Read Love Enough For Two (Love Inspired) for Free Online Page B

perfectly nice man.”
    “A nice man who is interested in you,” Matt said dryly. “The guy had more than business on his mind.”
    Elizabeth laughed and rolled her eyes. “Yeah, right.”
    “He did,” Matt said. “That’s why I put my hand on the back of your chair. I wanted to let him know you weren’t available.”
    Elizabeth’s laughter stilled in her throat. “Are you telling me you did that to warn him off?”
    Unease coursed through Matt at the look in her eye. He shrugged and forced a nonchalant air. “He’s not your type. I was just trying to be helpful.”
    “I can fend for myself.” Her voice was cool. “Besides what if I’d liked him?”
    “You don’t like him,” Matt said. “You like me.”
    Her eyes widened and her mouth opened but no words came out. He could tell he’d surprised her. Heck, he’d surprised himself.
    But the attraction between him and Elizabeth was so strong it was almost palpable. Electricity sizzled between them, feeding off every look, every touch.
    “You seem like a nice guy,” she said finally. “But—”
    “I am a nice guy,” Matt said affably. “And, like Roger, I have white teeth. But, that’s where the similarity ends.”
    His efforts to lighten the tension were rewarded with a smile. “On the other hand—”
    “Sierra.” A tall man stopped at the tableside, his face lighting up. “What a surprise. What are you doing here?”
    Sierra?
    Matt’s gaze shifted to Elizabeth’s face. Two spots of pink slashed her cheeks but a pleasant smile graced her lips.
    “I was here for a meeting,” she answered, not making any attempt to elaborate. “Matt and I stayed after to talk.”
    The guy stared at Elizabeth for a moment and Matt took the opportunity to study him. He was tall, close to six feet four, with light brown hair, cut short and thinning on top. He couldn’t be much over thirty, but his silver-rimmed eyeglasses made him appear older. The conservatively cut three-piece navy suit didn’t do much to alter that impression.
    Since Elizabeth didn’t seem inclined to perform introductions, Matt decided to take the lead. But before he could act the man turned to Matt and stuck out his hand.
    “Carl Stieve,” he said, giving Matt the once-over. “I’m the Assistant Pastor at First Christian.”
    Matt pushed back his chair and rose, taking Carl’s hand and giving it a firm shake. “Matt Dixon, Sierra’s friend.”
    The name felt somehow right on his tongue. Maybe because he’d never felt that Elizabeth suited her. It had a staid and stuffy sound while Sierra brought to mind a clear mountain breeze. It was a free-spirited name, well-suited to her personality.
    The pastor paused, as if waiting for him to elaborate but when he didn’t the man just smiled. “Maybe I’ll see you in church some time.”
    Matt offered a noncommittal smile. “Anything is possible.”
    They talked for a few minutes longer and Matt waited until the entrance door had shut behind Carl, to speak.
    He lifted an eyebrow. “Sierra?”
    She waved a dismissive hand. “It’s a nickname. One from childhood. Most of my friends still call me that.”
    He looked at her for several heartbeats. “And what should I call you?”
    She met his gaze and that now familiar touch of pink dusted her cheeks. “Sierra. But in business dealings, I prefer you call me Elizabeth.”
    Matt thought for a moment, then nodded. “Makes sense.”
    “I’m glad you think so,” she said wryly. She lifted a glass of tea to her lips.
    Matt smiled and sat back in his chair. “Do you and the minister have something going on?”
    Sierra choked on her tea, bringing a napkin immediately to her lips. Finally when she seemed able to breathe again, she lifted her gaze to his. “Whatever makes you ask something like that?”
    “He looked at you as if you were a ten-ounce sirloin and he hadn’t eaten in days,” Matt said.
    Sierra burst out laughing. “Carl’s a vegetarian. And he likes me as a friend, a