A Match Made in Good Hope (A Good Hope Novel Book 9) Read online

  A Match Made in Good Hope

  Cindy Kirk

  Copyright © Cynthia Rutledge 2019

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Chapter One

  Valentine’s Day sucked.

  Katie Ruth Crewes was no stranger to this particular holiday gone bad. It was her own fault she felt so low. She’d set her hopes too high for tonight.

  Not that she expected a rom-com-worthy Valentine’s Day. Just a nice night with an old friend, maybe ending in a sweet good night kiss at the door. But this was shaping up to be the worst Valentine’s Day ever.

  No, not the worst. That title would always belong to the holiday eight years ago when she’d been part of a Valentine’s Day bachelorette weekend in Vegas that had gone very, very wrong.

  The bride had gotten alcohol poisoning, the maid of honor lost a small fortune in the casino, and Katie Ruth had—

  She shut her eyes against the memory. She’d been a different person back then. Those wild and crazy few years were definitely in the rearview.

  Tonight’s Valentine’s disaster was still very much front and center.

  The fact she had a date for the party at Kyle and Eliza Kendrick’s home had itself been a cause to rejoice. Last year, when she turned the big 3-0, she’d spent V-Day alone with a pint of Ben & Jerry’s, watching Shakespeare in Love for the zillionth time.

  The sad part was, that had been a better night than some of the ones she’d spent with a man.

  She slanted a glance at Dexter Woodard, her date for the evening’s festivities. He and Beckett Cross—attorney and restaurateur—were currently engaged in a deep conversation about something to do with physics and mass transfer.

  Katie Ruth, well, she was pretending to be interested.

  When Beck’s wife, Ami, strolled up with two glasses of fruit punch, Katie Ruth flashed a relieved smile. The cavalry had arrived.

  Ami handed a crystal cup to Katie Ruth. She listened for a second to the conversation between her husband and Dexter. Then she stepped back and made a come-with-me motion. Apparently, Katie Ruth wasn’t the only one bored by biotechnology chatter.

  “You look ready to pop.” Katie Ruth widened her eyes at the sight of Ami’s pregnant belly, covered by the soft red fabric of a wrap dress. “I’m surprised you came this evening.”

  “It feels good to be out instead of sitting at home wondering if today’s the day.” Ami, her blond hair pulled back from her face with two sparkling butterfly clips, rested a hand on the mound. “We’re all excited to meet him or her.”

  All, Katie Ruth knew, included soon-to-be big sister, two-year-old Sarah Rose.

  “I wonder if it’ll be a boy or girl.” Though Katie Ruth didn’t have any children, many of the women she’d gone to high school with were having babies this spring. They usually loved talking about their children or their pregnancies.

  Which was why Katie Ruth was surprised when Ami waved the topic aside and leaned close, her voice barely above a whisper. “Eliza mentioned you were bringing a plus one. She didn’t say it was Dexter.”

  Katie Ruth understood Ami’s interest. Dexter had gone to high school in Good Hope. Then he’d left for college and built a life elsewhere.

  Ami’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. “When did he get back?”

  “A couple of days ago.” Katie Ruth took a sip of fruit punch and kept her tone matter-of-fact. “His mom was recently diagnosed with cancer. Dexter wanted to be here when she has surgery on Monday.”

  “I hope she’ll be okay.” Ami’s green eyes clouded. “I really like LaDonna. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the woman without a smile on her face.”

  Katie Ruth nodded. “Dexter has nice parents.”

  Parents who’d never said a word to Katie Ruth about the scandal affecting her own family.

  “I have to say,” Ami’s red lips curved, “I’m impressed.”

  Confused, Katie Ruth inclined her head.

  “You move fast.” Ami chuckled. “The guy barely hits the city limits, and you snag a date for the most romantic evening of the year.”

  “You misunderstand.” Katie Ruth spoke quickly. Knowing how easily rumors could take hold and spread, she needed to make it absolutely clear this wasn’t a date. They were simply two friends from high school attending a party together. “It’s not like that.”

  “Not like what?” Eliza Kendrick, hostess of the party and Ami’s BFF, interrupted without apology.

  Like Ami, Eliza was pregnant, though not due for a couple of months. Instead of looking like a beach ball beneath her stylish black cocktail dress, Eliza’s baby bump was more like a cantaloupe.

  “Katie Ruth was about to spill how she and Dexter hooked up tonight,” Ami told her friend.

  Katie Ruth stifled a groan.

  Eliza’s gray eyes shifted to the man still in conversation with Beck, now gesturing excitedly with his hands as he made a point. “He’s certainly changed since high school.”

  That was the understatement of the year. The tall man, with his athletic build, dark wavy hair and brilliant blue eyes behind stylish eyewear, bore no resemblance to the boy. Back then, Dexter had been a beanpole with glasses that were always slipping down his nose, and he’d had an awkwardness around anyone of the female persuasion.

  He’d also been scary-smart and fascinated by anything to do with science and math. He—like Katie Ruth—had led a comfortable existence on the outer fringe of the popular crowd.

  As if sensing their assessing gazes, Mr. Geek-Turned-Hunk turned to direct a megawatt smile at their hostess. “Eliza Shaw. Thank you for allowing me to crash your party.”

  “It’s Kendrick now.” Eliza smiled even as she continued to openly study him. “And you didn’t crash. You came with Katie Ruth.”

  Dexter offered Katie Ruth a quick smile, then immediately refocused on Eliza. “That’s right. Kendrick, not Shaw. I heard you’d gotten married. Congratulations.”

  “Thank you.” Eliza’s gaze strayed to where her husband stood, surrounded by friends. She smiled, and any hard edges softened when her gaze settled on Kyle. “It’s been an exciting year.”

  Beck moved to Ami’s side and slid an arm around her shoulder. The light kiss he brushed against his wife’s cheek had Katie Ruth swallowing a sigh.

  The gesture was so sweet.

  So romantic.

  Dexter remained where he was, a good foot separating him from Katie Ruth. No one looking at them now would think they even knew each other.

  “I heard your husband is part of Kendrick Inc.” Dexter’s tone was one of respect. “That’s a huge operation. They’ve got their fingers in a lot of pies.”

  Pies that obviously interested—and impressed—Dexter.

  Eliza waved away the comment. “I was sorry to hear your mother is having health issues.”

  “The doctors are hopeful that once they take out the part of the kidney where the tumor is, she’ll be fine.” Though Dexter’s tone remained light, the worry in his eyes had Katie Ruth’s irritation easing.

  “We’ll be keeping her in our prayers,” Ami assured him.

  Katie Ruth nodded.

  Dexter rocked back on the heels
of his Ferragamos and cleared his throat. “I appreciate that.”

  “Now, tell us.” Eliza swept a hand in Katie Ruth’s direction. “How did you two get together?”

  Dexter blinked. “We’re not really—”

  “She means tonight,” Katie Ruth clarified.

  “Oh, yes, of course. Katie Ruth and I have kept in contact through social media. And I subscribe to the Open Door.” Dexter slanted a glance at Katie Ruth as he mentioned the e-newsletter she edited. “When I mentioned I was coming back to Good Hope for a week, she asked if I wanted to come with her tonight and reconnect.”

  “Reconnect?” Eliza arched one dark brow, a teasing glint behind her sharp and assessing gaze. “That sounds…intriguing.”

  Dexter had had the unfortunate tendency to blush when he was younger, Katie Ruth suddenly recalled. Though he kept his composure, she saw the tips of his ears turn red. “That was poorly worded.”

  “Eliza.” Katie Ruth spoke sharply. The woman was toying with him, much like a cat played with a mouse merely for the sport of it. “Cut the guy a break. You knew what he meant.”

  “Katie Ruth assured me there’d be a lot of people I knew from high school here tonight.” Regaining his composure, Dexter gave Katie Ruth a mock salute. “She delivered.”

  Katie Ruth might not have had any romantic fantasies where Dexter was concerned, but did he have to make it sound as if she was nothing more to him than a vehicle for a party invitation?

  Don’t be ridiculous, Katie Ruth told herself. She and Dexter were friends. Hadn’t they chatted comfortably on the drive over to Eliza’s house? If he’d failed to offer any compliments about her appearance, well, it was because he saw her as his friend, not his date.

  Dexter’s gaze slid around the room and came to an abrupt stop. His eyes widened as his gaze shot back to Eliza. “I thought your brother no longer lived in Good Hope.”

  Ethan must have spotted Dexter at the same time. He grinned and lifted a hand in greeting to his former Science Olympiad partner.

  “He’s been back for—”

  “I’m going to say hello.” He was across the parlor before anyone could blink.

  “Like Dexter said, tonight is, ah, all about reconnecting.” Katie Ruth managed to keep a smile on her face. “If you’ll excuse me, I think I’m going to grab more of this amazing fruit punch and mingle.”

  Katie Ruth took her time refilling her cup. She would admit, just to herself, that while she hadn’t assumed—or expected—Dexter to be glued to her side, she had thought they’d spend some of the evening together.

  Right now, she felt like a lonely only in a room full of couples. A pint of Ben & Jerry’s and a movie were sounding better by the second.

  Across the room, Katie Ruth caught Gladys Bertholf studying her. The ninety-some-year-old knew everything that happened in this small community on the Door County peninsula. Because Katie Ruth had her pride, she abandoned her solitary stance at the punch bowl, smiled brightly at no one in particular and sauntered over to a group gathered by the food.

  Eliza and Kyle had gone all out for this party, not only bringing in a bartender and wait staff, but filling the two parlors and foyer with a plethora of roses.

  When Katie Ruth had stepped through the door earlier this evening, the sweet scent wafting in the air struck her as oh-so-romantic. Now, the cloying fragrance had her stomach churning.

  Out of the corner of her eye, Katie Ruth saw Dexter was now in the midst of a flirtation with Greer Chapin.

  Greer’s gray silk was the perfect foil for her dark hair. Katie Ruth could see why Dexter appeared mesmerized.

  “If you wanted to spend the night talking to everyone else, why did you come with me?” Katie Ruth muttered. It might not be fair, but she wasn’t feeling particularly generous right now.

  “Pardon?”

  A curse rose to Katie Ruth’s lips. She immediately swallowed it as she turned to greet Dan Marshall.

  Pastor Dan Marshall.

  A godly man who’d likely never uttered a foul word in his life.

  “Did you just arrive?” Despite her almost faux pas, Katie Ruth relaxed, and the smile she offered was genuine.

  Dan was a solid guy whom she knew well from her volunteer work at the church. With him, there was never any game-playing. What you saw was what you got. And what you got from this man was all good.

  “I walked through the front door less than five minutes ago to find the party in full swing.” The minister’s brown eyes were warm, and his normally messy cap of brown hair had been recently cut and combed.

  “I wasn’t sure about coming, but I ran into Kyle earlier today. He made me promise to stop by.” He gestured with one hand to the group by the bar. “It feels strange attending a Valentine’s party alone.”

  “Surrounded by couples.” Katie Ruth glanced around the room and resisted the urge to sigh.

  “You look lovely this evening.” Dan studied her short, black-lace sheath dress with a flirty scalloped hem.

  The chill, which had seeped into her when Dexter hadn’t commented on her new outfit, disappeared in a warm rush of pleasure.

  “Thank you. You’re looking spiffy yourself.” The second the words left her lips, Katie Ruth wished she could pull them back.

  The exercise class she’d started teaching at the Good Hope Living Center was clearly having an impact. Seriously, did anyone under the age of eighty even know what spiffy meant?

  Not to mention there was probably some sort of biblical canon against complimenting a minister.

  Dan glanced down at his dark pants and gray shirt. “I should have worn a suit.”

  Katie Ruth made a dismissive sound. She’d spent her childhood surrounded by men in suits. Dark suits and conservative ties were de rigueur in the death care industry. Until she’d left for college, her parents had owned and operated the Amigone Funeral Home. The funeral directors, including her dad, wouldn’t be caught dead in anything but a suit. Pun intended.

  Thinking about those days still brought a smile. The mortuary had been called Amigone when her parents had purchased the business, and they’d kept the name. Her parents’ quirky sense of humor and love of the absurd were only two of the many reasons she adored them.

  Dan glanced around the room as if to reassure himself he fit in, or maybe he was seeing who was here that he knew. Which, if she had to hazard a guess, was probably close to everyone.

  Dan shifted his gaze to the bar. They watched business owner Ryder Goodhue down a shot of whiskey, then immediately hold it out for the bartender for a refill. “What’s with him?”

  With Dexter busy mingling with everyone but her, Katie Ruth had plenty of time to study the rest of the party guests. “Something is definitely troubling him.”

  Dan’s brow creased in concern as Ryder tossed back the second shot.

  Katie Ruth wondered how long it would be until the minister left her to check on Ryder.

  “Engaging in a little partner switching this evening, Ms. Crewes?” Dexter’s drive-by shot, coupled with a wink and a thumbs-up, had Katie Ruth sucking in a breath.

  She didn’t have a chance to respond, because Dexter disappeared into the crowd. Feeling Dan’s assessing gaze, Katie Ruth rolled her eyes. She’d had lots of practice controlling her reactions to such comments. Still, hearing the barb come from Dexter’s lips had been a surprise.

  He’d never teased her about her parents. Not once.

  Why now?

  Beside her, Dan furrowed his brow in confusion. “Who is he?”

  “Dexter Woodard. He’s an old high school classmate.” Katie Ruth fought to keep her tone nonchalant. “We rode to the party together.”

  Katie Ruth hoped that would be the end of it, but she hadn’t realized Ruby and her two friends stood close enough to hear.

  The older woman placed a hand on Katie Ruth’s arm, her bright blue eyes filled with sympathy. “I’m sure Dexter didn’t mean it the way it sounded.”

  “The way it—”
Katherine Spencer, Ruby’s close friend, frowned as if not making the connection. Then her eyes widened. “Oh. Oh.”

  Gladys Bertholf, elder statesman of the threesome at ninety-seven, stepped forward. “The man is a cad. Eliza should toss him to the curb.”

  “It was a careless remark,” Katie Ruth began, but Gladys waved an impatient hand.

  “Careless remark, my ass,” Gladys muttered.

  “Gladys.” Ruby gestured with her head toward Dan. “Man of God.”

  “Don’t make a scene.” Katherine, steady as they came, gave her friend a warning glance.

  “I’m not following.” Dan glanced at Katie Ruth, appearing even more puzzled.

  Katie Ruth hesitated, then gave a little laugh. “It’s nothing. Really.”

  “Daniel.” Gladys fixed those pale blue eyes on him. “Why don’t you and Katie Ruth grab some food and enjoy this lovely party?”

  “Ah, sure.” Dan offered a tentative smile, glanced at the empty glass Katie Ruth held tightly gripped in one hand. “Would you like more punch? Or something to eat?”

  The kindness in those dark depths had her returning his smile. It was the question she saw lingering there that had her making the decision to explain.

  “I’d love some. While we eat, I’ll tell you a story.” When her knees went suddenly weak, Katie Ruth slipped a hand around Dan’s arm. “Once upon a time…”

  Chapter Two

  Dan wasn’t sure what to think when Katie Ruth began telling him how much she loved her parents.

  He’d never met Mike or Lisa Crewes. They’d moved out of town long before Dan arrived in Good Hope. All he knew was they’d owned the local funeral home and had been embroiled in some sort of scandal.

  Edna Peabody, one of the more conservative—and outspoken—members of the congregation, had known the couple. She’d marched into his office spitting fire shortly after he announced he was putting Katie Ruth in charge of the church’s youth programs.

  When he asked why she objected so vehemently to the appointment, Edna had told him Katie Ruth’s parents were not godly people. Though she hadn’t offered specifics, he knew she’d have told him if he’d asked. He hadn’t asked.