savored. She had tasted like peaches. Like summer and sunshine. Rich, ripe, expansive. Full of life and energy and love.
He peered into those incredible eyes. She stared at him with such trust, such admiration, Bennett’s heart stuttered. His feelings were rushing him down a dangerous path. A path that threatened to ruin all his plans.
But he couldn’t seem to help himself. As inexplicably as a child drawn to a magician, he cupped her smooth cheek in his palm.
She smiled at him, her emotions shining clearly in her face—pleasure, joy, happiness.
The panic that had overwhelmed him earlier returned with a vengeance. He was going to have to hurt her. Despite all his precautions, he was going to break her heart.
There was no way they could have a happy ending.
At that moment the cell phone in his bathrobe pocket rang.
12
“That was Dr. Laramie.” Bennett disconnected the call and turned to face Lacy, who hovered beside his elbow. “Mr. Marshall is getting his heart transplant. They’re flying the organ in from Minnesota as we speak. I’ve got about three hours to get to Houston and scrub in. Unfortunately, I don’t have time to wait for your brother to repair your car. Does West have a ride service?”
She shook her head. “No, but surely I can find someone to drive you to Waco to catch the plane.”
“All right.” Bennett nodded.
Lacy rested her hands on her hips and eyed him. “Since Frank Sinatra made mincemeat of your blue jeans, you’re going to need a new pair of pants. We’ll borrow from my brothers. What size do you wear?”
“Thirty-two waist, thirty-six length.”
She made a face. “You’re taller than anyone in the family. Dylan wears a thirty-two-inch waist, but they’ll be short on you.”
“Anything will do.” His apprehension built. He was anxious to get on his way.
“I’ll get your shirt off the clothesline and fetch a pair of Dylan’s jeans.”
Just then, Grandmother Nony’s car turned into the driveway. “Hey, kids,” she greeted them as she got out. “I came back for more apple preserves. I sold out already.” She stopped chattering and stared at them. “Is something the matter?”
“Bennett needs to get back to Houston right away to assist in an emergency heart transplant. With my car out of commission, we need someone to drive him to the airport in Waco. Can you take him?”
Grandmother Nony bared her teeth and sucked in her breath. “Oh dear. I tried to tell your great-gramma that this was a bad idea.”
“What was a bad idea?” Lacy’s voice went up a notch. Bennett looked from Lacy to her grandmother and back again.
“Taking the cables off your car battery.”
“What!”
“I’m sorry, honey. I didn’t know it would cause this kind of trouble. Your great gramma insisted you and Bennett had to stay here until he was struck by the thunderbolt. She asked me to disable your car.”
“You disabled my car!”
Grandmother Nony winced and nodded.
“I take it the gravy spill wasn’t accidental, either.” Lacy looked mad enough to spit bullets.
“Well, Great-Gramma said you were pretty mad at her. She wanted to make sure you didn’t get away,” Grandmother Nony explained.
“The clothes dryer isn’t really broken, either, is it?” Lacy asked.
“No,” Grandmother Nony admitted.
Lacy smacked her palm with her forehead. “I don’t believe this family.”
“What’s going on? What does this mean?” Bennett asked. “What am I missing?”
“It means”—Lacy gave her grandmother an icy glance— “that my family has been playing meddlesome matchmakers. You’re free to leave, Bennett. All we have to do is reattach the cables to the battery, and you can be on your way.”
Lacy took a deep breath in a vain attempt to calm herself. She’d known from the minute she’d brought him home that she would have to explain her family and their kooky beliefs toward love, marriage, and happily ever after. She also knew that in all likelihood he would not understand. Would in fact, be disgusted with her.
She stood beside Bennett while he replaced the cables. He looked ridiculous in Dylan’s much-too-short blue jeans. If the mood between them had been jovial, she would have joked about his being prepared for a flood.
“Explain this thunderbolt thing to me again.” He turned his head and angled her a chiding look. “Help me to understand what would make a sweet little grandmother tear apart your car to keep you home.”
“It’s the funniest thing,” she began, purposely keeping her eyes moving so she wouldn’t have to meet his gaze. She stared at the oil stains on the underside of the hood. “You’re going