was simple. âThe matchmaker gets a dose of her own medicine, and it doesnât taste too sweet.â
All the younger adults laughed, but Trina gave him one of those looks that used to hush her daughters in church.
âThere will be no matchmaking, and thatâs final.â
âOkay,â Logan said with a shrug. âBut you might want to remember that Matthew said that same thing. And Haley. And Dylan. And Jenna.â
By the time that heâd made it through the list, Jenna and Haley were muffling giggles, and Loganâs brothers were looking away, trying and failing to cover their smirks.
âLogan Michael Warren,â Trina said in the same warning tone that theyâd all heard Mrs. Warren use after one of Loganâs jokes.
When Logan stiffened at the sound, Caroline couldnât help but do the same. Everything had to remind him of his mother lately.
But when Caroline turned back to her mother, Trina was smiling in a reminder that all thoughts of Mrs. Warren didnât need to be sad ones.
âSince Amy couldnât be here today, I knew she would want me to pick up the slack.â
Laughter filled the sanctuary again, with Lizzielaughing the loudest in that way children do when they donât get the joke.
Just as Matthew returned to them from the receiving line in the vestibule, the overhead lights flickered off, leaving behind only the yellow cast of daylight filtering in through the stained-glass windows.
Matthew pointed to the lights. âThereâs our signal to go home. Unless you all just want to stay until the evening service.â
âBack to my house, then?â Trina looked around at all their faces. âChicken and noodles are in the Crock-Pot, and a pie is cooling on the counter. Weâll eat a nice lunch and then head over to visit Amy.â
After several affirmative murmurs, they all started up the aisle toward the exit.
Logan cleared his throat just as they stepped outside. âAh, I donât think Iâm going to be able to make it.â
âButââ Trinaâs smile fell.
âIâll catch up with all of you at the hospital.â
Dylan elbowed his brother and waggled an eyebrow. âGot another date?â
âSomething like that,â Logan answered.
âWho with this time?â
Logan shrugged but didnât answer.
âGuess heâs not telling.â Matthew glanced at his watch. âItâs barely past noon on a Sunday, bro. That has to be a new record for you.â
Haley stopped and faced her husband. âJealous of all that freedom?â
âNo way. Not me.â Matthew held his hands up in a defensive pose.
âGood answer,â Haley said with a grin.
Caroline told herself she wasnât jealous, either. Notof Loganâs hopping social calendar. Certainly not of the woman who would be spending the afternoon with Logan, though she was curious about this mystery woman. Knowing Logan, she was probably beautiful. And equally empty-headed.
No, Caroline definitely wasnât jealous. But disappointed? She shouldnât care one way or another whether Logan spent the afternoon with herâumâ¦their families, but she did. Her excuse that she only wanted them all to be together didnât hold water, either.
How could she admit that she wanted to spend more time with Logan Warren? Even if she were in the market for a relationship, which she wasnât, Logan was about the last man on earth she should choose, and yet something was drawing her to him.
Something that needed to be stopped. This was a recipe for disaster, especially with the two of them trying to work together. It didnât matter how handsome he looked when those dimples popped or how he made her laugh with his clever repartee. She was a strong, independent womanânot some hopeless romantic. She had to admit she was attracted to Logan, but she planned to get over it right now.
Â
Logan set his