Read Online Love Finds a Home by Kathryn Springer - Free Book Online

a formal statement, it would mean a trip to the police department, and Emma had no desire to go there ever again. Just the thought tied her stomach into knots.
    “No, this isn’t about the tools—”
    “Then if you’d like a library card, you can fill out this form.” Emma gestured toward the applications stacked neatly in a plastic tray. “And I will need to see proof of residence.”
    “I stopped by to talk to you about the mentoring ministry that Church of the Pines started.”
    Emma’s mouth turned as dry as the chalk she’ddusted on her cheeks before reading Charlotte the Chef. “I didn’t realize you were involved.”
    “I’m on the prayer team.” Jake’s lips twisted in a wry smile. “But I also told the pastor I’d be willing to do whatever God wants me to.”
    Did he think that meant trying to change her mind?
    “I planned to call Pastor Wilde today and let him know that Jeremy won’t be able to participate.” Although, knowing how disappointed he would be, Emma hadn’t broken the news to her son.
    “He wants to be involved, Emma.”
    Emma’s heart gave a little kick when Jake said her name.
    “He also wants to eat hot dogs for breakfast.” She managed to lift her chin and meet that unsettling amber gaze straight on. “That doesn’t mean it’s good for him.”
     
    This was going to be more difficult than he thought.
    Emma had scrambled for cover behind the desk the moment they were alone. Jake didn’t know why she’d bothered. The rigid set of her shoulders and the wary look in her eyes proved effective enough barriers.
    To anyone but him.
    He might have been tempted to give up and walk out the door if the conversation he’d had with Matt wasn’t still lodged in his head.
    “Jeremy Barlow called the church an hour ago,” Matt had told him. “That kid is something else. He said he’s been praying about it and he is convinced that you are supposed to be his mentor.”
    “Did he say why?”
    “No.” Matt’s smile had faded. “But it could havesomething to do with his dad being a police officer. It would make sense, wouldn’t it? A boy that age might be curious about a man who pursued the same career as his father.”
    A career that had taken that father’s life.
    Jake had released a slow breath. There was a strong possibility that the reason Jeremy had chosen him as a mentor would be the same reason Emma would reject him.
    She looked tempted to show him the door now. Fortunately, the library was open to the public so she had to endure his presence for the moment.
    Okay, Lord, if this is Your idea, You are going to have to give me some wisdom here. I have no idea how to change Emma’s mind.
    Although it suddenly became clear to Jake that he wanted to.
    What had started out as curiosity had undergone a subtle shift over the past hour. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that he’d seen Emma with her defenses down, waving a rolling pin as she recited a story for a mesmerized group of kindergartners.
    To be honest, Jake had been a little mesmerized himself by the undercurrent of laughter he’d heard in her voice. The dusting of flour on the tip of Emma’s nose that elevated her already pretty features to a winsome beauty.
    She met his gaze, shields once again in place, but this time Jake looked past the stubborn tilt of her chin and saw the vulnerable curve of her lips, and the fear crouched behind the defiant look in her eyes.
    With a flash of insight that Jake assumed was an answer to his prayer, he heard himself ask, “How old was Jeremy when Brian died?”

    The color drained from Emma’s face and she flinched, leaving Jake to wonder how long it had been since she’d heard anyone say her husband’s name.
    Forget the barrier she’d put between them. In two strides, Jake was standing next to her. Not close enough to crowd, but close enough to catch her if she passed out on him.
    Emma folded her arms across her chest. For a second, Jake didn’t think she was