Free An Unlikely Match by Arlene James Page B

for the right guy my whole life, with zero results thus far. But I know that God will bring him to me when He’s ready, when I’m ready.”
    He rolled his eyes, frowning. “You’re too young to even be thinking about settling down—”
    “This isn’t about me. It’s about you. Don’t you want children?”
    “I—”
    “You must. Think what a wonderful father you’d be.”
    His brows drew together in a pained expression. “You don’t know that.”
    “Yes, I do. Why wouldn’t you be?”
    He shook his head. “You have to be a good husband before you can be a good father, and I’m not husband material.”
    “Don’t be silly!”
    “Listen, I tried marriage, and I wasn’t any good at it.”
    “Then she wasn’t the right woman for you,” Ellie insisted. “You just need the right woman.”
    He stared at her for so long that she began to feel foolish. When his gaze dropped to her lips, her heart started to thunder. For one insane moment, she thought he was about to kiss her. She tilted her head and was on the very verge of going up on tiptoe when the door to the greenhouse thumped open.
    Asher jerked back as if she’d suddenly burst into flame, shock contorting his face.
    She had been right in what she’d said. All he needed was the right woman.
    But that woman was not—and could never be—her.

Chapter Six
    F ollowing quietly as Asher slid through the heavy plastic sheet dividing the building, Ellie tried to quell her disappointment. This was precisely why she should avoid him. When she was around the man, she imagined all sorts of improbable scenarios! He was hazardous to her sanity, and now that she’d said her piece, she would definitely keep her distance.
    That shouldn’t be too difficult after tonight. She was sure he’d want to avoid her now for fear that she’d read too much into his compliment. She understood now, of course, that it was just part and parcel of his apology.
    Still, she would treasure his words.
    “That’s Odelia,” Asher muttered, parting the branches of a small tree. He angled his shoulders as if about to push through the potted forest toward his aunt, but just then the door opened again and Kent came inside.
    Quickly, Ellie grabbed Asher by the arm and tugged him back. Maybe her time hadn’t come yet, but she believed with all her heart that her grandfather’s had. When Asher looked at her, confused, she lifted a finger to her lips.
    “Are you all right, Odelia? You don’t seem well.”
    Odelia twittered, but the laughter sounded forced to Ellie’s ears. “Thank you for asking, but I’m fine. Just needed a breath of fresh air.”
    “You came out without your coat,” he pointed out.
    “Oh, but it’s wonderfully warm in here, don’t you think?”
    “I suppose it is.”
    She laughed again, that nervous, birdlike twitter that could not have sounded more uncomfortable. Kent sighed audibly.
    “Odelia,” he said, “I wouldn’t willingly cause you a single moment of distress. Perhaps Ellie and I should find somewhere else to go.”
    “Don’t be silly!” Odelia retorted, much too brightly. “Why would your being here distress me? I’m just feeling my age this winter.”
    “Pish-posh,” Kent refuted heartily. “You are ageless, my dear, as beautiful, vivacious and adorable as ever.”
    “Oh!” Odelia squeaked. “Oh, my!” With that, she fled the greenhouse.
    Kent sighed once more. Ellie gently parted the limbs in time to see him follow Odelia out, sadly shaking his head. She turned at once to Asher.
    “See? There’s still something between them.”
    “That’s not how it seems to me. He may be carrying a torch for her, but she obviously wants nothing to do with him,” he said.
    “Of course she does! How could she not?”
    Asher folded his arms. “Look, I’m sure your grandfather’s a great guy, but Odelia declined to marry him once, and she doesn’t seem too keen on a flirt—”
    “My grandpa’s not a flirt!” Ellie protested, insulted on