Page 17 of Double Take

She shot her friend a speculative glance. “Maybe you’re the one who’scurious.”

“Well, yeah. But Mark was your husband. You knew him far better than I did. And John is interested in you—not me.”

She remembered the warmth of his gaze, his undivided attention. He’d sought her out. It wasn’t like he’d been in the neighborhood, or they’d run into each other by happenstance. They’d been on different planets.

“I think it might be a violation of the girl code for me to date a dead ringer of your husband,” Amity continued. “Besides…” She paused dramatically and then broke into a huge grin. “I got a match through Cosmic Mates!”

“You did? When? You didn’t tell me that!”

“It just happened. My tech-tab dinged while you were at the café. A man is interested in meeting me.”

“What does he look like?” Most of the men who joined Cosmic Mates were aliens.

“He’s really good-looking. Dark-brown hair. Brooding eyes.”

“When will you get to meet him?”

“He’ll be here in four days.”

“That’s soon. That’s”—she did a calculation in her head—“during the craft fair.” There was an annual arts-and-crafts fair in Glen Lea. She’d paid for a booth in hopes of introducing the shop and her pottery to a new clientele.

“Oh, shoot! I forgot about that! He said he’d take the next space flight to Terra Nova, and I didn’t connect the dates. I’ll try to contact him and reschedule.”

“No, no.” Faith waved her hands. “Meeting your Cosmic Mates match is important. He’s coming from another planet! I can handle the craft fair on my own.”

Manning a craft booth solo was a bit of a challenge because she had no one to spell her if she needed to eat or use the bathroom. However, other vendors were usually good about keeping an eye on your booth for a few minutes. “It will all work out,” she said.

“Are you sure?” Amity asked hopefully.

“Absolutely! Love before business.”

“Well, it may not be love. I’m only meeting him for the first time. But, since I’ll be in town, I’ll keep the shop open. We won’t lose business here while you’re away.”

“Perfect!” Faith said. “So, let me see him. Show me his picture!”

Amity’s eyes lit up, and she leaped to the counter to get her tech-tab.

I hope this works out for her, that this man turns out to be everything she desires.Her friend had begun to despair of ever meeting Mr. Right.

“Here he is!” Amity presented her tech-tab.

Her mystery man had three profile photos. He looked exactly as she’d described him: dark, handsome—and brooding. He wasn’t smiling in any of the three photos. But he was undeniably attractive. “He doesn’t look alien at all!” Faith said.

“That’s because he’s human!” Amity gestured to his profile stats.

“I’m so excited!” She hugged her friend. “I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you.”

Chapter Seven

Three days later

“Are you sure this vehicle is safe?” Bragg shifted on the seat to avoid the spring popping through the torn upholstery. The ancient metal contraption rolled on bald rubber wheels over the wet road.

It had been sunny when they left Willow Wood, but clouds soon rolled in and darkened and then released a steady rainfall.

“Safest vehicle on the road,” she said cheerfully.

“It’s the only vehicle on the road.” They’d passed very few transports, and none for the past hour.

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