Breathless by Kathryn J. Bain Page B

single woman you chose. I would hate for gossip to be the cause of you losing this job.” He adjusted his suit coat as he stomped out.
    Matthew knew his mouth stood open as the door closed behind James.
    Speaking of arrogant. Maybe Lydia should give the sermon this week. Obviously there were others beside himself who would benefit from a lecture on haughtiness.
    â€œJames is just a stubborn old mule,” Phyllis said. “He thinks if Lydia becomes involved with his little Jimmy, it’ll fix all his problems. Sometimes I wonder if he’s not the one attracted to her himself.” She stood behind Matthew’s shoulder as he watched James climb into his car. “So’d you two kiss?”
    â€œExcuse me.” Matthew spun.
    â€œYou’re awful jumpy this morning. Listen, Lydia’s a wonderful person, pretty, and you’re not bad looking yourself. You’re both decent people. You two wouldn’t make too bad of a couple.” The phone bellowed again. She paused as she walked over to the desk to answer it. “You did say ham and cheese, and a burger, right?”
    A smile inched over his lips at Phyllis’ approval. It actually meant a lot to Matthew.
    â€œHello. Hold on.” Phyllis placed the receiver back in its cradle. “It’s Riley Owens. What’d you do now? Everyone will probably be calling for an update.” She winked.
    â€œI’ll take it in my office.” Strolling into the back, he reclined in his chair, placing his feet atop the oak desk. If Riley happened to be calling to tease about Lydia, he decided he’d at least be comfortable. “Hello Riley, how are you today?”
    â€œI’m doing okay. You said you drove Lydia back from Ringgold?”
    â€œYes I did,” Matthew said with a sharp tone. “I hear it’ll be on the local news before we know it. Let me guess, we broke a bunch of laws by being seen together.”
    â€œGossip hounds are out this morning, huh?” Riley was all serious. But then he usually was. “I wouldn’t be bothering you, but Lydia had a message on her answering machine when she returned last night. It’s not a veiled threat anymore.”
    Matthew bound to his feet. “Is she all right?”
    â€œShe’s fine. I’m at the house now,” Riley said. “I’m hoping you might have caught something this time. Think it over, and I’ll stop by in a bit, give you time to consider if there was anything or better yet, anyone, that stood out or was out of place.”
    â€œYou weren’t able to retrieve the return number?”
    â€œIt came back as long distance. When I tried it, the number was no longer in service. Whoever this is, he knows what he’s doing.”
    â€œWorse yet, he knows what we’re doing.” Matthew stared at the panoramic view from his window. “Maybe I should go over.” Matthew wondered if Jimmy had any knowledge about cars.
    â€œI suggest you give it a day or two for things to die down a bit. Besides, Sheryl and Warren are with her now. I’ll see you later.”
    Matthew’s midsection tugged as he hung up the telephone. As much as he longed to go to her, Riley was right. He went over in his mind the instances he was with her. The day she dropped off the books, she wore a green blouse and blue jeans. There had been no one lurking about. But then again he had his attention diverted by the lovely woman he’d been with.
    Yesterday she wore a pair of black slacks, and a perfectly fitted beige blouse which caused her eye color to stand out more than usual. Nothing out of the ordinary struck him. Even if there had been, he wouldn’t have noticed. It never dawned on him to watch for someone spying on them. He would remedy that from this day forward.
    He walked into the sanctuary and stared up at the cross.
    â€œFather, please help Lydia. Help us to discover who is terrorizing her. Until we do, please