Campaigning for Love Read Online Free PDF

how desperate she’d been. So needy for a connection of any kind to anyone, she would have tutored him just for the company. There had been no need to pretend she mattered to him.
    Nick had used her. And now Uncle Charles expected her to spend time with him, finding out personal, interesting things about the guy who had manipulated her and then banished her to the equivalent of Siberia.
    She knew all she needed to know about Nicholas Delaney and none of it was interesting. A dull ache filled her chest as another piece of her heart shriveled up and died over the injustice of having to relive the past she’d worked so hard to escape.
    Alice had taught her that her past was gone. She couldn’t do a thing about it today. “Let it go,” she always said. “Shake the dust off your feet and forget those naysayers. You have tomorrow to get ready for.”
    A smile tugged at her lips. Alice had never let her wallow in self-pity. She’d helped Katherine see how putting her faith and trust in God meant she didn’t have to worry about pleasing anyone else. God’s opinion was all that mattered.
    Her body ached from the emotional havoc the judge had wreaked on her life today. Reviewing case files in her current mindset was useless. She gathered up the files to take home with her. She came out of her office and leaned on Gina’s desk. “I’ve had enough, I’m leaving. Feel free to cut out early this afternoon. I’ll see you in the morning.”
    Gina’s head popped up from behind her monitor. “Are you sick?”
    “No, just tired. I can’t focus like I should right now.” The weight of her loss, the memories of her past, and Uncle Charles’s strong-arming rode heavy on her shoulders. “I thought I’d swing by Grace Community and explain to Jeremy why I’m bailing on him Friday.”
    “Go home, fill the tub with bubbles and relax.” Gina waved her off. “You work too hard. You haven’t given yourself any downtime since losing Alice. You need to let your mind rest and your heart heal.”
    Katherine paused in the middle of sliding her purse strap onto her shoulder. “I said I was tired. I don’t remember any claims about being sad or mopey.” She shook her head at Gina’s raised eyebrow and relented—a little. “But a bubble bath does sound good. I’ll see you in the morning.” In the open doorway, she turned. “Get me the dirt on Nick Delaney.”
    Thanks to the light traffic, Katherine made good time on her way across town and pulled up beside Jeremy’s car. Using the main entrance, she went through to the church office and tapped on his private door. He beckoned her in with a wave of his hand and a welcoming smile.
    “Hey there, stranger.” He stood and, when he was within arm’s reach, claimed a big-brother hug. “What brings you by at this time of day?”
    She hugged him back, welcoming his warmth, hoping it would reach deep enough to chase away the cold loneliness holding her soul hostage. “I decided to play hooky for the afternoon.”
    He stepped back and scanned her face. “Uh-huh, I see that. Anything going on you want to talk about?”
    Her eyes widened. His ability to sense her mood was downright spooky sometimes. She shifted her gaze to a spot over his shoulder. “I’m fine.”
    He squeezed her hand. “Come on, Katherine, I know you better than that. And it’s a very bad thing to mislead your minister.”
    The internal war raging between unloading her burdens and keeping them locked inside lasted less than thirty seconds. She sank into a chair as her composure crumbled. Jeremy was safe. He’d been her first real friend. He wouldn’t take advantage of her outward show of emotion, and if she could unload part of the weight, she could handle the rest—alone. Always alone. His look of devoted concern toppled the last of her weakened defenses.
    Despite a soul-weary sigh, she fought against sounding like a whiney wimp. No pity. She needed advice from someone who knew her. Aside from Jeremy, there