One Thursday Morning: Inspirational Christian Romance (Diamond Lake Series Book 1) by T.K. Chapin Page B

paying the $250 a month to dry dock it and making sure its upkeep is all good. She’s just done. I can’t afford that kind of money right now, so she wants to sell it. I mean . . . I get it. It’s a lot of money to shell out for a boat, but it was my dad’s boat. Jody met my father ten years ago, and they were deeply in love when he passed in a tragic car accident a couple of years back. I guess between her marrying Wayne and now wanting to get rid of the boat . . . I feel like maybe she never really loved my dad.” He bit his lip and turned away as his eyes began to glisten by the obviously painful words he spoke. Walking over to the cement railing of the bridge, he stretched his arms out and grasped onto the edge with both hands. That invisible weight that I had seen yesterday at the diner appeared to be back on his shoulders.
    Walking up to his side, I placed a hand on his back, and he looked into my eyes.
    “It’s the last thing I have of his in this world, Amy.” His eyes turned away and to the rushing falls beyond the railing. The sound of the crashing water took over the silence in the air between us. Not sure what to do or say, I just stood by his side, keeping my hand on his back. After a few minutes, he said, “I don’t really share this kind of thing with many people. I’m sorry if I came across all . . . I don’t know. All emotional or something.”
    I grabbed his hand and looked at him. “I love getting to know more about you. You can share anything with me.”
    “Same goes for you,” he replied.
    A smile grew from the corner of his lips as he threaded his fingers into mine and we continued our walk. We continued talking and enjoying the quiet summer evening as we walked around Riverfront Park. When we crossed the street back over to the car after our walk, I noticed another black Lexus RC parked a few parking spaces from Charlie’s car. Is that the same one from the inn? Unable to see the plates in the dark, I got in and soon forgot about it as Charlie’s gaze in my direction stole my attention.
    “Hi,” I said, smiling as I looked into his eyes.
    “Hi.”
    Seeing him steal a glance at my lips, I said, “Could we avoid the weird porch thing where I pretend to fumble around for my keys and just get our first kiss out of the way right now?”
    He laughed. “Way to kill the romantic suspense of the evening, Amy.” He adjusted in his seat so he was partially over the armrest, leaning toward me. “You really do know what you want.”
    “Well, I’m just—”
    He interrupted me by coming the rest of the way over the armrest and pulling my head toward him for a kiss. When his lips pressed against mine, it was as if a release valve blew and pressure began releasing. A deep warmth ran from my head, reaching down all the way into my toes and bathing my body in a bath of warming passion. Pressing against his direction as we kissed, the warmth pulsed within my chest. I could feel my heart beat harder and harder as the warmth grew inside me. I grabbed onto his jacket and slid it off his shoulders. His muscular shoulders and arms revealed themselves in the low lighting that shone in from the street lamp outside. All boundaries fell away in my mind as I looked him in the eyes. Dipping my head, I kissed him deeper as I began climbing over to his seat.
    He grabbed onto my arms and gently pushed me back, making me want him even more. A serious look flashed across his face, and he said, “ Amy . . . ”
    I bit my lip and dove back toward him across the armrest, but he resisted. Pushing me back again, he let out a laugh and then a groan.
    “Calm down, babe. We can’t let this get carried away.”
    I reluctantly relaxed back into my seat and looked over at him as my emotions began to calm back down. I was frustrated but thankful for his ability to control himself. He was sweet, far sweeter than any of the men I’d ever dealt with in my life. “Thank you,” I said softly before directing my eyes forward