A Reason to Stay by Kellie Coates Gilbert Read Free Book Online Page A

with a field team to cover the story. We were the first to arrive on the scene. This might surprise you, but since I was fairly new I hung back a bit.”
    â€œThat is surprising,” he teased.
    â€œWell, my lack of confidence paid off. After letting the others go ahead, I rounded a corner and found myself face-to-face with Barbara, his wife.”
    Geary leaned forward, looking genuinely interested. “No kidding?”
    Faith sipped her root beer. “Nope. For real. She even had on her signature pearls.” She fingered the straw. “I told her I was so sorry to hear about her husband. The best part? A CNN crew arrived on the scene a few seconds later with cameras flashing. Guess who ended up on national television the next day?”
    He smiled widely, sharing in her enthusiasm. “That’s what our family calls a God-thing.”
    She tilted her head slightly. “What about you?”
    He grinned. “Me? Oh, nothing as interesting as all that.” He leaned back and let his gaze fall over the crowd. “I tend to gravitate toward the simple things in life.” He looked back at her then, and bless his heart—he looked nervous.
    â€œLike bass fishing?” she urged, suddenly wanting to learn more about this man sitting across from her.
    â€œYeah, but not all this, really. I mean, sure, tournament wins pay the bills, but the real thrill of bass fishing is when you’re out on the lake all alone, pulling into your special spot just as the sun breaks over the horizon. You cut the motor and grab your pole—the one you rigged up the night before with a crankbait you just know is going to hit.”
    She watched his eyes fill with the same excitement she had felt earlier knowing that camera was about to go live.
    When they’d finished eating, he gathered their empty plates and cups and carried them to a nearby trash receptacle. When he returned to the table he held out his hand. “Dance?”
    Startled, she glanced around. “Me? Uh, I don’t—”
    Geary grabbed her hand. “Oh, c’mon. Let loose a bit.”
    Her heart pounded from nerves as she let him drag her towarda crowd of line dancers shuffling to a rousing rendition of “God Bless Texas.” The only other time she’d danced was in a college exercise class, but in what seemed like no time she was sliding in step and clapping with the rest of them. And it was fun!
    The next song started, and she laughed as he grabbed her waist and swung her around. By the third song, she felt winded and her hair hung at her shoulders, damp from the humid night air. She didn’t even care, she was enjoying herself so much. She rarely let loose, and especially not among a crazy crowd like this.
    Geary Marin was extremely fun. She had to give him that.
    He grinned. “You’re killing me! I need something to drink.”
    â€œI’m killing you? Who asked who to dance, I want to know?”
    He swiped his damp forehead with his forearm before leading her to the edge of the dancing mob where an ingenious entrepreneur sold ice-cold water from a vendor cart.
    They quickly polished off a couple of bottles, then melded back into the crowd just as the band announced their final song of the evening. The notes of a slower ballad rang out, and Geary’s hand went to the small of her back. “One more?” he asked.
    She nodded and placed her right hand in his and leaned her head against his shoulder, savoring the feel of his quiet strength.
    Geary rested his head against hers and sang along to the chorus: “‘But I know I’m a lucky man—God’s given me a pretty fair hand.’”
    Deep down she suspected the lyrics were his own life motto. Rarely had she encountered someone so authentic, so genuine. So sure of himself.
    She envied all that.
    Later, when they sat at the back of his boat anchored in a nearby slip to watch the fireworks, she realized that he was