CLEAN ROMANCE: Finding Peace (Christian Romance, Inspirational Romance, Second Chance Romance) (New Adult Contemporary Romance/Clean and Wholesome) by Grace Warren Read Free Book Online Page A

about time I started doing more around here. I’m not on a
vacation, nor am I guest by our arrangement.”
    Vanessa’s spoon
of oatmeal clattered into her bowl, splattering warmed oats over the
tablecloth. Nash set his coffee cup down, rested his elbows on the table and
steepled his fingers under his chin. He looked from Lucy to an annoyed Vanessa.
“I think that is a mighty fine idea. Don’t you Van?”
    Vanessa grumbled
and stood up, collecting up empty dishes to bring back to the kitchen.
    “What do you
think you’d like to start with?” he asked, ignoring the rudeness of his sister
in law.
    “Well,” Lucy
started off slow; she wanted to choose the right words. “Perhaps I could go out
with you this morning and learn some of the ranch chores and then this
afternoon,” she paused and swallowed back the anxiety as she spoke her next
statement. “This afternoon I could consult with Vanessa and begin taking on
some of the housework or the evening meal.”
    There was a huge
shattering noise that resounded from within the confines of the kitchen. And
the party of four froze for a brief moment at the dining room table.
    “I’d better
attend to that.” Nash excused himself without making comment to her suggestion.
    Lucy looked to
each of the children and gave them a reassuring smile. “You two finish up, I’m
going to go with your father this morning and we will play a game together
after lunch, okay?”
    Olivia and Galen
agreed and Lucy ran upstairs to change her clothing and prepare to head out
with Nash.
    Dressed in pink,
primrose printed Wellies, jeans and a tank top; Lucy tied her hair up off her
neck and walked down to the kitchen to find Nash. Vanessa was chopping
vegetables for their noon time meal. “Vanessa, did you see which way Nash
went?”
    “I am not his
keeper. Isn’t that your new position?” She slammed the knife down on the
cutting board and walked away at a swift pace. Lucy stood there dumbfounded.
    The truck was
gone from the driveway. Lucy turned a slow circle, shielding her eyes from the
bright sunlight. Had he really left without her? Her heart sank. Maybe this was
not the right choice. As much as she adored the kids she was beginning to feel
they were the only ones that truly wanted her around. She took a deep breath of
air, set her jaw in determination and headed off along the running fence to
find Nash. If he wasn’t going to take her seriously then they had a lot to
discuss regarding the future of this agreement.
    An hour and a
half later Lucy was windblown, dusty and her tank top was damp with perspiration.
She needed a drink and a bit of shade. Off in the distance she could see the
blue Ford truck and several men on horseback corralling a herd of cows. She
hoped Nash was with them. The closer she got the more she was able to tell that
none of the riders were Nash. Squinting she saw a ranch hand working to repair
a fence. His back was to her and she admired his shirtless form, following the
glistening line of his muscular torso to the waist band of his faded jeans. His
muscles rippled as he swung a hammer against the new wooden post that had
replaced a broken one, which now lay at his feet.
    Lucy walked up,
drinking in the fine visual specimen. She felt a small twinge of guilt, but she
was a woman after all. “Excuse me, can you tell me where I might find Mr.
McCain?’ she managed to squeak out over her parched tongue.
    The man took of
his hat and wiped his forehead on his bare arm before turning around. His chest
was tanned dark and silky smooth, and his abdomen hard form long hours of
strenuous work. “How can I help…”
    Both Lucy and
Nash stood there stunned, starring at one another until Lucy had to grab the
fence to stop from falling over with a sudden wave of light headedness. Nash
lunged forward to steady her.
    “What are you
doing out here? Did you walk?” he asked, holding her up by her shoulders.
    “Wow, it’s hot.”
She shook the dizziness from her senses. The