Read Online Lakeside Romance by Lisa Jordan - Free Book Online Page A

love.”
    â€œYes.” His eyes shot open and widened with surprise. “Yes, it does.”
    â€œI’m sure you’re frustrated about having to rely on others.”
    â€œWhat would you know about that?”
    â€œAbout a year ago, I left my job, my house and everything I loved to move to Shelby Lake, where I knew only a handful of people.”
    â€œWhy’d you do it?”
    A flicker of something shadowed her eyes, but she blinked several times. Maybe Alec had imagined it. “I needed a fresh start. My fiancé ended our engagement six weeks before our wedding. I came to Shelby Lake to help my brother with his daughters and to see what new plan God had for me.”
    Ouch.
    â€œSounds like he wasn’t the right guy. But you’re young—you have your life ahead of you. I’m an old man, sent here to live out my remaining years.”
    â€œIt’s not like that and you know it.” Alec tried to stay patient, but were they going to have this conversation every time they were together?
    Sarah stood and picked up a framed photo of Emmett and Gideon. “You’re welcome to feel that way, Mr. Browne, but it won’t change your situation. From what I understand, you’re free to come and go as you please. Your son lives down the street, right? Now you can see him more often. Plus, I’m sure if you talk to the other residents, you’ll find many of them may have had similar feelings. When we came in, two ladies were talking about a book they just read. A guy was doing the crossword in the paper...in pen. If you give yourself a chance, you can learn to find the joy in your situation.”
    â€œHow’d you get so smart?”
    â€œThe hard way, but no matter my circumstances, God is unchanging and helps me get through what I’m facing.”
    Emmett looked at her, then at Alec. “You listening to her? She speaks truth, my boy.”
    â€œWe’re not talking about me, Emmett. How about going down to the living room and getting to know a couple of people? Dinner’s going to be served soon. Perhaps you could sit in the dining room today instead of eating in your suite? I’ll even go with you.”
    â€œI don’t need a babysitter. I can do things by myself.” Emmett gazed out the window, silent for a moment, then lowered the footrest on his recliner. He stood, straightened his bow tie and reached for his wooden cane. “Let’s go.”
    Apparently he wasn’t ready to do dinner by himself.
    Alec tossed a smile at Sarah, suddenly appreciating her people skills even more. He’d give her a hug if it wouldn’t be out of line. Her ability to relate to his uncle’s frustration caused Alec’s opinion of her to skyrocket. After spending so much time with her the past week, he’d learned she was anything but a scatterbrain.
    Sarah touched his arm and beckoned him to come closer. He leaned in enough to inhale the scent of her shampoo. Her breath fanned his ear. “Do you trust me?”
    â€œAbout what?” He hated the hesitation that crept into his voice, but trusting others didn’t come easily these days.
    â€œI have an idea to help your uncle feel more at home, but I need you to have some faith in me...and the key for this apartment.”
    â€œWhat for?”
    She dropped her hand on her hip and shot him a saucy grin. “That’s where the trust part comes in. And you must keep your uncle busy for a few hours.”
    Alec narrowed his eyes and searched her face, taking in those high cheekbones and the smattering of freckles across the bridge of her nose. Sighing, he reached into his pocket and folded the key into her hand, allowing his fingers to linger a second longer than necessary to feel the softness of her skin.
    He hoped he didn’t regret trusting her.
    * * *
    Sarah had no guarantee her plan would work, but she had to try.
    The sadness in Emmett’s face carved a hole in