Her Small-Town Romance
Finding Her Way HomeCozy Lake Endwell, Michigan, seems the perfect place for Jade Emerson’s new t-shirt shop—and perhaps a fresh start. After a lifetime of letdowns, she is finally ready to face the future on her own. So when local wilderness guide Bryan Sheffield offers to help Jade overcome a past trauma, she warns him they will remain strictly business. But soon, with the help of Bryan’s big, complicated family and a boisterous St. Bernard named Teeny, Jade’s frozen heart begins to thaw. Now, Jade wonders if she can return the favor, bringing a little happiness to a man who has long kept his own sorrow under wraps…
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Finding Her Way Home
Cozy Lake Endwell, Michigan, seems the perfect place for Jade Emerson’s new T-shirt shop—and perhaps a fresh start. After a lifetime of letdowns, she is finally ready to face the future on her own. So when local wilderness guide Bryan Sheffield offers to help Jade overcome a past trauma, she warns him they will remain strictly business. But soon, with the help of Bryan’s big, complicated family and a boisterous St. Bernard named Teeny, Jade’s frozen heart begins to thaw. Now Jade wonders if she can return the favor, bringing a little happiness to a man who has long kept his own sorrow under wraps…
“I’m not going to stand in your way.
It would be a mistake for you to blow off this opportunity.”
“What if I don’t get the job?” Bryan asked.
Blackness fell over Jade’s heart, which was ridiculous due to the perfect summer day. But how was she supposed to answer that? If he didn’t get the job, he might be willing to explore a relationship with her?
“You’ve been clear all along on two things. You’re moving, and you aren’t dating.”
He narrowed his eyes. “And you’ve been crystal clear that we’re just friends.”
“What do you want?” Jade shifted her weight to one hip. “You kissed me, knowing full well you plan on moving to Canada. I love Lake Endwell. I’m happy here. If you need to move, I get it, but I don’t want to be your backup plan.”
Hurt flashed in Bryan’s eyes, but she couldn’t, wouldn’t feel guilty. She twisted, unable to face him a second longer. Her mouth tasted of copper at the thought of being his second choice.
Just once in her life, she wanted to be someone’s first choice.
JILL KEMERER writes novels with love, humor and faith. Besides spoiling her minidachshund and keeping up with her busy kids, Jill reads stacks of books, lives for her morning coffee and gushes over fluffy animals. She resides in Ohio with her husband and two children. Jill loves connecting with readers, so please visit her website, jillkemerer.com, or contact her at PO Box 2802, Whitehouse, OH 43571.
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
—Psalms 56:3
To my writing team.
Shana Asaro, I’m a better writer because of you. Rachel Kent, thank you for your friendship and for guiding my career. Wendy Paine Miller, you’re the real deal and I treasure you. Jessica R. Patch, for holding me up with joy as we journey together.
Contents
Bryan Sheffield scanned the parking lot as he paced under the pavilion at Evergreen Park. His students, most likely retirees and a few college kids, should be arriving any minute. He had no idea how many people would show up for the free outdoor course. Ideally, ten or twelve. If teaching this class every Saturday morning helped him land an interview at Blue Mountain Retreat, he’d gladly instruct fifty people.
A swish of wind overhead set new green leaves in motion, and sunshine spilled through the branches to the ground. Michigan’s Lake Endwell in mid-April brought hungry squirrels dashing across the soggy grass. Robins flitted here and there. The park throbbed with pent-up energy after a long winter. Bryan could relate.
His watch said 7:55. Had the Parks and Recreation Department listed the wrong date on the website or something?
One tiny woman with long brown hair clutched her hands together as she weaved across the pavement. She appeared to be praying or chanting or...something. Odd. Maybe she was taking one of those prayer walks or whatever it was Aunt Sally mentioned some of the church ladies started doing recently.
He stopped pacing. What if no one showed up?
People would come. They had to.
He couldn’t spend the rest of his life surrounded by his happily married siblings, not when he would never have a wife and family of his own. He loved Lake Endwell, but his heart couldn’t take it anymore. He needed the change Ontario, Canada, offered.
Blue Mountain Retreat was interviewing outdoor instructors in June. That left less than two months to strengthen his qualifications. The director wanted an experienced leader comfortable teaching an array of professional personalities from charismatic to timid to eccentric. The ideal candidate would have expert knowledge of North American forests and a diplomatic, outgoing personality.
Bryan had never been described as outgoing. His ex-wife had put it in less flattering terms. Boring. Lame. Hey, he might not be the most exciting person, but no local would refute his outdoor knowledge.
Now it was 7:58. Where was everyone?
He studied the parking lot again. A family unpacked bikes from a silver minivan. An elderly man hobbled in the direction of the bird feeders located near the pond. And the strange woman? Marched his way, albeit in a zigzag pattern.
