Read Online Child of Grace (Love Inspired) by Irene Hannon - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Irene Hannon
Ads: Link
fleeting moment, she was tempted to accept his invitation. Odd, when half an hour ago she hadn’t wanted to get anywhere near his house.
Before the temptation became too strong to resist, she shook her head and retreated down the steps. “Thanks, but this could be a long one. It might last all night.”
There was a subtle shift in his eyes. Or perhaps it was just a shadow in the deepening twilight. Kelsey wasn’t certain. And she didn’t wait around to find out.
Calling a good-bye over her shoulder, she hurried toward her house.
By the time she reached her screened porch and slipped inside, the rain was coming down in earnest. Big drops pelted the ground, lightning slashed through the roiling black clouds and thunder boomed.
Kelsey moved into the safety of Gram’s house, locked the door behind her and flipped on lights to dispel the gloom. Lake storms had never bothered her. They came in all blustery and ferocious, but when they were over, very little had changed. Pier Cove went on as before.
Too bad the storms of life didn’t work the same way.
Yet if they had, she’d still be in the backbiting world of corporate politics. Still sacrificing any semblance of a personal life in pursuit of the gold ring of a vice-president slot. Still searching for happiness and fulfillment in the wrong place.
Still alone.
Pausing by the kitchen window, Kelsey rested her hand on her growing stomach and looked through the trees. Warm light spilled from Luke’s windows, chasing away the stormy darkness.
Funny how a neighbor she hadn’t wanted had so quickly worked his way into her life. All because of an idealistic, faith-filled young medic she would never know. Thanks to Carlos Fernandez, she’d met a man who was helping her heal. A man whose kindness, honor and unselfish generosity were starting to banish her fear. A man whose strength of character and steadfast principles were bolstering her trust and giving her hope for a future free of fear.
All of that was good.
But Luke Turner was doing one other thing, too. He was beginning to work his way into her heart as well as her life.
And considering his short tenure in Michigan, that could be bad.
Chapter Six
W as that Hannah?
Luke clutched a bouquet of flowers in one hand and a cup of Starbucks coffee in the other as he stared at the model-like young woman in the crowd of passengers emerging from the gate area of Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids.
He hadn’t seen her in two years. She’d been away on a mission trip last year when he’d gone home on leave, and the year before he hadn’t made it home at all. He took a closer look. Yeah, that was her all right. His mom regularly emailed family pictures, though they hadn’t done his kid sister justice.
Nor had they prepared him for the fact that she wasn’t a kid anymore.
Not by a long shot.
Spotting him, she smiled and waved. He didn’t recognize the sleek, trendy hairstyle that feathered around her face and swept down her back, but he was relieved to see her eyes hadn’t changed. She might have grown into a sophisticated young woman, but those baby blues hadn’t lost their endearing sweetness and guileless charm.
Rather than head upstream of the crowd, he waited until she reached him.
“Hey, Luke.” She stopped in front of him and gave him a wide, if slightly uncertain, smile.
He grinned and shook his head. “My little sister has morphed into a high-fashion model. When did you grow up?”
A pleased blush colored her cheeks. “According to Mom and Dad, I’m not there yet. That’s why they foisted me on you. Sorry about that.”
He waved the apology aside, enjoying her familiar drawl. “Nothing to be sorry about. This will give us a chance to catch up.” He tossed his empty cup into a nearby trash container and pulled her to him. “How about a hug?”
Wrapping her in his arms, he held her close. The floral fragrance in her hair reminded him of the flowers in his hand, and
Before the temptation became too strong to resist, she shook her head and retreated down the steps. “Thanks, but this could be a long one. It might last all night.”
There was a subtle shift in his eyes. Or perhaps it was just a shadow in the deepening twilight. Kelsey wasn’t certain. And she didn’t wait around to find out.
Calling a good-bye over her shoulder, she hurried toward her house.
By the time she reached her screened porch and slipped inside, the rain was coming down in earnest. Big drops pelted the ground, lightning slashed through the roiling black clouds and thunder boomed.
Kelsey moved into the safety of Gram’s house, locked the door behind her and flipped on lights to dispel the gloom. Lake storms had never bothered her. They came in all blustery and ferocious, but when they were over, very little had changed. Pier Cove went on as before.
Too bad the storms of life didn’t work the same way.
Yet if they had, she’d still be in the backbiting world of corporate politics. Still sacrificing any semblance of a personal life in pursuit of the gold ring of a vice-president slot. Still searching for happiness and fulfillment in the wrong place.
Still alone.
Pausing by the kitchen window, Kelsey rested her hand on her growing stomach and looked through the trees. Warm light spilled from Luke’s windows, chasing away the stormy darkness.
Funny how a neighbor she hadn’t wanted had so quickly worked his way into her life. All because of an idealistic, faith-filled young medic she would never know. Thanks to Carlos Fernandez, she’d met a man who was helping her heal. A man whose kindness, honor and unselfish generosity were starting to banish her fear. A man whose strength of character and steadfast principles were bolstering her trust and giving her hope for a future free of fear.
All of that was good.
But Luke Turner was doing one other thing, too. He was beginning to work his way into her heart as well as her life.
And considering his short tenure in Michigan, that could be bad.
Chapter Six
W as that Hannah?
Luke clutched a bouquet of flowers in one hand and a cup of Starbucks coffee in the other as he stared at the model-like young woman in the crowd of passengers emerging from the gate area of Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids.
He hadn’t seen her in two years. She’d been away on a mission trip last year when he’d gone home on leave, and the year before he hadn’t made it home at all. He took a closer look. Yeah, that was her all right. His mom regularly emailed family pictures, though they hadn’t done his kid sister justice.
Nor had they prepared him for the fact that she wasn’t a kid anymore.
Not by a long shot.
Spotting him, she smiled and waved. He didn’t recognize the sleek, trendy hairstyle that feathered around her face and swept down her back, but he was relieved to see her eyes hadn’t changed. She might have grown into a sophisticated young woman, but those baby blues hadn’t lost their endearing sweetness and guileless charm.
Rather than head upstream of the crowd, he waited until she reached him.
“Hey, Luke.” She stopped in front of him and gave him a wide, if slightly uncertain, smile.
He grinned and shook his head. “My little sister has morphed into a high-fashion model. When did you grow up?”
A pleased blush colored her cheeks. “According to Mom and Dad, I’m not there yet. That’s why they foisted me on you. Sorry about that.”
He waved the apology aside, enjoying her familiar drawl. “Nothing to be sorry about. This will give us a chance to catch up.” He tossed his empty cup into a nearby trash container and pulled her to him. “How about a hug?”
Wrapping her in his arms, he held her close. The floral fragrance in her hair reminded him of the flowers in his hand, and
Similar Books
