Page 30 of With All My Heart, Joy

His gaze penetrated through Joy, his words feeling deeply personal. He meant he was where he wanted to beright now. Withher.

Her breath became rapid, a strange feathery fluttering in her tummy as if a butterfly were trapped inside her.

Isaac Miller regarded her highly. Maybe…too highly?

At the thought, her stomach took a sudden dip that made her instantly dizzy. She waited to feel repulsed by the idea that someone as old as Isaac was attracted to her. But the distaste didn’t come. Instead, she found herself assessing him. He was incredibly handsome, with chiseled cheekbones not even a full beard could hide. His dark hair was just long enough that a strand tumbled over onto his forehead, giving him the look of a reformed rebel. Eyes the color of coffee looked back at her, guarded and wary.

He wasn’t in a position to act on any feelings he might have for her. Not as her counselor. Which was good. Because as safe as she felt with him—as comfortable as he made her, unspoken feelings and all—she just couldn’t consider someone as old as him. No matter how sweet, kind, or attractive he was.

Besides, she had a letter in her purse from Zak. Zak, who wanted to meet her, who thought the world of her, who had brown hair and eyes, just like Isaac. Who was a sincere Christian, just like Isaac. With any luck, he’d be just as attractive and comforting, too. Whenever they met. It wouldn’t be anytime soon. Writing letters was all the romance she needed in her life right now.

Chapter Eight

“Your tie is crooked.”

Silas reached to adjust his bowtie, only knocking it further askew.

“Let me.” Isaac wrestled the blue tie into submission. “There. Perfection.” He stepped back and studied his friend’s face. “How do you feel?”

Silas tugged at the double-breasted tuxedo jacket. “I trust Lucy. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t. But—” His steel eyes met Isaac’s. “I’m terrified.”

“Breathe, man,” Isaac said calmly. “Breathe. This is what trauma does, remember? If you give in to the fear, it’ll keep you in the trenches forever.”

He knew the right things to say to Silas. After all, he had been the man’s first counselor when Silas moved to Michigan. But he stopped counseling him the moment they moved from counselor and client to friends.

It was past time to do the same with Joy, but how could he explain himself to her?

Silas cast him a wry smile. “I love Lucy too much for that. But it’s a blow to my dignity to have armpits drenched in sweat.”

Isaac’s laughter bubbled out. “I suspect she’ll love you anyway.”

“She will.” Silas moved in front of the mirror, checking his hair. “She’s desperate for me.”

“You’re desperate forher. You have been since the first time you kissed her.”

“Shut up.”

Isaac couldn’t stop grinning. “You know what? I’m so glad we’re friends.”

Silas’s glare did nothing to him. “Where’s Paisley? I told you to bring her.”

Isaac had considered it. But if he would be standing up beside Silas for the duration of this wedding, who would ensure Paisley behaved? She got loud sometimes, especially if she grew agitated. He’d opted for his dependable neighbor who babysat Paisley on the regular. Such as last night, during the rehearsal. And the night before when he went to a board meeting for Arms Full of Care, one of Silver Lake City’s adult daycare programs. He was the board chair, so there was no bowing out of that one.

“Shouldn’t we be heading out by now?” Silas asked.

Isaac checked the time on the clock in the deacon’s room behind the church platform. He had expected Silas to procure a more expensive venue for his wedding, but when Silas said he couldn’t think of a better place to start a marriage than in church, Isaac knew how much his friend had grown with God. He and Lucy would be fine.

“Oh? Yeah. Probably.” But he was back here hiding from Joy Halverson. Their counseling session on Wednesday had gotten too personal. Much too personal. He had no business telling her anything about himself or his experience. A counselor’s job was not to find common ground or to encourage clients with his own stories. Why was he breaking all of his rules with Joy?

And he was pretty certain she had noticed the changing dynamics between them. Problem was, he had no idea what to do about it. At the rehearsal last night, he’d avoided her as much as possible. Today might not be as easy.

“Someone you’re avoiding, Isaac?”

He cringed at his friend’s deep, suspicious voice. Why did Silas McIntyre have to know him that well? He was the one supposed to see through others, not vice versa. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“No?” A glint appeared in Silas’s eyes. “I have a theory.”

“That I’m not interested in.” Desperate to deflect, Isaac blurted out what he’d had no intention of telling Silas. “I’ve been corresponding with a woman.”

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