Love Inspired June 2021--Box Set 1 of 2 by Patricia Johns

Author:Patricia Johns [Johns, Patricia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-05-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

“We’re going to be late,” Nan chided on Sunday morning. It had been four days since the tornado had ripped through their community.

Avery didn’t want to remind Nan that they were running late because Nan couldn’t find her slow cooker, only to realize it had already been put in the car, along with cookies, pies and a casserole. The church was serving lunch to the workers who had been tirelessly helping to clean up the town from the tornado, and to local families who were still displaced or living without electricity.

Avery zoomed the car into a parking space, ignoring the looks given to her by both Nan and Quinn. “Made it,” she said cheekily as she hopped out and started to unload all of the food Nan had made.

“Late,” Nan said. “But at least we made it.”

“We aren’t late. The bell is just now ringing,” Avery defended.

“When Nan says we made it, I think she means safely.” Quinn danced out of her reach. “That one corner you took on two wheels? That was awesome.”

“Stop. You know I didn’t—”

Then Avery saw him. He headed their way, all smooth confidence and charm. She ignored the desire to take a longer look. He was just a man. A man in jeans and a button-up shirt and those “all hat and no cattle” boots of his. Today he wore an expensive-looking white Western hat that settled low over his dark hair, dark with just a hint of auburn. Just like Quinn’s.

Quinn hurried to join him, leaving Avery and Nan to watch as she greeted her father.

Nan whistled.

“That’s inappropriate,” Avery whispered.

Nan laughed a little. “So is that look on your face, but I didn’t mention that, now, did I?”

Avery ignored her. Grayson and Quinn were nearly to them and no way would he not notice the telltale sign of embarrassment that had obviously crawled into her too-fair cheeks.

“I thought maybe you weren’t coming to church today,” Grayson said as he joined them. He smiled at his daughter. “How are you feeling this morning?”

Quinn reacted by giving him a hug. “I’m good. No more headache.”

“I’m glad you’re feeling better.”

The way his face changed when he looked at Quinn did something to Avery that his mere looks couldn’t. It undid a little bit of her heart, making room for the man who was her daughter’s father.

As much as she’d always denied it, Quinn needed him. “Could you help us get the food inside?” Avery asked, pushing the slow cooker into his hands.

“Sure thing,” he said with a grin.

She also stuck the handle of a bag in his hand.

“Can you get all of that?”

Their gazes met, and for a brief second she wished he hadn’t caught up with them. A few minutes later he would have been inside and she wouldn’t have to deal with all of the things he made her feel. Insecure, afraid, grounded. He made her feel safe, too. She should feel the opposite of safe with him. He was anything but.

Nan grabbed a tray of cookies out of the back and handed them to Quinn, then picked up a casserole dish.

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