Read Child of Grace (Love Inspired) for Free Online Page B

interrupt.”
    “I only said it was a beautiful evening. And that we should be in for a spectacular sunset.”
    He watched her lips as she spoke. They were nice lips. Full and soft and…
    Luke cleared his throat. Shifted his attention to the horizon. Tried to focus on the clouds massing in the distance instead of on the image of her lips.
    It didn’t work.
    How weird was that?
    Fisting his free hand on his hip, he frowned at the view, trying to make sense of his reaction. He hardly knew Kelsey Anderson. Nor did his neighbor seem interested in changing that situation. Plus, the woman was pregnant. Maybe married. And she had baggage. Lots of it, he suspected.
    There could be only one explanation for the unexpected tingle of attraction he’d just felt.
    It had been way too long since he’d had a real date.
    What else could it be?
    He heard her stir behind him. No doubt wondering why he hadn’t responded to her comment.
    Say something, Turner.
    “Yeah. I’ve been looking forward to my first sunset on the beach.”
    He pasted on a smile and forced himself to turn back to her—just as the capricious wind snatched a loose sheet of paper off her lap.
    Luke took off after it, snagging it as it somersaulted down the beach. Sandwich still in one hand, he glanced at the neat, precise handwriting and the bullet-point outline Kelsey had been compiling.
    A list of PR initiatives for the youth center project.
    He scanned it as he retraced his steps. “Looks like you’ve been putting some serious thought into this.”
    She took the paper and slipped it into the middle of the tablet on her lap. “I promised you some suggestions tomorrow. I’m teaching a class in the morning, so tonight was my best chance to work on them. Besides, I get my most creative ideas here anyway.”
    He surveyed the landscape. “I can see why. And from the quick glimpse I got of your notes, it seems to have been a productive session. So what’s your number-one recommendation?”
    “Media interviews. If you’re willing.”
    “Me?” His eyebrows rose.
    “You have a great personal story to tell that will connect with potential donors and supporters.”
    “This is supposed to be about Carlos.”
    “It is.” She leaned forward, her expression earnest. “And who better to tell the world about him than the man who worked alongside him on the battlefield? Who saw the transforming effect the youth fellowship had on his life. Who was so moved himself by Carlos’s dream to help other young people benefit from that same program that he took on the task of turning the young medic’s dream into reality, as a tribute to him.”
    He stared at her. With her defenses down, her green eyes flashing with enthusiasm and passion, Kelsey Anderson was stunning.
    Wow.
    The spark of attraction flared again, and Luke took a deep breath. Let it out.
    Not part of the agenda, Turner.
    “You’re good.” He strove for a businesslike tone. “If I wasn’t already spearheading this campaign, I’d be ready to sign on the dotted line.”
    His praise brought a becoming flush to her cheeks, and she leaned back in her chair. “Creating buy-in and shaping public opinion was my job for a long time.”
    “And now you make quilts.” Why? Luke didn’t voice that question. But there was a story here. One he wanted to hear.
    “And now I make quilts.” She ignored his implied query, her unwavering gaze telling him to back off.
    He did. For now. Afraid she’d retreat if he didn’t.
    “So what other ideas have you jotted down there?” Again, he gestured to the hidden sheet of paper.
    She hesitated, then drew it out. “I’m not ready to talk about this in detail yet, but if you want to pull your chair over, I can give you a few highlights.”
    “Sold. I’ll be right back.”
    As he retrieved his chair and the rest of his dinner, Luke didn’t waste time analyzing his sudden change of heart about avoiding his neighbor. The reason was obvious. A pretty woman plus a guy who’d