A Flame Rekindled: The love that reunites (Contemporary Christian Romance suspense) (Contemporary Christian Romance Novel Wealthy Billionaire Book 1)

by Lorraine Gomez

  By the time they left the packed breakfast restaurant the young women felt full, relaxed, and awake. Never passing up an opportunity for good food, Kristen delighted in trying all the recommendations given by her equally eager sister. There was biscuits and gravy like nothing she’d ever tasted, coffee with the scent and taste of heaven, and to top it off a dish to satisfy any sweet tooth, a heaping plate of peanut-butter french toast. That, coupled with the typical bacon and sausage and hash browns completed any hungry girl’s breakfast dream.

  Next, the trio got back the car and drove the few blocks to the local mall. Coming from a small town, Kristen had never experienced a place so vibrant with life and style. Together they strolled through the shops side by side, with Jenna looking around with interest from her stroller. For Kristen, she couldn’t decide what she loved more, looking at all the baby clothing, helping Stacie find some new gear, or expanding her own stylistic feel.

  When they finally emerged from the automatic doors that lead to the large three story building, they were both laden with at least three bags each, and still others hung from the handles of Stacie’s new daughter’s stroller. The sun beat down on them hotter and stronger than before, and as Kristen gazed up at it she realized that some three hours had passed since they entered the shopping center. Now, it was the moment she had been looking forward to most, the eagerly anticipated makeover that awaited them next.

  “Good afternoon Stacie, oh look you brought your baby. What a beautiful little girl.” a young and pretty Asian woman stepped toward them as they entered the small boutique, sending a bell above the door tinkling. “Is this your sister?” the woman continued, momentarily pausing her pampering of the baby to look over at Kristen. “It must be, all three of you look so alike it’s amazing! Come with me, all of you. I’ll get you settled in right way and find a few others to work with us. Stacie dear, you’re with me of course.”

  Stacie flashed the woman a broad smile as the worker lead them to their stations. After motioning Stacie and Jenna into one booth, she lead Kristen to the next one over before returning to Stacie’s side. “This is Kristen.” Stacie responded, pointing to Kristen for identification. “She’s my younger sister, younger by two years. She’s visiting for a while from South Dakota to help out with Jenna for me.”

  “Jenna! Such a beautiful name and a beautiful little baby.” A second woman appeared from somewhere and moved to Kristen’s station. This girl was darker skinned and heavy set but quite beautiful in her own right. “Lovely to meet you Kristen.” She greeted. “My name is Sidney. I’ve worked with Kim for over three years, and we’ve known Stacie for two. I hope you’ve enjoyed it here so far. This must be different from South Dakota in a lot of ways.”

  “Oh it is, but I actually really like it here.” Kristen responded with a pleased smile. Kim worked with a gentle touch, placing Kristen’s hands in a tub of warm soft water. A floral scent wafted to her as the woman used a smooth brush on her hands, washing with practiced strokes, taking care to reach every inch of her skin with the sweet soap. It felt warm and comforting to Kristen, as she sunk into the comfortable chair. “Oh, here.” Sidney pressed a button on the side that Kristen hadn’t noticed, and in an instantaneous moment Kristen could feel the massage mechanism take affect, starting with small tight circles on her lower back.

  “So what do you do in South Dakota?” Sidney asked as she reached for a small bottle of lotion.

  “I work on a farm, actually. I help with a local ranch.” She replied as she reveled in the feel of the massage against her body. It hadn’t occurred to her until now just how stiff and tense she really was.

  “Well, there’s plenty of that here.” Said Sidney with a smile. “Do you plan on staying long?”

  There it was again, that insinuation that Kristen should stay. The more and more it was mentioned, the longer and longer she thought about it, and the more she saw of the immediate area the stronger she believed she should indeed stick around. “It’s possible.” Kristen conceded after a moment. “I haven’t been here that long but already I like it. It’s nothing like where I’ve always lived yet it’s the same. Seeing as I really don’t have anything tying me down, I might like to start over here. I don’t think I want to continue on the ranches though, maybe I’ll look for something a little more rewarding.” She gazed around at the other chairs in the room, many of which were occupied by women of various ages and ethnicities. She watched the workers, also girls, in their careful calculated movements. “This sounds pretty nice, maybe i’ll join you guys here.” It was sarcasm in a way, causing Kristen to laugh it off, but truly she wouldn’t mind going into the beauty business of some kind. Never before had she given a lot to her future until now. With her grades, there was no chance of her going to college, and few jobs in her sleepy state, but here she felt as though she could be something even despite her not having a degree.

  “Well, if you do decide to make a life here, I would be happy to train you. Stacie is a lovely woman and I think we could train you up just fine. What about a man in your life? Is there anyone special you’d be leaving behind, or maybe going to bring back?”

  At this, Kristen shook her head, all the while marveling over the offer she had just received. “No, none of that.” She watched as Sidney applied a shiny gold polish on her nails. “There isn’t much to pick from when you live in a teeny town like mine.” These words coupled with the idea of staying in Texas made her think of Tim again, and at that thought an instant weight fell into her heart. Then Sidney began working her magic on Kristen’s toes and feet, pressing another button on the chair to further the massage, and the heavy lump dissipated as fast as it had appeared.

  Upon leaving the shop, both Kristen and Stacie felt as though they were queens and princesses of the world. Every part of Kristen felt clean and smooth and strong. Her nails glittered on each finger and toe, and even her hair was done in a fresh new way that she never would have thought of by herself. Stacie too got her hair styled, though hers was far longer than Kristen’s. Her nails were painted in a soft color which matched in a unique but well thought out way with her daughter’s bright pink, sending all three of them off wearing matching smiles of pleasure. “it was lovely working with you ladies.” Said the first woman, Kim, as she lead them to the door. “Come back soon!” Sidney called from the register. “And Kristen, don’t forget about my offer.”

  “What offer?” Stacie asked in curiosity, now leading the way through the parking lot to the car.

  “Oh,” Said Kristen, unsure of weather or not she should tell her sister just yet. “She was just saying that if I did want to move here, she would train me for a position there.”

  Stacie gasped in amazement, her next words a shrill cry of joy. “Sidney offered you a job?” She asked, looking at Kristen with a thrilled expression, bright elation in her eyes. “She co-owns the place with Kim. If she made a proposal like that, she means it. Oooo Kristen, that’s a huge deal. Are you going to take her up on the offer? You could do so much better than living like a cow girl, no offense.”

  In response, Kristen Merely shrugged. “I’m not sure yet.” Was her reply as she sat herself in the back seat of the car. “Its only been a couple days since I left home. I need time to explore and get a better feel for life here.”

  Stacie’s jaw set as though she had made an abrupt decision. “Well, let’s celebrate. You want to feel life here? Then I’m going to show you a night on the town. You and me, tonight, no questions asked. My neighbor MarryAnne has offered to watch Jena a million times. I’ll take her up on the offer and we’re going to party hard!”

  In spite of herself, the young girl couldn’t help but laugh. “Alright, Why not.” She agreed. Kristen never did much partying or became active in the nightlife scene. Back home, that scene was usually full of the same angry horny drunks over and over, but here where there was so much more variety, she knew it would be different, and actually looked forward to the idea. After all, They looked lovely with the
ir manicures and new hair. In her mind’s eye, she could see just the right dress for the occasion, one that she had purchased only hours ago. If she borrowed some of Stacie’s makeup, Kristen would be stunning, breathtaking even. this new, totally different image of herself made her feel confident, wiping all of her troubles clean from her head in a single fraction of a second.

  Next to her, Jenna reached out from her car seat and attempted to wrap her tiny hand around one of Kristen’s fingers. She smiled down at the girl, ruffling her hair as Stacie accelerated the car. What did she have to lose by taking a chance and staying with Stacie and Jenna, at least for a while until she found a place of her own or went somewhere else? Her and her sister were best friends, and it couldn’t be clearer to Kristen that Stacie would not only be okay with her little sister hanging around but desired it. She let out a small chuckle as Jenna grasped a hold of Kristen’s little finger and held on. She would stay, at least for a while. Her father wouldn’t mind, and Mrs. Beck said herself that she was doing fine with the ranch now that Kevin and Tim were home. There was no better time than the present to embark on a journey toward a bigger and better existence.

  The thought of home brought on the memory of the conversation this morning with her father. “Oh by the way Stace,” Kristen said to break the silence. “dad called this morning.”

  “Oh yeah? What did he say?” Stacie’s tone was distracted as she navigated her way through a busy intersection.

  “He told me to tell you hi. He was just on his work but needed to give me a message.”

  “A message?” Now Stacie was intrigued. “What exactly was this message?”

  Kristen realized then that she probably should have made up a lie, told Stacie that he was just saying hello. She didn’t tell her sister about Tim. The day she called to ask if she could visit, she only said she needed to get away for a bit after the loss of Mr. Beck. Stacie remembered him, and knew how kind he was to Kristen and everyone he met. That was reason enough for Stacie to let her stay, not that Stacie really needed a reason to begin with. “It’s my message!” She told her in an effort to avoid the question. “That’s a neat building right there, what is it?”

  “It’s a restaurant, a pretty good one too, we can go sometime.” The answer Stacie gave was rushed as she wanted to get back to the conversation at hand. “Anyway, what was the message, Kris?”

  From the back seat, Kristen took a deep breath. “Remember Tim Beck?” She began, dreading having to go into the matter in the first place.

  Stacie snorted. “Of course I remember Tim. You were all about him through your entire high school career.”

  “Yeah. Well, he came home from New York City after his dad died. We accidentally kissed at the funeral, just before I left. Dad called to let me know he came to the house wondering where I went.”

  “That’s weird, I mean the visit. Didn’t he treat you like crap after you told him how you felt?”

  “Pretty much.” Kristen agreed with a frown. “That’s part of what makes it so strange that he kisses me and then tries to talk to me again.”

  “Wait a second, wait a second. I’m missing some pieces. Explain this kissing situation to me.”

  With a sigh Kristen began, explaining everything that had happened since she went to collect Tim from the airport. Against her better judgement, she told Stacie everything, including how she felt about him, and how she tried to defend herself against wanting him again. Rather than laugh and tell her he was no good like Kristen thought she would, Stacie listened with understanding, and once Kristen said everything she needed to say, she actually felt better. Silence fell as Stacie continued driving, no doubt taking in all of Kristen’s words and piecing things together in that thoughtful way of hers.

  “You know what Kris?” Stacie began slowly. “I don’t know why he went to dad, but if you still have feelings for him like you say you do, then you shouldn’t fight it. I’m not saying you should fawn over him like you had been, most people aren’t real into that and I’ve told you that before. What I am saying is that if you still want to be with him, maybe you should show him that. Demonstrate it, don’t just say it.”

  This time it was Kristen who snorted. “Stacie, you don’t have to tell me how to get a guy. I’ve had plenty of relationships since Tim, not that they’ve been great, but I’ve learned from them at least. Anyway, it doesn’t matter anymore, I’m probably not going back home any time soon. I’m sure Tim Beck will find some other chick to love, he doesn’t waist his time in that department. I have no idea what dad told him and even if he said I went to visit you, I don’t think Tim cares so much as to come track me down.”

  Something Kristen had said sparked a different faction of Stacie’s intrigue. “You’re staying for a while?” Even from her seat behind her Kristen could hear the broad smile in the way she spoke. “That’s awesome, I’m so glad.” As they continued to drive, they finalized plans for everything from giving Kristen the spare room to where they would go tonight. Upon pulling into the house’s driveway, all plans were made and ready to be carried out as soon as they got inside, from when they would leave, all the way down to what club they would give their business to last.

  “So, how do I look?” Kristen entered what was now only Stacie’s room, since they had now moved Kristen’s meager belongings into her own room. The once plain unassuming girl radiated undeniable beauty, all the way down from the top of her her head to the tips of her toes. She wore a long colorful dress, her eyes and face adorned with just the right amount of makeup. On her hands, silver and gold bracelets shone, matching the shiny color of her fingernails. To complete the picture of perfection, a necklace gleamed on her chest, its pendant stopping just above the neck line of her dress. For affect, she gave a small twirl in front of her sister who cheered.

  “Who are you and what did you do with my sister?” Stacie asked in a joking tone. “You look great girl, I always knew you could look amazing if you put your heart into it. No more of that cowgirl look, this is the real you. You have such great style, and the couple of jewelry pieces you borrowed make you look lovelier than ever. Let me tell you, the men are going to be floored.”

  Rather than feeling offended, Kristen grinned a broad grin. “I never had any reason to do something like this.” She explained. “This really is great though.”

  Stacie smiled and turned to her own closet. “Well, I have to get ready too. I was just making the final overnight arrangements for Jenna at MarryAnne’s. We probably won’t be getting home until one or two and I didn’t want to have to pick Jenna up that late, especially if we’re a bit hammered.”

  Chuckling, Kristen nodded. “Let’s see if you can out do me.” It was a challenge, and she knew Stacie would rise to it. She had always wanted to dress up with Kristen but until now, Kristen was just never that into it. However now, she was starting a new life which warranted a new her, and she was loving who she was becoming.

  “Ready to go see MarryAnne?” She asked Jenna, adopting the same sweet high voice Stacie had used that morning. “You know MarryAnne, she’s a lovely lady isn’t she. I really like her. You’re so lucky to have a great lady like her to have fun with when me and your mama go out, aren’t you.” Kristen had met the esteemed MarryAnne as they got out of the car. She was an elderly woman, but full of energy and a warm heart, giving Kristen the impression of a sweet grandmother. Stacie told her later that her only son passed away four years ago in an accident, and he never had children of his own.

  As though in response to Kristen’s words, Jenna looked up at her and gave her a tiny toothless smile. Still holding the baby, Kristen sat herself at a window seat and looked out at the garden beyond.

  Silhouetted in the distance, Kristen could just make out a man walking around the house to the front. For a moment she watched him, trying to get a better glimpse of him. Failing, she called out “Got a hot date tonight you didn’t tell me about?”

  “Did you say you wanna find a hot date?” Stacie called back,
“Yeah, me too.”

  Kristen laughed outright, stood, and walked to stand in the doorway of the bathroom where Stacie was putting on makeup, Jenna still in her arms gazing around. “No, I asked if you had a hot date tonight that you were going to surprise me with.”

  Stacie didn’t turn around, but continued to focus on the task at hand. “No, can’t say I do. Right now I have Jenna, and i want to focus on her more than go out with some guy.”

  “Don’t fool me.” Kristen was one hundred percent convinced that the guy in the yard was coming to see Stacie. “I couldn’t see him well but he looked mighty fine.”

  “Who did?” Her sister sounded surprised and a little confused.

  “The tall hansom man striding through the yard just a moment ago. He’s probably at the door by now.”

  “What!” Stacie exclaimed. “I swear if it’s James, I’m going to kick his ass.”

  “James? Who is James?”

  “Jenna’s useless father. The one who dumped me when I was six months pregnant and told me he didn’t want any part of my life or my child’s.” Stacie through down her lipstick looking furious. “I’m going to go see what the hell he wants.”

  Moments later she returned, a look on her face that could only be glee. She was laughing, not just chuckling but beside herself laughing. “Go see, Kris.” She managed through her unstoppable laughs. “Oh this is so funny. You’re going to pee your pants. Go to the door, go to the door.. The amused young woman walked to a nearby window, her eyes now on Kristen.

  “What’s so funny?” Asked Kristen, gazing down at Jenna who was laughing at her mothers infectious noises of entertainment.

  “For god’s sake just go.”

  With trepidation, Kristen hesitated for a second by making her way across the house to the door. In her arms, Jenna placed her tiny hands on the screen as Kristen looked out. It was then that she saw what Stacie had seen, and realized why her big sister found the sight so hilarious. A young man was at the house indeed. He sat on the front steps, an unrecognized rental car parked in the driveway some distance from where he was seated. This sight was funny to Stacie because Kristen was so certain that nothing like this would happen, yet hear it was.