âI didnât mean to intrude on your work time, Lauren.â
This time there was no mistaking how her heart leapt when Garrett said her name. What was up with that? Itâs not as though she was interested or anything.
âIâm glad you stopped by. I need to head back anyway. Can you recommend a good restaurant for lunch?â
His eyes brightened. âWant to have lunch with me?â
âSure, that would be great,â she said, meaning it.
âGood,â he answered. âIâm really glad you came, Lauren.â
There was that heart flip again. Heâd better quit saying her name or sheâd need a pacemaker.
and her husband, Jim, started on a three-mile trek through Amish country in 1997, and at that moment, she had no idea she was taking her first steps toward a new career. Inspired by their walk, she wrote an article, which was published a year later. Other articles soon followed. After studying fiction writing, she celebrated her first novella sale in 2001, with CBA bestselling novellas and novels, written as Diann Hunt, reaching the bookshelves soon afterward. Wanting to be used by God in the ministry of writing, Diann left her job as a court reporter in the fall of 2003 and now devotes her time to writing. Well, writing and spoiling her four granddaughters. She has been happily married forever and loves her family, chocolate, her friends, chocolate, her dog and, well, chocolate. Be sure to check out her Web site at www.diannhunt.com. Sign her guestbook and drop her an e-mail. And, hey, if you have any chocolateâ¦
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
âProverbs 3:5â6
With heartfelt thanks:
To my wonderful agent, Karen Solem, for your
constant support and wise counsel.
To my editor, Krista Stroever, for your upbeat
attitude that always encourages me, and for your expertise that challenges me to grow as a writer. It is my privilege to work with you.
To my friend and kindred spirit, Colleen Coble,
who patiently sees me through every crisis and critiques my words in their roughest form. I thank God for you.
To my supportive husband, without whom my
stories would never have felt the warm embrace of a book binding. I love you more than words can say.
Most of all, to you, my readers, who are kind
enough to spend a few hours of your time to journey through these pages with me.
May God bless you all.
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Letter to Reader
âI canât believe you did this without even consulting me!â Garrett Cantrell stomped across the den of the Woods Inn Bed and Breakfast. His footsteps were muffled once he stepped on the oriental rug, then thumped again when he turned and walked across the hardwood floor.
He stopped and frowned at his daughters, who sat quietly on the sofa. âWhat were you thinking?â He turned to his firstborn. âMacy, youâre a high school graduateâand older than most at that,â Garrett said, referring to the childhood illness that had caused Macy to start school later than others, giving her almost a two-year edge over her peers. âYouâre old enough to know better. Would you appreciate it if I manipulated your life?â
Macy lifted her chin in a rebellious attitude. He shot her a quelling look, and she lowered it once again.
âAnd you.â He looked at Molly. âYouâll be a senior next year. How about I set you up with Reggie Snodgrass?â The look on her face would have been comical had Garrett not been in such a foul mood.
Reggie didnât exactly turn the girlsâ heads. Well, he did, but usually in the opposite direction. Everyone in the area knew Reggie had been sweet on Molly since first grade. He was tall, skinny, wore black-rimmed glasses, talked with a nasal twang and snorted every time he laughed. The typical high school geek.
Molly lifted her face to her dad, her eyes wide with fear. She wisely kept her mouth shut.
Garrett paced some more. âI knew I should have gotten rid of that computer.â Stopping in front of them again, he said, âLet me get this straight. Because of your fascination with that reality TV stuff, you came up with the brilliant idea to advertise in a chat room, a contest called âWin Daddyâs Heartâ? Then you left details on a message board.â
The girls sat rooted like potted plants.
âYou picked five applicants from pictures and bios e-mailed to you and offered the women a free two-week stay at our B and B.â
Completely mute. Macyâs right eye twitched.
âYou figured we could live off our investments, so the two weeks without paying guests would be no big deal.â Still pacing, he said this more to himself than to them. âThen you took it upon yourselves to write these contestantsâ names on the scheduling book so I wouldnât double book our rooms. When they come, their afternoons will be free, and I am to take them out individually on the nights of my choosing.â He stopped and turned to them.