Love Lifted Me Read Online Free PDF Page B

morning? Oh wow, what if he said no? She’d not even considered that.
    â€œJade.” Max got her attention. “Do you want to be married to me?”
    Million-dollar question. She’d like to phone a friend.
    â€œRemember when you asked me to marry you?”
    â€œWhich time? The first? The second? Or the third? I liked my first time best. Kind of raw and impulsive.”
    â€œAnd on the streets of Manhattan with hot dog mustard all over our lips.”
    â€œBut it was sincere, Jade.”
    â€œI felt it then. I wanted to go running down Broadway screaming yes.”
    He stood straight, shoulders squaring back. “Faker! Why’d you say no then? Sting my heart that-a-way?”
    â€œBecause, dude, I’d been married once to a romantic, passionate guy who promised me forever. I got five months.”
    â€œI didn’t know about Dustin then.”
    â€œSee, this is why we need to be forthcoming in our relationship, tell each other things.”
    He laughed and toasted her with his soda can. “I’m not the one who said ‘let the skeletons stay in the closet.’ ”
    â€œNo, but you quickly agreed.”
    â€œJade, don’t you know, I’d have walked across hot coals up Signal Mountain if you’d have asked me to.”
    â€œBut you couldn’t stay out of Rice’s bed?”
    He deflated, sipping his drink. “You got me there. I can’t . . . I don’t know what . . . it happened. Not enough wishing and praying can undo it.”
    â€œSo ask me your question again.”
    â€œJade, do you want to be married to me?”
    â€œDo you want to be married to me?”
    He laughed. “You’ve learned too many legal tricks. Yes, babe, yes. More than breathing I want to be married to you.”
    â€œI’m scared.”
    â€œBut I’m not, Jade.” Max scooted over to her. “I believe in us. I believe in God keeping us. I know we can do this.”
    His intensity flared and challenged her to believe too. “You’re so persuasive, Max. I hear you. I feel what you’re saying. My heart is shouting believe, trust . But my head is saying don’t you dare . You have a way of making me feel so safe, Max. Like I can do anything with you by my side. But then you do something so stupid as forge prescription drugs and get addicted. Or cover up a very large secret.”
    â€œHelp me fix that image you have of me, Jade. Give me a chance. Do you want to be married to me?”
    She sighed. She had to speak her heart. She had to continue to kick fear to the curb. “Yes, Max, I want to be married to you.”

Five
    Monday morning Max sat on the back porch drinking his coffee, staring out at the summer grass. The breeze coming down from the ridge blew cool and clean.
    After his intense talk with Jade Thursday night, Max had suggested they just have fun on the weekend. Play. Laugh. Forget about lies and infidelity, death and panic.
    Jade jumped in with both feet. It was the first real hope he had for them. She even remembered to stand on their first stepping-stone—prayer.
    They were loaded into Max’s car when she smacked her hand on his and said, “Pray first.”
    He grinned at the memory. They played hard three straight days with Asa. At Laurel Park, Asa showed Max his routine on the playground. What was it?
    First the slide, then the horses. After that, the sandbox and finally the swing. Something like that.
    Asa was a routine kid. Smart Jade had picked up on that and established Asa’s days so he knew what to expect and when.
    He was in love with his son. In love with his wife. In love with his life. The only thing this weekend lacked was an intimate encounter with Jade.
    Give her time, Max. Go slow .
    He did manage to steal a peck on Jade’s forehead—but nothing more.
    He sipped his coffee, surprised when his phone pinged from his pocket. Chevy Buchholz, the man he met his last night