The Guy Next Door. Missy Tippens

running together, he couldn’t help wondering what people would think of him asking his dad to come to Tennessee to join his practice. Would they think Luke hadn’t been able to succeed on his own?

      No, he would be offering Burt an opportunity to start over. Thanks to Roger, Luke would be the one bringing clients to their new partnership.

      As they filed out after the service, the elderly, squat gray-haired pastor of Appleton Community Church greeted parishioners at the door. Ever since Luke had moved to Nashville, he’d missed hearing sermons. Mainly because he spent Sundays at the office.

      That needed to change. He needed to put God first in his life. He should find a place he felt as comfortable as he did in his Appleton church and attend worship more faithfully.

      With light filtering through the stained glass windows, Luke inched along the carpeted center aisle with his dad and grandmother, greeting old friends. He hadn’t seen any of them since his mother’s funeral, and a few mentioned once again how sweet and fitting the service had been. Their comments made it difficult for Luke to speak.

      Each time someone said something about Joan, Luke glanced at his father, wondering how he managed to hold himself together. Burt simply shook their hands and agreed.

      Once they greeted the pastor and exited the church, Granny headed to speak with a friend.

      “Dad, has this talk about Mom been hard for you?” Luke asked.

      “It was tough when I first came back to church. In fact, I doubt I’d be back if it wasn’t for Noreen pushing me. Too many memories. That empty seat beside me.”

      “And now?”

      Burt stood straight and determined, chin held high. “I’m always going to miss your mother, but she wanted me to live my life. I’m pushing through, trying to keep going.”

      Glad his dad was doing better, Luke nodded. Yet Luke worried his dad could be trying so hard to move on that he was in denial, not truly dealing with the grief.

      “There’s Noreen now.” Burt waved to her and Darcy as they came out the door.

      The way Burt’s face lit up right before he bounded toward the women set off a warning signal in Luke’s brain. Dad and Noreen?

      No way.

      Noreen had been his mother’s best friend for decades. Their families had spent summers together at a lake house they first rented and then purchased together as co-owners. The adults had played Monopoly on Friday nights and went to movies together. The men had gone on fishing trips. The women swapped recipes and shopped.

      There was no way his dad and Noreen would get involved romantically. Like Luke and Darcy would never get involved.

      That had to be gratitude Luke had witnessed in Burt’s eyes. Gratitude for pulling him out of his isolation and depression.

      As Granny approached, she watched Burt. Grace was very perceptive. If anything were going on between Burt and Noreen, she would notice.

      Snapping her attention to Luke, she smiled. “Ready to go?”

      Apparently she hadn’t picked up on anything. Luke took his grandmother’s arm and led her to join the others.

      Burt waved them closer. “Luke, Darcy told me you’re helping pick up a basketball hoop for the auction.”

      Darcy’s face flushed. She looked breathtaking in her deep blue blouse that matched her eyes exactly. She also wore a slim-fitting, knee-length skirt, a far cry from her casual college attire.

      He liked this new, feminine look. Liked how the skirt showed off her slim legs, how—

      Cut it out, Jordan. He pulled his attention back to his father. “I’m actually going to be working with Darcy on the fund-raising committee for Food4Kids while I’m home.”

      “You are?” Dad asked, a broad smile forming. “Good to hear. Your mom would be pleased.”

      “That’s nice of you, Luke,” Noreen said. “Hey, why don’t y’all plan on coming back to the house this evening for dinner? Grace, you, too. And Burt, of course,” she added almost as if she’d forgotten him, her cheeks turning bright red.

      Once again, alarm bells clanged in Luke’s head. Since when did Noreen blush around anyone in his family? Had she developed a crush on his father?

      “We’d be delighted to come,” Dad said, totally oblivious to the undercurrents.

      Poor Dad. Letting Noreen down easy would be difficult. And not something Burt should have to deal with. Maybe Darcy could have a talk with her, gently suggest she be careful with her feelings.

      Grace patted Noreen’s arm. “Thank you, dear, but I’m helping cook supper for the youth group kids tonight. I’ll join you another time.”

      “Luke, I guess we need to head on over to the sporting goods store,” Darcy said.

      “Sure.”

      They said their goodbyes and walked to her small SUV.

      “I appreciate this. I know you’re probably still angry with me,” she said as she pulled out of the parking lot.

      “Angry with you?”

      “Oh, come on. It’s me here. Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about.”

      So much for blowing off her comment from the night before. “Yeah, well…”

      “I’m sorry. I really do believe in you. You’ve worked hard, accomplished so much.” She glanced over at him, her eyes begging him to believe her. “I know you won’t fail.”

      As long as he could remember, she had believed in him and never wavered. That support was one of the reasons her friendship was so important to him. How could he stay mad at her? Besides, he’d never been able to. All she ever had to do was smile or laugh and it set his world right. “Forget about it.”

      “Thanks.” She glanced over and gave him one of those smiles, soothing his bruised ego.

      “So what’s the deal with your mom liking my dad?” he asked.

      The car gave a lurch as she pushed the gas pedal too hard. “What?”

      “I think she may have a crush on him. He’s been talking about Noreen this and Noreen that, as if she’s been helping him through his grief. From the way she was blushing just now, I think maybe she’s got feelings for him.”

      Flipping on the blinker, Darcy glanced at him. “That’s crazy. They’re friends.”

      “Have they been spending more time together?”

      “I don’t really know. I’m not home much.”

      Which meant it was entirely possible. He chewed the inside of his cheek as he considered what all Burt and Noreen might have talked about, might have shared. “You know, Dad says he’s having second thoughts about moving out of the house. Could be that she’s discouraging it.”

      “I don’t see why she’d do that unless she thinks it’s too soon for him to make that type of decision. I remember her having fleeting thoughts about selling the house right after Dad died. Later, she said she was glad she hadn’t.”

      Which only made asking his dad to relocate more difficult. “Maybe that’s all it is, a friend advising a friend. Still, you might want to talk to her. I’m afraid she’ll end up getting hurt.”

      “You don’t need to worry. Remember, I think she may be seeing someone.” Darcy stopped at a stop sign and looked over, irritation drawing her mouth downward. “What if they did care for each other? Would that be a bad thing?”

      How could she even entertain the idea? “Oh, come on, you can’t be serious. That would be strange. She was my mom’s best friend.”

      “She’s been talking on the phone