Read Online Tomorrow's Promise (The Hawks Mountain Series) by Elizabeth Sinclair - Free Book Online
Authors: Elizabeth Sinclair
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that’s okay with you. It’s just that you look beat.”
She was about to protest, but he was right. She was exhausted and wasn’t looking forward to the ride up the mountain. But, she’d only known this man for a few days. Could she let him pick up her daughter? She glanced sideways at his profile and realized her trepidation was ridiculous. He’d already proven how much he cared for Lizzie. She leaned back, knowing Lizzie would be taken care of by both Granny and Cole.
They rode in silence for a while. The deserted road made travel easy. The only other car they saw was a white SUV parked on the side of the road. A breakdown no doubt. Since no one stood near the car, Faith assumed they’d walked the mile to town for help. Recalling her walk yesterday, a wave of sympathy for the car’s driver washed over her.
Cole cast a casual quick glance at the car. “Out of towner.”
She frowned. “How do you know that?”
He smiled. “Georgia plate.”
Feeling a bit foolish, she didn’t reply. Instead, she stared out the passenger side window at the passing scenery. Realizing her preoccupation with the sights around her was nothing more than a way to put off the inevitable, Faith swung around in the seat to face him and took a deep fortifying breath. “Cole?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve been thinking.” She paused for another breath. “If it’s still available, I’ll take your job offer.”
“Good.”
She didn’t like the satisfied smile that accompanied his one-word reply. Had he set a trap that she’d just sprung it with herself in it?
COLE DROPPED FAITH off and left to pick up Lizzie at Becky’s house. Faith went to her bedroom, kicked off her shoes, and changed into more comfortable clothes. After throwing her discarded clothes in the hamper, she headed to the kitchen to start the coffeemaker. The least she could do after all the running around he’d been doing for her was to offer Cole a cup of hot coffee when he got back. Once the coffee was brewing, she scanned the refrigerator for something for supper.
As she walked from the bedroom and into through the living room, she came to a sudden stop.
“What the—”
Books littered the floor in front of the bookshelf. One of Lizzie’s favorite pastimes was to pull the books off the shelf, and, if not caught in time, she would rip the pages out. Since the books came with the house and belonged to Doc Amos and Harriet, Faith kept a close eye on her daughter whenever she was near the shelf. Evidently, Granny Jo had not been as vigilant, but Faith couldn’t be upset with her because she hadn’t warned her about Lizzie’s book-destroying tendencies.
Time later to speculate on how it had happened. First, she had to clean up the mess. Faith picked up the books, checking each for damage and, relieved to find them all intact, she placed them back on the shelf.
“What’s going on?”
Cole’s voice stopped Faith in the midst of grabbing the last few books and sent that familiar flush to her cheeks. She turned to him. Clutching her teddy bear in one arm and the other arm wrapped around Cole’s neck, Lizzie grinned down at her.
“Granny didn’t know about my daughter’s penchant for books.” Faith put the last of the books in its rightful place, then went to Cole and took Lizzie from him, undecided whether to reprimand Lizzie or hug her. Since scolding so long after the transgression seemed nonconstructive, Faith settled for the hug. “Hey, sweet girl.” She kissed Lizzie’s cheek. “Did you have a nice visit? Are you hungry?”
“Granny said she fed Lizzie supper, so there’s no need for you to worry about that.”
Lizzie squirmed to get out of her mother’s arms. Faith headed into the kitchen and set her daughter on the floor. The child immediately ran to the box Faith had filled with her few toys.
“Thanks for picking her up for me.” She tore her gaze away from his and grabbed the coffee carafe. “I was going to make coffee. Do you have
She was about to protest, but he was right. She was exhausted and wasn’t looking forward to the ride up the mountain. But, she’d only known this man for a few days. Could she let him pick up her daughter? She glanced sideways at his profile and realized her trepidation was ridiculous. He’d already proven how much he cared for Lizzie. She leaned back, knowing Lizzie would be taken care of by both Granny and Cole.
They rode in silence for a while. The deserted road made travel easy. The only other car they saw was a white SUV parked on the side of the road. A breakdown no doubt. Since no one stood near the car, Faith assumed they’d walked the mile to town for help. Recalling her walk yesterday, a wave of sympathy for the car’s driver washed over her.
Cole cast a casual quick glance at the car. “Out of towner.”
She frowned. “How do you know that?”
He smiled. “Georgia plate.”
Feeling a bit foolish, she didn’t reply. Instead, she stared out the passenger side window at the passing scenery. Realizing her preoccupation with the sights around her was nothing more than a way to put off the inevitable, Faith swung around in the seat to face him and took a deep fortifying breath. “Cole?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve been thinking.” She paused for another breath. “If it’s still available, I’ll take your job offer.”
“Good.”
She didn’t like the satisfied smile that accompanied his one-word reply. Had he set a trap that she’d just sprung it with herself in it?
COLE DROPPED FAITH off and left to pick up Lizzie at Becky’s house. Faith went to her bedroom, kicked off her shoes, and changed into more comfortable clothes. After throwing her discarded clothes in the hamper, she headed to the kitchen to start the coffeemaker. The least she could do after all the running around he’d been doing for her was to offer Cole a cup of hot coffee when he got back. Once the coffee was brewing, she scanned the refrigerator for something for supper.
As she walked from the bedroom and into through the living room, she came to a sudden stop.
“What the—”
Books littered the floor in front of the bookshelf. One of Lizzie’s favorite pastimes was to pull the books off the shelf, and, if not caught in time, she would rip the pages out. Since the books came with the house and belonged to Doc Amos and Harriet, Faith kept a close eye on her daughter whenever she was near the shelf. Evidently, Granny Jo had not been as vigilant, but Faith couldn’t be upset with her because she hadn’t warned her about Lizzie’s book-destroying tendencies.
Time later to speculate on how it had happened. First, she had to clean up the mess. Faith picked up the books, checking each for damage and, relieved to find them all intact, she placed them back on the shelf.
“What’s going on?”
Cole’s voice stopped Faith in the midst of grabbing the last few books and sent that familiar flush to her cheeks. She turned to him. Clutching her teddy bear in one arm and the other arm wrapped around Cole’s neck, Lizzie grinned down at her.
“Granny didn’t know about my daughter’s penchant for books.” Faith put the last of the books in its rightful place, then went to Cole and took Lizzie from him, undecided whether to reprimand Lizzie or hug her. Since scolding so long after the transgression seemed nonconstructive, Faith settled for the hug. “Hey, sweet girl.” She kissed Lizzie’s cheek. “Did you have a nice visit? Are you hungry?”
“Granny said she fed Lizzie supper, so there’s no need for you to worry about that.”
Lizzie squirmed to get out of her mother’s arms. Faith headed into the kitchen and set her daughter on the floor. The child immediately ran to the box Faith had filled with her few toys.
“Thanks for picking her up for me.” She tore her gaze away from his and grabbed the coffee carafe. “I was going to make coffee. Do you have
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