Precious Blessings (Love Inspired) by Jillian Hart Page A

rise.
    That’s when he felt it, a flicker of emotion stretching tight right behind his sternum and then popping free, like a rubber band snapping. What was that?
    He didn’t have to look around to know who was coming his way. For some unfathomable reason, he could feel the string pulling tight again, right over his heart the moment he saw Katherine enter the dining room.
    His gut instinct told him to duck, but it was too late.

Chapter Five
    T hat man sitting at the window…there was something familiar about those mile-wide shoulders and the tidy shock of black hair. His posture was as rigid as a seasoned soldier’s, and she’d seen that black parka before.
    Jack Munroe. Her feet froze in place in the archway between the lodge’s main restaurant and the practically empty room. Maybe he hadn’t spotted her. It wasn’t too late to tiptoe back out of the room.
    Don’t be silly, she told herself. She’d planned never to see Jack Munroe again. This was a coincidence, not divine intervention or her secret wish. She’d simply find a quiet table on the far side of the dining room, pull out her book and wait for Holly and Marin to find her. She didn’t have to look in Jack’s direction whatsoever.
    Luck might be in her favor. With the way he was gazing out the window, he might not even notice her. She could walk right past him. If he did happen to lookher way, she’d toss him a polite smile. It sounded like a good plan.
    So why did her feet take on a mind of their own and lead her to his table? “Did you ever find your lost ski?”
    There wasn’t an ounce of surprise on his chiseled face as he pivoted in his chair and fastened his gaze on hers. Total control emanated from him like cold from the window. “I did. After a few more runs, skiing came back to me.”
    â€œGood.” Katherine hadn’t spotted him on the advanced runs, so she guessed he’d tried a less challenging trail.
    Well, she hadn’t intended to chat and didn’t want to. Time to make her escape. But the instant she took a step, his hand shot out and his fingers curled around her wrist. The shock of the contact startled them both.
    â€œYou can’t go yet.” He released her, but his gaze was pure black steel. “Not until I apologize.”
    She didn’t know if it was fury at his overbearing manner or something like interest that froze her in place. The imprint of Jack’s hand felt like a brand on her arm. “Apologize? For which offense?”
    â€œAre there that many?”
    â€œYou know the answer to that.”
    â€œSorry. I just—” Jack shook his head. What was he thinking? It had been a mistake to stop her. A mistake not to have kept as much distance between them as possible. “Is there any way we can start over?”
    â€œStart over with what?”
    She was going to make this as hard as possible. He squared his shoulders, ready to take a direct rejection. “We can pretend we didn’t meet the way we did.”
    â€œYou mean with your daughter stealing from my family’s store and you trying to run over me with your car?” Her soft dainty mouth tightened into a thin line. One slim eyebrow shot up as if he’d insulted her.
    She wasn’t insulted, he realized. She was too nice a woman for that. He stood and pulled out the chair next to him. Watched deeper emotions play in her captivating eyes.
    Whenever he was around her, he felt off-balance, as if he’d lost his center, his footing, everything he was sure of. Maybe she felt this, too. “If you can put those things behind you, I’d like to try again.”
    â€œWhat makes you think I want to?”
    â€œJust a hunch. Cop’s instinct.”
    â€œLet me guess. Your hunches are wrong a lot, aren’t they?”
    â€œYou’ll have to sit down and find out.”
    â€œToo bad I’m not the least bit curious.” She smiled, and