Love's Emerging Faith (Love's Texas Homecoming Book 3; First Street Church #20)

by Sharon Hughson

  “Still speaking legalese.” He curled her hair behind her ear, leaving his fingertips on her earlobe. “My girl’s smart and sexy.”

  She opened her mouth, but he didn’t let her argue. He covered her parted lips with his own, drinking in the taste of her strength. He’d need it for what came next.

  Jaz leaned into him. His hands tightened on her curvaceous hips, holding her a breath away from him. Her fingers burrowed into the hair at the nape of his neck. Shocks and tingles spiraled down his back.

  He levered away from her until her hands slid onto his arms. Her eyelids flickered open. The dazed look there mirrored his feelings every time they kissed.

  “Yum.” Her smile lit a fire in his gut.

  Don’t get distracted.

  He grazed his lips over hers again.

  She groaned, and he pulled away. “Bailey.” Her breath hissed along his neck.

  “I want to say something, so stop distracting me.”

  She slapped his bicep. “You kissed me.”

  He grinned and tapped the brim of his hat. She had him there.

  He threaded his fingers through hers and tucked his other hand into the front pocket of his jeans, trying to reclaim his cowboy pose. “Looks like we’re both living in Sweet Grove.”

  She nodded. “I hate staying with my folks, but rentals near the halfway house are non-existent.”

  “Javier’s staying in the manager’s quarters for now, so I’ll be looking for a rental, too.”

  “Are you going to move to Rosewood? There’d be more options.”

  He shook his head. “Two of my clients are in Sweet Grove.”

  “You’re welcome.” Jaz squeezed his hand.

  They stared at ripples on the smooth water. A breeze dislodged the curl from behind her ear.

  He wasn’t doing this right. But then, everything about their relationship had been a little backward, starting with her pursuing him. But he could cowboy-up now.

  “Are you sure about the online courses? I’ll stay in Austin if you want to go to classes at UT.”

  Jaz faced him. “Jed says I can fill the advocate position as long as I’m working toward the degree. The kids need me here.”

  “They aren’t the only ones.”

  She tilted her head. The stretch of neck she exposed taunted him. “Are you trying to say you need me?”

  He ducked his chin, keeping his gaze locked with hers. “Need you. Adore you. Don’t want to live without you.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “A month ago, you were sending me off to Austin with your blessing to find someone more deserving.”

  His grunt came from the bottom of his lungs. “I never said I was smart. But I’m certain.”

  A glint lightened her pale eyes. “What are you certain of?”

  “You.”

  She pushed onto her tiptoes, but he shuffled backward. Her quirking eyebrow twitched.

  Bailey dropped her right hand and reached for her left. The warmth of her fingers slithered up his arm, prickling his hair to attention.

  “Do you love me?” The question came out breathy. He sucked in air.

  Jaz nodded. “You’re the man for me.”

  A thrill electrified his heart into a frenzy of bucking. Those words meant more to him than any standard love proclamation because men hadn’t been kind to Jaz.

  He fumbled in his pocket. The slender band slid to his pinky’s knuckle. “I don’t want any more misunderstandings between us.” He gulped. “If you’ll have me, I want to marry you.”

  She blinked at him. A bubble of unease built inside his chest.

  “Are you asking?” She sidled her sneakered foot between his dusty cowboy boots.

  Sweat itched where the hat seemed to tighten around his head. His fingers twitched to move the brim, but his hands were full of Jazlyn and a ring.

  He pulled the band out, and the diamonds glinted.

  “Be my wife?” The words were husky, straining to get through his scratchy throat.

  Jaz glanced toward the ring hovering above her left hand.

  “The ring is beautiful.” Awe filled her tone.

  “It was MaryAnn’s. She wore it until her silver anniversary when Fritz bought her a new one.”

  She gazed up at him through thick black lashes. “A ring that belongs to a strong marriage.”

  Did that mean she didn’t think they would have one? His heart pulsed forlornly in his stomach. If she said no…

  I’ll ask her again later.

  Pale eyes studied him for another endless moment.

  Lord, I was so sure.

  But he wouldn’t give in to the failure snapping at his feet. They belonged together. He was positive.

  “If I say yes, you’ll be stuck with me forever.”

  It was his turn to blink at her. “Sounds like Heaven.”

  A dazzling smile broke the stern lines of her face. “That was the right answer, cowboy.”

  What answer? She hadn’t said anything.

  Jaz laughed. A bird fled the branches above them, squawking as it fluttered away.

  “That was a yes, cowboy.” She held his hand still and slid her finger through the ring.

  Bailey’s heart didn’t start beating until she pressed her lips to his. Then he came alive, wrapping his arms around her and hugging her to his chest. Their mouths celebrated the beginning of forever, sliding together with heated enthusiasm.

  She said yes.

  Bailey buried his nose in the skin of her neck. The brim of his hat jarred against her, going askew. He grabbed it and settled it on her head.

  Her lips parted, and his chest tightened.

  That old battered hat looked at home on her dark hair.

  As her lips caressed his again, Bailey relaxed into the truth of Jaz. She loved all of him, even his scars and weaknesses, and she shared his ideal of family. Together, their faith soared.

  Wrapped in the arms of his future, Bailey understood the meaning of home.

  The End

  Meet Sharon Hughson

  Sharon Hughson inhales words and exhales stories. Her characters face real--difficult, and sometimes heart-wrenching—issues. Just because it’s fiction, doesn’t mean readers can’t see themselves on the pages…and find the strength to be the hero of their own story.

  Sharon could easily get lost in books. When her parents divorced, escaping into Narnia saved her from a fate worse than rebelling against everything. She pens her stories for that troubled teenager, seeking hope and encouragement, because sometimes vacation only happens between the pages of a book. When not immersed in the world of writing and reading, Sharon substitutes in local classrooms, keeps house for her honey and waits on her three cats.

  See all her titles at sharonhughson.com. Visit the Newsletter page to get a FREE story and the latest updates about new releases, events and giveaways. To connect with Sharon, join her Facebook Group to be notified about new books.

  More from this author:

  Sweet Grove Romances

  Love’s Late Arrival

  Love’s Little Secrets

  Love’s Latent Refuge (Coming June 2019)

  Texas Homecoming

  Love’s Lingering Doubts

  Love’s Returning Hope

  Biblical Fiction

  Reflections from a Pondering Heart

  Or maybe you’re still not sure you’ll LOVE Sharon’s story. You can read a fantasy novella for FREE by clicking here. Even though the title sounds steamy, it’s a sweet romance.

  What’s Next?

  Read the first chapter of NEW BEGINNING, book 21 of of the FIRST STREET CHURCH expanded world…

  Cheryl Crawford put her hands on her hips and looked around the room. Her new sister-in-law, Lily, would be coming home from her honeymoon day after tomorrow, and she was helping move her stuff from her old house to her new one. Her sisters said it was a surprise for her, and Cheryl just hoped it would be a good surprise and not an ’oh-no-you-touched-my-stuff surprise’. She didn't think
she’d like anyone coming in packing up her things while she was gone, but her sisters, Rose and Violet, thought she’d be thrilled. So, she was just going with the flow, helping out. Luckily, her brother Matt, who Lily had just married, lived right next door, so the move wasn’t too bad, logistically, at least. Everything still needed was boxed up, just like they were moving across country. Moving was a lot of work. She’d done it, not too long ago, and had vowed not to do it again. Well, very often anyway, which was weird since she sold houses for a living and had to make people very excited about moving.

  “Hey, Cheryl!” Rose walked into the bedroom, holding an empty box. “Your phone is buzzing on the table downstairs.”

  “Probably work,” she wrinkled her nose. “It’s my day off, so I’m certain it is.”

  “That’s how it works,” Rose agreed. “Just thought I’d tell you.”

  “I’ll check it in a minute. Did Violet up and disappear?”

  “She did, but that’s her way. Jerry and Lloyd are going to be here in a few hours to help us carry the heavy stuff.”

  “So, it’s just you and me right now?”

  “We’re so lucky to do such a good deed, right?” Rose smiled at her and Cheryl laughed.

  “Attitude is everything!” she agreed. ‘I’ll start loading shoes.”

  “Shoes,” moaned Rose. “She only has a hundred pair.”

  “A hundred? What’s wrong with the woman? I have twice that,” Cheryl took the empty box and started loading. When that box, and the next one, were full, she decided it was time for a break. Rose was packing Lily’s books in the living room, and she went down there to see if she wanted a drink or a snack with her and grabbed her phone from the table. Three voicemails, all, of course, from work. Sighing, she listened to them. Wendy said,” new client, call me”, in every one of them. Why couldn’t someone else take the new client’s information for her? She’d be back to the office in the morning.

  “Wendy,” she said when the other woman picked up. “What’s going on?”

  “New client, and he only wants to talk to you, and he wants to talk today.”

  “Today is my day off,” she sighed. “Okay, time and place. I’ll be there. Not turning down a new, very motivated client!” Having a good reputation was important and she worked hard to achieve it, but really, everyone needed a day off now and then.

  “Good plan,” the office manager said. “I’ll text it to you.”

  “Gotta go to work?” Rose asked and flexed her muscles and pretended to roll up sleeve her t-shirt didn’t have. “I got this.”

  Her phone dinged and Cheryl looked down to read the text. “Nope, don’t have to be there till six. I have hours, and hours to move someone else’s stuff.”

  “We’re saints,” Rose said, somberly. “Lily and Matt should thank us heartily.”

  “At least they owe us dinner and a loaf of Matt’s homemade bread.”

  “He does make the best bread,” Rose agreed. “Now, are we having a break or not?”

  “Lemonade for everyone!” Cheryl said.

  “All two of us,” Rose laughed as she walked into the kitchen.

  A few hours later she heard, “Honey, I’m home!” In Matt’s buddy, Lloyd’s voice.

  ‘My name isn’t honey, and this isn’t your home,” Rose’s teasing voice floated back. Cheryl smiled. Rose had come so far in the last year or so. Her stalker had been caught and put behind bars, she’d come out of her shell, was more confident, happier and now engaged to Lloyd. She was so happy for them both.

  “There’s our muscle,” she called down the stairs. “Let me know when you’re ready and I’ll go unlock Matt’s house.” Once they got all the boxes packed and moved, there was a few pieces of furniture. Lily’s dresser, bookcase, a couple of chairs and other things. She assumed Rose knew what Lily wanted to take to help make Matt’s place, their place. They wouldn’t unpack everything, of course, but they would make it comfortable for the first few nights when they got home from their honeymoon. Cheryl shook her head, only someone from Texas would go to Alaska for a honeymoon cruise. Her brother apparently was writing a book set in Alaska. Why not Texas where he’d lived all his life? Whatever. It didn’t matter to her, she just hoped he and his new bride would be happy with this move, and of course their new life, when they got home. She shook her head. Hard to imagine her big brother married.

  “We’re ready!” Lloyd called back up the stairs. “Unlock at will!”

  “Who is Will,” she called back, picking up a box to take with her. “Hi, Lloyd, hi, Jerry,” she said, walking down the stairs. “I’ll head over and unlock the door now.”

  “Hi, Cheryl. How’s the realty business?”

  “As long as you don’t let any more houses burn down, it’s all good,” she said.

  “Hey, one house in the last year!” Lloyd, the firefighter, said. “It could happen to anyone!”

  “It better not happen again or to any of my houses!” She shifted the box and jangled the keys. “Going over to go unlock the door now.”

  “We’re going to check out what needs to be done and make a plan, then have a drink, because Rose promised me hand-squeezed lemonade and cookies, and then we’ll be over,” Lloyd waved at her. Cheryl shook her head and walked out the door. Men. Glad he found Rose, and she found him, she couldn’t help but be a little envious. She hadn’t dated since...never mind, she told herself. Don’t even go there.

  She wasn’t old, she reminded herself. There was a couple, well almost, years before she hit the big 3-0. She had a career she loved, friends, a great family, an active life in her church home, and her running club that kept her active plus her community volunteer jobs that she not only liked, but kept her name out in the public eye, which circled back to the career she loved. Her life was good! Sure, a man might enhance it but, well, it would happen in good time, or not. Right now, she was working on being the best self she could be and enjoying life as much as she could. And right now, she needed to find the key to Matt’s door.

  “We’re done for the day,” Rose announced a few hours later. “I’m starving, Jerry wants to go home to Denise, Lloyd is dying to take me out for supper, and Cheryl, you have to come with us.”

  Cheryl couldn’t imagine anything more fun than being a third wheel again. Not. “I would love to, but really, I have a client who wants to meet me tonight. I’m going home to clean up and meet him and probably buy him dinner because that’s what we do for a sale.”

  “I work with insurance companies all day,” Rose said, “I have no idea what we do for a sale.”

  “I make sure fires don’t ruin your chances to sell a house,” Lloyd added. “No clue about sales.”

  “You all are pathetic,” Jerry said. “I’m going home to sell myself to the wife and get me some good loving later.”

  “You have four kids already,” Lloyd said. “How much more good loving do you need?”

  “I just aim to please the lady,” Jerry said as he went out the door and they all laughed.

  ‘We got a lot done, today. Lily should be happy,” Cheryl said. “I hope they’re having fun and brings home lots of pictures. I’ve never been to Alaska.”

  “Me, neither, Rose said. “Have you, Lloyd?”

  “Flew up there once with my folks when I was a kid,” he said. “Gorgeous state.”

  “I’ve always wanted to drive up or down the East Coast in the fall and leaf-peep,” Cheryl said, gathering her purse, keys and phone.

  “Leaf-peep?” Lloyd asked.

  “That’s what it’s called.” she insisted. “You two have a nice relaxing evening. Some of us have to work.”

  “Call me tomorrow, thanks for all the help today,” Rose said. “Bye!”

  Walking to her car, Cheryl wished that she didn’t have to go out tonight. Relaxing in a tub of bubbles with a glass of wine sounded very good after a hard day moving other people’s stuff... But no. Someone wanted to throw his money her way, hopefully. “You knew there would be long hou
rs when you got into this business,” she said out loud. Nights and weekends were a given. She had to attend a lot of social events and volunteer on a lot of committees just to keep her name out there in the public eye. Well, and to do good, she reminded herself. It wasn’t all about the dollar signs. A lot was, but not all. She liked having enough. Liked being able to indulge in a pair of new shoes and drive a shiny, fairly new car. Though that was part of the job description, she reminded herself. She had to have a nice car for the clients. Not for herself. Reminding herself once again, as she settled into her nice shiny, fairly new car, that it was okay to want and work for, nice things. She headed home to change.

  She had forty-five minutes before she had to meet, who was it? Don’t check your phone, until you get home, she reminded herself. Wendy had texted her the details and she’d skimmed them enough to know Charlie’s diner at 6:30 but that had been it. Pulling up to her condo, she felt fairly annoyed to see someone had parked in her preferred spot. Not a deal, hopefully they would be gone before she got home tonight. They didn’t have assigned spots, something she planned to bring up at the next HOA board meeting. Why she shouldn’t have the one right in front of her condo assigned to her, she didn’t know. There were plenty of parking spots in the rows behind for visitors and people’s second cars. A couple little signs would make life here much nicer for everyone. Front row was assigned, anyone could park behind. There were a lot of young families moving here, and she’d seen them struggle with kids, and bags and having a close parking space to their apartments and condos would be very helpful. See how altruistic she was, she grinned to herself. Everything wasn’t all about her.

  Luckily, it was a warm Texas night, not too humid and still sunny, of course, so she enjoyed the leisurely stroll past the offending truck whose owner had no clue she secretly claimed that spot as her own. Smiling, she went into her ground floor condo and smiled bigger. Selling her little house last year and buying this had been the best decision she’d made in a long time. Even if it had involved moving, but like someone told her once, if you can throw money at it and fix it, it isn’t a problem. She’d thrown money at the move and it had been mostly stress-free. Everything here was new, worked, and if it didn’t, she just called someone who came running. Part of her HOA perks. Plus, no yard work. Her brother Matt and his new wife Lily loved to work in their gardens and get all dirty and sweaty. Personally, she didn’t see the joy in it. Give her a fresh bouquet of flowers once in a while to put on her dining room table and that was as close to nature as she wanted to be. No more mowing lawns for her.