Free An Unlikely Match by Arlene James Page A

romance with your grandfather?”
    “Yes, of course.”
    Of course. So, Dallas knew that the jig was up, and she was making herself scarce to avoid a scolding. No doubt she was gone by now. Pushing back the sides of his jacket, he parked his hands at his hips and shook his head.
    Well, this need not be a wasted opportunity. In this private setting, he could tell Ellie that he had decided to hand off the case. He could say that he didn’t have time to give the matter the attention that it needed or even that another attorney had more experience withinsurance companies, which would be true as soon as he found someone like that.
    A little voice inside his head asked if he really wanted to hand off the case, and he had to admit that he did not. What he really wanted was to get to the bottom of this situation and see it resolved happily for all involved. Looking at Ellie standing there in the soft light of those heat lamps, he wondered if that was even possible, especially for him. Whatever happened, no matter how this turned out, he was going to come away from this with a sense of discontent.
    He didn’t precisely know why that was so. He only knew that nothing would ever quite be the same again.
     
    Fidgeting nervously, Ellie considered her options. She had promised herself that she would avoid Asher. He had to know that she admired him, but he obviously did not return the sentiment. He’d implied, in fact, that she was an overeater, and he’d done it in the same tone that she’d heard him take with Dallas—a light, brotherly voice seasoned with a pinch of patronization and a dash of criticism, not that she could blame him. She was a little round, and she did enjoy a good meal. Since coming to Chatam House, she’d enjoyed far too many of them, in fact, and he had obviously noticed.
    “I’m sorry if I upset you earlier. I didn’t mean to imply…that is, I wouldn’t want you to think that I think you’re too—”
    “It’s all right. I know I’m chunky.”
    He looked up sharply. “You’re not chunky. You’re…”
    She wasn’t about to argue the point. “Okay, I’m too curvy then.”
    “No, Ellie, you’re perfect. That is, your shape is perfect. Not that you aren’t personally. I—I mean, Iwouldn’t know that, but I can see…” He winced, lifting a hand to the back of his neck.
    Swamped with delight, Ellie stood there with her mouth open for several seconds.
    He looked up at the glass ceiling. “Surely,” he said through his teeth, “I don’t have to tell you that you’re very attractive.”
    “Really?”
    Sighing, he bent his head and pressed the fingertips of his left hand to the space between his eyes, as if his head hurt.
    “Are you okay?” she asked after a moment, concerned even though she couldn’t seem to stop smiling.
    “Fine,” he croaked. “I’m fine.” He waved his hand without looking at her, turned and said, “I should be going.”
    “Wait.” Emboldened by his compliment, she stepped forward to lay a hand upon his arm. He froze. “I should apologize to you, too.”
    He finally looked at her. “For what?”
    “Yesterday. I snapped at you.”
    “Well, I essentially cross-examined you.”
    She blinked. “That’s what you do, cross-examine people. That’s to be expected, but I called you cold and hard-hearted.”
    “Believe me, I’ve been called worse,” he said with a lopsided smile.
    She frowned, hating to think of him being called ugly names, but then she remembered something more important. Looking deeply into his eyes, she lifted her free hand to his shoulder. “Have you thought about what I said?”
    “Uh…”
    “You can’t give up!” she exclaimed.
    He shook his head as if confused. “Give up on what?”
    “Romance! Love.” He groaned, but she barreled on, “God is just waiting to heal your broken heart, and I know that love is out there for you. No one understands better than I do how difficult it is to have faith about this. I’ve been looking