Read Online Smitten Book Club by Colleen Coble, Denise Hunter - Free Book Online Page A

“I never knew that. I just thought his mom died, and you ended up raising the kids.”
    Rose crossed her legs, amazingly shapely for a woman her age. “That would have been traumatic enough, but those poor children didn’t have any stability from the time they wereborn. I tried to heal the wounds, but some things take God’s hand alone.”
    The front door slammed, and Paul’s voice called, “Aunt Rose?”
    “In here, honey. Our guests have arrived.”
    His footsteps came across the wood floors. He looked impossibly handsome and carefree when he stepped into the sun-room. His jeans hugged his hips, and Heather liked the red shirt he wore. His gaze darted to her and lingered on her face before sweeping down to take in the rest of her.
    “Hi, Heather.” His smile broadened. “I like your dress.”
    She resisted the impulse to tug at the hem. “Thanks. Did you find a house?”
    He shook his head. “Neither house was what I was looking for.”
    “I can keep an eye out. I’m a house junkie. I like to drive around town looking at what’s for sale. What do you want?”
    He snagged a cookie, then dropped onto the sofa beside her. “I want at least four bedrooms. Something with character too. I’d really like a fixer, something I can design like I want it. And an attic. Have to have a walk-up attic like here. I used to love going through the boxes up there.”
    Heather laughed. “I’ve never been in that kind of attic. Only ones with a pulldown ladder into a space above the garage.”
    “I’ll have to show you the attic after dinner.”
    Rose shook her head. “You’ll do no such thing. She’ll get dust all over her pretty dress.” She stood. “I’d better check on dinner.”
    Heather sprang to her feet too, glad to get away from the enticing heat emanating from Paul. “What can I do to help?”
    Rose waved her hand. “Nothing, child. It’s all in the oven. I just need to take a peek and see if it’s ready. It’s probably got another few minutes, but you never can tell with my oven. I’ll call you when it’s ready.”
    “I could set the table.”
    “Charlie will help me.” Rose took the little boy’s hand. “Chat with my nephew while I show Charlie my special silver.”
    Heather sank back onto the sofa. She wasn’t sure what to say. The kiss loomed between them.
    He took a cookie from the tray. “Did you tell Molly there was nothing in the mine?”
    “I did. She took it well. I don’t think she really expected us to find anything. But it would have been nice.”
    “I’m sorry. I know you want to help her.”
    She peeked up at his sincere face. “Thanks.”
    “Anything I can do?”
    “Send business her way when you can. The construction will be done soon, and we have to help her build her reputation.”
    A frown settled on his brow. “Does she know anything about the expeditions she’ll be taking guests on?”
    Heather waved vaguely. “She doesn’t need to. An employee does all that.”
    “That’s quite a bit different from the hands-on work she’ll need to be doing. I hope she’s ready for this.”
    She sipped her tea. “I don’t think she has a choice.”
    He put his palms on his knees. His fingers were long and ended in clean oval fingernails. A sensitive man’s hand, but she’d never seen a sensitive side. Just like yesterday, he’dtaken advantage of a simple kiss of gratitude and turned it into something else.
    You wanted it .
    She pushed away the voice. Whether she’d welcomed it or not didn’t change the way he’d moved in.
    “Look, Heather, I know you’re a little miffed I kissed you, but doggone it, don’t shut me out. I’m not the philanderer you think I am. I’m beginning to care about you, and I’d like to explore where we might go from here. Don’t close the door to a chance of happiness because of something that happened four years ago.”
    His aunt had said he’d changed. Was it possible? She wetted her lips. “What does it mean when you say you care