The Christmas Date. Michele Dunaway

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СКАЧАТЬ work,” she said somewhat lamely.

      Nora didn’t seem too perturbed. “We’ll just have to arrange something that fits into your schedule. You’ll love Niles. He was a magna cum laude at Georgia Tech.”

      “He’s a geek,” Frieda announced. “You can say no, Kate. Have you seen Niles’s photos?”

      “Frieda Webster!” Nora placed her aged hands on her hips and gazed over her glasses. Despite her petite size, Nora packed a powerful punch. “You take that back. Niles is perfect for Kate.”

      Frieda tossed her head, her hair-sprayed gray hair not budging an inch. “No, he’s not. Tyler’s much better.”

      “Much better at what?” Tyler strode back into the room and grinned. “Thelma—I think that’s her name—is organizing my underwear drawer. I figured a hasty retreat was best.”

      Still sitting in the chair, Kate dropped her head into her hands. How could he be so nonchalant and naive? Didn’t he have a clue? Dogwood Lane would be gossiping about his boxers or briefs for weeks to come. The residents thrived on things like that to spice up their bunco nights.

      “Well,” Nora said, relaxing her posture somewhat, “why don’t you just take a break and keep us company. I was telling Kate all about my grandson Niles. He’s visiting over the holidays. Normally, I travel to Jacksonville, but this year, as the family is going every which way, he’s agreed to come down here for a change.”

      “Really?” Tyler feigned interest as he poured himself a glass of water from the tap. He’d given up on beer after finishing the first one.

      “Yes. Did Rita tell you about her granddaughter Jane? Such a pretty little thing. She’s an elementary teacher in Lakeland.”

      Tyler shrugged. “She forgot to mention that part.”

      “Well, you’ll have to meet her. Just like Kate is going to meet my Niles,” Nora declared.

      “Oh, I’m sure she’s looking forward to it,” Tyler said, giving Kate a wink. After listening to all the single-women stories, he knew exactly what Kate dealt with. Her neighbors were the matchmakers from hell.

      “Of course Kate wants to meet Niles,” Nora insisted.

      Frieda coughed, the noise sounding like the word bull.

      “Frieda!” Nora’s expression was aghast.

      “Something stuck in my throat,” Frieda said, waving her hand in front of her face.

      “I’m going to check on Thelma.” As if unable to endure the conversation any longer, Kate left the room.

      “So. About Jane,” Nora began, ignoring Kate’s departure.

      “About Jane,” Tyler interrupted. He had no plans to date anyone’s granddaughter. Although Kate…She was someone he wouldn’t mind knowing better—intimately better—in spite of his rule not to get involved with his neighbors.

      “It’s probably just as well that I don’t meet Jane,” Tyler said, ready to stop the matchmaking madness. “Unfortunately, I don’t have time for relationships. I’ll be on another assignment in just a few days. While I’m thinking of it, my sister is a tall thin blonde who drives a BMW convertible. Tara will pop by occasionally when I’m out of town to check on the place. She’s got a key.”

      Nora nodded. “I’m glad you told me. We’re very careful on this street.”

      “She keeps binoculars and a notebook by every window,” Frieda said.

      Good grief. He’d thought Kate had been exaggerating. “Kate said you were very vigilant.”

      “Someone has to be. There’s nowhere safe anymore,” Nora said. “Have you ever seen those It Takes a Thief shows?”

      “The last bit of action we had on this block was when raccoons knocked over Elmer’s trash cans last year,” Frieda interjected.

      “One still can’t be too careful,” Nora persisted, shooting Frieda a dirty look. “Kate is prone to just opening her door without peering outside first. And you can’t leave windows ajar anymore without having window guards. My Niles is good with tools. He said he’d install some for Kate while he’s here.”

      Niles in Kate’s house? Even though he’d known Kate mere hours, Tyler didn’t like the sound of that. “You know, Nora, the fact that this neighborhood is pretty safe is a credit to you, and I can agree with your point. I’ll secure Kate’s windows. I’m quite handy, although probably not as handy as your Niles.”

      That sounded good. Compliment and go for what you want at the same time. His mama hadn’t raised a fool.

      “You’d do that?” Nora paused, her expression skeptical behind her glasses.

      “Of course I would. I could also get it done sooner, since security is of such essence and Niles won’t be here for a few weeks. The TV news just reported on how thieves increase their activity around the holidays.”

      He wasn’t sure if that was true, and he drew himself up a little straighter under Nora’s scrutiny. “After all,” he told her, “it’s the very least I can do after Kate’s been so neighborly to help me out by cleaning.”

      “Hmm.” Nora pondered the idea for a moment, refusing to cave easily.

      “I think you should take her to dinner, instead,” Frieda stated. Her smile widened. “In fact, that would be a perfect way to repay Kate for her generosity tonight. In addition to fixing her windows, of course.”

      “Really, that’s not necessary,” Nora declared, shooting Frieda a signal Tyler couldn’t quite decipher.

      “Dinner,” Frieda insisted, cutting Nora off. “How about that idea, Tyler?”

      In for a penny…

      “I think dinner might just be doable.”

      FROM HER VANTAGE POINT outside the doorway, Kate saw Tyler’s nod of agreement. Instantly, her heart dropped like a stone.

      Did the man not have a clue? Of course not. Tyler was a man—meaning, he was dense. He’d just moved in, but it didn’t take a rocket scientist to realize what everyone else knew—that Frieda and Nora wanted Kate married, and Frieda would be happier if it wasn’t to Nora’s nerdy grandson, Niles.

      Best friends for over thirty years, Nora and Frieda were also each other’s worst enemies, especially when matchmaking and gin games were involved. Each of them hated when the other one won. Ever since Sandra had died, the two women had taken on Kate’s love life as a top priority, second only to those gin games and the Neighborhood Watch.

      Ready to put an end to the dinner idea, Kate stepped into the kitchen. However, the daring look Tyler shot her curled her toes, and Kate struggled for composure. Did she wipe that smug expression off his face by rejecting his offer, or take his challenge and accept?

      Tyler Nichols had the body of a god. From what she’d seen of his interaction with the Dogwood Lane matrons, he also had a sense of humor. His job told Kate that he had bravery, СКАЧАТЬ