Part 32 (1/2)

Kari leveled her gaze at Ashley. ”To tell me he was praying for me.”

”See!” Ashley tossed up her hands. ”That's the same thing.

285 He's waiting just in case things don't work with Tim. Of course he's praying.”

”Not like that.” Kari's eyes were wet, and now Ashley felt bad for pus.h.i.+ng the issue. ”He's praying for Tim and me to be happy together.”

There was obviously more to it, but Ashley didn't have time to a.n.a.lyze the issue now. She had to get Cole. Besides, there was no point to the discussion. Kari was determined to stay with Tim no matter how unhappy it made her.

”Look, I'm sorry for bringing it up.” Ashley paused, and though the conversation might naturally have led to a hug, she simply said, ”See ya,” and waved as she headed for her son's cla.s.sroom. By the time she got there, her parents had already promised Cole lunch at his favorite restaurant.

Ashley thought of the shopping she still needed to do for tomorrow, and she shrugged. Lately she hadn't wanted to burden her parents, but if they were offering ...

”That's fine. Take him out to lunch. I'll pick him up later today.

Her mother reached for her hand and squeezed it. ”Come with us.”

Ashley remembered the Thanksgiving conversation her father had with the pastor.

”That's okay. You go. I have things to do.” She stooped down and rubbed noses with Cole. ”Be good for Grammy and Papa.”

Cole's eyes twinkled. ”I will, Mommy.” He held up a piece of paper folded into a brightly colored box with a lid. ”Here . . . I made this for you.” He grinned.

”Teacher says it's the best Christmas present of all.”

She opened it, and inside was a colored picture of the baby Jesus with these words: ”Jesus loves me, this I know.”

Ashley let her eyes settle on the message, and doubts flashed across her mind.

Jesus might love Cole-who wouldn't?- but he obviously didn't care much for her.

She smiled at her son and tousled his hair. ”Thanks, honey. You did a great job.”

286.

Five minutes later Ashley pulled into a gas station a mile from church. A sign told her she needed to prepay inside and she moaned, quickly sifting through her purse for a twenty-dollar bill as she headed toward the building. The stores wouldn't be open late, and she was in a hurry to be finished. Three people were ahead of her in the cash-register line, and she stood impatiently, gazing around, still thinking of this morning's conversation with her sister. Kari had to be crazy letting a guy like Ryan Taylor go.

The line inched forward, and something caught Ashley's attention. She looked out and saw a silver Chevy truck pull into the parking lot. The driver looked familiar, and as the truck pulled up to the pump she had no doubts.

It was Ryan; there was no mistaking his profile.

Ashley watched him get out, read the sign, and head inside. She silently admired him. She didn't care for sports, but who couldn't appreciate a build like that?

If only he weren't in love with Kari ...

He spotted her immediately. ”Hey, Ash, how are you?” He hugged her loosely, a smile lighting up his eyes.

”Good.” She grinned and glanced at him. ”You're looking gorgeous as always.”

”Why, thank you, ma'am.” One eyebrow lifted appreciatively. ”Same to you.”

This was what made Ryan different from Landon, she thought. Ryan wasn't in love with her. He could laugh with her, tease her, talk to her without ever making her fear that a wedding proposal was in the making.

She crossed her arms and lowered her chin. ”Saw you talking to Kari at church today.”

His eyes widened subtly. ”Ashley Baxter, at church?”

Barely a foot separated them as they waited in line, and Ashley elbowed him in the ribs. ”Come on ... it's not like I have an aversion to the place.” She shook her hair and tucked a strand behind her ear. ”I went to get Cole, but my parents already had 287 plans for him.” She angled her face, making eye contact. ”You left before I had a chance to say hi.”

Ryan's eyes lost some of their sparkle. ”I had a Christmas card for your sister.”

”Ah.” Ashley nodded big. ”My faithful sister.”

It was Ashley's turn at the counter. She paid for her gas, went outside and filled her car, and met Ryan by his truck. Ryan leaned against the driver's door and studied Ashley. ”Kari's doing the right thing.”

Ashley sighed and gazed at the distant cloudy sky. ”He'll do it again.”

”They have a child to think about now.” Ryan shrugged. ”I have a hunch he's finished wandering.”

She clicked her tongue and shook her head, exasperated. ”Kari should be with you.”

Ryan smiled and raised his chin, his expression suddenly guarded. ”It's a moot point, Ashley.”

A car pulled up behind him, the driver anxious for an empty pump. Ryan opened his truck door and slid inside. ”Did you eat yet?”

Ashley loved the way his casual grin challenged her and made her feel desirable.

”No.” She fingered her keys. ”I'm starved.”

He motioned toward her car. ”Follow me.”

”Okay.” Ashley's answer was out of her mouth before she had time to think about it. She jogged back to her car as a mix of emotions fluttered within her. Lunch with Ryan Taylor? What would Kari think? For that matter, what was Ryan thinking? She followed him and chided herself for letting her imagination run away with her. Ryan had known her since she was nine years old. He was lonely and wanted nothing more than an hour's conversation with an old acquaintance.

He led her to a salad bar restaurant that they both agreed was one of their favorites. An hour after lunch was over, they were still chatting about their lives and laughing about days gone by.

288.

Ryan leaned back in the booth and anch.o.r.ed his forearms on the table. ”I'm stuffed.”

Ashley pushed at her fork and napkin. ”Me too.”

She had always convinced herself she didn't need a man in her life, but her time with this particular man was tempting her to revise her theory. She wanted their lunch date to go on forever. He could never be attracted to me, she reminded herself. I'll always be Kari's little sister.

But almost as soon as the thoughts were formed, Ryan looked at her, his expression more serious. ”How come we never did this before?”

”Well-” Ashley's heart skipped a beat ”I was always Kari's kid sister.” She was teasing him, and he smiled in response. ”Never mind that I had a crush on you until my twelfth birthday.”

Ryan's eyes danced. ”Twelfth birthday?” His jaw dropped, and he pretended to be crushed by her revelation. ”You gave up on me when you were only twelve years old?”

”Let's see-” Ashley stared at a ceiling tile and then back at Ryan-”I believe you were busy dating someone else back then.” She lifted her chin, feigning hurt feelings. ”I was a serious twelve-year-old, you know. You just didn't appreciate the woman I was behind those braces.”