Forever's Promises (Forever In Luck Series Book 1) by J. Darling

high tech, and they had his
number. Linnie was on the move, and had been spotted leaving Bella’s looking
like a billion bucks. She was, at this very moment, headed south on 1st Street.
    Dressing
quickly, he listened as his phone continued to ding and rattle on the dresser.
Opening the latest text, he saw she’d parked outside the Lutheran Church, and
was heading to the gazebo across the street. She was less than two blocks away,
and it was show time. This was his big chance, and somehow he had to get her to
listen. Saying a prayer, he headed for the door, glancing in the mirror as he
went by. His clothes fit perfectly, and he had to admit he cleaned up pretty
good. The question was, would Linnie notice?

 
    **********

 
    Linnie
felt wonderful. Somehow there’d been a miscommunication, but she wouldn’t
complain. She’d planned on a getting a massage, and then her hair done. Well
she’d gotten that, plus a facial, manicure, pedicure, and a full makeup
consultation. Not to mention the highlights, and lowlights in her hair, along
with a huge bag of personal care products, and makeup to take home.
    She
felt a bit embarrassed though, because when she’d gone to pay, Heidi, the owner,
glanced at the schedule book and realized the mistake, then insisted it was all
on the house. So, she’d tried to leave a generous tip, but Heidi wouldn’t hear
of it. Thanking them profusely, she left. Except she felt so wonderful, and the
day being so beautiful, she didn’t feel like going home quite yet. Getting in
her car, she headed towards the lake.
    It
was kind of hard to do though, because it made her think of Nate, and all the
times they’d sat on the park bench kissing by the shoreline. Unable to go
there, she parked in front of the Lutheran Church, got out of her car, and
walked across the street. Climbing the stairs of the gazebo, she moved to a bench
and sat. Looking all around, she stopped and stared at the big stained glass
window on the front of the church, admiring its vibrant colors. Her eyes
traveled the spire, to the cross at the top. Her prayer was simple. Lord, please help. I need it.
    Hearing
a noise, she turned, and saw Nate approaching the gazebo in long determined
strides. Lord, this isn’t funny! Stepping
up, he was in front of her, larger than life, making the gazebo feel like a
fishbowl. Standing there, watching as he came towards her, she couldn’t help
thinking how thankful she was that he was alive and safe. He was so incredibly
handsome, with his sandy brown hair and hazel colored eyes. She studied his
face, and remembered looking upon him in the past with happiness and joy, but
now, not so much. His jaw was square, his nose straight and strong, and he had
gentle, well defined lips, with the slightest of dimples in his chin. He was
tall, always had been, but he was taller than ever, and as he stood in front of
her, she was overwhelmed by the strength of his cut body, and ripped muscles.
    Looking
up into his eyes, she saw it all, the depth and breadth of his emotion, and
what she saw scared her. He was the one, and she knew it like a body knows it
needs oxygen to survive. After everything that had happened, she fought it with
a vengeance, her battered and bruised heart sounding the alarm, clamoring for protection
from the ravages of love. She couldn’t do this, she couldn’t. Breaking their
connection, she turned her back to him.
    “Linn—”
    “Don’t,”
she said calmly, cutting him off. “Please, don’t.” She heard him take a deep
breath. Her heart thumped in her chest. She didn’t want to hear it. Most women
would kill to be an object of love and devotion. Not her. It just hurt too much
when it ended, and it did end. She knew that for a fact. She had the broken
heart to prove it.
    “Linn—”
    “No,
Nate!” she snapped, as she moved to leave the gazebo.

 

CHAPTER
5

 
    Trailing
her, Nate tried his damndest to come up with a plan He had to get her to listen
to him, somehow,