without blinds or curtains and sunshine flooded it. They stood for a moment, facing each other, taking each other’s measure. She saw a nicely built man with gray eyes and dark hair that needed cutting. He wore a blue pullover sweater with the sleeves pushed up, khaki pants, and black wire-rim glasses. He had a habit of kicking his shoes off at the door. There were several pairs lined up in the kitchen, and he was in his stocking feet. Considering the fact that it was her job to keep his floors clean, she appreciated this thoughtfulness.
He was, she decided, a casually handsome man—which was a matter of little importance compared to the fact that she saw genuine kindness in his face. She did not feel threatened by his presence and that was a very good thing because she very much wanted to keep this job.
• • •
Logan had stopped for only a few minutes to pick up some notes he had forgotten to take along on this latest chapter of his WWII novel. He knew Hope would prefer he stay away while she was there, and he agreed. Her people would not approve of seeing his car and her buggy parked there together side by side.Violet had warned him that Hope would be risking censure if she was seen spending time alone with him.
It was certainly a different mind-set than what he was used to, but he could respect the fact that in this community, a young, widowed Amish woman would have to be careful.
Unfortunately, he thought it best that he stay away for his own sake as well. The image of Hope and her little girl together had been a riveting one. Perhaps it was only the quaint, old-fashioned clothing, or the musical sound of her voice as she had talked with her child, but he had found himself transfixed.
Maybe it was only the way the sunlight came streaming through the window, but it had seemed to him that her lovely skin practically glowed with health. Her eyes were rimmed with thick, dark lashes and perfectly formed brows. Her lips were naturally a deep pink and needed no artifice. Everything about her was lovely. She was one of those rare women who did not need so much as a touch of makeup to be beautiful.
As he seated himself once again at his table in the antiques shop, he had trouble concentrating. The image of his new housekeeper kept coming to mind . . . which was quite disconcerting.
It was especially disconcerting because this was exactly what had happened to him the day he met his wife. He had not been able to get Ariela’s face out of his mind for days after meeting her in a journalism class at Columbia.
His young wife had been the direct opposite of his new housekeeper in almost every way, though. Ariela had been in the Israeli army, and during that time she lost most of her family when a stray Palestinian rocket had landed in the midst of a wedding celebration. Her only close relative left was an uncle who had been ill and stayed away that day. Ariela was strong and brave and loudly opinionated, usually more than his match in any political debate, and Logan had adored her.
He had loved her so utterly and wildly that watching her waste away had almost destroyed him.
Marla was an excellent choice for him at this stage in his life. He cared deeply for the woman, and was grateful for her presence, but it did not feel as though his life force would melt away if he ever lost her, and this was a very good thing. He never wanted to hurt that badly again.
His sudden, intense attraction to the Amish woman was puzzling, and he knew this was definitely something he would have to monitor and avoid. It would be best if he stayed away from Hope Schrock as much as possible.
• • •
Hope had to pass Aunt Claire’s new birthing clinic on her way home. There had been quite a flurry of activity there as they got the clinic set up and remodeled. She decided to stop and see if they had settled in yet.
Her cousin Levi, Grace’s husband, was replacing a porch step when she stopped. He waved a hammer in her
He was, she decided, a casually handsome man—which was a matter of little importance compared to the fact that she saw genuine kindness in his face. She did not feel threatened by his presence and that was a very good thing because she very much wanted to keep this job.
• • •
Logan had stopped for only a few minutes to pick up some notes he had forgotten to take along on this latest chapter of his WWII novel. He knew Hope would prefer he stay away while she was there, and he agreed. Her people would not approve of seeing his car and her buggy parked there together side by side.Violet had warned him that Hope would be risking censure if she was seen spending time alone with him.
It was certainly a different mind-set than what he was used to, but he could respect the fact that in this community, a young, widowed Amish woman would have to be careful.
Unfortunately, he thought it best that he stay away for his own sake as well. The image of Hope and her little girl together had been a riveting one. Perhaps it was only the quaint, old-fashioned clothing, or the musical sound of her voice as she had talked with her child, but he had found himself transfixed.
Maybe it was only the way the sunlight came streaming through the window, but it had seemed to him that her lovely skin practically glowed with health. Her eyes were rimmed with thick, dark lashes and perfectly formed brows. Her lips were naturally a deep pink and needed no artifice. Everything about her was lovely. She was one of those rare women who did not need so much as a touch of makeup to be beautiful.
As he seated himself once again at his table in the antiques shop, he had trouble concentrating. The image of his new housekeeper kept coming to mind . . . which was quite disconcerting.
It was especially disconcerting because this was exactly what had happened to him the day he met his wife. He had not been able to get Ariela’s face out of his mind for days after meeting her in a journalism class at Columbia.
His young wife had been the direct opposite of his new housekeeper in almost every way, though. Ariela had been in the Israeli army, and during that time she lost most of her family when a stray Palestinian rocket had landed in the midst of a wedding celebration. Her only close relative left was an uncle who had been ill and stayed away that day. Ariela was strong and brave and loudly opinionated, usually more than his match in any political debate, and Logan had adored her.
He had loved her so utterly and wildly that watching her waste away had almost destroyed him.
Marla was an excellent choice for him at this stage in his life. He cared deeply for the woman, and was grateful for her presence, but it did not feel as though his life force would melt away if he ever lost her, and this was a very good thing. He never wanted to hurt that badly again.
His sudden, intense attraction to the Amish woman was puzzling, and he knew this was definitely something he would have to monitor and avoid. It would be best if he stayed away from Hope Schrock as much as possible.
• • •
Hope had to pass Aunt Claire’s new birthing clinic on her way home. There had been quite a flurry of activity there as they got the clinic set up and remodeled. She decided to stop and see if they had settled in yet.
Her cousin Levi, Grace’s husband, was replacing a porch step when she stopped. He waved a hammer in her
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