Read Online Love's Stormy Gale (Heartsong Presents) by Lynette Sowell - Free Book Online
Authors: Lynette Sowell
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matter now?”
“No, not really. I just wonder if I knew him as well as I thought I did. He seemed excited to be getting married.” Olivia studied her tea glass. “I mean, aren’t grooms supposed to be?”
“Uh, I would guess so.” Jonathan cleared his throat. “I mean, it’s not like some of the stuff women worry about is a big deal to us guys.”
“True. I know that. He fell asleep one night here on the couch when I was showing him bridesmaids’ dress ideas.” Olivia smiled, then laughed. “I guess I did obsess a little.”
But Robby had been almost nonchalant about the proposal and everything. A man shouldn’t be nonchalant concerning the woman he loved. Jonathan pondered that for a moment. He didn’t see the point in bringing that up now.
“What?” She nudged him. “What aren’t you telling me?”
Jonathan shrugged. “He just didn’t seem that gung ho about getting married. I shouldn’t say anything. It doesn’t really matter much now, not that either one of us can do anything about it.”
“Not gung ho about getting married?” Olivia shook her head. “I know he was pretty laid-back about many things, but...” She sealed her lips into a thin line.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. Robby was a good man and he did love you.”
“Just not enough, apparently.”
Jonathan sighed. Here was the chance he’d once longed for, and a chance he’d surrendered when he saw the sparks fly between Robby and Olivia years ago. Physical romance didn’t necessarily guarantee commitment and a lot of couples skipped that commitment.
He reached out, touched her silken hair.
* * *
Olivia could hardly form her words at the sensations bubbling inside her at the mere caress of Jonathan’s hand to her hair. His dark features were inches from her head, the rough stubble on his face begged her to touch it.
Then he put his glass down and she was able to breathe again. She followed suit, glad to put the glass in a safe place. If she were any more distracted she’d drop it.
“What is it?” Jonathan settled back onto the swing, this time settling his arm around her shoulder.
She shook her head. She wouldn’t fall apart in front of him. Then the warmth of his arm was behind her again, and Olivia leaned into its security. She sniffed.
“Go ahead,” his husky voice whispered, inches from her left ear.
“What?”
“Cry. I know I did.”
Olivia sat upright and stared at him. “Jonathan...I...”
Jonathan turned to face her, offering her a place in the circle of his arms. Olivia accepted the invitation, burying her face in his shoulder. He smelled of the sea and aftershave.
A sob made Olivia shudder, but Jonathan’s arms around her told her she was safe. For the first time since the evening of the storm, Olivia felt like she had her old friend back. Except the old friendship was carried on a current of something new. She felt her shoulders tense.
“What is it?” Jonathan stroked her hair with one hand.
“I’m not sure how to say this.” Olivia shifted to her place on the swing. What if she opened her mouth and said the wrong thing, and the sweetness of this healing moment was lost?
“Hey, it’s me here. We’ve known each other a long time.” Jonathan left his arm around her.
“I know. And that’s why I’m afraid, but I’ll say it anyway. I feel like something’s happening between us. And I don’t know what to do about it.”
“Don’t worry about it. If God is circling our paths closer together, then so be it.” Then his smile lit the early evening, its shine affecting her the way no glow of fireflies could ever do.
Now Jonathan was close enough so she could feel his breath on her face. What would it be like to have him kiss her? She resisted the urge to lick her lips. A strong hand caught her around the waist, pulling her still closer.
The porch light clicked on, and Olivia blinked. Her father stuck his head out the door.
“Er, I’m heading upstairs now.
“No, not really. I just wonder if I knew him as well as I thought I did. He seemed excited to be getting married.” Olivia studied her tea glass. “I mean, aren’t grooms supposed to be?”
“Uh, I would guess so.” Jonathan cleared his throat. “I mean, it’s not like some of the stuff women worry about is a big deal to us guys.”
“True. I know that. He fell asleep one night here on the couch when I was showing him bridesmaids’ dress ideas.” Olivia smiled, then laughed. “I guess I did obsess a little.”
But Robby had been almost nonchalant about the proposal and everything. A man shouldn’t be nonchalant concerning the woman he loved. Jonathan pondered that for a moment. He didn’t see the point in bringing that up now.
“What?” She nudged him. “What aren’t you telling me?”
Jonathan shrugged. “He just didn’t seem that gung ho about getting married. I shouldn’t say anything. It doesn’t really matter much now, not that either one of us can do anything about it.”
“Not gung ho about getting married?” Olivia shook her head. “I know he was pretty laid-back about many things, but...” She sealed her lips into a thin line.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. Robby was a good man and he did love you.”
“Just not enough, apparently.”
Jonathan sighed. Here was the chance he’d once longed for, and a chance he’d surrendered when he saw the sparks fly between Robby and Olivia years ago. Physical romance didn’t necessarily guarantee commitment and a lot of couples skipped that commitment.
He reached out, touched her silken hair.
* * *
Olivia could hardly form her words at the sensations bubbling inside her at the mere caress of Jonathan’s hand to her hair. His dark features were inches from her head, the rough stubble on his face begged her to touch it.
Then he put his glass down and she was able to breathe again. She followed suit, glad to put the glass in a safe place. If she were any more distracted she’d drop it.
“What is it?” Jonathan settled back onto the swing, this time settling his arm around her shoulder.
She shook her head. She wouldn’t fall apart in front of him. Then the warmth of his arm was behind her again, and Olivia leaned into its security. She sniffed.
“Go ahead,” his husky voice whispered, inches from her left ear.
“What?”
“Cry. I know I did.”
Olivia sat upright and stared at him. “Jonathan...I...”
Jonathan turned to face her, offering her a place in the circle of his arms. Olivia accepted the invitation, burying her face in his shoulder. He smelled of the sea and aftershave.
A sob made Olivia shudder, but Jonathan’s arms around her told her she was safe. For the first time since the evening of the storm, Olivia felt like she had her old friend back. Except the old friendship was carried on a current of something new. She felt her shoulders tense.
“What is it?” Jonathan stroked her hair with one hand.
“I’m not sure how to say this.” Olivia shifted to her place on the swing. What if she opened her mouth and said the wrong thing, and the sweetness of this healing moment was lost?
“Hey, it’s me here. We’ve known each other a long time.” Jonathan left his arm around her.
“I know. And that’s why I’m afraid, but I’ll say it anyway. I feel like something’s happening between us. And I don’t know what to do about it.”
“Don’t worry about it. If God is circling our paths closer together, then so be it.” Then his smile lit the early evening, its shine affecting her the way no glow of fireflies could ever do.
Now Jonathan was close enough so she could feel his breath on her face. What would it be like to have him kiss her? She resisted the urge to lick her lips. A strong hand caught her around the waist, pulling her still closer.
The porch light clicked on, and Olivia blinked. Her father stuck his head out the door.
“Er, I’m heading upstairs now.