And Jimmy was usually right. “Jah. We should listen to reason. But first”—she clutched the front of his shirt and trembled.
Adam didn’t need instructions. His arms quickly embraced her and his virile lips sweetly caressed. She could tell he felt the same, grasping for a taste of heaven and what might have been. Or what could destroy them both. Warmed from within, she touched his cheek. “You’re a good man, and I’m fond of you. But I’m set in my ways. Jah. It’s probably best if we take Jimmy’s advice.”
His eyes dark and hooded, he ran a rough thumb over her lips. “Maybe.” He sighed and drew back. “You’re shivering. For now, I’ll take you home.”
CHAPTER TEN
A dam gazed across the humble sanctuary at the women’s pews and watched Carly, unawares. All he could think about was their recent kiss. Usually he was the initiator, but she’d kissed him twice now. Her passion had ignited a strong desire in him. He admired her both for claiming it and for afterward being strong enough to say no to the possibility of pursuing a relationship with him. The things he’d heard about her from Dale weren’t jiving with the woman he was getting to know. He’d never had the nerve to ask Jimmy about Dale’s accusations.
He’d been disappointed when she pushed him away. Had hoped she would take the risk. Hoped that she’d be strong enough to carry them both through new territory, to fight for him like she fought for her residents. It hurt him to watch her taking Bishop Kauffman’s sermon on family relationships so intently. He could read her mind. She’d use it to strengthen her resolve against him, to take her brother’s advice to heart. To push him away, just like with Dale.
It soured his stomach to think of his own family situation, the way he allowed his dad and uncle to use him as a pawn to fuel their private feud. Every time he stood up to them, the stakes were pushed to a higher level. He always strove to be a peacemaker as their faith dictated. Would he find peace if he moved to Indiana? Even if he didn’t want to leave his family or Carly?
That afternoon, his confusion drove him to her cottage, and he had every intention of telling her about Dale’s offer. He needed to get the Dale thing out in the open and persuade her he wasn’t like his cousin. If the information leaked out by other means, it would only complicate matters. But when he arrived at her cottage, her bike was missing, and she didn’t answer the door.
Sunday after church, Carly kicked off her shoes and stretched out on Aunt Fannie’s sofa, one leg dangling leisurely, thinking how the service had confirmed her decision. The songs and even the scripture, Psalm 68:6, called her name. “God setteth the solitary in families.” She’d never considered that verse before. But she felt He was telling her to seek solace in her family. That it should suffice. And that she could be like family for Martha and the other residents.
Adam had made it clear that he felt the same attraction she felt, but that he wasn’t ready to commit. He was giving her forewarning that if they moved forward to explore their feelings, he might pull away. There was an obvious risk in any budding relationship, but the fact that he’d alluded to it twice now meant something deeper was troubling him. A definite red flag. She ran her finger across her lips, remembering and wishing it could be different.
A rustling sound alerted her to move her leg. Cocoa was futilely digging at Fannie’s wood floor, and Carly’s leg would be the rabbit’s next target.
“Ach! Make that rabbit quit. It’s ruining my floor!”
Carly moved onto her side and rubbed the rabbit’s fur. He treated her as his personal groomer and got angry when she didn’t comply. “Settle down, Cocoa.” Though her rabbit was usually silent, that didn’t mean he didn’t have anything to say, and as any good bunny owner would do, she’d memorized his body language. He soon mellowed
Adam didn’t need instructions. His arms quickly embraced her and his virile lips sweetly caressed. She could tell he felt the same, grasping for a taste of heaven and what might have been. Or what could destroy them both. Warmed from within, she touched his cheek. “You’re a good man, and I’m fond of you. But I’m set in my ways. Jah. It’s probably best if we take Jimmy’s advice.”
His eyes dark and hooded, he ran a rough thumb over her lips. “Maybe.” He sighed and drew back. “You’re shivering. For now, I’ll take you home.”
CHAPTER TEN
A dam gazed across the humble sanctuary at the women’s pews and watched Carly, unawares. All he could think about was their recent kiss. Usually he was the initiator, but she’d kissed him twice now. Her passion had ignited a strong desire in him. He admired her both for claiming it and for afterward being strong enough to say no to the possibility of pursuing a relationship with him. The things he’d heard about her from Dale weren’t jiving with the woman he was getting to know. He’d never had the nerve to ask Jimmy about Dale’s accusations.
He’d been disappointed when she pushed him away. Had hoped she would take the risk. Hoped that she’d be strong enough to carry them both through new territory, to fight for him like she fought for her residents. It hurt him to watch her taking Bishop Kauffman’s sermon on family relationships so intently. He could read her mind. She’d use it to strengthen her resolve against him, to take her brother’s advice to heart. To push him away, just like with Dale.
It soured his stomach to think of his own family situation, the way he allowed his dad and uncle to use him as a pawn to fuel their private feud. Every time he stood up to them, the stakes were pushed to a higher level. He always strove to be a peacemaker as their faith dictated. Would he find peace if he moved to Indiana? Even if he didn’t want to leave his family or Carly?
That afternoon, his confusion drove him to her cottage, and he had every intention of telling her about Dale’s offer. He needed to get the Dale thing out in the open and persuade her he wasn’t like his cousin. If the information leaked out by other means, it would only complicate matters. But when he arrived at her cottage, her bike was missing, and she didn’t answer the door.
Sunday after church, Carly kicked off her shoes and stretched out on Aunt Fannie’s sofa, one leg dangling leisurely, thinking how the service had confirmed her decision. The songs and even the scripture, Psalm 68:6, called her name. “God setteth the solitary in families.” She’d never considered that verse before. But she felt He was telling her to seek solace in her family. That it should suffice. And that she could be like family for Martha and the other residents.
Adam had made it clear that he felt the same attraction she felt, but that he wasn’t ready to commit. He was giving her forewarning that if they moved forward to explore their feelings, he might pull away. There was an obvious risk in any budding relationship, but the fact that he’d alluded to it twice now meant something deeper was troubling him. A definite red flag. She ran her finger across her lips, remembering and wishing it could be different.
A rustling sound alerted her to move her leg. Cocoa was futilely digging at Fannie’s wood floor, and Carly’s leg would be the rabbit’s next target.
“Ach! Make that rabbit quit. It’s ruining my floor!”
Carly moved onto her side and rubbed the rabbit’s fur. He treated her as his personal groomer and got angry when she didn’t comply. “Settle down, Cocoa.” Though her rabbit was usually silent, that didn’t mean he didn’t have anything to say, and as any good bunny owner would do, she’d memorized his body language. He soon mellowed
Similar Books
