My Steps Are Ordered by Michelle Lindo-Rice Read Free Book Online

thing he wanted to do . . . spend time with his wife.
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    â€œThere you are,” Keith called out, beckoning Gina to him with a slight nod of his head. He’d checked a couple of rooms before venturing into the gift shop. He’d seen the top of her little head as she roamed the aisles.
    She’d bought a small pack of honey-roasted peanuts and a pack of gum. She offered him a handful of peanuts, but he declined. Gina unwrapped a stick of gum and stuck it in her mouth. They walked out to the benches near the entrance.
    â€œMichael sent me,” Keith said, sitting next to her.
    â€œI had a feeling. It’s not the first time he’s sent you in to do his dirty work.” There was an edge in her voice.
    Keith knew Gina was referring to one particular time. His memory took him back to the night when Gina found out that for the entire time she and Michael were dating, he’d had Karen Newton living in his penthouse. Gina’s anger had known no bounds, and Michael had sent him to mend fences. But that was the night they made love, their emotions too raw to ignore. It had been unforgettable.
    â€œSo I guess Michael told you,” Gina said, unaware of Keith’s darkening pupils and his shallow, quickening breaths. Gina continued her tirade. “I can’t believe he went behind my back to talk to Dr. Milliner without talking to me first.”
    Gina turned to Keith, unaware that she was entering a lion’s den. A hungry, dangerous lion. She raised her hands in a gesture meant to curtail his response. “Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m going to do whatever is necessary to save my son. You’d best believe that. But I don’t like the way in which Michael went about it.”
    â€œMichael is only acting on Trey’s behalf,” Keith said, defending his brother. He willed himself to ignore her heaving chest and the heat rising within.
    â€œI know,” Gina said. She bent her head to study her shoes.
    â€œYou’re exhausted. Your feelings are getting the best of you,” Keith explained. He was fighting a serious distraction, because she looked real good in the V-necked shirt she was wearing.
    â€œI guess so.” Gina picked her head up and gave Keith a rueful grin.
    â€œCome back with me. Michael is out of his mind with worry, and Trey must be asking about you.” Keith wiped his sweaty palms on his legs and held out his hand.
    Gina and Keith rode the elevator to the third floor. In the close confines of the elevator, he reached over and his hand brushed against her chest by accident. That was his undoing.
    Keith pressed the STOP button. The elevator jerked to a halt. By then he was already having second thoughts. He could’ve kicked himself for giving in to the impulse. It would take backtracking, but he figured he could still do the right thing without Gina catching on to his original intentions. She locked eyes with him and arched an eyebrow. He knew she must be wondering what was wrong with him.
    â€œI wanted to apologize for kissing you,” he said quietly. Great. Why did he mention kissing? Now he really wanted to kiss her.
    â€œI had no right letting you,” Gina said, letting him off the hook. She licked her lips.
    â€œSo you understand why I moved out?”
    â€œI do,” Gina said. She grabbed Keith’s arm. “Keith, it’s time for you to move on. Find love. You deserve it,” she said beseechingly.

Chapter Six
    Count to ten . . . Count to ten . . .
    Michael struggled to catch his breath. He took deep breaths to calm himself. He could not believe Gina was being adamant about something that was a no-brainer. They needed to have another child. None of his family members were a match, and she had none. Colleen and Terence had given blood samples, but the odds were slim to none. They needed more relatives. Gina had no one.
    Except her dad.
    He put his hand on his chin and mulled that over for a moment.