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her unspoken meaning. “I’ll see you in class next Tuesday.”
    Slowly, he turned and left the room.
    Instead of gathering her supplies, Carolyn stared at the open doorway and allowed herself to exhale, not realizing until that moment that she’d been holding her breath. Before she could fully relax, four fingers appeared in the doorway, grasping the doorframe, followed by Mitchell’s head. He smiled and winked. “Good night, Carolyn,” he said and disappeared.
    Carolyn closed her gaping mouth. “Good night, Mr.—Mitchell,” she mumbled, but he was already gone.

Two
    â€œGood evening, Carolyn.”
    Carolyn fumbled with the recipe sheets she’d been sorting. “Good evening, Mitchell. You’re early.”
    All week long she’d been torn between wanting him to come to class early and dreading that he actually would. Every day, without fail, he’d invaded her thoughts. She couldn’t decide if she should have been flattered by his attention or angry with him for teasing her.
    He stepped forward and rested his palms on the demonstration table. “I wanted to get here early to ask if you would go out for coffee and dessert with me after class tonight.”
    The knife she’d so carefully selected fell from her fingers. “I don’t think so.”
    â€œI guess you’re right. It might be a little late for that, since we both have to get up for work in the morning. How about tomorrow, then? Maybe after dinner we can take in a show.”
    She stared blankly at him. Flirting she could handle, but she had no intention of being made for a fool. Other than his being hopeless in the kitchen, she didn’t know anything about him. Most of all, she wasn’t going to go out with a non-Christian. “No, but thank you for the invitation.”
    He stepped closer, so she pretended to be selecting matching forks.
    â€œWhy not? Are you already involved in a relationship?”
    She’d been casually dating Hank off and on for a while. She couldn’t quite call it a relationship, but Hank went to her church, and he was safe. “I’m seeing someone, if that’s what you’re asking.”
    He moved closer. Her hands froze. “Is it serious? Are you engaged?”
    The perfectly matched forks dropped into the drawer with a clatter. “That’s personal and none of your business.”
    He moved even closer. Carolyn’s breath caught and her heart raced.
    â€œI think it is since I want to get to know you better.”
    â€œI’m too old for you.”
    For a split second, he froze, then blinked. “I don’t care how old you are.”
    â€œMitchell, I’m thirty-two years old. What are you, twenty-seven?”
    â€œTwenty-four. But who’s counting?”
    She looked up at him. Mitchell was more assertive than she was used to, but he was well mannered and charming. He had a delightful sense of humor and was able to recover quickly when caught in a spot, something she always thought revealed a strong character. However, at nearly thirty-three years old, it was time for her to get serious and find someone to settle down with. Soon it would be her birthday, adding another year between them. She always preferred older men, but a nine-year age difference the other way was robbing the cradle.
    Carolyn squeezed her eyes shut to clear her thoughts. “I’m sorry, Mitchell, I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
    He opened his mouth to speak but shut it quickly at the sound of approaching footsteps in the hall.
    Carolyn quickly adjusted her glasses, then greeted her incoming students.
    After she welcomed them, she took her place at the front of the classroom and froze. Mitchell sat in the front row, center seat, right next to Mrs. Finkleman. He crossed his arms, smiled, and winked.
    Briefly, Carolyn considered canceling the class.
    She was barely conscious of what she was doing as she showed the