Read Online Sweet Serenade (Riverbend Romance 3) by Valerie Comer - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Valerie Comer
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, series, Spirituality, Religious, Christian, Inspirational, Bachelor, competition, Novella, Faith, Forever Love, Single Woman, River Guide, Riverbend, Canadian Town, Canoe Builder, Bonfire, Water-Sport, Cedar Strip Canoe, Painful Past, Running Rapids, Summertime
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her close to his side while the gang dived and splashed in the swimming hole, and received furtive winks and thumbs-up from some of the other fellows. He didn’t much care whether they approved or not, but at least they’d respect him and not try to push between him and Carly.
Across the fire, Peter began plinking on his guitar. Eli challenged him a moment later with Dueling Banjos. The segues rolled back and forth between the two guitars with increasing speed until everyone was laughing.
Reed leaned back against Carly and closed his eyes as the music headed into a set of rousing praise choruses. His fingers itched for his harmonica, but he didn’t want to move. Didn’t want to leave the comforting awareness of Carly’s nearness.
She sang along softly with about half the songs, probably the only ones she knew. Her pleasant alto washed over him, adding to the ambience of the campfire’s crackle.
He never wanted this evening to end. How much more perfect could it be? They’d openly acknowledged their attraction to each other and been recognized by the gang as a couple. The cold river had washed away the heat of the day.
Next to Carly, Evan cleared his throat. “Anyone have something they’d like to share? What’s God been teaching you lately?”
Peter shifted seamlessly into a backdrop of fingerpicking.
“God’s teaching me patience.” That was Steph from the worship team. Had Carly met her yet? “Used to be I wanted patience right now, you know what I mean?”
Several chuckles sounded around the fire. Carly’s hands stilled on Reed’s shoulders.
“But the more time I spend in the Word, the more I realize God’s got it. I don’t need to worry about stuff and try to make it happen.”
“I totally get that,” Eli said. “I wanted to move back home in the worst way. Well, not with my parents, but you know what I mean. Back to Riverbend. This place really grows on a person.”
Carly’s fingers tangled in the hair at the base of Reed’s neck. He felt the warmth of her breath as she leaned closer. “It sure does,” she whispered.
He tilted his head all the way back into her lap and looked up at her in the light of the fire.
Carly touched his face as her gaze locked on his.
His gut tightened. What had Steph said about patience? Reed didn’t want patience. He wanted to gather Carly up in his arms and kiss her. He wanted more than that. A lot more.
Evan began singing While I’m Waiting . As the songwriter said so poetically, there were many things to do while one waited. Keep serving God, keep moving forward... but still waiting.
Reed reached up and touched Carly’s face, hoping she could see the promise in his eyes. She knew why he was holding back. He didn’t want any regrets between them. No regrets of any kind.
Several of the group members sang along as Peter and Eli played, fixing John Waller’s words in Reed’s memory. What was Reed going to do with his life? Would Sandon Adventures and building canoes provide enough time and a steady income for a family?
He searched Carly’s face as she stared into the fire.
Was he crazy to have such thoughts? No. Better to think things through before kissing her. Before making promises he couldn’t keep.
“Hey, Daniels!” called Peter. “Got your harmonica along tonight, or are you just gonna listen to music the rest of us can’t hear?’
A few people snickered.
Thankfully no one could see the heat he felt rising in his cheeks as he straightened—but not before catching Carly’s little grin.
“It’s in the glove box in my truck.”
“Lemme get it for you, dude.”
A minute later his harmonica dropped into his lap. Maybe the music in his head would come out where he could share it with everyone.
Especially Carly.
Chapter 9
“Can’t believe it’s July already.” Carly angled a glance at Reed. How could this man possibly look better every single time she saw him?
He grinned down at her and tightened his fingers around hers.
Across the fire, Peter began plinking on his guitar. Eli challenged him a moment later with Dueling Banjos. The segues rolled back and forth between the two guitars with increasing speed until everyone was laughing.
Reed leaned back against Carly and closed his eyes as the music headed into a set of rousing praise choruses. His fingers itched for his harmonica, but he didn’t want to move. Didn’t want to leave the comforting awareness of Carly’s nearness.
She sang along softly with about half the songs, probably the only ones she knew. Her pleasant alto washed over him, adding to the ambience of the campfire’s crackle.
He never wanted this evening to end. How much more perfect could it be? They’d openly acknowledged their attraction to each other and been recognized by the gang as a couple. The cold river had washed away the heat of the day.
Next to Carly, Evan cleared his throat. “Anyone have something they’d like to share? What’s God been teaching you lately?”
Peter shifted seamlessly into a backdrop of fingerpicking.
“God’s teaching me patience.” That was Steph from the worship team. Had Carly met her yet? “Used to be I wanted patience right now, you know what I mean?”
Several chuckles sounded around the fire. Carly’s hands stilled on Reed’s shoulders.
“But the more time I spend in the Word, the more I realize God’s got it. I don’t need to worry about stuff and try to make it happen.”
“I totally get that,” Eli said. “I wanted to move back home in the worst way. Well, not with my parents, but you know what I mean. Back to Riverbend. This place really grows on a person.”
Carly’s fingers tangled in the hair at the base of Reed’s neck. He felt the warmth of her breath as she leaned closer. “It sure does,” she whispered.
He tilted his head all the way back into her lap and looked up at her in the light of the fire.
Carly touched his face as her gaze locked on his.
His gut tightened. What had Steph said about patience? Reed didn’t want patience. He wanted to gather Carly up in his arms and kiss her. He wanted more than that. A lot more.
Evan began singing While I’m Waiting . As the songwriter said so poetically, there were many things to do while one waited. Keep serving God, keep moving forward... but still waiting.
Reed reached up and touched Carly’s face, hoping she could see the promise in his eyes. She knew why he was holding back. He didn’t want any regrets between them. No regrets of any kind.
Several of the group members sang along as Peter and Eli played, fixing John Waller’s words in Reed’s memory. What was Reed going to do with his life? Would Sandon Adventures and building canoes provide enough time and a steady income for a family?
He searched Carly’s face as she stared into the fire.
Was he crazy to have such thoughts? No. Better to think things through before kissing her. Before making promises he couldn’t keep.
“Hey, Daniels!” called Peter. “Got your harmonica along tonight, or are you just gonna listen to music the rest of us can’t hear?’
A few people snickered.
Thankfully no one could see the heat he felt rising in his cheeks as he straightened—but not before catching Carly’s little grin.
“It’s in the glove box in my truck.”
“Lemme get it for you, dude.”
A minute later his harmonica dropped into his lap. Maybe the music in his head would come out where he could share it with everyone.
Especially Carly.
Chapter 9
“Can’t believe it’s July already.” Carly angled a glance at Reed. How could this man possibly look better every single time she saw him?
He grinned down at her and tightened his fingers around hers.
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