Read Online Family Wanted (Willow's Haven Book 1) by Renee Andrews - Free Book Online

asked, “Why did you need to tell me you’re sorry?”
    He glanced toward the wooded area surrounding the trailer. “Basically, because I was a first-class jerk yesterday,” he said. “I asked your advice, and you gave it. But when it wasn’t what I wanted to hear, I cut you off. And that was wrong.” Then he brought his gaze back to her, and once more she was caught off guard by the sincerity in his eyes. Richard had never been so honest with Isabella. Or cared whether he hurt her feelings.
    “It’s okay,” she said.
    He shook his head. “No, Isabella, it isn’t. I shouldn’t have talked to you that way, and I’m sorry.”
    Still shocked at a man apologizing, she simply stared.
    “Now’s the time where you tell me you forgive me,” he said, and his mouth slid into a grin.
    “Oh, my. I’m sorry,” she said.
    * * *
    Titus didn’t know why she found it so hard to admit that he’d treated her wrong, but he wasn’t about to let himself off the hook. He’d acted like a jerk, and he was sorry. But somehow,
she’d
ended up apologizing.
    He wouldn’t have any part of that. “No, that’s what
I
said.
I’m
sorry. Your line is, ‘Titus, I forgive you.’”
    She laughed, the response he’d hoped for, because he truly loved hearing Isabella laugh. She finally said, “Titus, I forgive you.”
    He smiled. “Thanks.” He probably should’ve accepted her apology and moved away from her, because they’d ended up very close, both of them leaning against the deck near the firewood as they spoke. But he didn’t want to.
    He looked at her for a moment while he gathered the right words and was momentarily captured by the image of the woman before him. She wore a turquoise blouse and long floral skirt that emphasized her femininity, as did the way she had her auburn waves pulled back in some kind of loose twist that he was certain Savannah would want her to try with her hair. A couple of long curls had escaped when they’d restacked the wood, and that only added to her appeal. And as usual, she wore minimal makeup, a hint of gloss on her lips, a shimmery shadow that highlighted the deep green of her eyes and a little mascara. But he also noticed something he hadn’t seen before, a faint spray of freckles on her nose and cheeks.
    “Was there something else?” she asked, her voice trembling a little.
    Titus had probably made her uncomfortable by blatantly staring—again. It really had been too long since he’d spent this much time with a female. He cleared his throat. “Yes,” he said. “I wanted to explain what happened yesterday, when you suggested I pray. The truth is, a few weeks ago I wouldn’t have had a problem praying for guidance with how to help Savannah, or whether to go through Nan’s things, or anything else. But ever since that phone call from the hospital, and after three years of constantly praying for a different ending to all of this, I guess I didn’t see the need.” The honesty of his statement, and the fact that he’d shared it with Isabella, surprised him, even if it was exactly how he felt. Nan had abandoned him, and then God followed suit.
    Not knowing what she’d think of his statement, he looked away from Isabella and toward the cleared area, the sites for the first two cabins. He thought about what he planned to do today with regard to the next wooded area and about the men he needed to call to begin setting up the subcontractors he’d hire once he was ready to break ground. Anything to keep his mind off the woman to whom he’d just confessed that he was losing his faith.
    The touch of warm fingers on his hand forced him to turn back to her, and the compassion in her eyes said she didn’t judge him. “It’s easier to let Him help than to blame Him. Trust me, I know.”
    Each time she spoke, Titus realized how very much he didn’t know about Isabella Gray and how much he’d like to know more. “Are you talking about your marriage?”
    “No, though God did get me