The force of his presence careened into Nora like a hundred-mile-an-hour wind. In response, she could do nothing but hold her ground and blink.
You have to go where I lead you, Don you? Unless I teaser you. Then you have to go where I drag you.
His glittering gaze took in her outfit, then returned to meet her eyes. “You trying to give me a stroke, countess? Because you’ve just about done it.
Love demands effort. Sometimes it’s scary. The hardships that come with love will refine you with painful fire. But if you let them, the difficulties can also deepen love. Madeline’s pacifier went squeak squeak squeak.
I can’t do many things,” he said fiercely, “but I can love you, Meg. I can love you every hour of every day for the rest of my life. I swear to you I can. I want to earn the right to try.” The pad of his thumb rubbed her cheek. “I love you so much I can hardly see straight. I can’t concentrate. I can’t sleep. I can’t make myself care about anything on earth except for you. I’m useless.” “No you’re not.” “I’m a mess.” “No.” “I am.” He insisted. “About you, I am.
Sometimes, in order to grab hold of something good, you had to empty your hands. And so, very purposely, she let go of the concerns she’d been clutching that had separated her from Eli. She was going to have to trust God to work out their future.
I’m glad I ran into you.” It was true. Seeing him shirtless and sweaty was like a shot in the arm. She now felt like she had the hormone power to walk for miles.
She didn’t realize she was fiddling with the back of her earring until he took hold of her hand and pressed a kiss into her palm. Without a word, he pulled her into his lap, surrounded her with the two flaps of his corduroy jacket, and hugged her against him.
You loathed-slash-loved him at Grandma’s party. And he loathed-slash-loved you back, which is pretty much one step away from matrimony.
I’m yours. Until I die, and even after that, I’m yours.” She shook her head as moisture rushed to her eyes. “I didn’t do the things you’re saying I did. I don’t know why you or Brimm think that I did them, but please believe me. Please. I would never, not for anything in the world, hurt you. Never. I swear it.
To be honest, she enjoyed her unforgiveness. She snuggled up with it they way she would a comforter whenever she was feeling down.
She’d been raised in the church, and her relationship with God was long-standing, close, and easy. He should be enough for her. She knew He was enough. She was only sorry and guilty that at times like this He didn’t feel like enough.
The opportunity to glimpse people who’d been born long before her, sometimes centuries before, was one of the rewards of Nora’s job. At times it was almost as if she could reach out and touch her fingertips to theirs through history.
The early June weather was acting like an unloved child putting on its best behavior in a last-ditch attempt to win the love of a parent.
You clean up well.” “Not half as well as you.” His glittering gaze took in her outfit, then returned to meet her eyes. “You trying to give me a stroke, countess? Because you’ve just about done it.” She laughed. “Did you just call me countess?” “You are one, right?” “I don’t believe we have any countesses here in America.” “Sure about that?” “Pretty sure.” “Well, if we had any, you’d be one. You look beautiful.” His compliment poured over her like a sunbeam. “Thank you. So do you.
She’d learned that she could count on Him in the same way that she could count on there being sixty minutes in an hour, or twenty-four hours in a day.
My theory is that Dad wanted to give Mom the only anniversary gift he hadn’t given her yet.” “You would take the romantic approach.” Zander had remained standing, one shoulder casually braced against the fireplace. “I think their anniversary reminded Garner that they’re getting older, and if they were ever going to be missionaries, it needed to be now.” Nora arched an eyebrow. “You would take the death-is-imminent approach.
Home was God. Home was the people He gave you to love while you were on this Earth.
For long minutes she simply stood, unmoving and praying, letting herself feel God’s love. His love wasn’t narrow, the way she’d try to make it. It was the widest and deepest love there was.
And a last. You know the expression ‘white on rice’?” She nodded. “That’s how closely I’ll be sticking to you from now on every time you leave Whispering Creek.” “Yes, sir.” “Just warning you. I don’t want to hear any complaints.” “No complaints.