He Never Stopped Loving Her
This handsome football coach cannot be little Jonny Turner, Neely Andrewsâs best friendâs kid brother. Back in high school, Jonny was nothing but a pest. When family troubles bring Neely back to her hometown, Jon is there to offer friendship and support...and maybe something more. Turns out that Jon has adored her from afar all these years. Neely has to admit heâs become the kind of man whoâd make any woman proud. But will a terrible secret from her past scare him off? Or will Jon make her feel free enough to share everything with him?
âJonny, I canât believe you remembered that crazy pumpkin top I wore that day, back in high school.â
Her gaping mouth drew into a smile. âI think I blocked that gaudy thing from my memory.â
But he hadnât. When sheâd hoisted the carton of food from the trunk, the sunlight hit her auburn hair and streaked it with gold, the color of leaves at the height of autumn. It had taken his breath away. Heâd just turned fourteen, and Neely had become his first secret love.
Neely shook her head as a soft chuckle escaped her. âWhy would you remember something like that?â
Talk about reality. The truth smacked him in the head and slipped to his tongue. âBecause I had the biggest crush on you.â
Her hand flew up. âWhat are you saying? You had a crush on me?â She searched his eyes before she burst into a laugh. âYou were a pesky kid.â
To her maybe, but to him, he was a man in love....
GAIL GAYMER MARTIN
is an award-winning author, writing womenâs fiction, romance and romance suspense with over three million books in print. Gail is the author of twenty-eight worship resource books and Writing the Christian Romance released by Writerâs Digest Books. She is a cofounder of American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of the ACFW Great Lakes Chapter, member of RWA and three RWA chapters.
A former counselor and educator, Gail has enjoyed this career since her first book in 1998. This book is her fiftieth novel. When not writing, she enjoys traveling, speaking at churches and libraries and presenting writing workshops across the country. Music is another love, and she spends many hours involved in singing as a soloist, praise leader and choir member at her church, where she also plays handbells and hand chimes. She sings with one of the finest Christian chorales in Michigan, the Detroit Lutheran Singers. A lifelong resident of Michigan, she lives with her husband, Bob, in the Detroit suburbs. Visit her website at www.gailmartin.com, write to her at P.O. Box 760063, Lathrup Village, MI 48076, or at [email protected].
âI know the plans I have for you,â declares the Lord,
âplans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.â
âJeremiah 29:11
Thanks to writer friend and E.R. doctor Mel Hodde, who provided me with medical information and validated information Iâd already collected.
Thanks to Gary Lowry, who read my sports scenes and gave me an A-okay. Again, thanks to my Facebook group, Readers of Gail Gaymer Martinâs Books, for their support, ideas, helpful comments and wonderful reviews. If authors didnât have readers, what good would a book be? Thanks to my agent, Pam Hopkins, and as always, my deepest thanks and love to my husband, Bob. Without his support and patience (especially that), I wouldnât be the writer I am today.
Chapter One
Neely Andrews forced her legs to keep moving. One more lap and sheâd take a break. Her tendency to add pounds to her five foot six frame provided perfect motivation to exercise. But since sheâd been back in Ferndale for nearly seven weeks, she hadnât exercised at all except for running up and down her fatherâs staircase. In Indianapolis, sheâd joined a gym. Now she was worried about her dadâs recovery from a serious heart attack. Fitness had gone out the window, and weight had flown in. Running the high school track wasnât the answer to her total workout needs, but it was better than nothing.
Although staying in Indianapolis might have been wiser, since she had the lead on another job, she couldnât ignore her need to be closer to her father and widowed sister. Each time she thought about Ashleyâs loss, Neelyâs layoff became as unimportant as a lost penny, and though home brought back some darker thoughts, she focused on the brighter memories of friendships and happy times that still made her smile.
Fighting the desire to give her body a rest, Neely steeled herself and pushed forward, her lungs burning. Short of her goal, she nearly tripped over a shoelace splayed at her feet. She came to a stop, propped her hands on her thighs and braced her winded body to catch her breath. When she grasped the lace to retie her shoe, perspiration rolled down her forehead and stung her eyes. She lifted the bottom of her T-shirt and brushed the dampness away.