impossible. Then again, it wasn’t like him to back down from a challenge. Especially one as intriguing as Taryn Purcell.
“Maybe that’ll give you two something to discuss tonight.”
He jerked his head toward his grandfather. “What’s tonight?”
“Bonnie and Phil Purcell invited us for dinner. Apparently the whole family is looking forward to seeing you.”
A gust of wind rattled the windows, drawing their attention outside.
“Looks like that front’s finally arrived.” Gramps stood with his plate. “Things are s’posed to turn mighty chilly.”
Given Taryn’s abrupt exit, Cash was certain of it.
* * *
Taryn paused at the front door, her hand on the antique bronze knob, while Scout barked behind her.
Cash is not Brian. And he is not interested in you. He’s a family friend. Just like his grandfather. Though considerably more handsome.
He called you darlin’.
She squeezed her eyes shut. Lord, please help me to be kind to Cash. I realize he did nothing wrong. That it’s my past with Brian that is causing me to behave so horribly.
“Are you going to open it, or let our guests freeze to death on the front porch?” Her big brother, Randy, stared down at her.
Since when did he pull himself away from the sports channel for anything but food?
“I’m warning you, Randy. If you say one thing to embarrass me...”
“Nah. I’ll leave that to Mom.” He nudged Taryn away from the door and turned the knob. “By the way, you look really nice tonight.”
Peering down at the soft blue, ultrafeminine sweater, she wished she’d gone with the bulky cable knit. She glared back at Randy with half a mind to wallop him. But their mother would never stand for it. After all, appearances were everything in Bonnie Purcell’s world.
Instead, Taryn picked up her dog, leaving her big brother to do the honors of greeting their guests while she made her way to the kitchen to help her mother and her sister-in-law, Amanda.
At least she’d bought herself a little time before she had to face Cash again. Strange to think that there was a time when she wouldn’t have felt the least bit guilty for treating someone so ugly. But she wasn’t that person anymore. And God had been prodding her all afternoon, letting her know what He required of her.
Still, she didn’t have to apologize in front of everyone. She’d wait for just the right opportunity. Even if it took all night.
“Yes. Absolutely you need to meet Cash.” Taryn’s mother motioned for Randy’s wife to follow and nearly plowed into Taryn at the kitchen door. “Where are you going?”
“The kitchen?”
Her mother whirled her back around. “Not until you’ve greeted our guests, you don’t. Now, go.” She all but shoved Taryn across the wooden flooring in the foyer.
Taryn hugged Scout a little closer. And so it begins.
“My goodness, Cash...” Her mom’s arms went wide as she approached. “It’s so good to see you again.”
Taryn kind of felt sorry for the guy when her mother embraced him like a long-lost son. She had to hand it to him, though. Cash didn’t look the least bit taken aback by the welcome. “It’s nice to be here. Thank you for inviting me.”
“Nonsense.” Her mom released him. “You’re like family.”
“How’s it going, Cash?” Her father stepped forward to shake his hand.
“Just fine, sir. Thank you.”
“There’s Gage,” her mom continued.
Taryn’s second brother waved from the adjacent living room, then gestured to the four-year-old in his arms. “This is my daughter, Emma, and—” he pointed to the golden-haired girl who had already latched onto Mr. Jenkins’s hand “—that’s Cassidy over there.”
Cash acknowledged them with a smile and a nod. “Girls.”
Randy snagged Amanda around the waist and inched her closer. “This is my wife, Amanda.”
“It’s nice to finally meet you.” She held out her hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Cash took hold. “All good, I hope.”
“For the most part.” Amanda and Randy exchanged a playful, loving glance. One that always made Taryn wonder if there was someone in this world who could love her like that. Completely and unconditionally. As though she was the only one who mattered.
“This is our son, Steven.” Randy hoisted the five-year-old into his arms.
“Hey there, champ.” Cash held up a high-five and Taryn’s nephew smacked it.
Everyone laughed, drowning out the basketball action blaring from the fifty-inch flat-screen in the living room.
Her mom grabbed Cash’s arm, turning him ever so slightly. “And here’s our little Taryn, all grown up.”
Everyone standing in front of her parted like the Red Sea, adding to her mortification.
Repeatedly stroking Scout’s wiry fur, she fought the urge to run screaming from the room as all eyes shifted to her. Including Cash’s.
His knee-buckling smile made it impossible to move, though. “Yes, we met earlier.”
Heat singed her cheeks, a rare occurrence for someone with her olive complexion. Still, she would bet that her cheeks were as red as the cherry jelly beans she’d bought to give to her nieces and nephew on Valentine’s Day.
“Oh...?” Interest sparked in her mother’s eyes. No way the woman with a penchant for matchmaking was letting that one sail by unnoticed.
“She brought some desserts over for Gramps. Which—” his attention shifted back to Taryn “—were really good.”
Mr. Jenkins cleared his throat. “Speaking of food, it sure smells good in here.” He shot Taryn a stealthy wink. At least someone had her back.
“Taryn makes the best stew you’ve ever tasted,” her mom boasted. “And her rolls are positively to die for.”
“Wait till you see the table decorations.” Desperate to shift the spotlight to someone else, Taryn continued, “Mom really outdid herself.”
Her mother half-heartedly waved off the compliment. “Oh, I just threw a few odds and ends together, that’s all.” Her gaze flitted to the dining room on the other side of the foyer. “But it did turn out quite nice.”
“Sounds like the Purcell women are a talented lot.” Cash’s gaze settled on Taryn, sending another wave of heat surging up her neck.
