Missy Tippens - The Guy Next Door

From Friend to…Fiancé?

Stalwart and steady, Darcy O’Malley has been by Luke Jordan’s side since childhood. She has seen him through trials and tragedies, romances and breakups. They’ve been everything to each other—except boyfriend and girlfriend. Why ruin a good thing? What Luke can’t explain, however, is why suddenly Darcy’s presence is making his heart beat so hard. Something has changed since he left Appleton, and it’s making him uneasy. Is it possible his best friend is meant to be something more? Dare he risk their perfect friendship in the hopes of finding his perfect wife?

“What’s wrong between us?” Luke asked.

“Something’s off, and it has nothing to do with our parents.”

The look in his eyes—heat, frustration, determination—sent her heart racing, her breath hitching. He was going to dig until he found out exactly what had gotten into her.

A stupid, dangerous, poorly timed attraction.

She needed to say something instead of standing there struck speechless by his nearness and the rawness in his eyes.

The powerful urge to simply pour it all out, to tell her good friend how she used to feel about him, how she feared she would feel again if she wasn’t careful, pulsed in her head. She reached up and laid her hand lightly on his chest. “Luke…”

His eyes sparked, and then he stepped away, his expression turning icy.

The rebuff sent a shock wave of cold through her body, cold enough to knock her back to her senses.

MISSY TIPPENS

Born and raised in Kentucky, Missy met her very own hero when she headed to grad school in Atlanta, Georgia. She promptly fell in love and hasn’t left Georgia since. She and her pastor husband have been married twenty-five-plus years now and have been blessed with three wonderful children and an assortment of pets.

Missy is thankful to God that she’s been called to write stories of love and faith. After ten years of pursuing her dream of being published, she made her first sale of a full-length novel to the Love Inspired line. She still pinches herself to see if it really happened!

Missy would love to hear from readers through her website, www.missytippens.com, or by email at missytippens@aol.com. For those with no internet access, you may reach her c/o Love Inspired Books, 233 Broadway, Suite 1001, New York, NY 10279.

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as

members of one body you were called to peace.

And be thankful.

—Colossians 3:15

To editors Emily Rodmell and Melissa Endlich—

For allowing me to live my dream.

To Melinda Meredith and Kim Botner—

For lifelong friendship, even across the miles.

To God—

For knowing me fully and loving me anyway.

Acknowledgments: Acknowledgments Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Epilogue Dear Reader Questions for Discussion Extract Copyright

Special thanks to Rachel Dylan,

Jennifer Artrip Franklin and Olen Winningham

for research assistance.

Thank you to my parents

for their love and encouragement.

Thanks to Lindi Peterson and Janet Dean

for their faithfulness and feedback.

I could never repay you for your help.

To my blogging sisters in Seekerville, thank you for the prayer, daily doses of laughter and loving friendship.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text From Friend to…Fiancé? Stalwart and steady, Darcy O’Malley has been by Luke Jordan’s side since childhood. She has seen him through trials and tragedies, romances and breakups. They’ve been everything to each other—except boyfriend and girlfriend. Why ruin a good thing? What Luke can’t explain, however, is why suddenly Darcy’s presence is making his heart beat so hard. Something has changed since he left Appleton, and it’s making him uneasy. Is it possible his best friend is meant to be something more? Dare he risk their perfect friendship in the hopes of finding his perfect wife?

Introduction “What’s wrong between us?” Luke asked. “Something’s off, and it has nothing to do with our parents.” The look in his eyes—heat, frustration, determination—sent her heart racing, her breath hitching. He was going to dig until he found out exactly what had gotten into her. A stupid, dangerous, poorly timed attraction. She needed to say something instead of standing there struck speechless by his nearness and the rawness in his eyes. The powerful urge to simply pour it all out, to tell her good friend how she used to feel about him, how she feared she would feel again if she wasn’t careful, pulsed in her head. She reached up and laid her hand lightly on his chest. “Luke…” His eyes sparked, and then he stepped away, his expression turning icy. The rebuff sent a shock wave of cold through her body, cold enough to knock her back to her senses.

About the Author MISSY TIPPENS Born and raised in Kentucky, Missy met her very own hero when she headed to grad school in Atlanta, Georgia. She promptly fell in love and hasn’t left Georgia since. She and her pastor husband have been married twenty-five-plus years now and have been blessed with three wonderful children and an assortment of pets. Missy is thankful to God that she’s been called to write stories of love and faith. After ten years of pursuing her dream of being published, she made her first sale of a full-length novel to the Love Inspired line. She still pinches herself to see if it really happened! Missy would love to hear from readers through her website, www.missytippens.com , or by email at missytippens@aol.com. For those with no internet access, you may reach her c/o Love Inspired Books, 233 Broadway, Suite 1001, New York, NY 10279.

Title Page The Guy Next Door Missy Tippens www.millsandboon.co.uk

Bible Verse Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. —Colossians 3:15

Dedication To editors Emily Rodmell and Melissa Endlich— For allowing me to live my dream. To Melinda Meredith and Kim Botner— For lifelong friendship, even across the miles. To God— For knowing me fully and loving me anyway.

Acknowledgments Acknowledgments: Acknowledgments Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Epilogue Dear Reader Questions for Discussion Extract Copyright Special thanks to Rachel Dylan, Jennifer Artrip Franklin and Olen Winningham for research assistance. Thank you to my parents for their love and encouragement. Thanks to Lindi Peterson and Janet Dean for their faithfulness and feedback. I could never repay you for your help. To my blogging sisters in Seekerville, thank you for the prayer, daily doses of laughter and loving friendship.

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Epilogue

Dear Reader

Questions for Discussion

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

It’s about time.

Darcy O’Malley sat on the front porch steps as the hot afternoon sun headed westward, watching her best friend’s car pull into the driveway next door. She sucked in a deep breath, tension easing out with it.

Six months. Six long months since Luke Jordan had been home—the longest they’d ever gone without seeing each other. Having his car parked where it belonged brought a sense of normalcy.

Of course, these days, he called Tennessee home.

Darcy waved, but he couldn’t see her from behind the overgrown boxwoods.

He climbed out of the car and stretched. As expected, his hair had grown shaggy. Unruly brown hair that begged a girl to push it off his forehead.

Darcy gave a derisive snort. It was ridiculous how many girls had held that honor. Too many to count.

She stepped out on the sidewalk. Luke spotted her and waved, his face lighting with a big goofy grin.

“Come on over,” he called, motioning her toward his car.

He met her halfway and held out his arms. She fell into his embrace, wrapping her arms around his neck. When he lifted her off the ground and gave a brotherly squeeze, she felt as if she were the one who had come home. She’d missed him.

“I’m so glad to see you,” she said against his cheek, breathing in the familiar scent of his Prell shampoo. “But you need a haircut.”

“Glad to be back in Georgia where you can hound me into going to the barber.” He set her on her feet and smiled, but his eyes looked shadowed.

She should have anticipated the sadness. This was his first visit home since his mother’s funeral. “Tough coming back?”

“Yeah. Seeing the house…” He sucked in a deep breath and glanced up at the two-story brick home he’d lived in from birth.

She waited, knowing better than to push him to talk about his mom.

“I’m surprised to see you here in the middle of the afternoon,” he said, effectively changing the subject. “Thought you’d be at one of your many jobs.”

Typical of him to slip in a jab about her over-packed schedule, though Luke was simply spouting what everyone else around her had been spouting. He always joked about her overcommitment, but underneath, he was being protective, worried about her stress level and health.

“I only have two jobs,” she said. “Finished one for the day and am about to head to the other.”

“Only two.” He shook his head. “You’re finally living your dream of being a microbiologist and have the luxury of living rent-free. Why put in so many long hours?”

The muscles in Darcy’s neck tightened with nagging concerns over losing that rent-free status before she was ready. “I don’t remember asking your opinion,” she said, snippier than she’d meant.

One corner of his mouth tilted up in a grin. He’d always loved riling her up and blaming her temper on her red hair.

“Hey, I just want you to have a life,” he said. “Maybe go out, have fun, find that Prince Charming you’ve always dreamed of.”

For now, her life was consumed by work and paying off student loans. Even if by some chance Prince Charming did show up, she couldn’t squeeze in a moment for him.

She’d missed their banter, though, and couldn’t help returning his smile. “Once again, I don’t remember asking for your opinion.”

He laughed and nudged her shoulder with his.

“So, how long are you staying?” she asked.

“A week, two at most. I brought some work, and Roger’s covering for me.”

“Not long, but I’ll take what I can get.” She hooked her arm around his and looked up. “So when can we hang out?”

Their gazes locked, and his teasing smirk faltered. “Um, I may be pretty busy.” He glanced at their joined arms, then at his parents’ house.

The action felt like a snub. Had she somehow made him uncomfortable?

“You’re not going to like why I’m here,” he said.

“Oh?”