Having Faith Read Online Free PDF Page B

anything.
    As soon as he spotted them, the teen looked up from the ancient mower and stood tall, his posture wary but not aggressive.  “Can I help you?” he called out as the two much larger men approached. 
    With the observation skills of the Ops men they were, they took in everything about the boy in a matter of seconds.  Tall, lean, the kid was going to be big by the time he finished growing; it was something they understood all too well.  Rich brown hair extended beyond the rag he’d tied around his head to keep the sweat at bay; gray eyes half shuttered, displayed both curiosity and caution.  The kid’s stance was relatively casual, holding a confidence rarely seen in one so young.
    Kieran liked him immediately.
    “Shane Callaghan,” said Shane, extending his hand.  “My fiancé, Lacie.  My brother, Kieran.  You the new owner?”
    The boy puffed his chest out proudly as he accepted Shane’s hand with a surprisingly firm grip, then Kieran’s, and gave a respectful nod to Lacie.  “Yeah.  Matt O’Connell.”
    Kieran suppressed a knowing smile.  It was a long time since he’d been at that awkward phase when he wasn’t really a kid anymore yet not quite a man, but some things a man never forgot.  “We thought we’d ready the place up for you, but it looks like you arrived earlier than expected.”
    Matt gave a slight nod.  “Got here last night.”
    “You stayed here?” Kieran asked, remembering the state the house had been in yesterday afternoon.
    “Yeah.”  There was no mistaking the pride in the kid’s voice.  He didn’t seem bothered at all.
    “Well, since we’re here, would you like a little help?”
    Matt considered them, then his eyes wandered over the truck.  The back of the pickup was loaded with equipment and supplies.  “S’okay with me,” he shrugged nonchalantly.  “But you better check with my mom.” 
    Matt pulled another rag from his back pocket and wiped the sweat from his face and neck.  It was still pretty early in the day to work up a sweat like that.  Kieran wondered how long the kid had already been at it.
    “Come on.  She’s inside.”
    The strong scents of bleach and wood soap assaulted them as they neared the house.  A battery operated radio played from the back of the house, and a woman’s voice could clearly be heard singing along, slightly off-key but with lots of heart.
    They found her in the kitchen.  Her knees were on the floor, the upper half of her body swallowed up by the double-doored cabinet beneath the sink.  The lower half of her body, along with her very attractive rear end, moved in rhythm to the song as she scrubbed and sang.  Lacie put her hand over her mouth to stifle the giggle, but the men had better control and somehow managed to keep their smiles from extending past a few twitches at the corners.
    “Mom,” Matt called, looking a little embarrassed.  She didn’t hear him.  “Mom!” he called louder, startling her.  There was no mistaking the loud crack as she jumped, knocking her head on the underside of the sink basin.  Everyone winced in sympathy. 
    “What?” Faith asked, extracting herself from beneath the sink, rubbing at the spot on the back of her head.  She didn’t seem nearly as angry as she might have been under the circumstances.
    “Sorry,” Matt mumbled.  “We’ve got company.”
    * * *
    A lready? She thought.  She’d hoped that her new neighbors might be a bit less intrusive than those in their old neighborhood.  Faith sat on the floor, needing a moment to let the brightly colored lights currently flashing in front of her eyes to fade.  They just didn’t make sinks like that anymore, she thought wryly.
    The first thing she saw was a pair of size fourteen steel-toed leather work boots.  Her gaze moved up muscular, denim clad legs.  And up, past lean male hips and a ripped, massive torso encased in a cotton T.  And up, to beautifully sculpted male features, jet black hair, and luminous