Read Online A Perfect Match by Kathleen Fuller - Free Book Online Page B

avoid anything personal, and he seemed fine with that. When he polished off his meat loaf supper, he looked at her half-eaten pie. She’d been talking so much she hadn’t paid much attention to it.
    â€œYou going to finish that?” he said, a twinkle in his eye.
    â€œNee . ” She pushed the plate forward. “You can have the rest if you want. Although I’m surprised you still have room for it. I don’t know where you put all that food.”
    He took the plate from her and started on the pie. “Two stomachs. At least that’s what mei mudder used to say.”
    Naomi laughed. “I’m thinking she might be right.”
    Zeke finished the pie just as the waitress came over. She pulled out her order pad again. “Can I get you anything else?”
    He shook his head. “No thanks, but everything was delicious. Give the cook my compliments.”
    The waitress smiled. Her bangles jingled as she peeled their ticket off the pad and placed it on the table. As she’d done since they arrived, she ignored Naomi and looked at Zeke. This time Naomi couldn’t blame her. She was finding him a bit irresistible herself.
    â€œYou have a nice evening,” the girl said, giving Zeke one last look.
    Naomi reached for the ticket, but he snatched it away. “My treat.”
    â€œAt least let me pay for my dessert.”
    He shook his head. “Wouldn’t hear of it. Consider it part of my thanks for giving me a tour.”
    â€œYou didn’t have much of a tour,” she said, sliding out of the booth. “Just from my haus to the Pantry.”
    He stood and took a step toward her. “Maybe we can fix that. Can I pick you up on Monday evening? You can show me around the rest of Paradise.”
    She bit her bottom lip. Normally she had her cooking class, but she had postponed her classes until after Priscilla’s wedding. Technically she was free. But there was still so much more to do to help with the wedding—
    â€œIf you’re busy, I understand.”
    But she could see the disappointment in his eyes. There’s nothing wrong with showing a friend around . And Margaret probably wouldn’t be well enough. Before she could talk herself out if it she said, “All right. I’ll be happy to show you around Paradise.”
    He smiled in response, and her pulse jumped.
    The trip back home seemed to take only seconds. When she got out of the vehicle, Zeke met her at the other side and walked her to her door. “What time should I pick you up?”
    â€œAbout six o’clock?” She questioned herself even while she answered him. She shouldn’t be running around Paradise with Zeke. Then she looked at him, taking in his handsome face and mischievous grin. And suddenly she realized—she wouldn’t cancel.
    She expected him to leave, but instead he glanced down, shuffling his foot against the gravel, his smile dimming. Then he looked at her again, his expression more serious than she’d ever seen it. “Naomi, I need to be honest with you.”
    â€œAll right.” She’d never suspected he’d been dishonest. A sudden, familiar pang of betrayal ran through her. She’d never suspected David would betray her either.
    â€œI like you.” He closed the distance between them. “I mean, I really, really like you.”
    Her breath caught in her throat as his words scrambled her brain, making her forget David, forget everything on her mile-long to-do list. He shouldn’t be speaking to her like this. Or looking at her with such genuine care. Yet his words, his tone, reached a part of her that had died three years ago. The strength of the emotion rendered her speechless.
    â€œSo when I asked you to take me around Paradise, I was asking you for a date. I just wanted to make that clear.” He gazed into her eyes. “If you don’t want to do that, then let me know now. I’ll walk away and leave