The Guy Next Door. Missy Tippens

you about heading the auction committee.”

      “I won’t be in town long.”

      She pushed herself up from the table and grabbed the calendar off the wall. The month of May featured a photo of kittens and puppies snuggled up together. Typical Granny.

      As she returned to her seat, she spun the calendar around so he could see the blocks of writing. “You may not know it, but I’m a busy woman. Thought my senior years would be slow-paced and relaxed, but I hardly have a spare moment.”

      Her scribbles on the calendar indicated committee meetings and Bible studies and luncheons. Other than Sunday, she barely had a day open each week. Had she guessed why he was in town and wanted to make it clear that she’d never willingly move away?

      “Wow. Looks like you’ve got your hand in everything around town.”

      “I do. I like feeling needed. And like that I can contribute, giving back to my community and church.”

      He nodded and swallowed hard. Here it comes. She’s onto my plan and is going to scold me for it.

      “That’s why I need your help,” she said. “Your timing is perfect for this project.” Her smile gentled. “The purpose of the auction is to raise funds for Food4Kids, the program your mother started.”

      He pulled in a long, slow breath, trying to control his emotions. “I remember her working on it.” He’d hated to imagine kids having the kind of gnawing hunger that made your stomach dig into your backbone.

      “When Joan first started Food4Kids at the elementary schools, the number of kids whose parents weren’t willing or able to provide nourishing meals on weekends was small. No more than ten children. But a growing number come to school on Mondays hungry.”

      “How many are in the program now?” he asked.

      “Over a hundred kids countywide. More on a waiting list.”

      “And you need more funding.” His mother’s face formed in his mind. He recalled her working diligently for those children, making sure each one went home on Friday afternoons with a backpack full of food to keep them until Monday’s breakfast at school. She would be pleased to have his help on her pet project.

      If Luke took over this auction and saw it through, the funds would help the community, and possibly comfort his grandmother.

      Ensuring this program continued would honor his mother. Perhaps help his dad to heal. “Granny, tell me what I can do.”

      Squeezing his hand, she blinked back tears. “You’re a kindhearted man, Luke. I’m proud of you.”

      She wouldn’t be so proud when he offered his dad a job in Tennessee. Or when he asked Granny if she’d consider joining them.

      Grace popped up out of her chair once again and grabbed a spiral-bound notebook from the small desk near the pantry. She set it in front of him. “Here are all the ideas Darcy and I have jotted so far. And a preliminary list of individual and business donors.”

      “Darcy has all this info, too?”

      “Yes, she’s been my co-chair and has worked on the committee for a couple of years.”

      “Good. She can get me up to speed. I plan to see her this weekend.”

      “Perfect.” She shoved the notebook into his hands. “The job’s all yours.”

      Later, though, after Burt joined them for dinner and Luke had time to reflect on the arrangement with Darcy, he had a moment of doubt. Six months ago—six days ago, even—he would have said working with Darcy would be fun. He would have been pleased to spend time with his best friend. Content to relive the times they worked together on school or church projects.

      But now, he felt uneasy.

      He thought of the spark that zipped between them earlier, across the table and again at the front door. Thought of Darcy’s greeting the other day, falling into his arms, so glad to see him. The flowery smell of her silky auburn hair, the brush of her arm against his as she looked up at him, caring, trusting.

      Yeah, the trusting part must be what was unsettling him.

      He’d come to help his dad prepare to move. Period. He couldn’t let his thoughts run to what Darcy expected from him, or of any disappointment she’d shown over his plan.

      * * *

      While sitting at the workbench Saturday afternoon, Darcy’s stomach growled. Loudly.

      Lois, her coworker in the microbiology lab, giggled. “Almost ready for lunch?”

      “All done.” Darcy stacked petri dishes in a large bin and slid it back into the incubator. She enjoyed her full-time job at the local hospital. Loved the challenges each day offered, loved knowing her work helped patients even though she didn’t have direct contact with them.

      “You want to go to lunch first?” Lois asked.

      “I’ve still got to enter culture results into the computer.”

      Darcy pulled over the portable keyboard to record the Saturday morning data. When she got to the last patient, she entered “Light growth beta hemolytic Strep. Isolated for typing and sensitivity.”

      This particular patient had been septic. Darcy prayed the organism they’d discovered on a Gram’s stain yesterday wouldn’t show antibiotic resistance.

      “Darcy, there’s someone out front asking to see you.” Dr. Violet Crenshaw, the new pediatrician in town who often came by the lab on weekends to check test results of her patients, stood in the doorway of the microbiology lab. “And he’s gorgeous,” she said in a singsong voice.

      “Thanks. I’ll be right there.” The mystery man had to be Luke. She’d always gotten that kind of reaction when she introduced him to friends at college or work.

      Lois popped up from the microscope and hurried around the workbench. “So? Who is he?”

      “No reason to get excited. I’m sure it’s only Luke, an old friend of mine.”

      She wiggled her eyebrows. “Only a friend?”

      “My best friend since birth.”

      “Ooh, is he single?” she practically purred.

      “No.” Shock jolted through Darcy at the sharp tone she’d used. “I mean, yes. I assume he is.”

      Lois’s surprised expression confirmed her abruptness.

      “I’m sorry. Anyway, he lives in Nashville now,” she added stupidly.

      “If he’s only a friend, maybe you can introduce us sometime. I love Nashville.” Lois wiggled her eyebrows and headed back to the scope.

      “Sure.”

      Why did I do that? Lois and Luke would actually be a good match. She was cute and fun. A little quiet, but not afraid to belt out a good laugh when warranted. And she was a struggling single mom with a young son who could use a good man in his life. Luke would like her sweetness. Her generosity. Her dark brown eyes and wavy blond hair.

      Luke had always been partial to blondes with brown eyes.

      By the time Darcy reached the lab waiting area, workers whispered and checked him out. She was irked that Luke had garnered the interest of every female in the lab.

      She tried to exhale her irritation as she approached, brushing her not-blond hair out of her not-brown eyes.

      “Hi, Darcy. I saw you back there in the lab, looking professional in that lab coat,” Luke said.

      “Yeah, it’s a real fashion statement, all right.”

      “I’m serious. You worked hard to get here.”

      Her stomach tumbled and twirled, pleased he’d noticed. “Thanks. So, what’s up?”

      “Looks