A Groom Worth Waiting For

Nervously Matt searched the back of the church one more time. Again, no sign of Amy.

Growing tired of smiling at those guests seated directly behind him, he had no choice but to turn his attention toward the front of the church. As he watched his uncle Chad place Susy’s hand in Dave’s, he swallowed hard. He wanted what they had. And in a selfish moment, he couldn’t help but cry out to God, When will it be my time?

It wasn’t that he didn’t wish Susy and Dave all the happiness in the world. He just wanted a little marital bliss to drift his way….

CRYSTAL STOVALL

dreamed of writing inspirational romances from the moment she discovered Grace Livingston Hill’s novels as a teenager. These books changed her life in a profound way, starting her on a quest to blend faith and romance in her personal life, as well as launching her writing career. She’s a graduate of Oral Roberts University and a recipient of the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart Award.

Crystal lives in Tulsa with her husband, Jim, who is president of the Emmy Award-winning Narrative Television Network. Though she’s lived in Oklahoma for nearly twenty years, she’s still an easterner at heart. Her frequent visits to her upstate New York hometown—especially a certain boulder on the edge of Cayuga Lake—provide her with the inspiration and perspective that she finds essential to her writing.

A Groom Worth Waiting For
Crystal Stovall

www.millsandboon.co.uk

…Be strong and courageous.

Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the

Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

—Joshua 1:9

To my sister, Amy—

May your life always be blessed

with an abundance of love and happiness

And to Lila Junk,

who continues to be an angel in my life

Contents

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

Letter to Reader

Chapter One

This was not at all the way Amy Jenkins had imagined her new life. In her daydreams, she’d pictured a cozy apartment with a fireplace and a courtyard view, a satisfying job that challenged her yet left her fulfilled at the end of the day and a new church family that made her feel like she’d finally come home.

Instead, on this dreary May morning she was lost, tired and hungry. But those problems could all be easily remedied. At the next convenience store she passed, she’d buy a bag of peanuts and ask for directions. And if she spent her money wisely, she had more than enough saved to cover meals and a motel room until the end of the month.

But what couldn’t be fixed was the lost feeling in her soul. What should she do next? Where should she go? The questions spun in her head as she drove down the Kentucky highway.

Gripping the steering wheel as if it were a life preserver, Amy prayed the next gust of wind wouldn’t blow her into the deep ditch that separated the highway from miles of horse pasture. Between the hard rain and patchy fog, it took all of her concentration to keep the midsize car between the white road lines.

Only two weeks earlier, Amy had closed her eyes, twirled herself around as if she were playing pin the tail on the donkey and pointed to a city on the huge map of the United States she’d hung on the living room wall. For several minutes, she’d stood in front of the map, too scared to open her eyes. She’d promised herself she would move to whatever city her finger landed on. It didn’t matter if she pointed to Detroit, Wichita or Chicago, she was relocating. There was no other choice. Still, keeping her fingers crossed behind her back, she’d hoped at least for a warm, sunny climate, such as San Diego or Orlando advertised.

What mattered most, though, was that she put miles between herself and her Ohio hometown. And most important, miles between her and her ex-fiancé, Garry. She opened her eyes and smiled. Lexington, Kentucky. It sounded like the kind of city where a girl with a broken heart could make a fresh start.

However, within only a few hours, Amy’s carefully made plans had dissolved like sugar in water.

Leaning forward on the car seat, she wiped excess moisture from the windshield with her sleeve in an attempt to improve visibility. Then she almost passed a convenience store and strip shopping center before she spotted them. Hitting the brakes as hard as she dared, she slowed down enough to make the right turn safely. Because most of the parking lot was roped off for construction, Amy was forced to park in front of the dry cleaners, which was three businesses to the right. Turning off the ignition, Amy let out a huge sigh and then rested her forehead against the top of the steering wheel. Between the weather and her worries, she was stressed to the limit.

Oh, God, she prayed. What should I do now? Was I wrong to come to Lexington? Is this a sign You want me to go back to Ohio?

She didn’t wait for an answer, because there was no way she was going back to Ohio. At least, not for a very long time.

The rain eased, and Amy dashed for the front door. A loud buzzer sounded as she entered the store, and the middle-aged clerk behind the checkout counter instantly looked up and said hello. An easy-to-read name badge identified him as Hank.

Amy returned his friendliness with a smile and then shook her arms and shoulders as if she were part feline. Rubbing her upper arms with her palms, she attempted to warm herself. While the hooded sweatshirt and fleece pants were comfortable, they weren’t quite warm enough for the cold front that had moved through the city the night before. However, her warmer clothes were in storage, and since the chilly weather wasn’t expected to last more than a day or two, it hadn’t seemed worth the trouble to retrieve her coat.

Realizing she was the only customer in the store, Amy said, “It looks like the construction has hurt your business.”

“Not really,” Hank said. “You just missed the morning rush. We’ve been here for years. Our customers won’t let a little inconvenience scare them away.”

“That’s great,” Amy said. “Where do you stack today’s paper?”

“In the aisle to your right.” Hank watched as she selected a newspaper, turning away only to answer the telephone.

With the paper tucked under her arm, Amy headed for the back of the store, intending to grab a soda until she spotted a cappuccino machine. Even though she wasn’t crazy about convenience store coffee, the thought of drinking something hot cheered her. At the same time she set an empty to-go cup in the machine and pushed the proper sequence of buttons, the front door opened and the loud buzzer sounded again. As Hank had with her, he looked up from his paperwork and greeted the stranger.

“Hello,” he called, watching the man in the tailored suit just as he’d observed Amy.

Making his way down the aisle with hurried strides, the confident-eyed man asked, “How fresh is the coffee?”

“The pot just finished brewing and the bagels were delivered first thing this morning,” Hank assured him.

It wasn’t until the tall stranger turned the corner that Amy realized he was headed straight for her.

“I don’t know how you can drink that stuff,” he said, pointing to the coffee, milk and sugar mixture that streamed into her cup. Picking up a glass coffeepot, he poured himself a cup of regular coffee and selected a sesame seed bagel.

Amy shrugged, thinking that if the man really wanted to strike up a conversation, he could have opened with something a little more friendly. Removing the steaming coffee cup from the machine, she took a sip and smiled at the stranger as if this were the best cappuccino she’d ever tasted.

But it wasn’t, and Amy turned away to hide her grimace just as the door buzzer sounded again and two men dressed in gray work uniforms entered. As the clerk called out his greeting, Amy felt a measure of safety knowing Hank was alert and observant. It only took one more sip to convince her she couldn’t finish the drink. Like the handsome stranger had said, it was awful. But it was warm. Pressing the paper cup against the side of her neck, she enjoyed the warm print it left on her skin. For the first time all morning, she felt a moment of relief.

Everything will work out, she told herself. Somehow, she would put her life back together. She’d find another job and an even better apartment. But as for men, it would be a long time, if ever, before she trusted her heart to anyone.

Moving the cup across her forehead and down her cheek, Amy reveled in the heat. Sensing the stranger beside her move, she stepped to the left to avoid a collision. Before she could look up, she felt the man’s hand cover her mouth at the same instant he yanked the coffee cup from her hand and tossed it to the floor.

From the front of the store, she heard someone call, “I’ll check the rest of the store to make sure we’re alone.”

Held tightly against the stranger’s chest, she didn’t have time to think as he pulled her around the pyramid of motor oil cans, just missing a perfectly balanced stack of cheese crackers.

She struggled, making little impact against the man’s grip. With his hand clamped across her mouth, he pinned her head against his hard chest. When she tried to scream, she found she could barely open her mouth enough to breathe, let alone to bite him.

The last thing she glimpsed as he backed through the vertical blinds that hung in the narrow opening between the retail space and the storeroom was her newspaper and cappuccino splattered across the beige tile floor and a man at the front of the store pointing a gun at the clerk who’d been so nice to her.

Though the man in the suit continued to hold her firmly, Amy didn’t stop struggling. If only she could break free. If only she could make a run for the door.

Oh, God, she prayed, help me. Protect me. Please, Lord, let me get out of this alive.

The storeroom was dim and cool, and the stranger who’d preferred his coffee black and fresh steered her to a back corner.

“You can trust me,” he whispered.

Amy didn’t move a muscle. Not even to breathe.

Trust him? She didn’t trust any man, let alone someone who’d just abducted her. And how did she know he wasn’t part of the plan? That he wasn’t a foil for the man holding the gun?

In an instant, Amy recalled every talk show and news story she’d ever seen that had given tips on how to survive a threatening attack. Listen to your instinct. Fear is your built-in radar detector, she remembered a safety expert saying.

Amy believed that the inner radar detector was really God’s voice. However, for the last month she’d been so mad at God she’d given Him the silent treatment. She wasn’t too sure she could depend on His help. And besides, her heart was beating so loudly she didn’t know if she could hear His voice even if He shouted at her.

“You have to trust me. It’s our only chance,” the man whispered as he quietly guided them along the back wall. He moved with a certainty that suggested he knew where he was and where he was headed.

Amy had no choice but to move with him. Together, they stumbled a few steps, and when her feet didn’t move in unison with his, he lifted her and pulled her into a tiny closet.

No sooner had they reached the hiding place than the light in the storeroom flashed on and they heard the squeak of rubber shoes on the tile floor. Doors were flung open, but in his haste the man overlooked the narrow closet door. Then the light flashed off and they heard the squeaky-soled man yell, “No one in the back.”

Though darkness engulfed them, Amy’s eyes adjusted quickly to the lack of light. The square closet was cramped and filled with mops, brooms and pungent cleaning products. Because the stranger had backed in first, Amy faced the door, which was open just a crack. The only light, a narrow beam, came from a high, tiny barred window on a far wall.

“If you promise not to scream, I’ll remove my hand.”

Amy swallowed hard. Blood raced through her veins and perspiration dripped from her brows. Could she trust this man?

Something deep inside her said yes.

Besides, what choice did she have?

The more time elapsed, the more she became convinced the stranger who held her tightly was as much a victim as she was. Nodding slowly, Amy silently promised she wouldn’t yell for help.

Hesitantly, he removed his hand, letting it hover near her lips until he was certain he could trust her. As she studied his hand in the thin ribbon of light, she sensed he was an honorable man. While his hand was large, there was a softness and dexterity in the curve of his fingers that revealed a sensitive nature. And though his nails were manicured and clean, calluses on his fingertips suggested he enjoyed working with his hands. However, the image didn’t mesh with the business suit, silk tie and expensive cologne.

For the first time, Amy wished she’d paid more attention to the man who still held her firmly with one arm. If her life depended on describing him, all she’d be able to say was he was of average height and weight, with blue eyes, light brown hair and a commanding voice. And he smelled so heavenly that the woodsy scent temporarily distracted her from the pending danger, causing her to think of verdant meadows and fast-running clear streams.

Just as she felt she could trust the man, he startled her by reaching into his suit pocket. Immediately, Amy froze as a hard object pushed against her side. She’d been wrong to trust him even a little. When she realized he was punching a number into a cellular telephone, she bit down on her lip to curtail a loud gasp.

The man spoke in a voice just above a whisper. “I’m at the Quick Stop convenience store. There’s a robbery in progress. I’m hiding in the storeroom with a woman who was also in the store. I don’t know what’s going down out there. I saw two men, and at least one has a gun. There’ve been noises which indicate a struggle, but we can’t see anything from back here. They don’t know we’re in the store, but I can’t be certain.”

Amy listened with amazement at the information the man relayed. She’d been so wrapped up in her own troubles that she hadn’t paid much attention to anyone else in the store. And while she sensed the ordeal might be far from over, at least with the police on the way she felt she had a chance of leaving the closet alive.

Instantly, a prayer formed in her mind. Dear God, let the police get here before it’s too late for us and the clerk. Even though she couldn’t see the stranger’s face, she knew without a doubt that he sent the same prayer heavenward.

Two angry voices splintered the silence, followed by the sound of shattering glass. Amy jumped at the noise, and the man embraced her with both arms. This time, though, she didn’t fight his closeness. She took the comfort and strength he offered, and leaned into his protective circle.

“We’re going to be okay,” he whispered. Though his voice sounded confident, she knew he was just as scared as she was. Finding his hand, she squeezed it, and he squeezed back.

The voices shouted at each other again, and Amy pressed against the man. Turning her head as if she couldn’t bear to see what was happening in the next room, she rested her ear against his chest. Finding comfort in the fast but even rhythm of his heart, Amy soon realized that her own cadence matched his.

Outside, car doors slammed. Then the store telephone rang. Someone answered on the third ring. Amy could only assume the police had arrived, and with their presence she prayed this terror would soon be over.

The man turned his ear toward the door, and Amy could tell he, too, was listening for clues as to what was happening on the other side of the wall. However, it was impossible to make any sense of the random noises. One thing was becoming very clear, though; something had gone wrong. Neither of the two voices belonged to the friendly clerk. The robbers were fighting with each other, and who knew what that could mean.

Amy did the only thing she knew to do. She prayed harder and faster.

And as if the man sensed the urgency of her messages to God, he clasped her hands as if to say he wanted to join in her prayers. Because she didn’t dare whisper any more than was necessary, Amy moved her lips as she prayed silently, and from behind she felt the man’s warm breath on her neck as he, too, prayed.

When they got out of the closet, she would owe this man her life. And somehow, she’d find a way to repay him.

Matthew Wynn held his breath as glass crashed to the tile floor, and each time the woman jumped, he tightened his grip on her arms. Though he was playing the role of protector, he’d never been more scared in his life.

For what seemed like forever, the shattering noise came in waves, as if a madman were swooping down the aisles with widespread arms, knocking dozens of jars to the floor. Matt couldn’t begin to guess what was really going on in the convenience store or why the police hadn’t been able to apprehend the robbers. Over and over, he searched his mind for a way to bring this situation to an end, but came up with no safe solution. For the moment, it seemed enough that he protect the woman in his arms.

Matt didn’t need to see her eyes to know she feared for her life. He felt her terror in the tremble of her hand, in the way she pressed against his chest as if she couldn’t get close enough and in the way she’d turned her head as if she couldn’t bear to face the truth. And yet, despite her fear, she’d reached out to comfort him. She’d let him know with the squeeze of her hand and a reassuring rub on his forearm that she believed if they worked together they’d leave the storeroom alive.

Finally, the crashing glass stopped, and both Matt and the woman exhaled at the same instant. Though Matt loosened his embrace, he noticed she didn’t move. In the silent lull, a storeroom clock ticked off the seconds. Though it felt like they’d already been held hostage for hours, Matt guessed the actual time was closer to a half hour. Feeling his legs cramp, he shifted his weight, and he wasn’t surprised when the woman’s movements shadowed his own.

Dear Lord, he silently prayed, show me what to do. Help me protect this woman, and please, Lord, keep Hank safe.

Though Matt didn’t know the clerk well, he thought the world of Hank’s father, Howard, who owned a local chain of convenience stores. Howard had given Matt his first job, and he’d worked in this very store until after college graduation. Back then, he’d had no clue that his knowledge of the storeroom layout might one day save his life. The closet they were hiding in had been added as an afterthought, and instead of having a real door, a makeshift one had been fashioned out of a leftover piece of wood paneling. Because the door blended into the paneled walls, the robber hadn’t noticed it when he’d searched the storeroom.

When the silence continued, it became more unnerving than the crashing glass and angry shouts. What could be happening out there? Should he leave the closet and peek through the doorway? It was their only means of escape, as the delivery entrance was generally locked at all times, and the only window was barely big enough for a dog to crawl through. Plus, it had bars. But even a peek seemed like too much of a risk. If it had been just his own life, he would have taken the chance. But he had to consider the woman, too.

As the silence drew out and the woman’s heartbeat raced his, his thoughts turned toward her. He’d never seen her before, but that wasn’t unusual in a city the size of Lexington. She’d caught his attention the instant he’d seen her by the cappuccino machine. Not just because she was attractive, but because there was a sad turmoil in her eyes that made her seem fragile and lost. He’d wanted to say something profound, but what could you say to a stranger? Instead, he’d barked out something silly about her cappuccino. Then she’d amused him by smiling as she’d sipped the sugary drink. He knew she didn’t like it but drank it just to spite him. And he felt that same spunky spirit now as they patiently prayed for their freedom.

Suddenly there were a hundred questions he wanted to ask her. Like where did she live and what did she do for a living? How did she happen to be in this convenience store this morning? Did she believe in God? Did she love to ride horses across grassy meadows? Did she like corn dogs and chocolate ice cream cones? It seemed silly in this tense moment to wonder these things. Yet it was better than focusing on what could happen if things went wrong.

Without thinking, he brushed his hand across the top of her head, memorizing the silky feel of the fragrant strands. He swallowed hard, desiring to rub his hand down her cheek and neck and across her arms. As if, in the simple touch, he could know this woman. But he knew that was impossible. He sensed her complexity. This was a woman of spirit and passion, yet graced with enough common sense to trust him in this dangerous moment.

The shouting started again, but Matt couldn’t understand what was being said. Instinctively, he tightened his embrace as the woman pressed against him. Leaning his head close to hers, he whispered, “It’s going to be okay. It’s going to be over soon.”

In response, the woman placed her hand over his, and in the long, desperate squeeze communicated her faith in him and God. And as her message pulsed through his body, Matt felt something more profound and more deep than he’d ever experienced before. He felt as if he knew this woman in ways he’d never understood another woman. He felt as if she could see through the darkness to his vulnerabilities, to his longings, to his failures, as well as his hopes and dreams for the future. It was crazy, but he felt closer to her and more connected to her than he’d ever felt to anyone in his life.

He shook his head in an attempt to break the bond between them, to prove it didn’t exist, to prove it was merely a figment of his imagination. But the magic permeated the storeroom just as the scent of warm cinnamon bread lingered in the kitchen long after the last bite had been swallowed.

For just a moment, Matt didn’t want the standoff to end. He wanted to go on holding this woman forever.

The woman’s body stiffened, propelling Matt back to the danger at hand. The noises had changed. The front door buzzer sounded, and new voices filled the room. He thought he heard the click of handcuffs but couldn’t be certain.

When she tilted her head toward him as if to ask if it would be safe to go out, he answered by pulling her closer. He wouldn’t risk her life by venturing out too soon.

Finally, a gruff man, who identified himself as a police officer, shouted from the storeroom doorway that it was okay to come out. Matt and Amy sucked in their breaths, leery of leaving their safe nest.

“Dear Lord,” Matt prayed, “thank You for keeping us safe.”

Amy finished, “And thank You for sending a guardian angel my way. I don’t know what I would have done if I’d had to face this ordeal alone.”

“We made it through together,” Matt said, then squeezed her hand.

The police officer charged into the storeroom and opened the closet door. Both Matt and Amy exhaled in unison.

“There’s a man and woman in here,” the officer called to his partner. Immediately, two paramedics rushed in carrying medical equipment. Even still, Amy remained in the stranger’s protective embrace until a paramedic pulled her free.

Chills suddenly descended upon her, and in that instant, she felt more alone than she ever had before. She looked at the nameless stranger’s blue eyes and thought she saw her anxiety mirrored on his face. She wanted to reach out her hand, to draw them together again, but a flurry of uniformed men blocked her silent plea.

“Are you hurt?” the paramedic asked, glancing from Amy to Matt.

“I’m fine,” Matt said. “Please, help her.”

“I’m okay,” Amy insisted. For the first time, in full light, she looked into her protector’s eyes and was overwhelmed with gratitude. “If it hadn’t been for this man’s courage and quick thinking, I hate to think what might have happened.”

Amy stammered over the last words, and the tears that she’d been too frightened to cry began a slow descent down her cheeks.

With a gentle flick, Matt wiped the tears away, then pulled her close. With his arms around her tightly, he felt as if order had once again been returned to his world.

As if it were the most natural thing to do, he kissed the top of her head, and he would have been happy to never let go. She felt so right in his arms. She felt like the woman he’d been searching for. The woman who would bring an end to his lonely life and fill his dreams once again with hope.

Reluctantly, he let go of her so the paramedic could check her physical condition. Whether it was by chance or God’s design, this woman had suddenly come into his life, and he didn’t want to let her walk away. He wanted a chance to get to know her, to discover if she was everything he believed her to be.

The officer in charge waited until the paramedic finished examining both of them, then said, “I’m going to need your statements.”

Amy and Matt both nodded.

“And Hank?” Matt asked, anxious to know if the clerk had survived.

“He’s going to be okay. He had a heart attack during the robbery, but he’s on the way to the hospital,” the officer explained.

Matt’s jaw dropped. “Oh, my gosh. I had no idea. So what happened out there?”

“At this point, we can’t be certain, but Hank’s heart attack probably saved his life. The best I can figure, he had the attack about the same time they pointed a gun at him.”

“But why didn’t they just shoot him and run?”

“We may never know the answer to that.” The officer shook his head, raising his brows over perplexed eyes. “These two men are wanted in other states for similar robberies. And they’re not stupid. Being convicted of robbery is a far cry from murder or manslaughter. Regardless, they’ll both be going away for a long time.”

Matt still didn’t understand. “You’d think when things got botched, they would have taken the money and run.”

“It’s called greed. Hank was in so much distress he couldn’t open the safe. One of the guys had seen a commercial that claimed aspirin could save a heart attack victim, so he forced Hank to take aspirin. However, by the time Hank responded you’d already made your call and the store was surrounded.”

“And so they panicked and argued about how they were going to get out of this mess.”

“You could say that. The one guy went berserk and in a rage destroyed everything in the store. Listen, if you’ll have a seat, I’ll be back in a few minutes to take your statement.” The officer went into the retail area.

Matt met Amy’s gaze and for the first time realized he didn’t even know her name.

“I’m Matt Wynn,” he said, extending his hand.

“I’m Amy Jenkins,” she answered, grasping the hand that had been her lifeline for the last hour. “I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you. I owe you so much. You saved my life.”

Matt shook his head. “I didn’t do that much.”

“You saw what was happening and you reacted quickly. If those men had seen us, there’s no telling what would have happened to us.”

The thought of anything happening to Amy distressed Matt. Though he’d only known this woman an hour, he couldn’t bear the thought of harm befalling her angelic face.

“I want to try to make this up to you. You have to let me find a way to repay your courage and kindness.” Amy’s eyes pleaded for him to accept her offer.

Once the crazy idea popped into his head, Matt pushed it aside. However, he wasn’t prepared to let Amy walk out of his life, either.

“There is something you can do for me,” Matt finally said.

“What?” Amy asked, her eyes brimming with gratitude.

“Assuming you live here in Lexington, you can be my date…to three family weddings this summer.”

“Your date to a wedding?” Amy repeated as if it were the most outrageous idea she’d ever heard.

Matt looked away, anticipating her rejection. And if she did, he wouldn’t embarrass himself further by trying to persuade her.

“Yeah.” He tried to explain as if it were no big deal. “I’ve got three cousins getting married this summer, and there are few things worse than going to a family wedding without a date.”

Amy looked at him for a second, emotions he couldn’t read flickering in her wide brown eyes. He was certain she was going to say no.

“You did save my life.” She swallowed hard, as if this was the hardest thing she’d ever said in her life. “I suppose it is the least I can do.”

“Then you’ll be my date?”

Though Amy smiled as she nodded, Matt saw the terror in her eyes. The prospect of being his date at the weddings frightened her more than the morning’s ordeal had.

He instantly wished he could take back his invitation, but it was settled. Amy Jenkins, for better or worse, would be his date to three family weddings.