Snowflake Kisses Read Online Free PDF Page B

spine. Centuries of history, centuries of God’s heartbeat and motion wrapped around him in a cloak of warmth that warded off the descending chill of late afternoon. Words from the time honored hymn Lord, Thou Hast Been Our Refuge soared clear to the lofty arches and vibrated against grand columns and stained glass windows, which reflected every hue imaginable by the setting sun. For its next selection, the choir launched into Hark a Herald Voice is Calling which led to the evensong service dismissal.
    People stood to leave, but Jackson was in no hurry to vacate this majestic time and place. This was such a fitting and wonderful end note to a day spent playing tourist—visiting London landmarks that included his favorite spot until now—the Sherlock Holmes Museum. Vanessa kept still as well, tucked against his side in a way that pleased him greatly, but also disrupted his peace of mind.
    He leaned close. In a playful way—in a manner that masked the true depth of what he was coming to feel for Vanessa—he dotted the tip of her nose with a fingertip. Her answering smile, the way her gaze sealed to his, was precisely what he wanted—and dreaded—the most.
    “I can’t believe the way the temperature dropped.” He whispered the words and drew her snug, but trained his attention on the high altar straight ahead. “Do worshipers have to contend with this each Sunday in the winter?”
    Vanessa nodded then rested her head against his shoulder. “There’s no HVAC in a structure this old, love. When winter comes, we learn to…lean on one another.” In emphasis she beamed him a daring smile and moved all the closer, enhancing their connection and further chasing away the cold. Jackson opted to embrace a practical approach. These gestures between them were all about warmth and practical survival skills. Nothing more.
    That internal lie stirred a wry grin. He rested his chin against the top of her head so he could simply give in to the moment and savor how good it felt to share an experience like this with a remarkable woman. Once again, their fit struck him as perfect.
    God, forgive me for what nearly happened with Tamara. Please move me past the way I allowed her beauty and charm to deceive me and pull me into a set of emotions and circumstances that would have surely been my undoing. Certainly You know my heart. I realize You know I had no idea she was married, but if our relationship had intensified any further, I might have stumbled into a temptation I wouldn’t be able to deny. I feel guilty, and wretched about how easily I was fooled.
    But I did protect you, Jackson.
    The Spirit response swept through him, and almost wiped away his disconcerted, anxious frame of mind. Still, he couldn’t help but wonder how Vanessa would feel once she discovered the truth. How would she feel about a man who had been so gullible, so thwarted by his ready passion for a woman? A married woman at that...
    He pushed noisy turmoil to the side, relaxing against the back of the pew. “Do you think we might be allowed a brief walk through?”
    Vanessa fluttered her lashes, the coy and playful minx, and his pulse answered with a driving beat. “Let’s find out, shall we?”
    By mutual accord they lifted to a stand. Guided by impulse he took hold of her hand, wanting to stay connected. “Hmm. Why do I have sudden and horrific visions of bobbies and peelers coming after us?”
    Her twinkling laughter further battered his defenses. “Bobbies and peelers—you’re coming dangerously close to a full-on British conversion. I’m so very proud.”
    They wandered the main aisle. “I can Internet search and pick up on local slang with the best of them. I’m a computer nerd, remember?”
    She harrumphed. “A computer nerd? You call yourself that after the way you disarmed my attacker? Try again. You’re more like a warrior. A prince.”
    “Of a sort.”
    He didn’t mean for his tone to come off sounding so flat, so devoid of the zesty humor