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Was Wickham—standing to one side of the church entrance—also staring at Jake?

Wickham allowed his hand to rest on his holster, his firearm showing from under his suit jacket.

He’d always kept his suit jacket buttoned, never allowing his firearm to show at church before, not that she could recall.

That might cause a stir among folks. Had Blake asked Wickham to keep an eye on her ex?

It wouldn’t surprise her any, though she didn’t think Jake would be aggressive.

Especially since he was an attorney, and especially not at church.

But all the same, it was sweet to be looked after by Blake.

Lula and Kit reached Wickham’s side and said something that made him chuckle, so Blake’s driver didn’t see Jake leaving.

They were doing too good of a job of distracting him.

Lula couldn’t resist a man in uniform, but she and Kit were behaving like silly schoolgirls, the way they were carrying on.

If only Mother would nudge them along instead of pausing behind to indulge them.

She turned back to Blake when he released a sigh, likely because the now nearly empty congregation room had finally cleared of the tension Jake’s presence had brought.

Once Jake had a new love interest, tensions would improve.

Blake turned toward her and lifted her hand to his lips, brushing the back of it with a light kiss.

Woah! Why did her knees seem weak? This man—who had infuriated her for two weeks—now made her swoon.

She’d be in a daydream for the rest of the afternoon.

Maybe the entire week ahead. And she was sure her cheeks were blushing deep red.

Keeping his voice low, he smiled at her with tenderness in his eyes.

“So, Blue Eyes, I’ll plan on meeting you here on Wednesday at seven, but Bing and I will pick you up on Friday in the limo.

We should probably leave at six if we want to be on time for the play.

I’d take you to lunch this afternoon, but Bing and I were just going to grab some sandwiches from a drive-thru along the way.

We’re heading out to purchase those horses I mentioned.

It’s a long drive, over an hour away. It will likely take most of the day there and back. ”

Hensley nodded. “That’s fine. I’m planning to take it easy, but Jen and I will be ready on Friday at six.

I’ll see you on Wednesday at seven when we talk to the youth group about the fundraiser.

Maybe I can find somewhere we can go after the play for a little dancing on Friday night. Do you like to dance? ”

Blake cocked his head to one side. “I do. That sounds nice. I don’t know many country line dances though. They tried to teach me in Wyoming, but I was hopeless.”

She laughed.

“For you, I’ll try, if it’s country dancing you have in mind,” he reassured, fidgeting with his cufflinks.

Goodness, he sure dressed nicely for Sunday services! How handsome he appeared in a suit and tie. “I’m not sure where yet ... but I’ll let you know.” She had some ideas, but at present, it was his musky cologne scent thrilling her senses.

He squeezed her hand gently. “Bing and I will walk you and Jen to your car.”

She’d follow him anywhere if he kept wearing that cologne, but the four of them gradually moved toward the main doors.

Was it a signature scent? She managed to find her tongue as they made it to the entrance.

“Sure. Uh, Jen’s riding with me. I’m parked beside Lula’s car,” she explained.

“There are so many of us and we’re ready at different times.

We take three or four cars to get everyone here close to on time. ”

He chuckled. “Yeah, my sister, Shelly ... she hogged the bathroom. Brandon and I had to wait our turn. He was older, so I was usually last unless I managed to sneak in first.” He held one of the church doors open. “I can’t imagine having four sisters. We wouldn’t have made it anywhere on time.”

She smiled at this glimpse of his childhood.

They saw Lula, Kit, and MaryAnne piling into Lula’s sporty blue car in the parking lot.

Her parents and Grandmother were already in her dad’s car and pulling out of the lot.

When they reached her vehicle, Blake held her door open while Bing opened Jen’s passenger door.

After settling in behind the steering wheel and turning the engine on, Blake leaned in and kissed her when she lowered the window. Bing closed Jen’s door too. Hensley waited while Bing and Jen finished chatting .

“See you Wednesday, Blue Eyes.” Blake stepped away and Bing joined him, the two heading to Blake’s limo where Wickham waited.

Hensley released a long sigh. Was she in a daydream? Such a gentleman! Not at all as he had behaved when she’d first met him.

Bing seemed equally enthralled with Jen. She leaned back against the seat’s headrest, giving her sister a sideways glance. Jen was speechless.

“Well, what do you think of Bing?” She pulled herself from her daydream, shifting out of park into drive.

Jen smiled, biting her lower lip. “He’s a dream! Lula would say I’m in love.” Jen laughed softly.

Hensley smiled. “So is Blake. I keep pinching myself to have met him, though I admit I wasn’t too keen on him at first.”

“What brought you around?” Jen arched her brows.

“I don’t know exactly.” She waved a hand.

“He can still infuriate me sometimes. I think he has some expectations about not getting seriously involved with someone married to a career. But something tells me that his old-fashioned ideas stem from a past relationship. Anyhow, we talked and decided that’s a bridge we’ll cross if we come to it. ”

“I see.” Jen released another dreamy sigh. “Bing sure does seem like a sweet guy.”

“He does. You two seem to be hitting it off.” Hensley stole a glance at her sister who now clamped her mouth shut, which meant she didn’t plan to discuss it any further for now.

Jen would be perfect for Bing. Ha, or maybe for Blake!

Jen’s heart’s desire was to become a stay-at-home wife and mother.

She was an excellent cook and didn’t mind keeping house.

Sure, she could switch easily to don a business hat when necessary, like when she helped at the boutique or did catering.

Jen was going to make her Mr. Right extremely happy with her homemaking skills.

She was softspoken, sweet, full of genuine kindness and everything good, and the gentlest of creatures .

Hensley, lost in how far she and Blake had journeyed in their relationship, drove them the rest of the way home in comfortable silence and reflection. Sure, it would be nice to see Blake again on Wednesday, but it was their date on Friday that held most of her excitement.

Was her heart beating faster in anticipation? What on earth would she wear? Something extra nice for their first real date.

FRIDAY FINALLY ARRIVED , but all week it had seemed as if it never would.

Wednesday evening had gone well enough. Blake had stood at her side, nodding at all of the right times when she addressed the youth.

By a show of hands, were all on board—maybe because they were curious about Blake’s limo and that log cabin resort.

June Milton was scheduled for the closing shift, giving Hensley and Jen extra time to get ready.

Hensley chose a cream dress with a pink floral print design and cream heels.

Jen selected a mint green dress with a white peplum jacket and gray heels.

They would wear dress coats since the weather would be nippy by the time it grew dark.

When the limousine pulled into the gravel lane leading to the house, Lula squealed from her front-facing room on the second floor, alerting the household. Jen and Hensley were putting the finishing touches on their makeup in Hensley’s room on the third floor.

Lula’s footsteps clicked as she ran downstairs to answer the door. About two minutes later, she climbed the staircase to reiterate the news of their arrival. Her new spring sandals already irritated Hensley with the way they reverberated through the halls.

Their middle sister flew into Hensley’s room without knocking. “They’re here, they’re here!” Breathless, she paused, glancing from one to the other. “Jenny, your new admirer, Bing, is here, and he arrived in Hensley’s darling Blake’s limo, driven by the handsome Lewis Wickham. ”

She fell back onto Hensley’s bed and let out a long sigh followed by, “Oh, Wickham! When will you notice me?” She rolled over onto her stomach. “Hensley, you must put a good word in for me with Wickham.”

Hensley gasped. “I will do nothing of the sort. I barely know him.”

Lula protested. “But he’s been driving you and Blake around for weeks. And he’s so very handsome! Have you seen that uniform he wears and the gun he carries? You know I can’t resist a man in uniform. I am sure that I am in love.”

“Yet another reason why I won’t be mentioning my little sister to him.

” Hensley smiled at the reflection of her sister in her vanity mirror.

Lula obviously had a crush on Wickham. She shook her head before widening her eyes as she applied a final layer of mascara.

When she finished and twisted the cap shut, she spun around on her vanity seat.

“What about that boy you mentioned a few weeks ago ... Mark?”

Lula sat up on the edge of the bed and waved her hand. “That was before I met Lewis Wickham.”

“You’re a wonderful photographer, but you’re a terrible and fickle flirt!” Hensley sighed and rose to slip into her cream heels. They weren’t too high, and they had chunky heels and sturdy straps around the ankles. Great for keeping one’s balance when dancing.

“I hate to break it to you, Lula, but Hensley is right. You are flirtatious and boy crazy.” Jen, standing at Hensley’s dresser, sprayed perfume on her wrists and neck.