âI reckon Iâm still waiting for the right woman to come along.â
âThink youâll ever find her?â April asked.
Reed leaned close. âOh, I found the right woman a long time ago. But Iâm still waiting for her to come around to my terms.â
Aprilâs heart thumped hard against her ribs. Her hands trembled so much, she had to hold on to one of the mugs in front of her. âWhat⦠what are your terms, Reed?â
His voice whispered with a rawhide scrape against her ear. âI only have one stipulation actually. I want that woman to love me with all her heart. I want her to love me, only me, enough to stay by my side for a lifetime and beyond.â
April looked up at him then and saw the love there in his stalking cat eyesâthe love and the challenge. âYou donât ask for much, do you, cowboy?â
grew up in a small Georgia town and decided in the fourth grade that she wanted to be a writer. But first, she married her high school sweetheart, then moved to Atlanta, Georgia. Taking care of their baby daughter at home while her husband worked at night, Lenora discovered the world of romance novels and knew thatâs what she wanted to write. And so she began.
A few years later, the family settled in Shreveport, Louisiana, where Lenora continued to write while working as a marketing assistant. After the birth of her second child, a boy, she decided to pursue her dream full-time. In 1993, Lenoraâs hard work and determination finally paid off with that first sale.
âI never gave up, and I believe my faith in God helped get me through the rough times when I doubted myself,â Lenora says. âEach time I start a new book, I say a prayer, asking God to give me the strength and direction to put the words to paper. Thatâs why Iâm so thrilled to be a part of Steeple Hillâs Love Inspired line, where I can combine my faith in God with my love of romance. Itâs the best combination.â
Youâve got mail.
Summer Maxwell motioned to her cousin Autumn as she opened the letter in her computer. âHey, itâs from April.â
Autumn hurried over to the teakwood desk by the window. The Manhattan skyline was etched in sun-dappled shades of steel and gray in front of them as together they read the latest e-mail from their cousin and roommate, April Maxwell.
Iâm at work, but Iâll be leaving for the airport in a few minutes. Iâm so nervous. Iâm worried about Daddy, of course. And Iâm worried about seeing Reed again. What if he hates me? Never mind, we all know he does hate me. Please say prayers for my sweet daddy, and for safe travel. And that my BMW makes it there ahead of me in one piece.
âThatâs our April,â Summer said, smiling, her blue eyes flashing. âHer prayer requests are always so practical.â
âEspecially when they come to that car of hers,â Autumn said through the wisp of auburn bangs hanging in her eyes. âSheâs not so worried about the car, though, I think. Sheâs got a lot more to deal with right now, and thatâs her way of dealing with it. Sheâs not telling us the whole story.â
Summer tapped out a reply.
Weâre here, sugar. And we will say lots of prayers for Uncle Stuart. Tell him we love him so much. Keep in touch. Oh, and let us know how things go with Reed, too. He doesnât hate you. Heâs just angry with you. Maybe itâs time for him to get over it already.
Summer signed off, then spun around in her chair to send her cousin a concerned look. âOf course, heâs been angry with her for about six years now.â
Reed Garrison brought his prancing gray-and-black-spotted Appaloosa to a skidding stop as a sleek black sports car zoomed up the long drive and shifted into Park.
âSteady, Jericho,â Reed said as he patted the geldingâs long neck. He held the reins tight as he walked the horse up to the sprawling stone-and-wood ranch house. âIâm just as anxious as you, boy,â he told the fidgeting animal. âLetâs go find out whoâs visiting Mr. Maxwell on this fine spring day.â
Reed watched from his vantage point at the fence as a woman stepped out of the expensive two-seater convertible. But not just any woman, oh, no. This one was very different.
And suddenly very familiar.
Reed squinted in the late-afternoon sun, then sat back to take a huff of breath as he took in the sight of her.
April Maxwell.
It had been six long years since heâd seen her. Six years of torment and determination. Torment because he couldnât forget her, determination because he had tried to do that very thing.
But April was, as ever, unforgettable.