Love Lifted Me Read Online Free PDF Page A

. . home.”
    He wanted to kiss her, darn it. Lillabeth shuffled around the shop, passing between and around them. Forget it . Max dropped his duffel bag to the hardwood floor and crossed to Jade in a few quick strides, scooping her into his arms. “I’m going to kiss you, Jade.” His pulse thundered in his ears.
    â€œWho’s stopping you?”
    Max traced his fingertips along the base of her neck, slipping his hand into her hair. Gooseflesh rose on his skin as he whispered a kiss to her lips as if casually saying hello. Then he sank into her fragrance and taste, wrapping her tighter and losing himself in the moment. Jade yielded, molding into him. When she ran her hands over his back they were like hot coals.
    As he released her, she pressed out of his arms, trembling, resting her fingers over her lips. “I’ll”—she inhaled—“see you at home.”
    â€œYeah, see you at home.” What happened? It was the perfect kiss until it ended. Her yes morphed to a no.
    Retrieving his duffel, Max exited the Blue Umbrella, reminding himself again to be cool, go slow.
    He dashed across Main Street, aiming toward Laurel Park and the side roads that led to Begonia Valley Lane.
    Breaking into a light jog, Max cut through the fresh, cool air of the Hollow. The dewy texture was a welcomed contrast to the hot, arid air of Texas. Home. It was good to be home. And close to the arms of his wife again.

Four
    Sometime after ten, Jade made her way through the house, turning off lights. With Max home, the atmosphere had changed. Felt fuller. Complicated. Maybe balanced was the word. Definitely a combination of joy and sorrow.
    Over pizza, he shared the things God had taught him while at the Outpost. Jade envied his journey a bit. Painful, yes, but glorious. She could see in his eyes and hear in his voice how he’d changed. How encountering Jesus healed his self-inflicted wounds and removed his shame.
    Her heart pulsed for him. The man she fell in love with had returned. Only more so. She felt as if she’d found a polished, gleaming gem.
    But it was all surreal. Too good to be true.
    â€œMax?” With the last light out, Jade jogged up the stairs. When she hit the second-floor landing, she caught a soft glow coming from Asa’s room.
    â€œMax?” she whispered, pausing outside the door.
    â€œYeah, in here.”
    Jade slipped inside and settled on the floor by Asa’s bed. “What are you doing?”
    Max rested against the opposite wall, in the glow of the night-light, his arms propped on his raised knees. A lock of his glossy, loose hair slipped over his cheek.
    â€œHe’s not moved since I tucked him in.”
    â€œI’m not surprised. You wore him out tonight.”
    â€œMe? I’m beat. And I just spent three months on a working ranch and coaching football camp.”
    â€œHe does play hard. Sleeps like a rock too.” Remembering this, Jade raised her voice from a whisper. She straightened Asa’s legs and fixed his covers.
    â€œHe remembered me.”
    â€œI told you he would.”
    â€œI owe you, Jade.”
    â€œStop. You don’t.”
    â€œI asked you to raise my secret son while I knocked the kinks out of my life. You embraced the challenge when you could’ve walked.”
    â€œAsa’s won my heart, Max. I did it for him.” And yes, you . Which was so hard to confess. His humility confronted her. She wanted a defensive, partly broken Max to return to home. Not this . . . cowboy hero.
    Jade stood. “I think I need a Diet Coke.” From the corner of her eyes, she could see Max pushing up off the floor, following.
    A Diet Coke would taste good, but what Jade really wanted was to break away from Max’s steady gaze and gentle confessions.
    But now he was following her downstairs.
    She’d expected to duke out their relationship over months, slowly letting go of her hurt and anger. Gently releasing her