Read Online Child of Grace (Love Inspired) by Irene Hannon - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Irene Hannon
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when he released her, he held them out. “Welcome to Michigan.”
She took them, burying her face in the assortment of roses, carnations and daisies. “This was really nice. Thank you, Luke.”
“You’re welcome.” He made a mental note to pass the thank-you on to Kelsey. She’d suggested the flowers yesterday when she called to tell him about some radio interviews she was lining up. “Let’s get your luggage and head home. Are you hungry?”
“Starved. All I had on the airplane was a tiny bag of pretzels.”
“How does pizza sound? There’s a good place in Saugatuck.”
“That would be great.”
As they waited for her luggage, she filled him in on her trip. Much to his relief, she wasn’t resentful about the disruption in her summer plans with her friend, and she seemed to be genuinely looking forward to her beach time, assuring him she’d brought a bunch of paperbacks to read while she soaked up the sun.
By the time they were in his car and headed toward the lake house after dinner, the knot of tension that had formed between his shoulder blades after he’d agreed to host his sister began to unwind.
Hannah was a poised, self-sufficient young woman with her head on straight. Unlike many of her peers, she didn’t have an attitude. She was easy to talk to, with a bubbly sense of humor that kept him laughing during much of the drive.
It seemed he’d been worrying over nothing.
This visit was going to be a piece of cake.
Yawning, Luke tucked his T-shirt into his shorts and padded barefoot into the kitchen. He’d slept far later than usual. But it was Saturday. And Hannah had assured him last night, after she’d settled in, that she didn’t need a babysitter, that she was perfectly capable of getting her own breakfast and lunch, and that she might even try her hand at cooking a few dinners for them.
With his apprehensions eased, it was no wonder he’d passed out for ten solid hours.
A note on the dinette table caught his eye, and he strolled over to read it.
“At the beach. Couldn’t wait to see it in daylight!” His sister had signed it in her scrawling hand.
Lips curving into a smile, Luke started a pot of coffee and filled a mug with milk for hot chocolate. Whenever he’d been home, that had always been Hannah’s morning drink of choice. Maybe they could spend a relaxing hour or two on the beach together, catching up. And if Kelsey appeared, all the better. He suspected his neighbor and his sister would hit it off.
Things were definitely looking up on the home front.
While the coffee brewed, he shaved and grabbed a towel. Then he filled an insulated mug with the fresh brew and nuked Hannah’s milk, stirring in a generous helping of chocolate. The second beach chair he’d placed on the deck was gone, so he grabbed the remaining one and headed down the steps.
As he waded through the beach grass at the bottom, he noticed two buff, twenty-something guys in swim trunks standing near the water to his right. Their backs were toward him, but they hadn’t stopped to admire the view over the water. Instead, they were facing the small public beach only locals seemed to frequent, a short walk down the sand. They weren’t looking at that, either, though. Their heads were bent.
Why?
The instant Luke cleared the beach grass, he had his answer.
Hannah.
Through their legs, he could see her reclining in her beach chair. Her head was tipped back, and she was smiling up at the college-age guys. He couldn’t hear their banter, but he did hear masculine chuckles mingling with a flirty laugh that was way too adult to be coming from his baby sister.
His newfound peace of mind evaporated. No wonder his parents hadn’t wanted to leave Hannah home alone.
Clearing his throat, he moved toward the small group.
The two college jocks angled toward him as he approached, and Hannah peeked around them, aiming a megawatt smile his way.
“Hi, Luke. Ah didn’t wake ya’ll, did I?”
One glance
She took them, burying her face in the assortment of roses, carnations and daisies. “This was really nice. Thank you, Luke.”
“You’re welcome.” He made a mental note to pass the thank-you on to Kelsey. She’d suggested the flowers yesterday when she called to tell him about some radio interviews she was lining up. “Let’s get your luggage and head home. Are you hungry?”
“Starved. All I had on the airplane was a tiny bag of pretzels.”
“How does pizza sound? There’s a good place in Saugatuck.”
“That would be great.”
As they waited for her luggage, she filled him in on her trip. Much to his relief, she wasn’t resentful about the disruption in her summer plans with her friend, and she seemed to be genuinely looking forward to her beach time, assuring him she’d brought a bunch of paperbacks to read while she soaked up the sun.
By the time they were in his car and headed toward the lake house after dinner, the knot of tension that had formed between his shoulder blades after he’d agreed to host his sister began to unwind.
Hannah was a poised, self-sufficient young woman with her head on straight. Unlike many of her peers, she didn’t have an attitude. She was easy to talk to, with a bubbly sense of humor that kept him laughing during much of the drive.
It seemed he’d been worrying over nothing.
This visit was going to be a piece of cake.
Yawning, Luke tucked his T-shirt into his shorts and padded barefoot into the kitchen. He’d slept far later than usual. But it was Saturday. And Hannah had assured him last night, after she’d settled in, that she didn’t need a babysitter, that she was perfectly capable of getting her own breakfast and lunch, and that she might even try her hand at cooking a few dinners for them.
With his apprehensions eased, it was no wonder he’d passed out for ten solid hours.
A note on the dinette table caught his eye, and he strolled over to read it.
“At the beach. Couldn’t wait to see it in daylight!” His sister had signed it in her scrawling hand.
Lips curving into a smile, Luke started a pot of coffee and filled a mug with milk for hot chocolate. Whenever he’d been home, that had always been Hannah’s morning drink of choice. Maybe they could spend a relaxing hour or two on the beach together, catching up. And if Kelsey appeared, all the better. He suspected his neighbor and his sister would hit it off.
Things were definitely looking up on the home front.
While the coffee brewed, he shaved and grabbed a towel. Then he filled an insulated mug with the fresh brew and nuked Hannah’s milk, stirring in a generous helping of chocolate. The second beach chair he’d placed on the deck was gone, so he grabbed the remaining one and headed down the steps.
As he waded through the beach grass at the bottom, he noticed two buff, twenty-something guys in swim trunks standing near the water to his right. Their backs were toward him, but they hadn’t stopped to admire the view over the water. Instead, they were facing the small public beach only locals seemed to frequent, a short walk down the sand. They weren’t looking at that, either, though. Their heads were bent.
Why?
The instant Luke cleared the beach grass, he had his answer.
Hannah.
Through their legs, he could see her reclining in her beach chair. Her head was tipped back, and she was smiling up at the college-age guys. He couldn’t hear their banter, but he did hear masculine chuckles mingling with a flirty laugh that was way too adult to be coming from his baby sister.
His newfound peace of mind evaporated. No wonder his parents hadn’t wanted to leave Hannah home alone.
Clearing his throat, he moved toward the small group.
The two college jocks angled toward him as he approached, and Hannah peeked around them, aiming a megawatt smile his way.
“Hi, Luke. Ah didn’t wake ya’ll, did I?”
One glance
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