Free What She'd Do for Love by Cindi Myers Page A

stay the same.”
    “Yet she moved to the city after she graduated.”
    “Yeah, that was a big step, but it was what her parents and everyone else expected her to do, so that made it kind of routine. Plus, she loved her job and established herself there pretty quickly. I think that’s why this layoff has thrown her for such a loop. She thought she was settled for life.”
    “She seems pretty young to be so set in her ways.”
    “It’s not set in her ways so much as anchored. She’s very loyal to the people and places that are meaningful to her. And she’s willing to change, if she has a strong enough reason to. There’s something to be said for being steady and reliable and not flighty.”
    “I guess there is.” He piled his purchases on the checkout counter. “Thanks again for your help, Kelly. Maybe all this...” He indicated the rugs, pillows and towels. “Will make me seem less, um, flighty to my mom.”
    A pink blush stained her cheeks. “I wasn’t talking about you!”
    “It’s okay. I know Christa and I are pretty much opposites in our approaches to life.”
    “You know what they say—opposites attract.”
    “Why are you so set on setting me up with Christa?”
    She made a face. “Well, you obviously aren’t interested in me, and if I can’t have the most eligible guy to hit town in a while, why not root for my best friend? Also, if the two of you got together, she might decide to stick around, instead of running off to Houston again. I’d like that.”
    “Better not pin your hopes on me,” he said. “I really think Christa isn’t interested.”
    “But you didn’t say you weren’t interested in her.”
    “I don’t see any long-term relationship in my immediate future.” The words hurt to say, the tight pain in his chest a reminder that what he wanted and what he knew would happen didn’t always mesh perfectly. “The timing just isn’t right.”
    “Oh please! As if love answers to a time-table. There’s such a thing as being too practical, you know.”
    He shrugged. “What can I say? I’m a practical guy—cold and logical.”
    Kelly wrinkled her nose. “You weren’t supposed to hear that. And she didn’t mean it, anyway.”
    “But I am practical. And I am leaving town in a year or two, so I’m not the right guy for someone who wants a life built around routine and constants.”
    “You say it, but I don’t believe it. Anyway, good luck with your apartment and your mom. You never know—if you make the place comfortable enough, you might decide to stick around longer.” She slid the strap of her purse onto her shoulder. “I have to run now. I just stopped to see if they’d gotten in the shelf brackets Mom ordered, but they aren’t here yet. See you around.”
    “See you.”
    He paid for his purchases, and carried them to his truck. He had his doubts that a few towels and pillows would make much of an impression on his mom, but it was worth a try. And if he ever did bring Christa to his place, maybe she wouldn’t think he was quite so cold.

CHAPTER FIVE
    A FTER R YDER LEFT , Christa returned to the house and showered. She told herself she should pull out her laptop and start working on her résumé, but the thought of putting a positive spin on the fact that she’d lost her job made her want to crawl back into bed and stay there. She’d start the job hunt in earnest soon, but she needed more time to process what had happened. The job counselors had even said that getting laid off was like any other loss—she needed time to grieve.
    Instead, she decided to make a special dinner for her parents. She couldn’t compete with her mother’s pot roast and peach pie, but she could grill steak and make baked potatoes and a salad. Mom and Dad would appreciate the meal after their long day in the city.
    Jet alerted her to her folks’ return, barking excitedly and standing at the front window, tail wagging. Christa stayed in the kitchen, slicing tomatoes, ears straining for