Free Finding Promise (The Promise Series, A Small Town Romance) by Aneesa Price

don’t interfere too much, sweetheart.” John had learnt
to use the endearment to soften the blow when he disagreed with his wife. His
wife had been talking a lot about grandbabies lately. He felt sorry for the
pair because he knew that when she got hooked on something, she didn’t let go until
it was done just as she’d planned. So he cautioned her, “Just tread carefully.
She looks like she needs some healing.”
     
    “I know, but I think our boy and the girls can help her with
that.” After being married for so long, Laurel understood what he was trying to
say. “How about we do some healing of our own?” Winking seductively at him over
her shoulder, she led him up the stairs to their room, as she had for the last
thirty-five years.
     
    --------
     
    “Here it is” Caroline indicated towards the house as they
parked their cars on the side of the road. The driveway was too overgrown to
get its gate open despite Luke giving it a good tug, cursing a blue streak.
     
    “I know it doesn’t look like much yet but it has potential.”
She ushered her friends into the front garden.
     
    “We’ve all seen the front of the house. So, I’m dying to see
the inside of the house and the back. Old Mr Whittlesea pretty much kept to
himself and all the news I got was second-hand from the nurse.” The others
laughed at Bess’s customary nosiness. She grabbed a willing Ronald by the arm,
dragging him into the house, while beckoning Faith and Rachel. “You two go
ahead and chat about what needs to be done. I don’t think I can stand to hear
Luke go on about beams and gutters, though. The rest of us will just go ahead
and to some exploring on our own.”
     
    Bess had also seen the way the normally suave Luke, acted
goofy around Caroline and decided to give him an edge, some time alone with
her. She liked both of them and being a happily married woman, thought that all
her friends needed to be too.
     
    Nervous at being alone with Luke, Caroline enquired, “Should
we start inside? The power hasn’t been turned on yet. I can only arrange that
once I have the deeds. Perhaps we should make use of the light while we have
it?” The view, from where she was standing, showed orange glow of the sun
starting its descent behind the ocean.  Luke was standing against that
backdrop and her mouth went dry. My word, he was stunning! When he nodded, she
led him inside.
     
    Following her, Luke noticed that she was as skittish as a
kitten. A pretty little kitten. That brought out his protective instincts even
more. Grabbing her hand, which she reluctantly allowed, they went through each
room of the house.
     
    Now and again, Luke would stop and jot down something in a
notebook he took out of his back pocket. The act drew her attention to his
behind and her hands itched to grab it. Caroline could no longer deny that she
was attracted to Luke. And no wonder. She had not had sex with a man in months.
The last time she slept with James was one night when he performed the
obligatory act after a night out together to an art exhibition. The exhibition
was raunchy, which must have put him in the mood, or else she doubted they
would have made love even then. After that one night, he had never touched her
again, preferring the delights of his personal assistant. This served as
evidence that she was not a very sexual woman and certainly not the type of
woman to attract and keep the interest of a man like Luke Edwards engaged. She
noticed his attentiveness but had also seen his familiar protectiveness over
the other women in his life. She’d seen that flirtatious smile directed at
other women at the bar the other night too. It was obvious that he was used to
the attentions of the opposite sex. He was a player and that, she did not need.
Not that she thought he even wanted her in that way. He was just being his
normal friendly, flirty self and this time, to the newest addition to the town.
     
    Unaware of her thoughts, Luke could barely keep