leading.”
“Thanks, Kurt. I appreciate all your advice.”
He smiled. “Don’t mention it. I’ll keep you in my prayers. One of these days, I’m going to get you to cross the threshold of my church.”
“Thanks, but I like the church I attend.”
“They’re lucky to have you, buddy.”
Bruce smiled, wondering if Kurt would still feel that way if he told him what he’d been doing. Playing husband to a woman he hardly knew…a woman who had captured his heart, yes, but still one he didn’t know well. But he wanted to. Heaven knew he wanted to.
Lord, help
…
It was all he could think of to say.
It was late afternoon when Bruce pulled into the gravel driveway and gave an approving smile at Meghann’scream Honda parked there. He practically had to throw her out of the hotel. He literally escorted her out of the building to her car and watched her drive away. She couldn’t accept he was giving her so much time off.
He felt uneasy about opening her front door without knocking, but he knew he couldn’t knock. So he grabbed the doorknob, took a deep breath, and swung it open.
A warm feeling washed over him as he stepped across the threshold into the cheery atmosphere. It was so characteristic of his impetuous make-believe bride. He found he liked coming home to this cozy, welcoming setting with a beautiful wife waiting for him. The desire for this to be real jumped to life in him.
Meghann and Gayle were in the kitchen. “We are just starting dinner. It won’t be ready for a while.”
He crossed over to them and produced a variety bouquet of flowers to his pseudo-mother-in-law, who rewarded him with a pride-filled smile. He scored some points there.
With a kiss on her cheek, he handed Meghann a big bouquet of yellow carnations and red roses set in a spray of baby’s breath.
Taking them, she put her face to them and drank in their sweet scent. “They’re gorgeous. Thank you.” She turned appreciative eyes on him. His heart thumped harder in his chest.
“Yellow carnations, your favorite color and favorite flower in one.” He smiled at her surprise that he knew.
She raised her eyebrows. “And the roses?”
His smile broadened but it was Gayle whoanswered. “Everyone knows what a red rose means.”
Meghann turned to her mom, but Bruce kept his eyes on her, not that he could take them off her.
“Love, daughter. And from the looks of that bouquet, he loves you a great deal.”
Meghann’s cheeks highlighted pink, and he noticed she avoided looking directly at him as she retrieved two vases to put the flowers in. He knew she knew the roses were for show and still she blushed. He also knew how to get Meg to look at him again and break the awkward tension. “Pack your bags, ladies. I have good news.”
Lucky got up from where she had been resting, trotted over to him, sat down, and stared up at him. Bruce scratched her head. “Sorry girl, you’re not invited.”
“What are you talking about?” He could hear a note of alarm in Meghann’s voice, but she was looking at him with those glorious green-brown eyes.
“We are going to my apartment.”
Her mouth dropped open; fortunately her mother was behind her and couldn’t see the stunned look on her face.
“You have your own apartment?” Gayle said, perching her hands on her hips. Her tone was a mix of surprise and anger.
He was amused by both women’s reactions. Without thought of how either one would react, he had decided that his apartment made sense. “Yes. Unfortunately, my apartment is no place for Lucky.” He reached down and patted the dog’s head. “And this cottage is too small to accommodate all my things. So, untilwe find a bigger place that’s suitable for Lucky, we have two residences.”
Meghann’s mother accepted his explanation readily enough. “I won’t say a thing. Not one thing about having two places.”
Bruce held back a grin. The woman didn’t have to say it. Disapproval all but dripped from her
“Thanks, Kurt. I appreciate all your advice.”
He smiled. “Don’t mention it. I’ll keep you in my prayers. One of these days, I’m going to get you to cross the threshold of my church.”
“Thanks, but I like the church I attend.”
“They’re lucky to have you, buddy.”
Bruce smiled, wondering if Kurt would still feel that way if he told him what he’d been doing. Playing husband to a woman he hardly knew…a woman who had captured his heart, yes, but still one he didn’t know well. But he wanted to. Heaven knew he wanted to.
Lord, help
…
It was all he could think of to say.
It was late afternoon when Bruce pulled into the gravel driveway and gave an approving smile at Meghann’scream Honda parked there. He practically had to throw her out of the hotel. He literally escorted her out of the building to her car and watched her drive away. She couldn’t accept he was giving her so much time off.
He felt uneasy about opening her front door without knocking, but he knew he couldn’t knock. So he grabbed the doorknob, took a deep breath, and swung it open.
A warm feeling washed over him as he stepped across the threshold into the cheery atmosphere. It was so characteristic of his impetuous make-believe bride. He found he liked coming home to this cozy, welcoming setting with a beautiful wife waiting for him. The desire for this to be real jumped to life in him.
Meghann and Gayle were in the kitchen. “We are just starting dinner. It won’t be ready for a while.”
He crossed over to them and produced a variety bouquet of flowers to his pseudo-mother-in-law, who rewarded him with a pride-filled smile. He scored some points there.
With a kiss on her cheek, he handed Meghann a big bouquet of yellow carnations and red roses set in a spray of baby’s breath.
Taking them, she put her face to them and drank in their sweet scent. “They’re gorgeous. Thank you.” She turned appreciative eyes on him. His heart thumped harder in his chest.
“Yellow carnations, your favorite color and favorite flower in one.” He smiled at her surprise that he knew.
She raised her eyebrows. “And the roses?”
His smile broadened but it was Gayle whoanswered. “Everyone knows what a red rose means.”
Meghann turned to her mom, but Bruce kept his eyes on her, not that he could take them off her.
“Love, daughter. And from the looks of that bouquet, he loves you a great deal.”
Meghann’s cheeks highlighted pink, and he noticed she avoided looking directly at him as she retrieved two vases to put the flowers in. He knew she knew the roses were for show and still she blushed. He also knew how to get Meg to look at him again and break the awkward tension. “Pack your bags, ladies. I have good news.”
Lucky got up from where she had been resting, trotted over to him, sat down, and stared up at him. Bruce scratched her head. “Sorry girl, you’re not invited.”
“What are you talking about?” He could hear a note of alarm in Meghann’s voice, but she was looking at him with those glorious green-brown eyes.
“We are going to my apartment.”
Her mouth dropped open; fortunately her mother was behind her and couldn’t see the stunned look on her face.
“You have your own apartment?” Gayle said, perching her hands on her hips. Her tone was a mix of surprise and anger.
He was amused by both women’s reactions. Without thought of how either one would react, he had decided that his apartment made sense. “Yes. Unfortunately, my apartment is no place for Lucky.” He reached down and patted the dog’s head. “And this cottage is too small to accommodate all my things. So, untilwe find a bigger place that’s suitable for Lucky, we have two residences.”
Meghann’s mother accepted his explanation readily enough. “I won’t say a thing. Not one thing about having two places.”
Bruce held back a grin. The woman didn’t have to say it. Disapproval all but dripped from her
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