Read Online Emerald Fire (Christian Romance) (The Jewel Series) by Hallee Bridgeman - Free Book Online
Authors: Hallee Bridgeman
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Christian fiction, Christian, Inspirational, love, traditional romance, Christian - Romance, INSPIRATIONAL ROMANCE, Boston, Inspirational Fiction, contemporary christian romance, contemporary inspirational romance, inspirational christian fiction, contemporary inspirational fiction, contemporary christian fiction, edgy inspirational fiction, haley bridgeman, hailey bridgeman, debi warford, emerald fire, greater than rubies, sapphire ice, hallee bridgeman, olivia kimbrell press, halle bridgeman, edgy inspirational romance, edgy christian fiction, the jewel trilogy, topaz heat, edgy christian romance, bridgeman
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bag that hung on the back of the metal chair and pulled out a plastic drink container. When he opened the lid to take a sip, she caught a glimpse of something thick and gray. He took a long swallow then used a paper napkin to wipe the sludge off his lips. Maxine pushed back any curiosity as to what ingredients might possibly be found in nature to produce a concoction of that particular color for fear he would offer to share. Instead, she took a small bite of bagel and thought she much preferred this focus Barry had on protein, such as this cream cheese, over her usual breakfast of a banana.
Using his drink container, Barry gestured at her shirt. “Catch the game yesterday?”
“Not until I got home last night at seven. I don’t know how I managed to get through the day without hearing anything about it, but I’m so glad I went into that third quarter completely ignorant of just what excitement awaited me.” She took another bite and washed it down with coffee. “I imagined you couldn’t even sit down.”
“I had to pay for my room for Sunday night, too, so that I could stay and watch the game. Worth every single dime.” Barry shook his head while he grinned. “It was crazy. I thought they’d kick me out of the hotel. I kept screaming at the television.”
“It’s really turning out to be a great season.”
Barry took another long pull of the drink then put the lid back on and tossed it in his bag. He picked up his own bagel and ripped it in half, then bit into it and gestured with the remaining piece. “Hey. You want to go to the game with me this Sunday?”
Maxine raised an eyebrow and ran her tongue over her teeth. It took her about a second and a half to grin and agree. “Heck yeah, I want to go.”
“Great.” He glanced at the massive watch that he sported on his left wrist. Maxine couldn’t help noticing that it didn’t look too massive on his arm. It would swamp most men. “I have to go. I have to be at the courthouse at eight-thirty. I’ll be outside the gym at six Wednesday morning if that works for you.”
Maxine raised an eyebrow. “You will?”
“Of course.” Barry stood with a grace a man his size shouldn’t have. “You didn’t think today was it, did you?”
She’d hoped not but didn’t dare ask. “I didn’t think about it, honestly.”
His face became very intense as he put both of his massive hands on the little round table and leaned forward. “We just breached the bare surface. There are so many things that you could do that you don’t, that you should do that you don’t know about. First of all, start eating right today. Maxine, diet is 90 percent of the whole thing. If you’re serious about wanting to get fit and healthy…”
Maxine nodded and interrupted. “Of course I’m serious.”
Barry straightened and pulled a ski cap out of the pocket of his pants. “Then I’ll see you at six on Wednesday.” He slung the bag over his shoulder and started to leave the bakery but paused and turned around. “Thank you.” With eyes turning very serious and very somber, he said it again. “Thank you for Thursday. I needed that.”
Maxi tilted her head and gave a slight nod. “Glad I could help.”
He paused for a long time, two heartbeats, then three, before pushing open the door and walking away. The bell on the door jingled as it shut behind him, sending a draft of cold air toward Maxine’s table. She couldn’t take a sip of her coffee until she quit smiling the ridiculous smile that had somehow taken occupancy on her lips, but she just honestly couldn’t help it.
CHAPTER 6
A hard rock “hair band” from several decades earlier beat a frantic rhythm and exclaimed that it had been a long time since they’d rocked and rolled while Maxine played with the background color of the template she had designed on her computer. She lifted a finger to adjust the earbud of her MP3 player while she clicked between a violet and a blue-violet, trying to decide
Using his drink container, Barry gestured at her shirt. “Catch the game yesterday?”
“Not until I got home last night at seven. I don’t know how I managed to get through the day without hearing anything about it, but I’m so glad I went into that third quarter completely ignorant of just what excitement awaited me.” She took another bite and washed it down with coffee. “I imagined you couldn’t even sit down.”
“I had to pay for my room for Sunday night, too, so that I could stay and watch the game. Worth every single dime.” Barry shook his head while he grinned. “It was crazy. I thought they’d kick me out of the hotel. I kept screaming at the television.”
“It’s really turning out to be a great season.”
Barry took another long pull of the drink then put the lid back on and tossed it in his bag. He picked up his own bagel and ripped it in half, then bit into it and gestured with the remaining piece. “Hey. You want to go to the game with me this Sunday?”
Maxine raised an eyebrow and ran her tongue over her teeth. It took her about a second and a half to grin and agree. “Heck yeah, I want to go.”
“Great.” He glanced at the massive watch that he sported on his left wrist. Maxine couldn’t help noticing that it didn’t look too massive on his arm. It would swamp most men. “I have to go. I have to be at the courthouse at eight-thirty. I’ll be outside the gym at six Wednesday morning if that works for you.”
Maxine raised an eyebrow. “You will?”
“Of course.” Barry stood with a grace a man his size shouldn’t have. “You didn’t think today was it, did you?”
She’d hoped not but didn’t dare ask. “I didn’t think about it, honestly.”
His face became very intense as he put both of his massive hands on the little round table and leaned forward. “We just breached the bare surface. There are so many things that you could do that you don’t, that you should do that you don’t know about. First of all, start eating right today. Maxine, diet is 90 percent of the whole thing. If you’re serious about wanting to get fit and healthy…”
Maxine nodded and interrupted. “Of course I’m serious.”
Barry straightened and pulled a ski cap out of the pocket of his pants. “Then I’ll see you at six on Wednesday.” He slung the bag over his shoulder and started to leave the bakery but paused and turned around. “Thank you.” With eyes turning very serious and very somber, he said it again. “Thank you for Thursday. I needed that.”
Maxi tilted her head and gave a slight nod. “Glad I could help.”
He paused for a long time, two heartbeats, then three, before pushing open the door and walking away. The bell on the door jingled as it shut behind him, sending a draft of cold air toward Maxine’s table. She couldn’t take a sip of her coffee until she quit smiling the ridiculous smile that had somehow taken occupancy on her lips, but she just honestly couldn’t help it.
CHAPTER 6
A hard rock “hair band” from several decades earlier beat a frantic rhythm and exclaimed that it had been a long time since they’d rocked and rolled while Maxine played with the background color of the template she had designed on her computer. She lifted a finger to adjust the earbud of her MP3 player while she clicked between a violet and a blue-violet, trying to decide
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