Love's Returning Hope (Love's Texas Homecoming Book 2; First Street Church #15) by Sharon Hughson & Sweet Promise Press

Author:Sharon Hughson & Sweet Promise Press [Hughson, Sharon & Press, Sweet Promise]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary Romance, Women's Fiction, Forever Love, Inspirational Reads, Love Inspired, Bachelor, Single Woman, Hearts Desire, Clean & Wholesome, Life-Changes, Second Chance Reunion, Honesty & Trust, Home & Family, Lifetime Love, Romantic Schemes, Love-Family & Forever, Action & Adventure, Small Town & Rural Area, Beautiful & Feisty, Love's Texas Homecoming, First Street Church Series, Multi-Author Collection
Publisher: Sweet Promise Press
Published: 2018-12-21T05:00:00+00:00

10

Jaz pedaled the bike in circles on the back roads outside of town. A breeze tossed dust into her eyes. Nothing could make them redder.

When she got back from the forced exertion on Saturday night, the motion-sensitive lights snapped on, blinding her as she wheeled her bike into the garage. Her legs wobbled, drained of energy. She guzzled water in the kitchen, glad her parents had already gone to bed.

In her room, she picked up her phone. There were several texts from Tess. Jaz read them, but they didn’t compute. Words didn’t matter. She’d committed her heart to Bailey, and he’d thrown it back at her like a hot coal.

We’re done. Let him tell you why. After her fingers tapped out the message, she tossed the phone onto her bed and trudged into the bathroom to wash the sweat from her face and neck.

Another message blinked on her screen. Come for breakfast tomorrow. We’ll double-team him.

Jaz blinked, recalling another breakfast. Her heart cramped worse than her rubbery legs. She’d been jealous of their sibling teasing that day, but it hadn’t stopped her from laying a lip lock on the handsome cowboy.

She shook her head and covered her face with her hands. She was tired of chasing after dreams that didn’t want to be caught.

Always follow your dreams, Drew’s letter said. But some dreams cost too much. His had cut his life short, and hers had carved out her heart.

You love him. He loves you, Tess’s next message read.

No, if Bailey loved her, he would at least give a reasonable explanation for why he was pushing her away. Because his family had dumped him when he was a kid wasn’t a legitimate reason.

And your dad’s disapproval is reason enough not to have a relationship with him? her thoughts countered.

Jaz choked at the sudden thickness in her throat and stilled. Her father battered her with a lifetime of scorn. That wasn’t the same as one day in court.

But what about the years that led up to that day in court? Hadn’t Bailey’s mother and father been choosing drugs over him? He really believed he wasn’t worth fighting for, worth loving.

But I fought for him. She tried to rationalize away the chiding voice in her head.

And now? Why wasn’t she fighting now?

Because I can’t. I can’t be rejected again and again by a man that I love.

There. She’d admitted it. He’d pushed her away, and that made him just like her father, just like Captain Clayton.

What about me? Drew’s voice sounded as clear as it had when she’d read his letter.

What about me? The second voice was barely a whisper, but it twisted a knife into her bruised soul.

Another line from Drew’s letter echoed across her heart and mind. I’ve found that’s the secret to being fulfilled and feeling centered in God’s will.

The phone vibrated. Tess had given up on the texts.

Jaz pushed the answer icon. “I can’t do it, Tess. He doesn’t want me.”

“He does want you. He does.”

“Sending me away like that? I don’t think so.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.