After his shower, he lathered his face for a shave. Jason couldn’t believe Ellie had agreed. He’d never expected her to say yes. While he looked forward to spending time with her, he wondered at his boldness. Was he ready to move past his grief and consider a relationship with Ellie?
There was still the troubling issue of her lack of faith. If that didn’t change, he could never become romantically involved with her. Although he continued to sense God wanted him to spend time with Ellie. Who was he to resist the Lord’s urging?
It was only a movie, certainly not a date. Just two friends spending an evening together. He dismissed his concerns and wiped the rest of the shaving cream off his jaw. Grabbing a towel, he dried his face, splashed aftershave on, then went to his closet.
He took the last pair of clean jeans from his drawer. He’d have to do laundry after they returned from church and lunch with his friends tomorrow. He had a cleaning service every two weeks to take care of the house, but the laundry fell on his shoulders. At least Brian did his own clothes, which helped.
Once he finished dressing, he went to the kitchen and sniffed. Ah, Brian had brewed coffee. He poured a cup and took a satisfying sip. By that time, Brian had joined him and leaned against the edge of the granite countertop drinking his cup as well.
“So…Dad. I’m surprised you asked Ms. Branson over.” He paused. “Are you interested in her? I don’t mind if you are, just thought I’d ask.”
“If you mean romantically, I’m not sure. It’s complicated. I want to get to know her better. She intrigues me as no one has for a long time. She’s an attractive woman, but I haven’t dated anyone since your mom’s passing. Plus, her lack of faith is an issue. As much as I may like her, unless she finds the Lord, I would be going against my beliefs if I allowed my feelings to develop beyond friendship.”
“That’s true, but you’re only offering friendship. This might give you a chance to show her the benefits of living a faith-filled life. You could be instrumental in encouraging her to open her mind. Zach told me she’s agreed to attend our church with him a few times. That’s a good thing.”
That sounded very promising. If she became friends with the wives in the circle, it could only help. “Oh, that is excellent news. So, I take it, Zach’s still asking questions?”
“Definitely,” he stated. “He’s read a good bit of the New Testament since I gave him my copy. He’s intrigued by it and asking lots of questions.”
What a blessing it would be if Brian helped Zach find the Lord. “He has a thirst for truth. I’m proud of your willingness to help him in what is surely a quest. I do realize it can be hard to put yourself out there.”
Brian shrugged. “I might not have, if he hadn’t asked so many questions when I mentioned the youth group.”
Jason touched his smart watch and checked the time. “We better take off if we’re going to get to their house by seven.”
After rinsing their cups, they went into the garage. “I’m taking the Mercedes tonight. It will be easier for Ellie.”
Brian grinned. “That’s considerate of you. Thinking about her comfort, huh?”
Enjoying his son’s teasing banter, he chuckled. “Well, after all, I want to be a gentleman.”
They arrived at Ellie’s house a few minutes before seven. After throwing the car in park, they went to the door. While they waited for one of them to answer, he experienced a physical wave of anticipation to see Ellie. It surprised him because he wasn’t sure if he wanted to be so aware of her as a woman.
The door opened, and Zach invited them inside. “Mom’ll be down in a minute.”
They moved into the spacious great room with soft gray walls. The high white ceiling added to the sense of space. His house had coffered ceilings, which had become popular in the last few years, but he still like cathedral ceilings. In his estimation, they never went out of style.
Zach offered him something to drink as he waited, but he declined. No use putting him to the trouble since they were leaving once Ellie joined them.
Soft steps sounded against the dark hardwood floors, and he turned around. She stood under the arched doorway, in a brightly colored tunic and a pair of black leggings. He couldn’t help noticing her shapely legs.
The male side of him responded, but he managed to control any physical reaction by mentally doing a check list of chores. It was so unlike him. Since Marsha’s death, he’d barely noticed another female.
“Hey, Ellie. Are you ready to leave?” he asked.
The corners of her mouth turned up into a slight smile. “I’ll grab my purse, and we can be off.” She turned to Zach. “I made your favorite ranch dip, and there’s celery sticks and baby carrots in the fridge.”
Zach snickered. “I get the message, Mom. We won’t devour the entire bag of chips until we’ve eaten our veggies.”
She sent him a mock glare. “Make sure you do.” Her playful tone came through. Clearly it was common for them to tease each other.
He enjoyed their lively banter. It spoke of their close bond. Ellie had just the right touch with her son. She made her point without coming across as dictatorial. He used the same approach with his kids. It worked so much better than a demanding tone.
After they informed their kids they’d return around ten or so, he escorted her outside. She stopped. “Where’s your truck?”
He placed his hand on the small of her back and escorted her to the car. “While I love my big truck, I do enjoy driving my Mercedes now and again. It’s such a smooth ride compared to my pickup. I also figured it’s a struggle for you to get in and out of my beast, so I drove my sedan.”
“Thanks. You’re right; it can be a challenge.” He opened the passenger door, and she swung her legs inside. He couldn’t help admiring her graceful movements. The lady certainly had plenty of style, not only in her actions but in her dress as well.
He jogged around the front of his vehicle and slipped into the luxurious leather seat. He adjusted the vents, so the cool air was angled her way. The sun had set, coloring the sky with deep purples and golds, but the heat of the day still lingered.
In a short time, he pulled into his driveway. Preferring to take her through the front door, he didn’t pull into his garage. He loved the double iron doors on his house surrounded by intricate stone work. It was one of the features that had most attracted him to his new home.
He unlocked the door and stepped back so she could enter first. She stepped through the entrance, and he followed her inside. The large foyer had an ivory, travertine floor and high ceilings that went up to the second floor. The beautifully carved staircase was another feature he’d loved.
Ellie looked around the space and smiled. “What an impressive foyer. I love what I’ve seen so far. It looks new. Is that the case?”
He nodded. “It is. I flew up at the beginning of the summer, once I learned I would be stationed here. When my realtor showed me this place, I had to have it. It was still under construction, so I was able to make a few adjustments. I’m pleased with the results. I’ll be happy to show you the rest of the house, if you’d like to see it.”
“Please. Lead the way.”
* * *
Ellie followed Jason into an expansive living area with high, coffered ceilings. The room had a beige leather sectional grouped around a large stone hearth that went from floor to ceiling. Of course, a huge TV hung above the mantel, just as she would expect. Her son must have loved it. He’d been after her to upgrade theirs for months.
The sandy beige walls went well with the bright white crown molding. The space had a warm and inviting air that welcomed a person upon entering the spacious area. Had he hired a professional? He must have, because most men didn’t have such a keen eye. Goodness, what a sexist reaction. In the same way she detested being lumped with other women, she shouldn’t assume all men were alike.
A wide granite bar with dark wood, counter-height chairs separated the living area from the kitchen, and what a kitchen it was.
Dark wood cabinets lined the walls. The stainless-steel appliances complimented the dark tone of the woodwork. It had a large graphite farmhouse sink, and best of all, a six-burner gas range with a matching hood above. She loved cooking with gas, but her home was all electric.
She glanced at Jason. “This is amazing. Any chef would think they’d died and were in heaven. Are you a foodie?”
He chuckled. “Definitely love to eat good food, but I didn’t learn to cook until recently. Thanks to YouTube I’m figuring it out; it’s saved me a bunch of times. My mom also supplied me with copies of her favorite recipes and gave me a slow cooker. That helps a lot.”
“My new instant cooker has replaced mine,” she told him. “It’s an amazing kitchen appliance. It’s a little tricky at first, but it saves loads of time. Most meals are ready in around thirty minutes.”
He sighed. “Another appliance, just what I need. I’ll have to look into one though if it saves time. Come, let me show you the rest of the house.”
He led her through the rest of the lower level, which included a study, clearly Jason’s personal space, and a master suite. The large bedroom had a tray ceiling with an oscillating fan. The blades were a dark wood tone. She would have liked that type of ceiling in her master. The tastefully arranged furniture added a certain ambiance, and the warm colors matched the rest of the house.
The upper floor was definitely the kids’ domain and decorated for their personal tastes. Brian’s room looked a lot like Zach’s. Posters on the wall of his favorite sports teams, and a computer desk to hold his various devices.
When they entered his daughter’s room, she smiled. “Oh, what a perfect room for a little girl. I bet Kelly loves it. I love the lavender bedding and the antique white furniture.” She too, had a computer desk with her electronic devices. “It still amazes me that elementary school kids are so tech-savvy.”
“I sometimes wonder what would happen if the world lost power,” he mused. “All information is now stored on computers. Even hospitals and doctor’s offices have tablets instead of charts.”
She’d wondered the same thing. When the system went down at the hotel, they had to scramble to still function. “It’s certainly a changed world from what our parents had. At least everything is backed up on the cloud. Of course, that wouldn’t help if power couldn’t be restored.”
They returned to the great room. “Take a seat while I grab us something to drink. Would you prefer soda, beer, wine? I even have several fruit juices.”
“I’ll come with you. Do you have popcorn? Can’t watch a movie without that.” She giggled then grinned at him. “How about gourmet ice cream? You do have that, don’t you?”
A bark of laughter erupted from Jason at her teasing banter, sending her into gales as well. Once they calmed, he replied, “Come on, then. Let’s raid the kitchen.”
Once they gathered their treats, they returned to the great room. Ellie took a seat on the sofa, and he joined her with remote in hand. Soon they became engrossed in the movie. Other than comments regarding the action on the screen, they didn’t do much talking.
That suited her fine. Her apprehension left, allowing her to relax and enjoy the film. After several nail-biting moments that had them on the edge of their seats, the movie credits rolled across the screen. Ellie sighed. “Oh, it was even better than I expected.”
“I agree. The sound effects were fantastic. I hadn’t expected that in a period drama.” He looked at the coffee table littered with the remnants of their snack feast. “I do believe we consumed most of the food. I don’t normally indulge in junk food, but it doesn’t hurt once in a while.”
She lowered her voice. “I won’t tell if you don’t. Zach would be shocked if he knew I’d eaten processed food. I’m something of a health nut normally.” She rose to her feet. “Let me help you clear away the evidence.”
“Okay. It would never do if Brian saw all this. I too, try to eat mostly whole foods.” He stood, and she couldn’t help noticing how his muscular thighs filled his jeans. Why do I have such a visceral reaction to him?
Pushing her wayward thoughts away, she helped him gather the trash and dispose of it. Ellie grabbed the empty ice cream container. “I can’t believe I ate the whole pint, but butter pecan is my kryptonite.”
Once order was restored, Jason checked the time. “It’s close to ten. I’d better get you home and pick up Brian.” His green eyes darkened as he stepped close, and her breathing hitched. Did he plan to kiss her? Instead, he wrapped his arms around her. Her head fit perfectly beneath his chin. “Thanks for coming. I enjoyed this. We’ll need to do it again.”
He lifted her chin and met her gaze. Her heart skipped several beats. Would he kiss her now? Did she want that? Before she could make up her mind, his lips brushed hers in the gentlest of kisses, not sexual in nature at all, more of a kiss of friendship. It felt comforting and not threatening in any way.
He released her. “You’re still coming with us tomorrow, aren’t you?”
Glad, yet regretful at the same time that the moment had passed, she told him, “I’ve promised Zach I would go for the next three weeks, so yes.” He pulled her in for another hug, but quickly released her before it sent her pulse galloping as it had a moment ago.
“That’s great, just great.” His voice exuded his pleasure. “I’ll pick you up around ten tomorrow morning. Church starts at ten-thirty. We gather early so we can sit together.”
“Okay. We’ll be ready.” Her brows drew together. “What should I wear?”
He shrugged. “We’re a laid-back group, so wear whatever’s comfortable.”
“All right. Thanks again for this evening. I enjoyed the movie.” She wagged her finger. “And the junk food, but remember, it’s our secret.”
The drive to her house didn’t take long. Once he pulled into her drive, he touched her hand before she could move it to unbuckle her seatbelt. “Thanks for coming.” He leaned in and placed a tender kiss on her cheek. “I hope we can do it again soon.”
Once they entered her house, her emotions in such turmoil, she barely uttered the right responses as Jason and Brian took their leave. Once the door closed behind them, Zach glanced her way. “Are you okay? Your face looks flushed.”
“I’m fine.” Scrambling for something to explain her heightened color, she told him, “Jason turned the air off, and the car grew warm.”
“Okay, just checking.” He paused. “So…did you have a good time?”
“I did.” She focused on keeping her tone light. “The movie was excellent. He gave me a tour of his house. It’s gorgeous. Did you enjoy your evening with Brian?”
He nodded. “Definitely. We had time to really talk about what I’ve been reading. He answered my questions, and I feel even stronger that I want to learn more about his faith and God. Something is compelling me to dig deeper. To discover all I can. Did you ask Mr. Henderson any questions about his faith?”
“I didn’t. I’m not ready yet. I think he realized I wasn’t, and he didn’t bring it up either. He just asked if we were going with them in the morning.” Wanting to end her son’s uncomfortable questions, she pretended to yawn. “Oh, sorry. I’m exhausted. I’m going to bed. Are you turning in?”
“Sure. I’m not tired though, and I want to read some of the passages Brian suggested.” As she started to turn away, he touched her arm. “Mom. I’m glad you haven’t changed your mind about going. After our talk, I understand why you’re so unsure, but do me one more favor. Please listen with an open mind, okay?”
“I will.” Ellie kissed Zach’s cheek. “I’m proud of you. Whatever you personally decide, I’ll be happy for you. And, thanks for not pressuring me to get too involved yet.” He hugged her, then they went upstairs.
When they reached their rooms, Zach kissed her cheek and entered his bedroom. Ellie went into hers. After washing her face and changing into her nightshirt, she crawled into her bed. She glanced at her nightstand and bit her lip. It held her copy of the b
ook Zach was reading. She’d bought it yesterday on her lunch break.
She fingered the gold binding. Did she want to read the book? Where should she start? She sighed and returned it to her drawer. She would wait. Perhaps, tomorrow she would hear something that would give her some direction.
Fluffing her pillows, she relaxed against them. The evening had gone so differently than she’d expected. Jason didn’t talk about his church or his faith. He’d only asked if she still planned to go. That had relieved her. She’d been able to relax and enjoy spending time with him.
She didn’t know how she felt regarding the kiss. It had certainly not been like any kiss she’d had before. It truly had been one of friendship, offered in thanks for an enjoyable evening, and a promise to take things slow.
Touching her lips, she smiled. Jason was different than any other man she’d known before. He intrigued her. She wanted to see where—whatever was brewing between them—could go. And, not just their friendship.
She wanted to figure him out and how his God had influenced him. In some ways, it would be comforting to believe there was someone watching over her, someone she could lean on.
She’d been on her own, ever since her parents died. Zach was the center of her life, but he was almost an adult now. What would she do when he no longer needed her? Of course, she wanted him to become independent, to embrace life and his choices. He seemed to be doing that already.
Zach was right. She needed to discover what she believed, not just accept her parents’ beliefs as her own. Tomorrow she would attend that church. She’d listen to the minister, and perhaps, just perhaps, she’d learn something that would give her life a new path to follow, a direction that would sustain her as she moved forward.
She closed her eyes and prayed for the first time in her life. God, if you’re out there, prove you exist. Let me listen tomorrow with an open mind so I can hear something that will help me understand why You are important to others. I guess that’s all. Amen.
Her entire body started tingling.
Her heart grew lighter.
After Shock- Ellie's Chance Page 8
