Free A Match Made in Heaven by Colleen Coble Page A

Callie noted with a sinking heart. She was too late.
    Barbara looked up with a radiant smile. “Callie, these are wonderful! I didn’t know what I wanted, but you’ve captured the essence of Nick’s design perfectly. I can’t wait to get started.”
    The essence of Nick’s design? How could that be? Her original plans were poles apart from that cold, sterile building he planned.
    Warren slapped Nick on the back. “Great job, Nick. Can we take these drawings to the builder? He’s eager to see them.”
    “They’re all yours,” Nick said.
    Callie frowned and started to object; then her gaze was drawn to the display board where Nick’s design was posted. Her heart sped up when she saw the changes he’d made. “Oh, my,” she said softly.
    Nick came up behind her and slipped his hands around her waist. “Like it?”
    “I love it,” she breathed. “But I thought you didn’t have time for a whole new design.”
    “It’s not. Look closer. I stuccoed the exterior with dark stucco instead of leaving it concrete. Changing the roof line helped a lot. Then I added a back portico with those peeled logs you wanted and added inside details in keeping with what you’d asked. I had a mental block for a long time and couldn’t see past what I had already done. All I can do is blame it on love.”
    Love. He’d finally said the word. Callie’s breath caught in her throat. She wanted to cry at the way she hadn’t trusted him. But she’d heard him.
    “You were talking on the phone at the office last night,” she whispered. “I thought you were telling the Millers you were pulling me from the job.”
    His eyes widened. “I would never do something like that. I was covering for another designer who had decided not to do a small house for another client when a bigger plum of a job came her way. I didn’t want to trash her reputation, even though she deserved it.” He stepped closer. “You can trust me, Callie. I would never hurt you.”
    Callie felt as though she couldn’t breathe. She pulled away as the Millers stepped up to them.
    Barbara hugged her. “Thank you, Callie, and for more than just the design. Thank you for being a friend to me. And thank you most of all for sharing Jesus with us. The pastor came to visit last night, and Warren and I both have realized we lack something in our lives. The pastor has a seeker’s class we’re going to attend. For the first time, I’ve seen what being a Christian is really about. Now we have to find out more.”
    “Oh, Barbara, I’m so glad!” Callie threw her arms around Barbara and squeezed her tight. Joy bubbled within her. Maybe God had used her in spite of her shortcomings.
    Barbara sniffled then drew away. “We’d stay longer, but I think Nick has something he wants to say to you.” She stepped back then followed her husband out the door.
    Nick placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her to face him. “I realized what you thought when you raced out of here last night. Trust is something that’s hard for both of us, but we’re going to have to learn it if we want a future together. And I want a future with you, Callie. I love you.”
    The tears began to flow in earnest down Callie’s cheeks. “I love you, too, Nick. More than I can say.”
    “I’ve been waiting to hear those words. Tell me again,” he whispered as his lips came down on hers.
    “Oh, Nick,” she gulped when she could catch her breath again.
    “You can call me darling,” he said.
    So she did.

If you love romance with adventure and mystery, Fire Dancer by Colleen Coble is one you won’t want to miss!
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    A decade ago, Tess Masterson’s parents died in a terrible barn fire. Now she’s become one of the best smoke jumpers in the business. Though she makes a living jumping out of planes into roaring wildfires, she’s never found the courage to face the wounds of her past—or to deal with the anger that flares whenever she encounters Chase