One Thursday Morning: Inspirational Christian Romance (Diamond Lake Series Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

nagged a bit less, and thanked her for all she had done. She wasn’t perfect, but she was my mother and I loved her. Though she gave me the advice to stay with John, I believe she would have been proud of all I had achieved after I left John. I imagined my mother playing with my sweet baby, Hope, in heaven. I know she would’ve been so thrilled to be a grandmother.
    After letting the moment slip away, I headed out the door and drove to the inn for a couple of hours of work before I enjoyed my day off. Pulling into the driveway of the inn, I saw Charlie’s car. For not liking Jody, he sure comes around here a lot. Fumbling in my mind for an excuse, I arrived at the idea that I needed a drink of water and thus, the reason I was going to go in. The real reason, though, was Charlie. He was too mysterious and cute to not want to know more.
    Quietly, I went in through the front door of the inn. Jody had told me I could let myself in whenever I needed. Tiptoeing to remain inconspicuous, I glided through the foyer and toward the kitchen. I could hear them around the corner in the kitchen, so I pressed myself up against the wall and lent an ear to listen.
    “Charlie, like I’ve told you before, there is just nothing we can do.” Jody’s words were strained.
    “Yeah, I know, Jody. I guess I just expected more.”
    Hearing him walk the floor of the kitchen toward the foyer—and thus me—I jerked forward and began walking. We almost bumped into each other, and we both sidestepped to the left, then the right.
    “Sorry,” we both said.
    The frown he was carrying from the kitchen hinted at a smile for the moment as our eyes met. His forest green eyes and musky cologne pulled me. When he touched my arms and shifted me to the opposite side so he could get by, a fire ignited inside me. The sensation of his fingers clasping against my skin swept a tidal wave of warmth throughout my body. Being over a year since I was with John, I missed the warmth of another’s touch. We both kept walking, but I couldn’t help but look back at him. To my joy, he was also looking at me and smiling.
    “Amy,” Jody said from behind me, pulling my attention away from Charlie as he left out the door. I looked at her as she asked, “What are you doing in here? The flower beds are almost done.” She lifted her chin as she peered behind her in the hallway that led into the kitchen, which still held a view of the French doors leading to the outside balcony. “Or did you finish them?”
    “I, uh. I was going to go do that now.”
    “Why’d you come in then?” she questioned.
    “I needed a drink,” I replied. As Jody went over to the cupboard, my mind drifted back to Charlie. “How do you know Charlie?” I asked.
    Pulling a glass from the cupboard, she said, “He’s my stepson.”
    My eyebrows shot up. “ Really? Wow.”
    “Why’s that ‘wow’?” she asked, bringing me a cup of water. Taking it from her, I took a drink as I tried to fabricate a response.
    Shrugging, I replied, “I don’t know.”
    Jody slowly nodded. “Charles . . . he’s a bit difficult, but I love that kid.” Her eyes followed my cup as I set it down on the counter. Raising an eyebrow, I knew the look she was giving me. It said, ‘I’m not paying you to sit around and drink water.’ Taking the cue, I headed out the French doors that led out to the balcony. Spotting Charlie pushing a canoe out onto the water, I stopped at the railing and watched. He didn’t have a shirt on, even though the air was still chilly outside that morning, but I wasn’t about to run down there and tell him to put one on. His defined shoulders and unclothed torso reminded me again of how long it had been since I had the close touch of a man. I missed the comfort of a man’s arms around me in the form of a hug. Those feelings of being protected and cherished were but a very distant memory. Memories that were tucked away under layers and years of abuse, worry and anxiety. Seeing Charlie