A Perfect Match. Deb Kastner

opened her mouth to tell him she was okay, but that’s not what came out. “My father just called.”

      His eyes narrowed, and he stroked his beard with one hand. “I see,” he said, though he clearly didn’t.

      “We’re not exactly on speaking terms.”

      Zeke didn’t ask why, but he looked ready to listen. And for some strange reason, she felt like talking. To Zeke Taylor, the carpenter. She didn’t have time to figure out the swirl of emotions running through her. She was simply glad he was there.

      “I haven’t seen him since the day I graduated high school and walked out that door,” she explained fiercely. “He tries to call once in a while, but I’ve always managed to avoid him. Until this morning.”

      “Did he abuse you?” Zeke’s question was almost a growl, and his hands were back in his lap, clenched tightly together. He looked as if he were ready to punch someone, and Julia wondered if he would do her a favor and punch her dad.

      Not that punching Dad that would solve anything, other than give her a sense of revenge. But she wasn’t looking for revenge. She was simply looking to be left alone.

      “No. Yes,” she said in answer to his question. She took a deep breath. “Sometimes I wished he’d hit me. At least then he would have noticed me.”

      “Absentee father, huh?”

      “Deadbeat Dad. In the worst sense of the word. I don’t remember a time when he treated me like his daughter. He never even remembered to buy me a present for my birthday. He didn’t care if I had decent clothes for school or not. I don’t even think he cared if I got enough to eat.”

      She paused. “I don’t think he wanted a daughter. I don’t think he wanted me.”

      Zeke reached out to her. His hand engulfed hers, and the feeling was oddly reassuring. He stroked the back of her hand with his thumb. “That’s tough for a little girl,” he said, his voice husky.

      Julia pinched her lips together. “Yes it was. But it’s over now.”

      He squeezed her hand. “Are you sure about that? Why’s the man calling, anyway?”

      She appreciated the fact that Zeke didn’t call Greg Evans her father. “I couldn’t tell you. Maybe he suddenly found his conscience or something. Too little too late, in my book.”

      “Could he be stalking you?” His tone was deadly serious, and a chill went down Julia’s spine.

      But she wasn’t afraid of her father. He’d never hurt her, at least not physically. The emotional scars he left were big enough, but she didn’t worry that Greg was going to do something rash. “No. I don’t think so. Hopefully he hasn’t resorted to following me around.”

      “If he does, Julia, you tell me, okay?” His gaze pulled at hers, willing her to agree with him. He really cared.

      And it felt good. Julia chuckled. “If my dad starts in with any cat-and-mouse stuff, I’ll be sure to let you know.”

      Zeke leaned in to her, until their gazes were mere inches apart, and she could feel the warmth of his breath fanning her cheek, coming in quick, short bursts.

      “This is serious, Julia. I want you to promise me.”

      Julia wasn’t sure her mouth would work. Her heart had suddenly taken to calisthenics, and she wasn’t sure she’d be able to speak over the noise. “I—I promise.”

      He leaned back as fast as he’d moved in on her. “Great. Then we have a deal.”

      “A deal,” Julia echoed, placing a hand over her racing heart. Why did Zeke’s nearness affect her even more than her father’s phone call? Maybe she was just confused, given the way the day was going.

      “You never asked me why I’m here,” Zeke reminded her with a grin bright enough to let her know he was intentionally changing the subject.

      “Why are you here?” He was going to think she was a parrot if she kept this up.

      “I’ve been thinking about that committee you wanted me to join.”

      “For the service supper.”

      He nodded briskly. “That’s the one.”

      “And?”

      “I’m happy to help.”

      “You didn’t have to come all this way just to tell me that.” Julia chuckled. “You could have phoned.”

      “No—I wanted to thank you personally for asking. It means a lot to me. I…wanted you to know.”

      “Well, I’m glad I asked,” she said, realizing just how true that was. She was growing to regard Zeke as a dear friend. “I have a suspicion you’re going to be a great ally to have in my corner.”

      In more ways than one.