Love Is Patient by Carolyne Aarsen

Author:Carolyne Aarsen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2004-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Lisa didn’t want to move. In fact, if she could have her way, time would stop, would remain in this moment while she savored every nuance, every image.

The fresh smell of the water breaking away from the boat, the faint groaning of the lines holding the sail, the warmth of the sun.

Dylan’s arms around her creating a haven of safety. They didn’t have an audience now, so there was no need to pretend.

And what about your own pretense?

Lisa bit her lip as guilt crowded out the peace of the moment. Things were starting to overlap, feelings seeping out around loyalty.

She was standing in the arms of the kind of man she had dreamed of since she was a young girl. A man who had the kind of family she had always wanted.

And if they found out who she was, it would all disappear as quickly as fog when the sun came out.

Dear Lord, what have I started? How can I fix all this?

Her prayer was born of a desperation to find a way to satisfy her own conscience, newly aroused by the church service the other day. She needed to help her brother. She wanted to be a part of Dylan’s life.

But she couldn’t do both.

“Thanks for the lesson,” she murmured, ducking under Dylan’s arm. She felt suddenly chilled and slipped her sweater on. And then her life jacket.

She didn’t look at Dylan. Instead she concentrated on the water, squinting against the light dancing on the waves.

Another sailboat surged past them, the laughter of the occupants following in its wake. Lisa pretended to be intent on its progress, envying the people their light spirits.

How had her life gotten so complicated? Her plan had seemed so easy before she went for the interview. Find information. Help her brother. Foolish of her to think that she could take this all on herself.

She blinked against a surprising onslaught of tears.

I’ve been foolish, Lord. I’ve been stubborn and I’ve been proud, she prayed. Please forgive me. Help me get through this. Show me what I should do. Her prayer was a muddle of questions, a confusion of thoughts. Yet, as before, she felt a gentle peace cover her. Nothing had been solved, but she no longer felt alone.

“Are you okay?” Dylan’s voice broke into her thoughts and she turned to face him, her smile genuine now.

“I think so.”

He frowned at her cryptic response, but thankfully didn’t press her.

Lisa drew on old coping skills honed with each move she and Gabe had made to a new foster home. New situations and emotions.

This was where she was at the moment. She didn’t need to think back or ahead. She had to control the things she was directly involved in right now.

She turned her face up to the sky, soaking in the warmth of the sun and allowing herself pleasure in the feel of the movement of the boat dancing over the water. The jagged mountains edging the harbor set a romantic counterpoint, clearly underlining the uniqueness of this time and place.

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