Choices of the Heart by Kelsey MacBride

Author:Kelsey MacBride
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: religious, inspirational, Christian, romance, contemporary
Publisher: Kelsey MacBride
Published: 2014-06-09T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

“Great choice!” The Nordstrom saleswoman with short silver hair cut into a contemporary style bob clapped her hands together enthusiastically.

Lauren handed her the Guess Midnight cologne. Justin’s birthday was coming up in a week and she knew Justin had mentioned he was out of it. It would be the safest gift to buy considering he was a picky person when it came to his presents.

She finished paying and made her way further into the large mall, navigating around the crowd of weekend shoppers. She stopped in at a bed and bath supply store and peered at the colorful display of scented body lotions and candles inside the front window. She picked up a glass container with purple wax and took a deep whiff. The calming smell of lavender permeated her nostrils, bringing a calm to her spirit. She set the candle down. As much as she enjoyed the scent, it would be fruitless to buy a scent that Justin found offensive.

Lauren was beginning to have doubts about their relationship. While she continued to prayerfully submit their relationship to God, the peace she longed for never came. But she was too afraid to break it off, afraid of losing a good catch, of being single again for a long time. She would rather suffer with a little incompatibility then live in peace alone.

A familiar laugh caught her attention. Her gaze drifted to a couple standing nearby at an ice cream shop, their arms wrapped around each other in an embrace as if they were new lovers. Lauren’s eyes widened as she watched the handsome man lean over and give the petite, dark-haired woman a lingering kiss on the cheek. He whispered something in her ear, causing her to giggle flirtatiously.

Lauren’s body tensed, her breathing quickened. She couldn’t believe what she had seen. It was as if she were watching an episode about cheating men on television. Only this time, she was the victim.

The candle she had been holding slipped from her hands and crashed to the ground. The man turned in her direction and spotted her, making eye contact. He smiled for a second, not recognizing her. But the smile faded as the realization hit him and was replaced by a look of mortification.

Lauren wanted to run and hide, to escape the nightmare she was experiencing. But her legs weakened, refusing to cooperate.

“Lauren!” he yelled, slipping his arms away from the woman. “Wait right there!” Several passers-by turned their heads in his direction.

Justin said something to his companion before she disappeared into a store. Then he made a beeline over to Lauren.

Lauren’s face twisted into a scowl. Anger raged inside. She wanted badly to yell at him, to ask him how he had the audacity to do something so vile. Something that would destroy her trust in men. Instead, she took a deep breath.

Justin stopped in front of her, straightening his shirt collar. Taking a second to catch his breath, he forced a fake smile. “Lauren . . . what are you doing here?” His tone was a mix of shock, curiosity and guilt.

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