Her Baby Dreams. Debra Clopton

I think we both know you’re not being honest. Go out with me.” His voice grew husky. “Or at least have lunch with me. What could it hurt?”

      Ashby’s resolve faltered. She stiffened her back and squared her jaw. “My name is Ashby and I’m not interested in having lunch with a playboy.” It sounded ugly, but it was as much for her own ears as for his.

      His jaw tensed, but surprisingly he said nothing as she strode past him across the threshold, all too aware that he was watching her. All too mad at herself for losing control. The door closed with a refined click, as if to chide her.

      The man took nothing seriously.

      And she would do well to remember that bit of important information. She was looking for a husband. God’s man for her. Dan Dawson…

      She watched him saunter toward Sam’s Diner, then turned her back to the window, putting the carefree flirtation out of her thoughts. Dan wasn’t that kind of man.

      Not when she knew he’d probably stopped thinking about her the moment he’d stepped off the sidewalk and walked away.

      Chapter Five

      “Morning, Applegate and Stanley,” Dan said as he entered Sam’s Diner. It was midmorning, so the only customers were the two old-timers huddled over their perpetual game of checkers.

      “So, did she turn ya down agin?” Applegate almost shouted, his wrinkled frown lifting into a craggy grin.

      Dan slid onto a worn buckskin stool. “You know she did.”

      The two old men stared at him.

      Last night after dropping her off at her place, Dan vowed to back off, yet one look at her this morning and there he went…. “I guess either I’m a glutton for punishment, or I just like needling her.” He pushed his hat off his forehead. “What do you boys think?”

      Sam came out from the kitchen, a small, wiry man with a brisk walk. Lifting the pot of coffee, he filled a cup for Dan without even asking. “It’s both,” he said as he poured. “I gotta warn ya, though, you better be watching yor back.”

      “Look, fellas,” Dan said, not at all concerned with Sam’s unvoiced fears. “I’m well aware that the matchmakers have their eyes on me. Why do you think that is?” They’d seemed happy to leave him alone all this time.

      “Why?” Stanley’s jovial expression changed to a smirk. “’Cause now that they’ve got the hang of this matchmaking, it’s like they can’t stop.”

      Applegate nodded solemnly. “It is kinda enjoyable. I done got into it myself. But I ain’t so sure they’re gonna have thar way with Dan here.”

      Sam slapped the towel he’d been wiping the counter with over his shoulder. “I told my Adela that very thang. I told her Dan was a born bachelor if ever thar was one.”

      Dan nursed his coffee and listened to the boys. He probably did look like a born bachelor to them, and he was, to an extent. But he planned to get married someday. He wasn’t sure about having children…but marriage was something he hoped for, when the time was right. Despite what most people saw on the outside, he was a very cautious man. Marriage wasn’t something to rush. He was only twenty-eight and had a lot to accomplish before taking on that kind of responsibility. When he offered his name to a lady, there would be nothing more serious in all of his life. Though for the time being, the matchmaking ladies of Mule Hollow would have to be content fixing up others.

      He wouldn’t hold it against the ladies for trying. They would realize the futility of their efforts soon enough. In the meantime, he didn’t mind in the least being their entertainment.