Love's Stormy Gale (Heartsong Presents) by Lynette Sowell Read Free Book Online

about being alone. She’d kept busy and kept the past at bay as best she could. Now that she’d been home for a while, the past had reinserted itself into her life. But she could no longer insert herself into her old life here. The inky water drifted over her feet, the waves providing a soothing sound as they rolled over on themselves.
    Olivia turned her back on the water to rejoin the others, dark shapes moving back and forth, blocking the glow of the fire.
    “Lord, I’m lonely. I admit it. Please don’t let me confuse friendship and kindness with anything more. It could hurt both of us.” She trudged through the sand back to the blanket by the fire.
    “So at the end of the month my cousin’s heading out for another trip, maybe as far as the Grand Banks,” the guitar player said. “Last time the lowest cut was close to five grand.”
    Jonathan whistled. “Good run.”
    “If you’re looking into trawling, it’s still a good living, though not as much money as the swordfish boats. But then you probably know that.” The man grinned and strummed a few chords.
    “I don’t mind.” The firelight showed a gleam in Jonathan’s eyes that Olivia hadn’t seen in years. “I’m just looking to get out there again. Pete Celucci’s selling his boat and I’m buying it.”
    “What?” Olivia sank to her knees as she stared at Jonathan. “What are you talking about?”
    “I’m going out again. I’ve wanted it for a long time, and Pete’s selling. I believe the Lord’s given me another chance.” Jonathan grinned, the ocean breeze ruffling his hair.
    “You’re right. He did.” Olivia shivered under the jacket and slipped it from her shoulders. When Jonathan said nothing in response, she tossed her marshmallow roasting stick into the fire and rose. “Hey, Maggie, Todd, thanks for today. I had a great time, but I should go now. I might catch the fireworks on TV.”
    Maybe this was her answer to her whispered prayer. It was better she cut off any growing affection for Jonathan now before she ended up in the same heartache again. She snatched up her sneakers and socks, then jogged back to the house.

Chapter 5
    J onathan watched Olivia flee. What had happened to change her mood so suddenly? She’d responded when he swept the marshmallow from her chin. If he’d been more sure of himself and if things had been different, he’d have been glad to kiss the sweetness on her face. But now—
    “What was that about?” His friend from church placed the guitar back in its case.
    “I’m not quite sure, but I’ll find out.” Jonathan went after Olivia, wincing as he stubbed a toe on a rock. No way would he let her leave a wake of pavement behind her this time.
    Olivia crossed the patio ahead of him and entered the kitchen. Jonathan caught up with her in the foyer. She was fumbling in her purse.
    “Liv.”
    “What?” She clutched her car keys.
    Jonathan reached for her free hand and rubbed the back of it with his thumb. “Getting my own rig is my dream, even after what happened with Robby. Don’t look at me like that. I’ll say his name if I want to. You weren’t the only one who lost someone.”
    “I know that.” Her voice barely sounded above a whisper.
    “Then be happy for me.”
    “But your carpentry.”
    “I can still do that. But it’s important to me to get my business going again.”
    “Have you considered the risks?” She pulled her hand from his grasp.
    “If there’s anything I’ve learned, life is full of risks. We aren’t guaranteed the next day or the next breath. But God’s taking care of things for us.” Jonathan reached for her shoulders, but she stepped back.
    “Until the rug gets yanked out from under us on His whim.” Her voice quavered.
    “Liv, God’s not like that.”
    “So you want to put yourself in danger again?”
    “I’m not doing anything stupid. I know what I’m doing.” How else could he make her understand? He was losing this round. Olivia backed away toward