“Never more than twice with the same man,” Nancy countered. “You keep saying there’s no point in getting their hopes up when you know the relationships aren’t right. It’s a mystery to me how you can tell that after two dates.”
“I can usually tell after the first one,” Laura retorted. “The second date is so I won’t offend them by making a snap decision. I really try to be fair.”
“And how do you explain all these dates with J.C.? Aren’t you worried about his ego?”
“I’m sure J.C.’s ego is very healthy, and I’m not worried about it because we’re not actually dating,” she responded with frustration. “Look, I just walked in the door. I’m hungry. I have to figure out if there’s anything in the refrigerator to fix for dinner. Pie isn’t going to cut it as a meal.”
“So that was dessert you were having first,” Nancy retorted. “My money’s on Sullivan’s key lime pie.”
“Do you have binoculars in your car, for goodness’ sake?”
“Nope, just very good vision and strong motivation,” Nancy said. “Don’t squander this chance, Laura. I mean it. J.C. is a catch by anyone’s standards.”
Laura thought of his kindness and compassion, his wit and his intelligence. That he happened to be gorgeous was just an added perk. All in all, she could hardly deny what her friend was saying. Nor could she deny those sparks Nancy had claimed to see between them, but she’d learned years ago to distrust sparks. Sparks made people do crazy, irresponsible things. Hadn’t she learned that the hard way?
“I suppose if I were interested in casting a line into the dating pool, he would be a great catch,” she admitted. “But that’s just not how it is between us. He doesn’t want to be caught.”
“Bet you could change his mind,” Nancy said.
“I’m not sure I’m up for the humiliation of being rejected after being so plainly told that he’s not interested in getting involved with anyone. Sorry. I’m going to have to pass.”
Nancy sighed dramatically. “Foolish, foolish woman. Oh, well, gotta run. See you tomorrow. I’ll be the one trying to make you see the error of your ways.”
After she hung up, Laura sat down at the kitchen table and thought about the times she’d seen J.C. in recent days. Those blasted sparks had been undeniable. He’d even admitted she’d been on his mind. In some ways that was even more terrifying. What if he decided he was no longer quite so averse to getting involved with someone?
But he’d made such a point of making sure she was aware that he didn’t date. She wondered why. His declaration had been pretty unequivocal. There had to be a story behind it. Maybe if she could find out the answer to that mystery, she’d know if he was half as determined to ignore those wickedly inviting sparks as she was.
* * *
“You’re playing a dangerous game, my friend,” Cal Maddox taunted when J.C. showed up at the gym.
J.C. gave him a puzzled look. “Game?”
“With Laura Reed.”
J.C. bristled. “What game am I supposedly playing with Laura?”
“The way I hear it from very informed sources, you’ve been with her quite a lot recently.”
“So?”
“There’s talk,” Cal said, as if that were explanation enough.
“It’s Serenity,” J.C. said with a shrug. “There’s always talk about something.”
Cal chuckled. “True enough, but this talk is about you and Laura being an item. Since I’ve had the impression for a long time now, based on your refusal to accept any of the blind dates being tossed your way, that you don’t want to get seriously involved with anyone, talk is not good.”
J.C. finally saw where this was going. And they said women were terrible gossips!
“Are you trying to protect Laura? Is that it?” he asked Cal.
“Well, sure. She’s well-liked around town, especially after she pulled off a coup the way she did with Saturday’s festival. They’ll be talking about this one for years to come.”
“Okay, but what does that have to do with me?”
“Not a one of those boosters of hers are going to be happy if she’s hurt.”
“Ah,” J.C. said. “Then let me assure you that I’m not planning on hurting her.”
Cal clearly wasn’t satisfied. “Because your intentions are serious and honorable, because you have no designs on her or because you think this is just a casual game?” he pressed. “I’m telling you again, if it’s just a game, it’s a dangerous one. There will be a frenzy. And having been at the center of one myself a few years back, I can assure you, you won’t enjoy it.”
J.C. regarded him with disbelief. “A frenzy? You can’t be serious.”
“Oh, yeah,” Cal confirmed. “I’ve already heard some muttering from my wife, who got stirred up by some of the other Sweet Magnolias who were on Laura’s committee.”
“Muttering?” J.C. repeated, bewildered. This was probably one of the reasons he was a terrible candidate for another marriage. The workings of the female mind eluded him.
“‘Hurt her and die’ comes to mind,” Cal told him. “Maddie was pretty emphatic about that one.”
Since Cal had only the tiniest glint of amusement in his eyes, apparently he was mostly serious.
J.C. shook his head, walked away, then came back. “I met Laura a couple of weeks ago. I’ve seen her maybe a handful of times, and those weren’t even dates. How did this get so crazy?”
“Because you’ve seen her a bunch of times in less than a month,” Cal explained patiently. “The way I understand the logic, an engagement should be imminent. That’s the generally desirable Serenity timetable.”
“The women in this town are crazy,” J.C. muttered.
Cal laughed. “You definitely don’t want to say that in public and especially not in front of my wife or the other Sweet Magnolias. You know you’re already suspect in that circle because you work with Maddie’s ex, right? They have a very low opinion of Bill Townsend.”
“So I’ve gathered, but he’s a good doctor,” J.C. said, feeling compelled to defend his business partner. “And he’s straightened up his life.”
Cal nodded. “I can see that, too. The women, however, have very long memories.”
“So I’m never likely to get their stamp of approval because of Bill?” he asked, mystified.
“Never’s a long time,” Cal told him. “But it’ll be a process.”
J.C. shook his head. This sounded a whole lot more complicated than his quiet bachelor existence.
