Chapter Three
Mortified, Maegan jumped from the door, wishing she could unhear what she’d heard.
If only she could disappear or slip away unnoticed, but at nearly six feet tall, she couldn’t very well do that.
She’d come to terms with her above-average height years ago, but at this moment, she wished she could shrink.
She hadn’t intended to eavesdrop. When the kitchen timer dinged, announcing the freshly made bread was warmed, she’d only meant to find Nancy and ask if she should remove the loaf from the oven.
Instead, she’d accidentally discovered that Judah, her “date” for the evening, hadn’t known he was coming to meet her.
Why hadn’t she listened to her gut and told Nancy no?
Returning to the kitchen, she went ahead and took the bread from the oven, set it atop a ceramic sunflower trivet on the counter.
She lifted the lid from the Dutch oven and gave the dumplings a good stir, for no other reason than to appear busy.
Nancy would just have to deal with someone lifting a finger in her kitchen.
Footsteps sounded louder. With each step, Maegan’s heart pounded harder. Social anxiety, never an issue before Jess, compounded her nervousness. She gave the wooden spoon another whirl around the pot.
“Smells delicious.” A man’s deep voice permeated the room.
“That’s all Nancy’s doing. I’m only keeping it for sticking to the sides.” Maegan looked up to get a better look at Judah.
Tall, dark, and handsome was right. His hair was the deepest shade of brown she could imagine without calling it black, with what appeared to be natural highlights mixed in. Eyes that matched her morning coffee…were surrounded by bruising? She did a doubletake. Sure enough, Judah had a black eye.
“Hazard of the job,” he said with an amused grin.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to stare.” She averted her gaze, willing her cheeks to stop burning. Wasn’t this turning out peachy?
“All good. I would have asked also.” He extended an arm her way. “Judah Langford. Newest deputy for Dogwood Creek and proud owner of a newly inflicted black eye.”
Okay, he was effortlessly charming. She had to give him that. Slightly more at ease, she accepted his hand and gave it a shake. “Maegan Hanson. Owner of Ye Olde Yarn Shoppe and pot stirrer extraordinaire.”
Judah’s brows shot up and his lips twitched.
Her cheeks burned once again. She held up the wooden spoon. “In the literal sense. Not the troublemaking way.”
Nancy came to her rescue. “Maegan has a fantastic yarn store. I go to her for a lot of my crochet projects.”
“That’s downtown, next to the school and bank, isn’t it? I pass often on patrol. My aunt is an avid knitter. I wouldn’t have the first idea what to get her, but I’ll have to stop in and see one day to get ideas.”
“You’re welcome anytime. I’m always happy to guide customers who are gift shopping.”
“I’ll remember that.” Judah looked at Nancy. “Can I help you do anything?”
“Absolutely not. Both of you go have a seat in the dining room, and I’ll bring everything in shortly.” Nancy waved them away, not bothering to hide the mischievous grin on her face.
Maegan tried not to roll her eyes.
“I’m sorry,” she told Judah as soon as they were out of earshot from Nancy.
“For?”
“Tonight. I had no idea Nancy brought you here under false pretenses.” She shot him an apologetic glance. “I went to ask her a question after she went to meet you and accidentally overheard.”
Judah grimaced. “To be fair, I should have realized. I adore Nancy, but I’m well aware of her penchant for playing matchmaker. I guess when she’s had me over for dinner twice with no ulterior motives, I got too comfortable.”
Laughter bubbled out of her. “I know that feeling. Nancy and her crew have left me alone for a while, but when she came with an invitation on a Wednesday, I knew something was up.”
“A Wednesday? What does that have to do with it?” He pulled out a chair and motioned for her to sit.
She lowered herself onto the chair. “Tuesday nights, especially the first of the month but was moved up a week for their normally scheduled meeting, are when she gathers with her friends to work on various projects and ministries. And scheme their next potential couple.”
“Thanks for that tip. I’ll have to remember for the future.” He sat down in the chair opposite her. “As awkward as this is, I want to be upfront- I have no interest in dating right now.”
His comment grated on her nerves at first, but a split second later she decided he was a breath of fresh air. It’s not as though she wanted a romantic entanglement either. “Nor do I. Convincing Nancy, however, is not as easy.”
“Unfortunately, you’re probably right, which means the next few months will be fun until Nancy gives up,” he said with notes of sarcasm. “Don’t get me wrong. I adore Nancy and would do almost anything for her, but I draw the line at being paraded around to a different eligible woman every week.”
“I’m afraid now that I agreed to this one dinner, she’ll take that as encouragement to try again.” A shudder coursed through her.
She really should have thought through her acceptance of tonight’s invitation.
Just because everybody else thought it was time for her to move on from Jess, didn’t mean she was ready.
Not that she wasn’t over Jess- she didn’t care what he was doing or where he was, rather it was the emotional baggage he’d left with her that she couldn’t get past, and she didn’t know how to let it go.
A moment of silence filled the space between them, until Judah’s eyes widened. “I think I have a solution that will benefit both of us.”
Her ears perked. “Oh?”
Noise from the kitchen drew their attention as dishes clattered.
“I’ll be right there,” Nancy called. “Sorry for the delay.”
Judah leaned forward. “We don’t have long before Nancy comes in. Will you be at your shop tomorrow?”
“From nine until five.”
“I get off shift at three tomorrow. Would it be all right if I stop in and tell you the idea? That will give me time to think it through.” He laughed to himself. “By tomorrow, I might realize it’s completely ludicrous.”
“I’m intrigued.”
Before she could press for a hint, Nancy entered the room, carrying a large tray loaded with serving bowls, plates, and utensils. “I still need to get the drinks. Maegan, would you mind grabbing them from the counter by the sink, please?”
“No problem.” She jumped up and left the room. While she would have liked another minute alone with Judah to hear about this plan, she welcomed the moment alone in the kitchen to gather her thoughts.
She wasn’t sure what she’d expected from tonight, but she knew it hadn’t met the reality.