An Unlikely Match

His eyes pierced theshort distance between them, and an unwelcome tension settled into a knot in her stomach.
“There’s the zoo, the corn maze in the fall, or we can always go horseback riding.” She glanced his way, but quickly facedforward again when his leg brushed against hers. “Uh . . . in the winter, we go on sleigh rides. And there are singings heldfor the young people. We find lots of things to do.”
He was looking ahead but gave her a sidelong glance as if contemplating something, and the longer he was silent, the largerthe knot in her stomach grew.
“Well, then.” He tipped his head to one side. “We have to go to a movie.”
Evelyn’s eyes widened. “What?” Was this English stranger asking her out?
He crinkled his nose and frowned. “Wow. What was I thinking? Someone as gorgeous as you must have a boyfriend.” A swath of his wavy dark hair fell across his forehead. After he pushed it aside, he said, “You need to make him take you to a movie.”
“Nee, I don’t have a boyfriend.” Evelyn’s chest tightened, and she wished she’d kept quiet. Now she’d opened a door she wasn’tready to walk through. She was, however, basking in the compliment.
*  *  *
Jayce stared at the beautiful Amish woman far too long, and she refocused on the road. He continued to take in her features.Dark hair tucked beneath that thing on her head, which he assumed had some kind of religious meaning. Green eyes set againsta dark olive complexion, like a really good tan from being outside a lot. He’d already noticed her slender figure when herapron was tied around her waist. All other physical details were hidden beneath the dark-green dress she wore.
The few times she’d smiled, her face lit up. The woman was a knockout.
“Sorry.” He gave his head a quick shake. “I know I’m staring. I just don’t see how someone as pretty as you isn’t spoken for.”He laughed. “Or hasn’t been to a movie. I grew up in a theater. I love movies, which is ironic because I hate my father’sbusiness, and I’m not fond of enclosed spaces. I do okay as long as I know I can leave. It’s the feeling trapped that bothersme.”
“I’m not sure I understand.” She glanced his way briefly.
“For example, elevators are a problem. Even going up one floor makes my heart race.” He shrugged. “Yeah, weird, I know. I’d flip out if I ever got stuck in an elevator. Luckily, that’s never happened.”
“I don’t think it’s weird.” She spoke with confidence, like she really didn’t think his claustrophobia was odd. She seemedlike a sweet girl. Maybe that was why he was oversharing.
“Theaters, restaurants—even small ones—don’t bother me because I can get up and walk out. Tomorrow I’ll be in a cave whilethey shoot my dad’s latest movie. Caves are big, spacious, and I can leave anytime I want. If I feel like I’m going to suffocate,I’ll walk outside for a break.”
She slowed the horse, turned to face him, and with sympathy in her eyes said, “You have to go by boat into the cave. There’sno way in or out except by boat.”
Jayce felt like a hand was closing around his throat. “You’re kidding.”
“Nee. Each boat holds twelve or thirteen people, I think. To return to the dock, everyone in the boat would have to go back too.”
Jayce groaned. “I had reservations about this trip, but I’ve been in other caves. And they all had easy exits.” He leanedhis head back and momentarily squeezed his eyes closed. No wonder his father offered him a ridiculous amount of money forthis project. In addition to wanting Jayce to move out of his apartment, his father would have an opportunity to humiliatehim in front of the crew.
“I’m sure dear old Dad has picked a place that will make me feel like I’m dying.” He half snickered, half growled. “Wow. I sound like a wimp. I don’t even know why I’m telling you this.” He was quiet for a few seconds. “Hey, your people are religious, right? Maybe you can pray for me? You can bet I’ll be praying, but I suspect you have a more direct line to the Big Guy.”
She laughed and her green eyes twinkled against her olive complexion, which rendered her even more beautiful. Wow. “Gott hears all of our prayers equally, but I do think when we pray for others He hears those prayers before the ones we say forourselves.”
“Great. I’m going to need an abundance of prayers. As many as you can spare, beginning immediately.” He winked at her andwas unsure if she saw the gesture at first, but then she began to blush.
“In return for all those prayers, I’m going to take you to a movie.” He kept his eyes on hers as they widened. He waited forher to say no.
Instead, she pointed right. “We turn there, and the Bargain Center is on the left a little farther down.”
“What night do you want to go to a movie? Unfortunately, I’ll be trapped in caves most days. There’s bound to be a theaternot too far away, right?”
“Um . . .” She looked at him again. “I think the theater in Washington is the closest. It’s only eleven miles away, so thehorse can make the trip.”
He couldn’t stop the grin that covered his face. She didn’t say no! “No, I should pick you up. Isn’t that proper protocol, even here? I’ve got access to cars and drivers. Or we can call a cabor Uber.”
She giggled, and her eyes twinkled again as her cheeks dimpled. “I’m afraid we don’t have cabs or whatever that other thingis.”
“Then car it is. What night and what time?” He rubbed his hands together. “This is going to be great—watching someone experiencetheir first movie.”
She pulled into the parking lot of the mini Walmart and right up to a hitching post. “Well, that’s convenient,” he said as he stepped out of the buggy and waited for her to tether the horse next to two other horses and buggies. “I guess a few Amish