Precious Blessings (Love Inspired) Read Online Free PDF Page B

Right?”
    â€œAlmost always. You have a serious gift with prayer. But you have to accept that some things aren’t meant to be. I have.” And talking about it was painful. She slipped a historical romance into place on the middle shelf and straightened the books around it. She liked tidy shelves. Keeping the shelves tidy was something she made a difference at.
    Repairing the damage done to her life almost fifteen years ago was something that could never be done. Not even God could change what was past.
    The bell over the door chimed. A customer, she wondered, or Spence back from the meeting that was probably cancelled?
    â€œYou’d better go see who that is,” Ava commented as she laboriously struggled to slip a paperback book onto the shelf, obviously too busy to check on the possible customer.
    What was up with her? Katherine glanced around the aisle and the book she held slid from her fingers. As the book hit the floor, the thud sounded just like her heart stuttering in shock. There was Jack Munroe, broad-shouldered and substantial, with a vase of white rosebuds cradled in his big, capable-looking hands.
    That Ava. She must have spotted him getting out of his car. Really. “Hello, there. How are things working out with your daughter?”
    â€œBetter. She’ll be grounded for about the next decade or so. Nothing major.” He handed over the roses along with a striking half grin. “These are for you, to say thank you. I owe you an apology. I’m sorry I was such a…well, I can’t say it in polite company.”
    â€œPlease, don’t worry. It was understandable given the circumstances.”
    â€œYou’re generous to say that. Needless to say, I don’t take criticism of my daughter very well.”
    â€œI wasn’t criticizing her. Just trying to set things right.”
    â€œI know that.”
    She had to move closer to accept the bouquet, close enough to notice that Ava was right. No wedding ring. She also noticed how the green and gold threads in his dark-brown irises softened the gaze that had seemed so imposing last night. Laugh lines added character to his face.
    Not that she should be noticing. Not that she wanted to.
    Katherine breathed in the sweet old-fashioned roses’ scent. It was hard to dislike a man bearing flowers—from both him and Hayden, obviously. “Thank you. This was thoughtful of you.”
    He smiled, a full-fledged one that made those threads in his eyes glint. Very nice. She snapped away, focusing her energy on setting the vase on the front counter instead of feeling the effects of that smile.
    Where was Ava? Katherine had the feeling that her sister, with her matchmaking thoughts, was spying through the book stacks. Really.
    Katherine did her best to appear unaffected, because of course, she was. “How is Hayden doing?”
    â€œMad at me. Mad at you. But I think that’s a teenage thing. She’s probably angriest at herself.”
    â€œProbably.”
    â€œI got a hold of your pastor friend this afternoon. Shesaid you’d already called and told her about Hayden wanting to join the youth group’s project at the shelter. She didn’t know anything about the shoplifting problem.”
    â€œI didn’t feel like it was my place to tell her. Everyone makes mistakes, especially teenagers.”
    Her words of compassion struck him like a sucker punch to the chest. His first impression of this woman had been way off base. Out in left field. He didn’t know how to tell her that. Didn’t know if he should.
    â€œI’ve been friends with Marin forever. She has all kinds of youth-group activities and projects going on all the time, not just with the shelter. Hayden will love her, I promise.”
    â€œI believe you.” How had she gotten past his defenses so easily? Jack rubbed the back of his neck, puzzled and, he had to admit, intrigued. “You’ve done a good thing for my