A Rescued Heart (Rescued Heart Romance) by Natalie Replogle Page B

subject carefully.
    “Yes. It’s a hard subject for me to talk about. The thing is, Matt, I do want to talk to you about it, but not today. I’m not quite ready.”
    She could barely get the words out. Afraid she would offend him or make him think she was blowing him off. She just wanted to remember the day as it had started, happy and fun. She didn’t want it tainted by the resurfacing of her ugly past.
    “Ava, there’s no pressure. When you’re ready to share, I’ll be here to listen.”
    “Thanks for understanding.”
    “No problem. Do you want to turn back?”
    “Sure, but only if my interrogation is over and now I get to ask the questions.”
    “All right, let me have it.”
     

     
    They reached the end of the trail and headed back to his Jeep as the sky became covered with clouds and released its moisture to the ground. Ava couldn’t believe how quickly the afternoon had come to an end. Despite their hours together, the time didn’t last long enough.
    He pulled up in front of her apartment complex and shut off the engine. “So are we still on for a date next weekend?” His relaxed question couldn’t hide the hope in his voice.
    “Yes, and I kept up my end of the bargain, so cough up some details.”
    He laughed and nodded his agreement. “Well, I was wondering if you wanted to spend the entire day with me next Saturday? I’d like to take you over to Lake Michigan for a day of walking along the beach and I want to take you to this great seafood restaurant.”
    Ava wanted to pinch herself to make sure this was real. She couldn’t believe how much thought he put into each date. The only person she had ever dated was Tim and they never really went out on dates. They were poor college students, treasuring every penny they owned, so they usually just spent time in each other’s room and with friends. Occasionally Tim would take her to the local restaurant and ice cream parlor, but only when they were weary of cafeteria food. Even after graduation and acquiring jobs, he never took her out. That Matt would take time to plan something special for her was unchartered territory.
    “Yeah, that sounds great, but Matt, are you sure I’m worth all this time you’re taking to spend with me?” Her past permeated her present thoughts relentlessly. She didn’t intentionally try to push him away. It was more of a defense mechanism.
    “Ava, whether you choose to spend more time with me after next weekend or not, it’s been worth every second.”
    He was smooth. That definitely made the list of his adorable qualities.
    “Okay.” She wasn’t sure what else to say except the truth. “I had a great day.”
    “Me too.”
    He unhooked his seat belt, but she put her hand on his arm to stop him. “You don’t have to walk me in. I need to run to the store to get groceries. My car is just over there.” She took her hand off his arm to point to her car. The absence of his warmth made her yearn for it again. Without deliberating her actions until it was too late, Ava put her hand on his and he lightly squeezed hers back.
    “Thanks again. I’ll see you Saturday.”
    Ava got out and walked to her car. Matt waited until she got in and then drove off waving. She sat in her car trying to rationalize her feelings. She liked Matt and wanted to spend more time with him, but was it worth being vulnerable to her greatest fear? Ava panicked … she only had a week to decide.

 

     
    Date #3
     
    By Friday Ava had become an emotional mess. It wasn’t that she didn’t know if she wanted to start dating Matt more seriously—that emotion she was completely sure about. She yearned for it. It was the fear that dredged up from the comprehension that once she allowed herself to fall for him, there would be no turning back. What if down the road he realized that he didn’t want her … she wasn’t sure she could surviv e hi s rejection.
    Ava wanted to call in sick for school today and it wouldn’t be a lie. She was sick in