Free At Home in His Heart by Glynna Kaye Page A

cream.
    Just as soon as he confirmed Sandi intended to smooth talk him into rethinking the museum business.

Chapter Seven
    L eaning the side of her head against the doorjamb, Sandi watched her mother-in-law—illuminated by the porch light—make her way safely to her car. Its headlights came on as it started, then the vehicle moved down the darkened road.
    Well, that had been more than awkward.
    Now she had Bryce camped out in her kitchen. She owed him an apology. What was with LeAnne tonight? But although she herself was curious about Bryce’s job prospects and his intentions for the museum funds, LeAnne had been so rude about it. Flat-out bad-mannered wasn’t usually her style.
    “I need to get going, too.”
    Startled, she spun in the direction of the low, masculine voice. Looked up into the dark eyes of the bearded man standing right behind her, toying with the Western hat in his hands. Sneaky for such a big guy, which probably paid off in a war zone.
    She took a step back and bumped awkwardly into the door frame. He caught her arm in a gentle grasp to steady her, and their gazes connected once again.
    He released her arm and together, as if by mutual agreement, they stepped out on the deck, letting the door close behind them.
    Her words came softly so Gina wouldn’t hear. “I’m sorry about the way Keith’s mom acted tonight.”
    Bryce kept his own volume turned down, too. “You’re not responsible for her. I’m afraid we never hit it off. Keith probably told you about my background. Why it didn’t meet her standards?”
    “Some.”
    “Well, as you can imagine, a kid who didn’t even know who his father was and whose mother flitted in and out of his life didn’t meet LeAnne’s prerequisites for friendship with her son.”
    “I’m sorry.” According to Keith, his mom had gone to great lengths to separate the two boys. That’s what instigated the move to a gated community when they were teens. But by then it was too late. A lasting bond had been formed.
    Bryce shrugged. “It’s not like I imagined the two of us becoming buds after Keith’s death. But I have to admit I’m disappointed she still believes it’s her ordained role to keep me in my place. I thought she might have changed, but obviously she hasn’t.”
    She gazed up at him, unable to curtail her curiosity. “What about you? Have
you
changed?”
    He chuckled, and she couldn’t help returning his smile.
    “I have. In a big way, even though sometimes it may not be apparent—not even to me. But I can admit as a kid I lived to ruffle her feathers. Keith considered it entertainment second to none. Egged me on.”
    “He did?”
    “It may be hard to believe, but the Keith you knew and the Keith I grew up with weren’t one and the same.”
    “You mean because he got his life on track with God before I met him?”
    The twinkle in his eyes muted. “When you live daily with the reality that someone’s trying to kill you, you can go oneof two ways. Get right with your creator or shake your fist at Him. Keith just wised up long before I did.”
    “But you did?”
    He nodded, his eyes meeting hers in solemn acknowledgment. “Took losing Keith to get me to unclench my fist.”
    His revelation caught her off-guard, a million questions racing to the tip of her tongue. But Bryce placed his hat on his head and took a step toward the deck’s stairs as if that was as far as he intended to go on that topic.
    “Guess I’ll see you around, Sandi.”
    “Thank you again for bringing Keith’s hat back to Gina.”
    “Happy to do it. And when you’re ready to take her fishing, the boat and tackle are at your service.”
    “I’m afraid I’m not much of a fisherman.” Keith had tried to persuade her to join him during a leave of absence. She’d turned him down flat. Had her husband no clue he’d married a girly girl? Besides, she could barely swim.
    But now she wished she’d gone, mermaid or not.
    “Not a whole lot to it. Bait the hook. Drop