“So, how was your visit with your sister?”
Jillian dabbed the corner of her mouth with her napkin. “Very nice, thank you. I meet her at the mall every Sunday after church, and she always gets the gooiest and most fattening donut she can find because she doesn’t have to share it with her kids.”
“I think I can appreciate how she feels.” Jed grinned.
“She’s got four kids, and she needs the break.”
Jed laughed. “Mark and Betsy are great kids, but some days I think if I hear one more round of ‘Uncle Jed, Uncle Jed!’ I’ll scream.”
Jillian nodded. “I know what you mean. After seeing other people’s kids every day, sometimes I think I’d like to scream, too. But I wouldn’t ever do anything else.”
“So, does your sister go to the same church as you?”
Jillian wondered at his sudden change of subject, grateful for it at the same time. “No. She doesn’t go to church at all.”
Jed paused, a piece of pizza halfway to his mouth. He put it back on his plate and folded his hands on the table. “How long have you been a Christian, Jillian?”
“I guess about four years. How about you?”
“All my life.”
She envied him. The routine, the stability, the bond of a family that loved God and loved each other was something she saw all the time but had never experienced. The faith his parents modeled and instilled in him as a child extended to the next generation, because she knew from Mark that his whole family attended church regularly as well.
Likewise, Jed would probably marry a nice Christian woman and have nice Christian kids. She suddenly felt jealous of the unknown woman. “Must have been nice.”
He smiled, his gaze becoming unfocused for a few seconds before he made eye contact with her again. She could only imagine the fond memories he held. In order for Jed to be baby-sitting and living with his sister’s family, they no doubt had grown up very close.
“Yeah,” he said, still smiling, “it was.”
Soon only a few stray crumbs and one lone mushroom stem remained on the round tray. Jed paid the bill and led her outside. As Jed opened the passenger door, Jillian froze, having forgotten until this exact second her problem with her entrance into his truck. She eyed the step, knowing that again she would need Jed’s help. She regretted her decision not to change her skirt when she had the chance.
Jed bowed. “Milady,” he said a little too courteously as his head came up. He was obviously trying to stifle a smile. Without asking if she needed assistance, his hands grasped her firmly by the hips and he boosted her up once more. The touch was innocent enough, but it sent shivers through Jillian anyway.
They arrived at the theater in plenty of time. Jillian slithered down from the seat to the ground, the trip out much easier than the trip in.
Once inside, Jed followed Jillian instead of leading the way to the back, where he preferred to sit. Being so tall and broadshouldered, he liked to be courteous to any unlucky short people who had the misfortune to get stuck sitting behind him. He said nothing, though, leaving the decision up to her.
Instead of scanning the theater, Jed watched Jillian nervously checking out the location of the empty seats, taking note of a few couples already starting to get cuddly in the back row. Her posture stiffened, she grabbed his hand, and then she led him to the back row. “I chose the back because you’re so tall.”
Jed pressed his lips together, but he couldn’t help himself. “Was that an invitation or a warning?”
The way her eyebrows knotted and her lips tightened indicated that it was indeed a warning. He raised one hand in the air in his good-old-boy-scout routine. Not that he’d ever been a scout. “Your virtue is safe, milady.”
“Don’t push your luck, Jed.”
He watched Jillian as she sank into her seat. She intrigued him. She fascinated him. She was intelligent and fun. To his surprise, she had encouraged him when he told her about his preparations for college next fall. Of course she had a higher education with her bachelor of music, so she knew the commitment involved, in addition to the expense of obtaining a degree.
True to his word, Jed behaved himself, enjoyed the movie, and kept his hands to himself. As the houselights came on, Jed wondered what he could do to further stretch out the evening. He slowly led her outside into the parking lot.
Jillian’s voice broke his train of thought. “What are you grinning about?”
“I’m hungry.”
“Hungry? After all that pizza?”
“I feel like a big sticky donut.”
“You don’t look like a big sticky donut.”
“Aw, come on. Ever since you mentioned it when you were talking about your sister, I’ve been thinking of donuts.”
Jillian opened her mouth to protest but changed her mind. Despite her intentions to tell him that they wouldn’t be wise to see each other outside of their lessons, she didn’t want the evening to end. Besides, one could never eat too many fattening donuts. Jillian rested her hands on the door frame of the truck, waiting for Jed to boost her up again, telling herself that next time they went out together, they would take her little car, and he could be the passenger.
She glanced over her shoulder, trying not to appear nervous as she watched him stuff his keys in his pocket. What was she doing making plans, even if they were only in her mind? Twice a week for piano lessons was enough.
Once inside, she fastened her seat belt, watching Jed easily swing himself into the truck and start the engine. She couldn’t believe how effortlessly he had hoisted her up; she hadn’t had time to make even a cursory hop. Jed had picked her up and placed her on the seat of the truck as if he were lifting a child.
His voice broke through her thoughts. “What are you staring at, Jillian? Do I have popcorn in my hair or something?”
She couldn’t help her blush. “You lifted me so easily; it made me wonder if you worked out or something.”
Jed chuckled. “Only on the job. Most of the tool caddies weigh more than you do.”
Despite her best efforts to keep herself trim, Jillian knew she weighed a few pounds more than the books said she should, but she had no intention of telling that to Jed.
Unconsciously, Jillian pointed her finger to the right and inhaled to speak, but Jed shook his head. “This time I don’t need directions. I know where the all-night donut shop is.”
Immediately upon entering, they discovered a group of young men causing a ruckus in the corner, which was not the relaxing atmosphere they had hoped for.
With one hand on his arm, Jillian whispered as close as she could get to Jed’s ear, “Let’s bring a couple of donuts back to my place, and then I can make some decent coffee, too.”
He leaned down and whispered his reply in her ear. “Only if you let me pay.”
A deal she couldn’t refuse.
She followed Jed to the counter to purchase their selections. When she reached for the napkins, the dispenser was empty. “I’ll be right back; just get something chocolate for me,” she said to Jed and walked to one of the tables to help herself. As she tugged a couple napkins out of the holder, conversation among the rowdy crowd in the corner stopped.
“Hey, babe, these ones are better.”
Jillian raised her head to see everyone staring at her. Rather, they were staring down the neckline of her sweater as she leaned over, leering and making rude comments among themselves, loud enough so she could hear them, too. Standing abruptly, she pressed her hand to the neckline and turned toward Jed, who was busy talking to the clerk, laughing as he fished through his wallet. He wasn’t looking in her direction.
As she turned her head forward again, two members of the obnoxious crowd left their table and approached her. She could smell the liquor on their breath from five feet away.
Jillian stepped backward, but found herself pressed against the wall. Since they were in a public establishment, she knew she probably wasn’t in any real danger, but still, she didn’t want to be humiliated if they tried to touch her.
Her attempt at confidence dissolved as the largest of the group continued to approach until he was within a foot of her. Jillian started to open her mouth to call out to Jed, but no sound came out. The stench of liquor nearly made her gag.
“Hey, babe, want some help?” he sneered. Her stomach churned.
From the counter, she heard Jed mumble something, and in a flash he stood beside her. “Let’s get out of here.” With his arm around her waist, he ushered her out as the onlookers watched in silence. As the door closed, the whistles, catcalls, and lewd remarks began.
Jed inserted the key into the lock on the passenger door. “I’m sorry, Jillian. I wasn’t paying attention, and I should have been watching.”
She rested one hand on his arm as he turned the key. “It’s okay, Jed. It all happened so fast, and I really wasn’t in any danger, even if they were a disgusting bunch.”
Already standing beside her, Jed turned, then tipped her chin up with two fingers, positioning her so she was staring up into his face. In the glow of the distant streetlights, his blue eyes glistened, and his expression caused her heart to miss a beat.
“Jillian. . .” Jed’s voice trailed off as his eyes closed and his head lowered. The butterfly touch of his lips on hers almost made Jillian sink to the ground as all the strength left her legs. When he pulled away, Jillian missed the brief contact; without thinking, she lifted her chin and leaned into him.
In response, Jed’s hand moved from her chin to her nape, and his other hand, still holding the bag from the donut shop, brushed the small of her back. He tilted his head and kissed her fully on the mouth.
All coherent thought drifted out of Jillian’s mind; the fact that they were standing outside in the parking lot registered, but barely, as she raised her arms to drape them around the back of his neck—and then she kissed him back. Jed’s arms tightened around her as she rose on her toes and let herself drown in his kiss, until the sound of a car horn startled them apart.
Jillian backed up a step and stood frozen, unable to comprehend what she had just done. Jed backed up slowly, his eyes wide. Jillian wished she knew what he was thinking.
He stiffened, then opened the truck door. Jed reached inside, then turned back to her. “Donuts are in. You’re next.” As before, he lifted her with ease and gently guided her onto the seat.
Jillian cleared her throat, trying to appear calm, although inside, she was a bundle of nerves. “Am I being foolhardy inviting you over at this late hour?”
Jed started the engine, then turned to smile at her. “I don’t think so.”
His smile did funny things to her equilibrium. Feeling suddenly warm, Jillian started to roll the window down, thinking the fresh air would help her come to her senses. She looped her fingers over the window when it was three-quarters of the way down and inhaled deeply just as she heard the sound of footsteps.
“Hey, honey, where ya goin’?” the slurred voice of the guy from the donut shop drifted in. In the blink of an eye, his hand shot through the window and he grabbed her wrist before she realized what was happening. Jillian let out a startled squeak and tried to pull away, but he didn’t let go.
In a flash, Jed’s arm shot across her and grasped the drunk’s wrist in an iron grip. He twisted until the man let go, but Jed didn’t release him. Instead, he gave the man’s wrist a few firm squeezes.
“That wasn’t very nice,” Jed growled. “Do you have something to say to the lady?”
The man cursed a blue streak and called Jillian a number of rude names. Jed increased the pressure and twisted again. “Well?” he snarled.
“Sorry! Ow! Sorry!”
Jed thrust the man’s arm out the window. “You’re lucky I’m in here and you’re out there.”
The drunk stumbled back into the donut shop. Jillian’s heart pounded and her hands shook as she rubbed her wrist with her other hand. Shock started to take effect as the back of her eyes burned. She didn’t want to cry, not here, not in front of Jed.
“You okay?” he asked. He reached one hand toward her, but Jillian automatically flinched, then regretted it. Jed leaned back in his seat and gripped the steering wheel with both hands.
Jillian nodded, not wanting to talk about it for fear of bursting into tears. “Let’s just go home,” she finally gulped.
Jed filled the entire trip home with light and cheerful conversation, helping Jillian put the unpleasant incident behind her.
She slid out of the truck one last time, her hand carefully clutching the hem of her skirt to protect her modesty. As she started to push the door shut, Jed caught it and pulled it open. “Wait,” he mumbled.
Jillian’s breath caught and her heartbeat quickened as Jed’s hand moved toward her. He stepped beside her and started to bend down. Was he going to kiss her again? Jillian nearly melted at the thought. She started to move closer to him, but to her surprise, he didn’t touch her. He reached past her, then leaned into the truck.
Grinning, he pulled out the bag of donuts from behind the seat and held them in the air. “Now, we can go in.”
Jillian forced herself to smile. Was she doing the right thing?