Turning, she looked at him calmly. “It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?”
Roman wasn’t fooled. She wanted him out of the cottage. Okay. He could take a hint. He sat in the same place her friend had occupied during their long conversation. She didn’t seem to have anything to say now.
“Is something worrying you, Grace?” Did she think he was coming on to her? He told himself he was just checking in, like a good landlord. “Everything working? The fridge? The stove? The washer and dryer?” He jerked his chin. “It’s only the second time I’ve been in the place. I didn’t even bother to check things out before you moved in.”
“My friends did. Everything works perfectly. The fridge and stove anyway. I haven’t done any wash yet.”
Ms. Moore was rambling, nervous. He felt on firmer ground. “Good.”
Clearing her throat, she looked at him. “How is the last transfer coming along?”
He shrugged. “Everyone is always in a hurry.” Especially him. He couldn’t wait to be done with it. The sooner he got back to work, the sooner he’d be done. He finished the coffee and held out the mug. “You make good coffee.” Maybe she’d offer him a second cup. Maybe they could both relax enough to have a real conversation, something unrelated to business.
“You’re just hooked on caffeine. Too much isn’t good for you.”
She didn’t want him to linger. “Okay, Mama.” Roman stood. “We’re all hooked on something.” What was her addiction?
“Thank you for the orchid, Roman. That was very thoughtful of you.”
He’d never been accused of that before.
Grace backed away. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
Obviously clinical psychology held more allure than he did. “Turn on your air-conditioning whenever you need it, Grace. It’s not wise to leave your door open out here. You’re in wild country. You don’t want any wily coyotes wandering in.”
She laughed. “No. I definitely do not want that.” Now over the threshold, she closed the door.
Despite traffic, Grace arrived at Lawry’s on time. She recognized Brian Henley from the picture Shanice had forwarded—handsome with sandy-blond hair and blue eyes. He saw her come in and stood, recognizing her from whatever photo her friends had posted. He was a head taller than her and had an athletic frame. Smiling, he extended his hand. “Grace Moore? I’m Brian Henley. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He didn’t try to hide his relief. The hostess showed them to a booth. Brian seemed as uncomfortable as she, and she felt odd trying to put a man she hadn’t wanted to meet at ease.
“I was told you’re a youth pastor.”
“Told? Are you saying this wasn’t your idea?”
Grace blushed. “Well . . .” Why not be honest? “You seem like a very nice person, Brian, but meeting someone through a website hasn’t been on my list of things to do. My friends created my profile and set up this date without me knowing. And they wouldn’t give me your contact information so I could call and set the record straight.”
Brian grinned. “My youth group did the same thing to me.”
“Seriously?”
He nodded. They both laughed.
Brian leaned back. “Well, we could call it an evening right now . . . or see what happens.”
She liked his attitude. “We’re here. I’ll pay my share.” She could afford a dinner salad. A pity her friends had suggested such an expensive restaurant.
“The youth group gave me a gift certificate generous enough to pay for two very nice dinners, dessert, and wine.”
“I don’t drink.”
“That makes two of us.”
They talked easily. Brian had met his future wife, Charlene, at the Urbana student missions conference when they were still in high school. They discovered they were both headed for Bible college in Wheaton, Illinois. Both worked and went to school, and they married after their sophomore year. While working on his master’s, Brian took a position at a megachurch on the outskirts of Chicago. Charlene worked in an after-school day care program. One winter night, less than a mile from home, she hit black ice, spun off the road into a tree.
Brian had tears in his eyes. “It’s been four years. I needed to get away from all the familiar places. I put out applications across the country and ended up here in LA. Still a big city, but much smaller church. A challenge. Room to grow.”
“How long were you and Charlene married?”