hair off his forehead with his long, supple, surgeon’s fingers, and winked as she gaped at him.
Bored, he was not. And he wasn’t boring to look at, either.
Her gaze reluctantly returned to Constance, who was smiling as if she were privy to a secret. Gracie mock-scowled and shook her head at her incorrigible and clearly misinformed friend. Clearly there was no reason for Constance to think she was attracted to the man, other than that everyone else was fond of his assets.
“I’ll see you Tuesday at the Women’s League meeting,” she said to Constance, and then nodded at Nathan. “Nice to see you again.”
“You, too, Gracie,” Nathan replied with a kind smile that lit up his whole face.
Gracie liked Nathan. He was strong but gentle, and she thought he might be sweet on Constance.
It would be nice to see her friend settled down again, Gracie reflected. Constance had lost her husband, Joseph, when rebel forces attacked his camp during a missionary trip to Central America. Since that time she had focused on being a mother, and now a doting grandmother of an adorable grandson.
Gracie, incurable romantic that she was, couldn’t help but think maybe it was time for a new romance in her dear friend’s life.
Constance had been dating the sheriff, gruff, out-spoken Charles Creasy, but Gracie privately thought quiet, enigmatic Nathan was better suited for her friend.
“What were you doing over there, playing matchmaker?” Kyle teased as she slid in the booth across from him and heaved a sigh.
Gracie held up her hands and shook her head vehemently. “I wouldn’t presume. I’m sorry to keep you waiting.”
“No problem,” Kyle replied, taking a long drink of the iced tea he’d served for himself. His eyes twinkled with merriment. “But really, Gracie, do you have to speak with everyone in the restaurant?”
Gracie took a sip of her own iced tea, which Kyle had thoughtfully served for her. Harry’s was a self-service establishment for the most part, and Kyle had already taken it upon himself to get them drinks, condiments and silverware.
She leaned toward him, her gaze narrowing thoughtfully. She pinched her lips together. “You wanted to create a scandal when you asked me out to lunch today, didn’t you?” she reminded him.
He chuckled. “No. I was only kidding when I mentioned the gossip mill, Gracie. But you’ve certainly sealed the deal for us, either way. I see rings and garters gleaming in at least a dozen eyes. I think we’d better run for the border.”
Gracie flicked her hair out of her eyes with the palm of her hand. “I can’t help it if people talk. And I can’t just ignore my friends and neighbors when I see them in a restaurant or the grocery store.”
“Trust me, no neighbor would ever accuse you of neglecting them,” Kyle said dryly, trying to smother his grin.
“I’m not going to dignify that remark with a response,” she said, tilting her chin in the air as she realized she was doing just that.
Turning her gaze away, she decided to change the subject. Move it off herself and on to something she could handle. “Do you think Nathan and Constance are interested in each other?” she whispered so she could not be overheard.
Kyle glanced at the middle-aged couple. “Looks like,” he drawled, sounding amused.
Gracie leaned forward. “I hope so. I know they’d be perfect for each other. She’s told me once before that Nathan reminds her of her first husband. Isn’t that romantic?”
A flash of pain flickered across Kyle’s gaze and Gracie immediately regretted her careless words. But he recovered so quickly, she almost thought she might have imagined his sorrow. His laugh was certainly genuine. “See, you are a matchmaker.”
Gracie colored. “Please don’t tease me.”
Kyle lost his smile. “Gracie,” he said, his voice suddenly low. He reached across the table for her hand, giving it a soft squeeze. “You know I only badger you because I like you. I’d certainly never torment an enemy this way.”
He looked as if he were ready to say more, but they were interrupted by one of the waitresses. “Your usual, Dr. Kyle?” she asked after greeting them.
“I’d appreciate that, Maggie,” Kyle replied genially, patting his stomach for emphasis.
Gracie guessed she shouldn’t be surprised that Kyle frequented Harry’s Kitchen, since he was a recently widowed man who probably didn’t cook much for himself, but somehow she’d pictured him more as The Bistro type, with fancy cloth napkins and real silver. She knew from talking to him that he’d led a fairly well-to-do lifestyle as a neurologist in Houston.
Maggie turned to get her order. “I’ll have the same,” Gracie said without hesitation. But the moment the waitress moved away, Gracie asked, “And what would that be, exactly?”
“Would what be?”
“The usual?”
“Oh, that.” Kyle made a show of licking his bottom lip and patting his flat stomach. “Grilled cheese. Extra pickle.”
Gracie made a face.
“You don’t like pickles?”
“It’s not that. I just expected— I don’t know. Caviar or something.”
“At Harry’s? I don’t think so.”
Gracie laughed. “You have a point.”
“Except…”
“Grilled cheese is such a boy-next-door kind of food. You went to medical school.”
“And survived on grilled cheese sandwiches. With extra pickles.”
“More than survived, I’d say,” came a sultry voice from behind Gracie’s left shoulder. “Looks to me like you’ve thrived, big guy.”
Kyle clamped his jaw closed, Gracie thought to keep from saying something he’d regret. She couldn’t miss the look of pure panic that flashed through his gaze before his eyes glazed over.
Gracie turned to the newcomer, whom she knew well from her schoolgirl years and recognized merely from the sappy sweet sound of her voice. “Chelsea Daniels. What brings you into Harry’s?”
“As if you didn’t know.” Chelsea gave Kyle a long, sliding look that made the man blush.
Gracie rolled her eyes. She’d never gotten along particularly well with Chelsea in school. She had little tolerance for any woman who spent more time combing her shoulder-length brown hair and applying makeup to accentuate her fine bones and delicate features than she did cultivating her friendships.
Chelsea was one of those women who’d matured early, and had always caught the eyes of the boys. And she’d known it. She knew it now.
Always looking after her own self-interests, Chelsea could only be depended on to think of herself and what she wanted.
