Not now when I finally have plans for my life.
Carly swallowed her groan. First Reese and now Mrs. Sharp, hinting at her and Owen getting back together. While matchmaking came in third as entertainment behind high school football and gossip, the excitement shining on Caroline’s face made Carly want to squirm at being a target now.
People could matchmake all they wanted. She wasn’t playing. No thanks. She had plans, and they didn’t include getting involved with any man, much less one suffering from a traumatic brain injury. Carly smiled at one of her agency’s generous donors and slipped into executive director mode. “Like everyone else in Service, I’ll assist Owen any way I can.”
Carly’s gaze sought out Owen, finding him among a group of older vets, his shoulders rounded, dark circles under his eyes, his lips thin and pinched. Why weren’t his parents running interference for him?
After spotting Owen’s mother in the dining room, Carly turned to Mrs. Sharp, mumbled the standard vague but polite excuse-me-I-see-someone-I need-to-speak-with excuse, and set out to navigate the maze to reach Owen’s mother.
Before she left the kitchen, Sharon Wilburn called her name. “I left you a message, but since you’re here, I’ll ask in person. Could you take a meal to Sarah Hampton on Thursday? She broke her arm and can’t cook.”
Nodding, Carly pulled out her phone and added the item to her calendar. “I’ll be happy to. Nothing spicy, right?”
“She asked if you could bring your beef stew and homemade biscuits if you’ve got the time for that.”
Again Carly nodded and edited her note. “You sure all you need is the one night?”
“I’ve got the following Monday open too. I wasn’t going to ask you for two meals, but if you’re offering, I’ll take you up on it.”
Just like Old Faithful. Carly chided herself for her comment. Why did she do that? Someone asked for a favor, and after saying yes, she asked if she could do more. “You’re welcome, Sharon. Now if you’ll excuse me—”
“Go on. I don’t want to monopolize your time.”
Carly made it halfway to the dining room before another church member, this one arranging greeters, corralled her to fill an open slot on Sunday. When she looked up, she couldn’t locate Owen’s mother. Instead, her gaze landed on the guest of honor.
“Good to see you, Carly.”
She nodded. “You too.”
“I can’t wait for us to get started Monday.”
“Excuse me?”
“Monday. We’re starting my therapy.”
We’re?Absolutely not. For the first time in almost a year, she found herself thankful for her executive director position. Considering how jazzed up he got her with a simple look, them working together would be as smart as someone allergic to cats opening a pet store.
“I guess you haven’t heard. I’m the executive director. Unfortunately, I don’t work with clients anymore. At least not with therapy.”
“I remember hearing something about that. Congratulations.” He grabbed her hand. Tingles raced from her fingertips and through her body as he led her into the hallway away from the guests. “About my therapy. How about you make an exception for an old friend?”
She flinched. Old friend? Buzz kill. Those two words blasted away the remaining ripples of feminine excitement from his touch. “Calling me old isn’t the best strategy.”
He chuckled. The rich, warm sound tickled her down to her toes, bringing memories of the way he once teased her when she became too serious or worried. She frowned. Nothing good could come from those memories.
“I didn’t call you old. I called our friendship old.”
“An old friend hardly sounds better.”
“With my director responsibilities, I don’t have time for client therapy. Joni, the speech and language pathologist who replaced me, is wonderful. Everyone raves about what an amazing job she does.” And the fact that she was five eight, curvy in all the right places with long wavy dark hair and Southern charm helped.
“I don’t want her. I want you.”
Heat coursed through Carly, and she cursed her body for the warm, gooey feelings pulsing in her veins and other intimate places. Hormones taunting her for no good reason, because she knew he hadn’t meant hewanted herso much for her but for her therapy credentials. “I’m sorry. That’s not possible. However, my door is always open if you have concerns or questions about the agency.”
He laughed.
She frowned. “What’s so funny?”
