"If They Don't Win It's A Shame"

Chapter 2

Andre sat back in the lawn chair and stared at Jazzelle's evilly grinning face, "What is this about?" he asked.

"It's not about anything, I decided to have a cook out do you have a problem with that?" her eyes glittered mysteriously in the midday sun.

His stomach began to do flips, he was next in Jazzi's line up. Some woman he'd never seen before would show up and be all over him. Lovely. He could always bail out early, but she wouldn't let him. No, Jazzi enjoyed inflicting pain on her prey.

"Hey y'all!" Bethanie mosied into the backyard with her new boyfriend on her heels. His daughters ran in front of them diving for Jazzi first.

"Bethanie, T.C." he nodded to each of them before fixing his eyes on the gate again. If Jazzi was going to set him up he at least wanted to know what she looked like before he decided what to do.

Ten minutes later, the gate creaked open again allowing Lidia and Altan inside. Both came in with plenty of words for them and an abundance of witty insults. He still sat silent aside from saying hello, as he waited on edge. Keely and Blaze followed right on their heels. His heart pounded hard in his chest as he waited for the woman Jazzi would set him up with. What would she look like? Would her personality be half-okay? He trusted Jazzelle, but still, he wasn't sure if he trusted her completely with the matters of HIS heart.

Just as he was worrying, a movement from the back door of Jazzelle's house caught his eye. A woman was walking toward their gathering holding a bowl full of salad. Long, blonde curls spilled down her back, a worried smile was on her lips. "Here's the salad, Jazzelle." she said, her voice light and melodic.

His eyes were captivated. Her shirt was the same green as her eyes, long legs encased in denim that seemed to go on and on. Jazzi's new friend was beautiful.

"Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend, Jazzi?" he asked, walking to where the two of them stood talking.

"Maybe and maybe not." she winked at her friend and turned to smile at Andre menacingly.

"Well, fine, have it your way then." reaching around Jazzelle, he extended his hand, "I'm Andre and you are?"

The nervous smile slipped a bit and a real one took it's place, "Aria McKenzie."

"Nice to meet you, Aria."

Aria nodded, blonde curls bobbing with her head. "You as well."

"I've got to go check on those burgers.." said Jazzi, but it seemed she was in the distance, he could focus on nothing but the woman before him.

Aria still held the bowl of salad in one hand while her other was still inside of his. To be honest, it felt nice, but he relinquished his hold on her and took the bowl of salad. "Let me help."

"Okay.." her voice trailed off as she watched him set the salad on the table.

He could feel her gaze on him, and it did strange things to his heart making it dance to a quicker rhythm. Any other day he would've been sure he was having a heart attack, today with this woman standing before him staring at him it was something different.

--

Aria watched as Andre set the salad on the table, and she couldn't help but wonder about the man who hid inside the best exterior she'd seen in a while. Her cheeks were flooded with pink, as heat infused her body. She'd been caught staring, Andre peeked up at her and smiled. Knees melting, she grabbed the table, something was different about this guy.

"Are you okay?" he asked, placing his hand atop her's on the table.

She nodded, "Yes, I'm fine...warn me the next time you're going to do that."

Andre raised an eyebrow, "Do what?"

"Startle me with that smile of yours....ever thought of modeling?" she couldn't believe she was saying it.Aria clapped her free hand over her mouth, what was with her? Usually she was so shy around new people that she met.

"Modeling?" he began laughing so hard she thought he'd wet himself.

"I was being serious.." her voice trailed off as she watched him continue to laugh.

"I'm a Pastor, definitely not a model anything." he assured her with a small grin as he patted her hand.

"Model citizen maybe." said a woman who patted him on the shoulder.

Aria tried to stop staring at him and at the woman's hand on his shoulder, but she simply couldn't. "I'm sorry, I don't think I know you." she addressed the woman.

"Charity Douglas, Jazzelle's sister. And you are?" blue eyes twinkling with laughter, Charity extended her hand.

"Aria McKenzie."

"Nice to meet you, Aria. I'll leave the two of you to your discussion. Looked like you were having fun." she winked at the two of them and then turned tail.

Aria glanced helplessly at Andre, who grinned.

"You've got to excuse this bunch of matchmakers, Aria, their terrible anymore." he leaned closer, invading her space until he was but a few inches from her. "Especially Jazzi."

Coherent thought flew there was nothing around her except for the smiling man to her left. Jazzelle was right, he was a perfect match for her. If for nothing else, he made her smile and feel things she hadn't ever felt before in her life. This was one event she wouldn't be ducking out of early.

--


Jazzelle tried hard to listen in on Aria and Andre's conversation without being noticed.

"Stop that, Jazzi, you're letting the burgers burn because you're more worried about those two than anything else." said a voice from behind her.

She jumped, "You scared me." she accused Lidia, even as she smiled at her friend.

"Yes, I know. I meant to." Lidia smiled back.

The gate to the backyard opened again, revealing Mike and his girlfriend along with the man who'd haunted her dreams. "Who invited them?" she hissed to Lidia.

But, Lidia was already on her way over to greet them and Jazzi could feel her blood pressure rising. What was wrong with her being alone? When would they stop hassling her. Is this the payment received for matching them up?

When she turned her head back that way, her eyes locked with his and he smiled. Something about him didn't allow her to relinquish him from her memory. And somehow, she didn't want to either.