Page 69 of When Love Is Unexpected

"It's nice to meet you," I say, extending my hand to the pastor and his wife. Pastor Duncan smiles and shakes my hand firmly, but his wife offers me a dead fish handshake—the type my parents warned us about and taught us never to use. Why do I get the feeling that she doesn't like me?

After church, we stop by a sandwich shop for a catered lunch of sandwiches, salad, chips, and cookies. It looks like a lot of family will be joining us for lunch back at the house.

I want to ask Robert and Alice why Sam has such a strong aversion to attending church, but I think better of it. Maybe they'll think that as his girlfriend, I should know.

I wonder if Dad knows. Nothing gets past my father, and I distinctly remember him being in the room several times when I invited Sam to church, and he said no.

"We're home!" Alice announces when we enter the house. Tiffany is making a pitcher of lemonade in the kitchen, and Josh is setting up the tables on the patio.

"Where's Sam?" I ask.

"He must still be upstairs," says Josh. "We haven't seen him since breakfast."

As I walk up the stairs to the balcony, I can hear the clicking of the keyboard. I find Sam sitting on a patio chair, working on his laptop.

"Hey," he says as soon as he sees me.

"Did you miss me?" I ask, walking up to him.

"I did," he says, putting his laptop aside before standing.

"How much did you miss me?" I ask.

"Let me show you," he says, hugging me. His arms feel like home.

"I met more of your family and friends at church," I say.

"Oh yeah? he asks, "I bet they're all wondering what a gorgeous woman like you is doing with me."

"Haven't you heard?" I ask, "You're a total hottie."

When I look up at him, his eyes are an ocean of turquoise blue gazing back at me.

"I thought you said you weren't the least bit attracted to me."

"I lied," I say.

When he kisses me, I close my eyes and let myself get lost in his arms.

"I love the way you kiss me," I say when his lips leave mine.

When he smiles at me, my heart melts.

"Everyone's downstairs?" he asks. "I'm hungry."

"Yes," I say, "and I think we're expecting company."

"Yeah, Tiffany mentioned it earlier."

"I'm going to change into something more casual," I say. "I'll meet you down there?"

I change into a pink sleeveless wrap dress and put on some comfortable strappy sandals. I touch up the little makeup I have on, apply strawberry lip balm, and head downstairs.

I'm glad I can remember people's names as I weave my way through the crowd forming on the patio and inside the house.

"Laila," says Abby, "this is my husband, Andrew." Andrew is a tall, broad-shouldered man with dark brown hair and kind hazel eyes. I also meet Emma's fiancé, Luke. He's tall and slim, with curly light brown hair and gray eyes behind wire-rimmed glasses. He has a dimpled chin and a nice smile that makes me smile back at him. After talking to both couples for a few minutes, I head down a long hallway searching for Sam. As I get closer, I hear his deep voice talking to someone.

"Did you call Tricia?" asks a woman who sounds like Amanda.

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