Free A Lady's Choice by Sandra Robbins

me want to know her better.” He eased closer until they stood only inches apart. “You have a hold on me, Sarah, but if you don’t feel it too, then tell me now. I’ll leave and won’t bother you again.”
    She looked down at their hands and back up at him. “I feel it too, Alex, but it scares me.”
    â€œI know. It does me too. We don’t know each other well yet. We need to give our friendship time to grow and see where it leads us.”
    She nodded and directed a somber look at him. “I’d like that, but next time let me know when you’re coming. I’ll have my shoes on.”
    His mouth dropped open, and he stared at her for a moment before he threw back his head and laughed. “Oh Sarah, you’re delightful. You also know how to shatter a mood.” His eyes twinkled with happiness. “I wish you could have seen your face when you stepped through that door. It’s a sight I won’t soon forget.”
    He took a step back from her, and she sighed in relief at the break in their close contact. His amusement infected her, and a smile crept across her face. “Don’t tease me. I’ve always loved to go barefoot, but Mama says that well-brought-up young ladies don’t do that. I just can’t seem to break the habit.”
    â€œDon’t worry. I’ve buried this secret with the one about your ankles. My lips are sealed, and we’ll mention it no more.”
    On impulse she pointed toward the door. “If you’d like to see another side to me, walk with me to the pond. This is my favorite time of day, and we might catch sight of a catfish coming up to feed.”
    â€œLet’s go.” He curled his fingers around hers.
    Her heart raced at the pressure of his hand holding hers as they walked from the house and down the path that led to the deserted barn. She pointed to the corn crib in the center of the barn. “When I was a little girl and would visit here, my grand-father would let me stay in there and watch him milk.”
    â€œI wonder why I don’t remember ever seeing you when we were children?”
    She shrugged. “We didn’t come here often. Maybe once a year. It was difficult for my father to get away.”
    They walked past the barn to the field behind, where she guided him to the drooping willow trees that surrounded the pond. “I called this my secret place when I was a little girl. Now I come here every chance I get.”
    Sarah ducked underneath the bent branches and led him to her favorite spot in the grass, where they were shielded from the sun by the thick foliage. The leaves stirred like a fan in the late afternoon breeze, a welcome respite from the heat of the day.
    They sat side by side for a moment without speaking before Alex picked up a pebble from the grass and tossed it into the water. The stone skipped across the surface and disappeared beneath, triggering large ripples that floated toward the bank and washed over the edge of the small pond.
    A comfortable silence enveloped them in their shelter from the outside world. Alex turned to her and gazed at her as if he wanted to tell her something.
    â€œI was serious when I said those things to you earlier.” He picked up another stone and tossed it into the water. “The first time I saw you at church, I knew you were different from anyone I’d known before.”
    â€œI meant what I said too. But, Alex, right now I have so many problems in my life I don’t know if you need to become involved with me.”
    He scooted closer. “I’m so sorry about your mother’s illness. I know this must be very hard for you, especially after losing your father.”
    She pulled a blade of grass out of the ground and rolled it between her fingers as she thought about the man with the laughing eyes who had been the center of the universe for her and her mother. “At least this time I know what’s coming. My