Moving was the pits. She rubbed her shin and noticed another nick to her already bruised and scraped body. She couldn’t forget she’d still be looking at her piled-high boxes without the help of her coworker’s toting and lugging. Footsteps sounded on the stairs, and she pulled away from her newest...
No, she isn’t working out. Her husband, a former All-American gymnast, co-owns ACE Cheer Company, an all-star cheerleading company. She is thankful the talented kids at the gym don’t have a problem when she brings her laptop and writes while they sweat. &...
“What do you mean, no bet? There was a bet. I heard Neil and Chip say so.” James’s frown grew hard and for a moment I wished I hadn’t even brought it up. “What do you mean there was a bet?” “The day I met you at the garage where they work I heard the guys say that they bet I would come around. Ch...
She had called Nate a couple of times on her way home from Cranbrook but he hadn’t answered. She knew she had to let go, but leaving him with Josh and Grace had created unease on so many levels. Things were changing between them. She knew her feelings for him grew stronger...
Heather glanced up from her makeup bag on the bathroom counter and gave her sister, who was standing in the doorway, a self-conscious smile. “It’s not too fancy for church in Saddlebank?” she asked, smoothing one hand down the skirt of the dress she had just finished ironi...
Grass slithered down his back as he wrestled with the bolt on the broken U joint connecting the PTO drive to the baler. Another day, another breakdown. Yesterday he’d managed to get most of the one field baled. Today he wasn’t sure he would get as much done. &n...
Block out,” Sarah called, and bodies realigned themselves on the basketball court, shoes squeaking out a protest on the wooden floor at the sudden shifts and spins as the team members maneuvered to get into position. The final game of the tournament was only five minutes a...
Mrs. Morgan said, waving an imperious hand toward the west wall of the basement of the church. She came to an abrupt halt in the middle of the room, a frown creasing her forehead as she looked up at the ceiling. “Though we need to do something about those horrible exposed pipes.” &nbs...
His movements were sure, practiced, old habits slipping back as easily as putting on worn shoes. The routine alleviated the moment of tension created by the allure of Lisa. The vessel that had once seemed roomy enough with four people aboard now seemed cramped and crowded. He and Lisa would const...
Grandma called down the hall. “We’re going to be late for church.” Nadine stifled a wave of impatience with her dear grandma as she straightened a cream-colored sweater over her rust wool skirt and tugged on the elastic holding her hair. It snapped against her hand and her hair slid loose. “Are y...
Finn said. “I’m just pulling in to the ranch now. I’ll be at the church as soon as possible.” “I missed you, too,” Jodie said, pressing her phone to her ear as she sat down on the bed in her old room, unable to stop smiling at the sound of his voice. It frightened her how ...
Lord Cavanaugh’s dark gaze held a gleam of mirth, belying his gruff words. Evangeline leaned her elbow on the bookstore’s counter, licked her finger and turned the page of her book, releasing a satisfied smile at the perfect scene with the perfect hero. &...
The simple question hung between us, edged with anger. “Because…” I could see him stiffen at my standard reply even as the words tractor, tractor, tractor echoed in my subconscious and buried even below that, Missssss Bilingual. Right as I might have been, I wasn't ready t...
I hate math.” Natasha pushed her chair away from the table, the wooden legs screeching over the worn linoleum. She folded her arms over her chest as she pushed out her lower lip. For the past hour Hailey had been working with Natasha on math problems and all they had to show for the time were som...
she said, looking up from the book, but not closing it.Her uncle put his head in the room. “I saw your light on. Everything okay?”“Yeah. I’m okay.” She gestured for him to come in and he grabbed a chair, carried it closer to her bed, sat down and caught his breath.Though he claimed he was fine, C...
Alanna and I will be doing the green room and Kerry and Evangeline are in the gray room.”Garret looked over Larissa’s chart, nodding as she showed him her plan, the smell of fresh paint filling his nostrils. “Looks like we’ll get done by today if all goes well,” he said. The panic that had grippe...
As he looked at the clock on the wall, he heard voices in the outer office. Debbie’s rough laugh, Renee’s lilting reply. As he got to his feet, the door opened and there she was. The light from the outer office highlighted her hair, putting her in s...
“You were the one who wanted to run away,” he said simply. “Because you were talking about our giving each other space and time. And then when I was gone just a few months, I find out you loved Paula.” Jake straightened, realizing for the first time how it had looked from her side. “Is that what ...
Grady settled himself in the chair beside his brother’s bed, wincing as pain seized him, almost making him spill the cup of coffee he had bought for himself before coming up. Once again he felt sympathy for his father. How had he dealt with his pain day in and day out? And...
Leslie asked me for the fourth time, her eyes doing that little-sister thing as she pulled out of the church parking lot. Dan had elected to stay behind for coffee, and Nicholas, big surprise, decided to stay with him. Anneke was going to a friend's for lunch. Once again, Leslie and I were alone....
Heather asked. Nicole tucked the phone under her ear and sat down at the minuscule table that passed for a desk in her motel room. “And a good morning to you, too,” Nicole said to her assistant. “Sorry. Good morning back. I’ve been hanging around your dad too long,” Heather said with a laugh. “I ...