An Unlikely Match

matter how she spun it, her description of the evening felt like a lie. What she couldn’t tell her family, or anyone else,was how wildly attracted she was to Jayce. And it wasn’t just his looks. It was the compassion he showed Millie and the waythe horse had nudged him and allowed Jayce to help.
A date with an English man who would be gone in a month shouldn’t feel like a threat at all. How much could she possibly feelfor him in such a short time? She was probably just getting ahead of herself. They were going out tomorrow night, and thatwould be the end of it.
*  *  *
Jayce slid into the front seat of the limo. Unlike his father and the others, he preferred to sit up front with their hireddriver, Billy.
“What are you doing way over here? You walk all this way?” Billy was about his father’s age, but a whole lot nicer.
“I got mad at the old man and took off on foot to clear my head. Then I helped an Amish damsel in distress.” He paused, smiling.“A beautiful Amish damsel in distress.”
“What was wrong with her?” Billy’s eyebrows drew inward in a concerned expression.
“Actually, she was okay. It was her horse. The mare had a piece of glass in one of her hooves, stuck right in the side of the shoe. I wasable to get it out. Then I remembered I forgot my socks and a couple other things, so she let me ride here with her. She worksinside.” He nodded to the store as Billy pulled out of the parking lot. “But they didn’t have socks or the other things. I’llhit Walmart in the next day or so.”
“What were you and your father fighting about this time?” Billy frowned as he turned onto the main highway.
“He was out of line this time. I know sometimes it’s my fault, but not this time.” Jayce pulled his visor down to block thesun. “There was this older man. He came in the dining room when I was eating.” He glanced at Billy. “By the way, you shouldhave eaten when we got there. Best meal I’ve ever had.” He waved a dismissive hand and looked out the window.
“Anyway, this man—they called him Gus—he started basically screaming at those sweet ladies who own the inn. He was reallyobnoxious and rude. I felt like I had to say something, so I politely asked him not to talk to them that way. Then he triedto get all up in my face. Can you believe that?” He turned back to Billy. “He’s probably in his seventies. Anyway, he finallyleft, and then Dad came barging into the room ranting that he heard me from upstairs. He demanded to know what I’d done—said I was stirring up trouble the first day.” Jayce shook his head as hetold Billy how the women tried to defend him, but his father wasn’t hearing it.
“I got up and walked out.”
Billy didn’t say anything. He’d worked for Jayce’s father for a long time, so he knew the man well. But Billy was fair and if asked for an opinion, he’d give an honest answer.
“He was the one out of line, right?” Jayce finally asked.
Billy thought for a few more seconds before he answered. “Yes, I suppose he was. Although, after what happened recently, Ican see why he would jump to conclusions.”
Jayce leaned back into the headrest and sighed. “That wasn’t my fault either.”
“But it happened.” Billy paused. “You’re a good guy, Jayce, but you need to learn to control your temper.”
He respected Billy but still felt the need to defend his actions. “Never once have I lost my cool when it wasn’t warranted.”
“You might believe that to be true, but a real man will walk away from a physical encounter if he can.”
Jayce shook his head. “That’s being a coward. And if I hadn’t stood up for those women, I would have felt guilty. I didn’tthink I’d have to hit the man, but he had no business talking to them like he was.”
They were quiet for the last short stretch back to the inn until Jayce said, “I asked that Amish girl to dinner and a movietomorrow night. Can you believe she’s never seen a movie?”
Billy slowed the car almost to a stop when they turned onto the road that led to the inn. “Do you know anything about theAmish?”
Jayce shrugged. “They all dress alike and ride in buggies. But man, this woman is gorgeous.”
Billy pulled off the road and put the car in park. Jayce could see the inn in the distance and hear the hum of the generators if he listened closely. Gus was probably going nuts about the noise.
“I lived in Pennsylvania for a while when I was around your age, in Lancaster County.” Billy paused and waited for Jayce tolook at him. “So I know a lot about the Amish. And for starters, they generally don’t mix with outsiders. Granted, I don’tknow if the rules are different here, but I think some things are universal. They are very religious, for one thing.”
“I believe in God.” Jayce sat taller, feeling a little offended.
“I’m not calling your relationship with God into question. I’m just telling you that the Amish believe in a literal interpretationof the Bible, and one of the things they believe very strongly is that you turn the other cheek. They are very passive. They won’t engage in a fight, even if provoked. Also, this girl you’re going out with isn’t like anyone you’ve datedback home.”
Jayce shrugged again. “Her choice of clothing isn’t the best, but her beauty makes up for it.” Jayce pushed his visor backup and nodded toward the house. “Why are we stopped to have this conversation?”
“Because it’s important for you to understand that this girl is . . . pure.” He lifted an eyebrow. “You following me? Andshe’ll stay that way until she gets married. So don’t pressure her to do anything, not even so much as a kiss.”
“I have my faults, but I have never pressured