Page 73 of Sing with Me

“Well, how about I pay double?”

“No. This is not Japan where you can pay a stranger to come to your house and eat dinner with you.” Skye kept her voice down.

The checkout lady glanced her way as she scanned another customer’s groceries.

“They do that over there?” Diehl asked. “Must be terribly sad to be so lonely that you have to rent a family.”

They made quick work of loading Skye’s car.

Before Diehl pushed the cart back to the store, he offered to help her unload the groceries wherever she was going.

“Sometimes I will drop them off at the client’s house, but today, I will be taking them home. After church tonight, I have some prep work to do.”

“I thought you don’t work on weekends.”

“Except when the clients ask for certain dishes on Mondays that take time to prepare.”

“Is it me?” Diehl asked.

“No. The fishmonger has already scaled and filleted your fish, so all I have to do tomorrow is clean and cook it.”

“I saw that you bought a giant piece of fish. I don’t eat that much.”

“Don’t worry about it. You’re sharing it with my other client.”

“That’s smart planning.” He still hadn’t taken the cart back.

Skye jingled her keys. “Thank you again for helping. Will you be in church tonight?”

“I’m planning on it. May I sit with you?”

“Sure. There are no names on chairs—unlike in the nineteenth century.”

Diehl checked his watch. “We have two hours before church.”

“You do. I have to take these home, and then run back to church for a meeting.”

“What about?” Diehl asked.

“Such a curious guy, you are.” Skye waited to see if he would let it pass. He didn’t so she told him. “Matt asked me to fill in for someone in the upcoming fall festival. We’re doing four guitars.”

“Wow. I’d like to see that.”

“It’s in September. Aren’t you supposed to be back in Atlanta by then?”

Diehl nodded. “Doesn’t mean I can’t come back again.”

“Just to see us play guitar?”

Diehl reached for her face. “To see you.”

He lowered his lips…

Once again, Skye didn’t stop him. How could she? She enjoyed their moment as much as he evidently did.

The sun baked down on them, and Skye knew she had to get her groceries home. Fortunately, the fish and steak were in bags of ice, so she might have a few minutes to spare.

“Hello,” someone said. A woman’s voice.

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