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“No.”

When Matthew nodded but said nothing more, Katherine recognized that oh-so-familiar curious expression written across his face. The same expression she’d seen time and time again in so many others. And she knew he wanted to know more. Because everybodyalwayswanted to know more.

“I better get to gardening. These tools don’t operate themselves.”

When she looked down and saw only grass at her feet, Katherine felt her face color from even more embarrassment, and she wanted to run.

“Wait… you haven’t told me your name?”

“Huh?” Her head shot up, though she could hardly manage to make eye contact with him.

“You didn’t tell me your name.”

“I thought I had my gardening tools,” she murmured in confusion. “I must’ve forgotten them.”

“Trust me, I understand how that could happen if your mind was somewhere else.”

“I guess…”

“Hey, neighbor,” he said, undeterred by her embarrassment. “You were about to tell me your name.”

“Oh… sorry…” she said, stepping away from the brick wall his body was pressed against. “It’s Katie. My name is Katie.”

Though she felt an overwhelming pressure to say more, her mouth went dry, and her mind went blank.

“It’s nice to meet you, Katie.”

Hearing the handsome stranger call her Katie, Katherine instantly regretted introducing herself by that name.

From her irrational hope for a love-at-first-sight fairy tale to an awkward attempt at an exit, followed by introducing herself with the same name she only ever let Max call her, this little encounter was turning into quite the trainwreck.

“Nice to meet you too, Brandon… I mean Matthew,” she said, nearly stumbling as she stepped backward. “You should come by for dinner sometime.”

“I’d like that.” He smiled.

“I mean, you and your wife come to dinner,” she laughed nervously. “Because, of course, I meant youandyour wife. I didn’t mean you and I have dinner at my place, just the two of us.”

Katherine wished she could stop the painfully awkward words from coming out of her mouth.

“And bring your baby. I like babies. I mean, who doesn’t like babies, am I right?”

With increasing concern written across his face, Matthew watched in silence as Katherine was determined to make her escape.

“Again, nice to meet you, Matthew,” she said, somehow collecting herself. “Best of luck with your move, and congratulations to you and your family on the new house. I know how exciting that can be.”

“Katie…” he stopped her. “Do you need to talk?”

“What?”

“Do you need someone to talk to? I’m a good listener.”

Though she’d heard it countless times before, the fact that he offered to be a shoulder to cry on after saying she was pretty made Katherine’s jaw tighten in anger.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You know, we could go grab a cup of coffee or a bite to eat, and I could listen if you needed someone to vent to. Sometimes, it’s easier to share your problems with a stranger.”

“Oh really? You’d do that, huh?”