Arizona Pastor by Jennifer Collins Johnson Read Free Book Online Page B

her brows. “You doubted me?”
    â€œNot for a moment.”
    She motioned to the café. “So why did we come here?”
    â€œThought we’d get a cup of coffee, maybe say a prayer to help you feel less bamboozled.”
    â€œWhat if I don’t drink coffee?”
    Wade scoffed. “A teacher who doesn’t drink coffee?”
    Kristy laughed, all evidence of tears gone. “I’m kidding. Of course I do.”
    They got out of the truck and walked into the café. Kristy ordered a caramel latte and a scone, while he got a black decaf and a cinnamon roll. He found a place in the corner, surrounded by windows. She took a sip of her latte, then stared at him.
    He wiped his mouth, then looked down to see if he had cinnamon-and-sugar crumbs splattered across his shirt. “What?”
    The left corner of her lips curled up. “Bamboozled, huh?”
    â€œImpressed by my vocabulary?”
    She shook her head. “Not a word I hear every day.”
    â€œMaybe I’m smarter than the people who you come into contact with.”
    â€œWith whom you come into contact.”
    â€œExcuse me?”
    â€œIf you’re going to impress the English professor, you shouldn’t end your sentence with a preposition.”
    â€œWhat’s a preposition?”
    â€œWith.”
    â€œWith what?”
    Kristy leaned back in her chair and laughed, a deep, to-the-bottom-of-her-belly sound. Wade joined in her mirth as he searched his mind for the meaning of preposition. He remembered learning the word and that his teacher had connected it to a mouse going places. That was all his discombobulated mind could recall. He sat up. Maybe he’d have a chance to throw out that word, as well.
    She finished the last bite of her scone as he swallowed the last of his coffee. A chuckle slipped through her lips, and she exhaled a breath. “Thanks, Wade.”
    He lifted one eyebrow. “Feeling less discombobulated?”
    She laughed again. “Not if you don’t stop using big words.”
    â€œWas that a double negative I just heard?”
    She scooped up her trash, then grabbed his hand. “Come on. Take me back before I forget how to speak.”
    They cleaned the area and headed back to the truck. Once their seat belts were buckled, she turned toward him. “I mean it, Wade. Thanks so much for saving me at Tim and Leah’s house.” Her hand shook just a bit as she raked her fingers through her hair. “I still can’t believe it. Mel had so many plans before she started dating Joel.”
    Unsure what to say, he simply nodded as he started the truck.
    â€œMy heart hurts that I don’t have the money to pay for a wedding,” she continued. “I’ve struggled every day to make a decent life for Mel and me. My parents are missionaries in Brazil. One of my sisters is overseas in the military. Another one is a brand-new stay-at-home mom whose husband is a cop. I don’t have family with unlimited resources. I can’t compete.”
    She continued to vent the rest of the way to Tim and Leah’s house. Wade listened and prayed for direction. For how to counsel Joel and Mel. And for what to do with the attraction he felt for Kristy. He parked in front of the house. Before getting out of the truck, she squeezed his hand. “Thanks to you. I can do this now.”
    His heartbeat quickened, and he followed her up the sidewalk. He’d need to get his dog and get out of there because he was more confused about how to handle this whole situation than he had been before the day started.
    * * *
    Two days later, Kristy pulled down the visor and looked at her reflection as she applied light pink lipstick. She patted her cheeks, wishing she could do something to cover the freckles that splattered across her face and gave her a more youthful appearance. She bit back a laugh. Only a teen mom who’d spent her adult life avoiding comments like “you