He grinned. “Pun intended.”
“Pun not intended.” Darn that lip twitch of his that made her want to touch it.
“A romantic Christmas picnic.” Sophie almost floated off the shiny hardwood floor as she happily sighed. “That is the most perfect lunch idea. I can help you pack that lovely basket Cole bought when he took me out for my birthday this summer. It’s just the right touch for a romantic picnic. You should definitely bring a blanket and spread it close to the river. The scenery is lovely, even this time of year when the only green is the pines and firs.”
Not a bad idea since if they were down by the bank, they could pick a more secluded area and not be as readily seen by anyone walking the greenway. Sophie wouldn’t let the picnic idea drop, not when she thought something was happening that totally wasn’t happening. Happily in love with Cole, Sophie was forever trying to get Isabelle to go out with this guy or that one. She’d even scooted over so Trevor Reeves could sit next to Isabelle during bible study on Wednesday evening. Her sister had been hanging out with the Butterflies too long.
“I, um, okay. A picnic by the river.” She couldn’t bring herself to say romantic.
Their picnic was nothing more than a business meeting. She really did need to talk to Zach if he was going to find her father and perhaps doing so would cool Sophie’s encouraging Trevor. He was too nice to lead on when he just didn’t excite her. Her gaze touched on Zach. That wasn’t excitement running through her. It was annoyance that he was right about them needing a business meeting.
Only, no business meeting had ever tied her nerve endings into bow ties.
Chapter Four
“Ireally likedZach,” Sophie announced as they walked into their house later that evening.
The night air hadn’t been too chilly during their drive home, but Isabelle welcomed the comforting low hum of the heating unit and its warmth greeting them.
“Did you see how sweet he was holding Jeannie when Sarah went to get another package of ornament hangers?” Sophie continued as Isabelle took off her jacket. “How great were all those cute ornaments everyone brought for her first Christmas tree?”
Yes. Isabelle had noticed. How could she not when she’d felt a ping deep in her belly at the sight of the big muscular man holding the baby, who stared up at him with complete adoration? He’d had Jeannie cooing at him when, smiling, he’d leaned closer to say something just for her little ears. What had he been saying that she found so mesmerizing? Baby-whisperer, she mentally added to Zach’s growing list. The ones she’d jotted on her real list read:Annoying. Aggravating. Pain in my side. Most irritating man I’ve ever met.
“I loved the angel one you made with her name embroidered on it.” Isabelle hung her coat on a rack just inside the doorway, then reached for Sophie’s, hoping to distract her sister.
Sophie had talked about Zach the entire drive home, wanting to know everything about him. What could Isabelle say if she’d wanted to? That she hadn’t liked how his gaze kept meeting hers while they’d decorated the tree cookies or how he’d seemed more interested in her than the game they’d played after decorating Jeannie’s tree with their ornament gifts? Not that Zach’s seemingly not paying attention had kept him from being brilliant at the game. Thanks to his quick answers, his team had beaten hers, which sure hadn’t added any stars in his crown as far as she was concerned, but had won him more points with Sophie, who’d been his teammate. Isabelle wasn’t a sore loser, but she preferred to win. Yeah, those weren’t things she wanted to tell hearts-in-her-eyes Sophie.
“The ornament you gave of the dog who looked like Harry was my absolute favorite.” Sophie peeled off her jacket and handed it over. “That was so perfect. Bodie and Sarah both commented on how much they loved it. Even Harry seemed impressed. Did you see how he kept turning his head one way, then the other, as he stared at it?”
“Harry is a great dog, but not nearly as awesome as you, right, Bobbin?” Isabelle bent to pick up the orangey-yellow cat that had followed them into the house. She ran her hand from his head to tail, stroking the feline’s soft fur.
“And to think I once thought you’d disapprove if you knew I was feeding a stray.” Sophie smiled at how the cat purred at Isabelle’s affection.
“I always knew,” Isabelle reminded. “It was hard to miss that box and bedding on the front porch.” She took a step toward the hallway. Maybe, just maybe, she’d be able to sneak into her bedroom without more grilling about Zach. “Not that Bobbin used it much once you started letting him into the house.”
“It took me long enough to lure him in.” Sophie followed behind Isabelle as she entered her room. “Speaking of luring in, tell me about when you met Zach.”
“I didn’t lure him,” she denied, sitting on her bed and eyeing where Sophie crawled up to sit facing her.You’re going to miss this, she reminded herself, even as the thought of talking about Zach made her stomach hurt.
“You met Tuesday?” Sophie prompted.
“More like the wind blew us together the day I delivered the choir sashes. Your wedding checklist escaped from my notebook.” She still hadn’t figured that one out because she knew she’d had it tucked safely inside the journal Aunt Claudia had given her last Christmas. She should have transferred the loose checklist over to the book with the dozens of other lists jotted there, but how could she have known? “Zach caught it before the wind could blow it away, then acted as if he’d slain a dragon for me or something.”
“He looks as if he could slay a few dragons.” Leaning forward to pet Bobbin, Sophie waggled her brows. “I think you should let him.”
“What?” Isabelle frowned and gasped simultaneously. “I don’t need him, or anyone, to slay dragons for me.”
Did Sophie think Isabelle needed someone to slay dragons? That she hadn’t done a great job taking care of their family since their dad had left? Had she missed something?
“I didn’t say you needed him to. I said you should let him.” Sophie giggled as Bobbin licked her hand. “Zach sure acted as if he wanted to impress you.”
Isabelle rolled her eyes. “The only way he’s impressed me is with how annoying he is.”Liar. There’s that something in his eyes when he looks at you and what about when he’d grabbed your hand? What had all that razzle-dazzle sparking to life inside her been about?“Even if I was interested, which I’m not, his having a military background would nip that.”
Sophie’s chin lifted. “Cole has a military background and he’s the best man I know.”
“Cole is the exception.” Hopefully, she’d still believe that fifty years down the road.
“On that, he really isn’t.” Sophie picked up a throw pillow, toying with the tassels. “Take Bodie, for instance. He’s a great man, too. Just look at what a protective, loving husband and father he is. I’ve never seen Sarah happier.”
