The Chihuahua Affair: Best in Show by Amy Jarecki

Author:Amy Jarecki [Jarecki, Amy]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: Rapture Books
Published: 2017-01-01T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Matt’s heartbeat raced while he waited for Rebecca to respond.

She faced him. “What are you doing tomorrow?”

“Only thing on my plate is to pick up my parents.”

“Maude is coming tonight and we’re going to midnight mass. You’re welcome to go with us, otherwise bring your parents for dinner tomorrow when they arrive. I’ve got a huge ham.”

“Midnight mass?”

“Yes. At St. Peter’s. I’m an Episcopalian.”

“I’ve never been.”

“Never been to church?”

He ran his hand across the leather gear shift handle. “No. My parents aren’t religious.”

“Well then, I’ll see you here at ten o’clock tonight. You can’t go through life without experiencing a holy ritual observed by millions.”

“All right then, it’s a date.”

She sliced her hand through the air. “Not a date. Church with the family. And dinner?”

“Thank you. I’ll be winging it with the folks.”

“Okay. Don’t be late.” Rebecca turned her head so fast she didn’t allow a mere second for him to kiss her. She opened the door and rushed through the frigid air to the house.

As Matt drove home, he breathed a sigh of relief. Though Rebecca slipped into her “all business” attitude, she had not pushed him away. He was learning that she needed time to mull things over and make decisions. He feared that if he pressed her too hard she might shut him out.

Passing the mall parking lot packed with last minute shoppers, a whistle passed his lips. His presents were already under the tree.

Has Rebecca noticed?

Ryan slipped them into the house for him before he flew to Los Angeles.

Barely able to keep his eyes open, Matt cranked up the music

Midnight mass? Well, I never thought I’d be showing Chihuahuas, so why not give religion a try? If it wins Rebecca’s favor, I’m in.

His mind still raced through the events of the past twenty-four hours when he pulled off his clothes, fell into bed and wrapped himself into the feathery warmth of his comforter. Monica’s deviousness and then his mother’s disappointment ate at him. Thank goodness she and Dad were coming out. He hated leaving them hanging.

As he relaxed, his mind turned to Rebecca. He couldn’t tell if she had been happy to see him. Sure, she was surprised, but happy? Then again, she was in the middle of a crisis.

Great timing, Matt.

The alarm woke him at six p.m. His head pounded, punishing him for sleeping through the middle of the day and deviating from his routine. His body insisted on regularity. Washing down a couple of ibuprofen with a diet soda, he put on his P90X DVD and launched into a ripping workout. An hour of alternating chin-ups, sit-ups and push-ups would either kill him or beat his headache into submission.

Matt chose a pair of khakis with a navy nautical sweater and brown loafers as a safe middle-of-the road bet for church. He arrived fifteen minutes early and joined Maude and Ryan in waiting on the couch for Rebecca and Amanda to come down.

When footsteps tapped the stairs, he jumped up to meet her. “You’re festive tonight.

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