An Undeserved Gift
By LuAnn K. Edwards
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“Again?” I plopped my phone into my purse and muttered. “The third time this week he’s stood me up. Is this how our marriage will be?” I sagged in my chair at an outdoor café. “I can’t believe this.” My fiancé, Dillon Montgomery, couldn’t keep his word.
“Excuse me, Miss.” A good-looking guy, a few years older than me, stood and stared from the other side of the table. “I kind of overheard you on the phone. Sounds like you need a friend. Perhaps I can help.” He took the seat across from me. “May I join you?”
“You already have.” I frowned, leaned back, and crossed my arms.
“Free counseling. How can you pass on a deal like that?”
I leaned toward him, a sneer on my face. “If that’s what you’re dishing out, I’m out of here.” I raised my right palm in front of his face. “I don’t need counseling.” But Dillon sure did.
“Friendship then from an understanding listener?” He grinned. His dimpled cheeks radiated warmth and kindness. “I’ll get straight to the point. My fiancée dumped me thirty minutes ago. You don’t seem much better off than me.” He glanced away for a moment and took a deep breath. “I’ll treat you right. Marry me instead. You won’t be disappointed.”
I jumped up and knocked over my chair, causing a bird pecking at crumbs to fly off. “You’re crazy.” I bent to pick up the chair, but the man with the odd offer bolted from his seat and beat me to it.
“Let me get that for you.”
I spun on my heels to leave and darted through the parking lot to my car.
A hand brushed my elbow when I unlocked my door. I flinched, looked up, and again noticed his warmth and kindness. This time beaming from his dark eyes.
“You don’t give up, do you?” I pulled open my door and threw my purse onto the passenger seat.
He pleaded with me. “I’m a good guy. I am. Please. One minute.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Doesn’t matter how good you are. I refuse to marry you.”
“Be my date tonight? One date.” He lifted his index finger and pushed his shoulders back.
I tilted my head, gawked at him, and raised my hands. “Are you for real? I don’t have time for this.”
“But I need a date. Tonight. My grandfather expects to meet my fiancée, but like I told you, she dumped me. Let me introduce you as her. Tomorrow I’ll tell him we broke it off, and I’ll be gone from your life.”
I gazed into his eyes. “Why can’t you tell him tonight she called the wedding off?”
“He’s throwing me an engagement party. Huge. He’s proud of me. Offered a promotion and marrying a good woman from an outstanding family. Only I’m not.” He looked down, studied the ground for a moment and looked back up. “Neither.”
I shook my head. “I don’t understand. What do you mean, neither?”
“I work for a family-owned business. My boss won’t promote me until I’m married and settled down. Now that won’t happen.”
“And you told Gramps you already got the promotion?” I pursed my lips and opened my eyes wide.
He crossed his arms and rested his backside against my Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera. “Yep.”
I placed my hands on my hips. “Who do you think you are leaning up against my car? You don’t know me, and I don’t know you.”
He straightened and looked behind him at my car then back at me. “Name’s Jarrett.”
We shook hands and I softened my tone. “I’m Lyn. I can’t help you. Even one date. But let me give you some advice. You’re living a lie. I’m all about truth and honesty.” I nodded. “Confess to Grandpa. That’s the right thing to do.”
He sounded desperate. “My offer still stands. One date. After you talk with my family and friends, you’ll be begging me to marry you.”
I glowered, climbed into my car, and said goodbye to mister warmth, kindness, and cocky.