Alexa closed her eyes and felt the fresh morning breeze off the coast of Italy. Salvatore had chosen the perfect location for their week-long honeymoon. The private villa just south of Naples was the perfect hideaway. The coast was much different from the shores in Seattle or Bainbridge Island, but the changes fascinated her. The white-capped waves that crashed along the jagged cliffs had lulled her to sleep each night, and the terrace where she read her devotionals in the mornings provided the perfect view of the Mediterranean Sea. Alexa had awoken with the sun each morning on their vacation. Jetlag and the changes in her schedule were distracting enough to send her stirring at an earlier hour than Salvatore, so she used the time to study Scripture. She and Salvatore had taken a few journeys into the nearby towns, and although they had no neighbors to observe, she knew the villages were waking with the dawn. Pulling her blanket tighter around her shoulders, she stared at the pass
Salvatore Salvatore pulled Alexa closer in the back seat of the car as Clayton drove. Their flight had landed only a few minutes ago at Bradford, Inc.’s private hanger at the airport. Alexa had slept for most of the flight, and Salvatore was exhausted as well. They’d filled their honeymoon with adventures he would remember for the rest of his life. His brother, Eric, had been the one to push Salvatore out of his comfort zone before he died. When his brother was gone, he’d lost the will to have fun. Now, it seemed, Salvatore had a new friend to make memories with… for the rest of his life. Alexa held his hand as she looked out at the dreary day. Soft rain pelted the window, and her expression was one of exhaustion. “It feels strange being back home. It was only a week in Italy, but—” “But we’re coming home to a new life—together,” Salvatore finished the thought. “Exactly.” The car pulled up at Alexa’s condo, and she waited for Clayton to open the door for her. “I’ll call you
Alexa held tight to the railing in the elevator as it climbed toward the Caliber main office. It was too soon to worry about what her father would do when he found out about the deal she’d made with Salvatore to hopefully secure her position at the company, but her body didn’t get the memo. She usually performed well under pressure, but today her hands were sweating, and she felt lightheaded. The truth was that now, she didn’t care if she was chosen as the CEO. Of course, she cared about the future of the company, and she loved her job. It just didn’t define her anymore. Since her father had pitted her against Aiden, what little relationship she’d had with her brother had all but died. She would never put a job before family, but it seemed Aiden didn’t feel the same. If only Aiden would realize she wasn’t his enemy. But every other aspect of her life was flourishing. Lorie and Irene had been the best bridesmaids she could have hoped for and had stepped up every time she’d needed
SalvatoreWhen Lorie called him, Salvatore explained everything and asked her to tell Sophia. If he couldn’t tell her himself, her best friend was a perfect alternative.He’d been in his car before he’d finished telling Lorie what really happened at the marina, and he knew if the talk she was having with her father wasn’t going well, she would need him beside her when it was over. Not an hour later.The trip into the city seemed to take hours, but he made it in record time. Clayton picked Salvatore up at the dock, and the confinement of sitting and waiting in the back seat was torture. His heel tapped on the floorboard and he checked his phone constantly.He’d asked Lorie to tell Alexato call him, but what if Alexadidn’t believe her friend? What if she was ignoring him or pushing him away because she was angry with him?If he could only see her and tell her how sorry he was that the life they’d returned to wasn’t as good as they’d hoped. He’d wanted to give her a life free of worry, e
Salvatore. The next day, Salvatore stood in the elevator with Alexa on their way to see her father. Salvatore had called early in the morning to schedule a private meeting with Martin, and Irene had set it up with Martin’s approval. That had to mean something. Martin was willing to meet with him. He could only hope it was because he wanted to believe what Alexa had said, and not because he wanted a chance to let Salvatore know he was angry with them. “I feel like I’m on my way to have that talk yesterday all over again,” Alexa said. Salvatore squeezed her hand. “I’m here this time. We’ll make sure he knows we’re sorry for deceiving him.” She smiled then, and a little bit of the weight that had been crushing him all day lifted. Alexa scooted closer to him and leaned her head on his shoulder. “I love you. No matter what happens today or any other day. I love you, and I’m glad you’re my husband.” “I love you too.” Salvatore kissed her head just as the elevator doors opened. Irene
Gaining her trust won’t be easy. Earning her love will be nearly impossible. Celina Manning is working to get back on her feet after her ex-husband disappeared one night, leaving her to raise their infant daughter alone. When a trip to a hardware store has her literally falling into the arms of its handsome owner, his charms are hard to resist. But he’s a stranger, and, to her, that means he can’t be trusted. Can she learn to let her faith be stronger than her fear?Gabe Matthews has never met a stranger. A friend to everyone he meets, he can’t understand why Celina is determined to keep him at a distance. He only wants to help, but she can’t accept that he only has the best intentions. It’s a good thing his love is patient.Celina isn’t ready to let the love she feels for Gabe override years of fear, and he’s tired of spending lonely nights playing songs on his guitar to fill the silence. What will it take to show Celina that Gabe is the answer to her prayers? ***** ***** Celina s
Celina’s anxiety waned on her quiet drive to the hardware store. She parked her trusty CR-V in the middle of the lot and shut the engine off. The lunch rush in the small town of Carson, Georgia couldn’t hold a candle to the bustle of Nashville, Tennessee. It’d been almost four years since she moved to Carson, and the time she’d spent in Nashville seemed like a lifetime ago. She let her heavy head rest on the steering wheel and closed her eyes. She was close to regaining her composure after her trip to the brink of a breakdown earlier. Prayer. She needed to pray. It was the only thing that calmed the storm that had clouded her heart these last few years. “Lord, please help me find what I’m looking for. I don’t know what I’m doing or how to do it.” She sucked in a slow, deep breath. “I’m lost, and I’m scared, and I need You. Help me find what I need today. Guide me, Lord.” She stepped from the car and hoisted her purse more securely on her shoulder as she made her way into the store
Gabe. Gabe watched Celina walk away and felt the urge to insist once more that she let him help her fix the leaky sink. He wasn’t sure anyone had turned him down before, and he’d been offering his help to customers for years. He made his way back toward his office, thinking it was for the best. Celina seemed smart. She’d figure it out on her own… or, better yet, come back for his help. No, that wasn’t better for her, but she hadn’t even accepted his phone number. How would he ever get another chance to see her? The sweet lilt of her voice was something he wouldn’t forget any time soon. He hadn’t heard a word she’d said at first. The pain in the hand that’d been smashed behind her head had tuned out all other senses. Once the roaring in his ears had subsided, her voice had soothed the pulsing pain until only a weak ache remained. He rubbed his hand and turned to see if she was really gone. Celina had a voice made for music. If life was really a dance like the good ol’ John Michael