A Temporary Courtship. Jenna Mindel

thoughts were tied up, trying to remember what she’d heard about Stella’s granddaughter. Bree recalled there had been some sort of scandal, something her mother had once said, but Bree hadn’t ever paid much attention to the Bay Willows grapevine. Too much fodder to take in.

      Footsteps sounded on the wide plank floors, and Bree looked up.

      “That smells awe-sssome—” Darren’s voice fell away to nothing when he spotted her and frowned.

      “Hello.” Bree gave him a sheepish smile, feeling like she’d been caught with her hands in the cookie jar—knowing about him and Raleigh.

      “Hey.”

      The wild rabbits that ran around Bay Willows looked less twitchy than this man seeing her here.

      “Darren, watch the chicken a minute, would you, while I set the dining room table.” Stella exited fast with an arm load of things from the fridge. She was more than a little obvious in leaving them alone.

      Bree’s cheeks flushed red-hot. “I’m sorry. She invited me, too.”

      “Nothing to apologize for.” Darren stepped close to the stove and stirred the sauce. He turned down the heat. “I hadn’t planned to stay, and—”

      Horrified, Bree blurted, “You’re not going to leave because of me, are you?”

      He tipped his head and gave her a cool stare. “What I was going to say is that Stella twisted my arm with the promise of dinner if I fixed the faucet upstairs. Stella’s a good cook.”

      “Oh.” Bree relaxed. Sort of. “Sorry.”

      “Stop saying you’re sorry.”

      “Sorr—I mean, okay.” Then she laughed. “It’s a habit.”

      “Saying you’re sorry?” Darren didn’t look amused by that.

      “When I’m nervous, yes.” Bree’s stomach dropped again. That was a stupid thing to say, but she was used to apologizing to Philip in order to stop an argument before it started.

      Darren chuckled. “You’re nervous?”

      Yes. Because you’re way too attractive.

      Instead of admitting that, Bree squared her shoulders. “Wrong choice of words, perhaps, but I feel like maybe I’m imposing.”

      “Trust me, you’re not.”

      Silence settled thick between them until he looked around. “Stella? I think it’s ready.”

      “Good. Turn off the heat and put the lid on it.” Stella entered the kitchen and foraged in the fridge once more. “What do you two want to drink?”

      “Water’s fine,” Bree said as she ducked out with the salad bowl and set it on the dining room table.

      “Same for me.” Darren’s deep voice sounded a little too loud.

      “You’re both boring,” Stella chirped as she handed over a pitcher of ice-cold water from the fridge. “Now go sit down. I’ll bring out the chicken.”

      Bree remained in the dining room, waiting.

      Darren entered and sat down right across from her, leaving the chair at the head of the table for their host. He looked at her.

      She looked back.

      Be nice to him. Stella’s words roused a nervous laugh Bree choked off before it bubbled out. Darren didn’t look like he wanted nice. Or anything to do with her, for that matter.

      Stella set a large covered dish in the middle of the table. Fragrant steam leaked out, teasing Bree’s appetite and stealing her attention.

      “Darren, would you mind saying the blessing?” Stella bowed her head.

      “Sure.” Darren bowed his, too.

      Bree followed suit, curious to hear the man pray.

      “Bless us, O Lord, and these, Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.”

      “Amen,” Stella echoed.

      Bree glanced at Darren. Did he truly believe? A rote prayer wasn’t exactly a blazing emblem of faith, but then she wasn’t exactly the pillar of piety, either. Having only come to salvation through Christ recently, Bree had her moments. She was often wrapped up in her own way instead of seeking God’s will for her life. But not when it came to her upcoming residency. That was an opportunity, a gift she wouldn’t squander.

      Darren caught her staring at him and raised his eyebrows in question along with a bowl. “Salad?”

      “Yes, please.”

      “So, Bree, tell us what you’ve been up to. Darren, did you know she plays the cello?” Stella scooped steaming chicken and sauce-drenched pasta onto her plate. “She used to give me lessons when I played the violin.”

      Bree smiled. “Say the word and I will again.”

      Stella patted her hand. “You’d make a great teacher, my dear.”

      She shook her head. “With adults maybe, but I don’t have the patience for kids or beginners.”

      Darren gave her a nod. “I overheard her play just before class. She’s good.”

      “I’m heading to Seattle at the beginning of June for a two-year residency with a symphony out there. We’ll find out if I’m any good at composing.”

      Stella’s eyes widened. “Really? I had no idea. Joan never mentioned anything.”

      “She didn’t know. I just found out, too. I landed this opportunity only because the initial person chosen had a family situation and declined.”

      “Well, congratulations.” Stella smiled.

      Bree smiled back. “I’m excited about it.”

      Darren visibly relaxed. “Two years, huh? Then what?”

      Bree shrugged. “I’ll find out then. I hope. Working under a composer is something I’ve dreamed of doing since college. It’s really a gift from God.”

      Darren nodded. “He does that.”

      That sure sounded like a man of faith talking. “I figured a month up here before leaving might be a good thing. A gift to myself before the hard work begins. Have some fun, you know? Instead of practice, practice, practice.”

      “Good for you,” Stella said.

      Bree looked at Darren. “I really enjoyed today’s class, by the way. I’ve never gone off the beaten path into the woods like that. I’m already psyched for next week, looking for fiddleheads.”

      Darren glanced at Stella.

      “See, I told you it was good,” Stella said.

      Darren shrugged, but those bright blue eyes of his studied Bree. “There’s much more than just woods to explore up here.”

      He’d said that before. “Like blue moonlight?”

      “I could show you around some.” He looked surprised by his offer.

      She was, too, and glanced at Stella.

      Be nice to him.

      Stella gave her a confident nod, grinning a little too widely. “He knows this area like the back of his hand. You’ll be safe, dear, that’s for sure.”

      Safe.

      Bree appreciated safety. Knowing Darren was a man of faith and leery of “female attention,” as Stella put it, reassured that his offer was not a come-on. DNR Darren wasn’t looking for a romantic replacement. Even if he was, Bree already had a position lined up that would take all her energy.

      One she wouldn’t miss for the world.

      Maybe