Precious Blessings (Love Inspired) by Jillian Hart Read Free Book Online Page B

cap. She looked like everything good and sweet in the world, and he didn’t want to think this way about this woman.
    â€œUh, Jack? Before you take off you need to know something. You’re missing a ski.”
    It registered vaguely. He straightened his shoulders, looking as tough and manly as possible, considering he only had one ski. “I’ll take care of it.”
    â€œAre you sure?”
    â€œPositive.” He had to face it. He was never going to impress this woman—not that he even wanted to, of course. But had he wanted to, his dignity had passed the point of no return. He stabbed his poles into the hard berm of snow, ready to go. “Goodbye, Katherine.”
    Okay, she could take a hint. Katherine checked the trail for skiers, but no one was coming. She couldn’t just leave him here—as Marin had put it, he was doom on two sticks—but she sensed his pride was bruised more than anything.
    The poor man. He towered over her, a big mountain of a guy, radiating capability and strength. He didn’t look as though he had a single weakness. So why was it hard to find the will to kick off and leave him standing there?
    She thought of what her friends and her sisters had said. She did not like this man, not like that, and she wasn’t in denial about it. Really. So then, why did her heart crack just as little? And then a little more as she kicked off and away, swooshing over the iced, packed snow, leaving him behind? She could feel his gaze on her back like the press of the cold wind. As she negotiated the next curve, she glanced over her shoulder to see him standing there, looking as alone as she felt.
    She spotted Marin and Holly waiting for her and she skidded to a rough-edged halt.
    Marin was flushed with excitement. “When I talkedto him on the phone, did I mention to you that I found out he isn’t married? He’s a widower.”
    Katherine couldn’t stop the wave of sympathy for him. That was sad. It did explain the lack of a wedding ring.
    â€œDid you see how he was looking at you?”
    â€œLike I was contagious with the bird flu?”
    â€œThat’s the denial talking.” Holly held up Jack’s lost ski. “We would have returned this to him, but we didn’t want to interrupt.”
    â€œThere was nothing to interrupt.” So maybe she was in a little denial. But not much. “I get the strong feeling that Jack doesn’t like me at all.”
    â€œHe does,” Holly and Marin chimed in unison.
    Did they know how wrong they were? Completely. “What do you two know about men? You’re both single.”
    â€œYeah, but we have the experience of many failed relationships between us. Here.” Holly handed her the ski. “Either go up to him or we’ll just wait around the next corner and you can wait here for him, since he’s bound to come looking for this.”
    â€œThen he’ll find it just fine, whether I’m here or not.” She could see him starting down the trail, balancing on one ski. He was on his way down.
    There was only one thing to do. She propped the slim black ski, brand-new and newly waxed, against the snow berm where it would be easy for Jack to spot when he limped around the corner. “You two have been plotting while I was talking to Jack.”
    â€œGuilty,” Marin admitted. “He’s a great-looking guy. He’s a caring father, so I know he has a lot of heart.”
    â€œYou can have him then, because his personality isn’t so great.” Katherine wasn’t sure if that was the whole truth, but Jack’s first impression had been a whopper. Remembering how he’d behaved when they’d first met would keep her firmly entrenched in her state of denial. “C’mon, let’s get moving.”
    â€œYou’re just gonna leave the ski?” Holly looked crestfallen. “But, what about our plan? You can’t get to know him better