at that moment Jason grinned at her, and she snapped it closed again. She struggled to keep her shock in check as Jason stopped at their table.
“Lori. It’s good to see you again.”
Andy rose from his chair and offered his hand. “Andy Stewart. And you are?”
He shook Andy’s hand, but his eyes never left Lori. Her stomach twisted. “Jason Chumley.”
Andy’s expression contorted to mirror what Lori was sure resembled her own, and his fists doubled. No doubt he was remembering everything Lori had ever told him about her ex—which was a lot.
“What are you doing here?” Lori finally found her voice, proud of the sharp edge it carried. No sense hiding her feelings.
Jason looked undisturbed. “Getting a beignet, what else?” His wide smile stretched, so fake it seemed plastic. Too bad she hadn’t seen through him years ago.
“I mean, what are you doing in New Orleans?” Lori stood as well, determined to hold her ground. Andy looked as though he’d love to take a swing at Jason, and at th
e moment, Lori wasn’t sure she’d stop him.
“I’d hoped to have this conversation elsewhere.” Jason’s voice lowered, and his gaze darted to Andy, then back. Good. Let him be nervous.
“What conversation?” Lori crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t have anything to say to you.”
Jason drew a deep breath, his smile slightly wavering. “Rightly so. However…” He cleared his throat. “I came to New Orleans to find you.”
“Why would—” Lori’s eyes widened as reality struck like a blow to her gut. “It was you.” A fresh wave of shock nearly knocked her off balance. The timing was perfect. It all made sense now—horrible, perfect sense. Her hand clutched at the neckline of her shirt in protection of her heart. “You sent the gifts, didn’t you? You’re my secret admirer.”
“Of course I am.” Jason’s smile was back, wider than ever, and his eyes warmed as Lori’s hopes froze. “Who else would it be?”
Chapter Sixteen
Friday night, Lori snuggled on the couch with an oversized pillow in her lap, a chocolate bar in one hand and a white chocolate mocha in the other. Her mind had yet to process the shock of seeing Jason earlier in the day. She’d worked through a mindless afternoon at the shop, came home and, before she even prayed for it, found a message from Gracie on her answering machine. Her friend had announced she was home, unpacked and wanting to come over for the evening.
Now Gracie sat facing Lori on the other end of the sofa, feet propped on the cushion Lori held and her own flavored coffee in hand.
“Chocolate, caffeine and cashmere socks.” Gracie wiggled her blue-socked feet in Lori’s lap. “Everything a girl needs to dish. Now, spill it. I want to hear everything. You sounded so panicked on the phone.”
“You should tell me about your honeymoon first.” She wasn’t stalling—exactly. She just wasn’t sure how to start. Lori sipped her coffee and let the hot liquid warm her all the way through. But the chill of seeing Jason again wouldn’t go away.
“Are you kidding?” Gracie shook her red hair back from her face and smiled. “Okay, fine. The honeymoon was perfect. Lots of alone time, gorgeous scenery and more seafood than I could ever hope to eat again. Your turn. What’s up?”
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