Read Divine Grace for Free Online

conditioner repairmen, do you, Jack?” It seemed like a reasonable, legitimate question. She wasn’t prepared for the mild surprise on all three of their faces. Or the grins that followed. What had she said? They seemed pleased and amused by her question, even Adam, who finally spoke up.
    “What seems to be the problem?”
    “My AC quit on me yesterday. I got home from dropping off your supper, and it wasn’t cooling the house anymore.”
    Jack said, “You remember me telling you that one of my partners was an AC and heating contractor? Adam’s your guy. He can fix whatever is wrong with it.”
    Adam quickly nodded and said the magic words. “I can come over later this afternoon if you’d like.”
    “Oh, I’d like that just fine,” she replied, so relieved she wanted to cry happy tears. “I’m definitely feeling a little wilted.”
    Jack took her hand in his and said, “Why don’t we get you inside and cool you off a bit.”
    The men brought her inside and stayed with her until it was time to walk to the cemetery, which was a short distance from the ranch house. She would have preferred to blend into the background with the other mourners, but Jack kept her hand securely clasped in his own as the preacher spoke.
    At the reception afterward, Jack introduced her as a friend of his who was close to Rose Marie. She visited briefly with some of the other attendees and got some interesting looks, but overall, she felt accepted.
    “Adam, why don’t you ride with her to our house and then follow her home in your truck.” Jack said something else quietly to him, to which Adam nodded in agreement.
    “I’ll need to change out of my suit, anyway.”
    Jack and Ethan walked them down the drive to her car. She’d sensed a shift in their friendship today, and she felt it strongly as she turned to Jack.
    For the very first time, he took her gently in his arms and hugged her to him.
    For once, Owen didn’t come to mind. She slid her arms around his shoulders, not retreating or holding back. She pressed into him, inhaling his woodsy, masculine scent.
    “See you soon, darlin’.” Jack squeezed her briefly, then released her.

    30

    Ethan leaned in and kissed her cheek and thanked her for coming. He hugged her, too. She got into her car, a little breathless, and Ethan closed the door for her again, reminding her to buckle up.
    Adam climbed into the passenger seat, dwarfing her little Honda, and buckled up as well. She was unused to being so close to someone so big and strong, so powerful and masculine. He made her feel tiny and feminine by comparison. She smiled up at him as she turned the key in the ignition. She could lose track of time gazing into those pale green eyes. Jack and Ethan waved to her and watched as she and Adam pulled down the drive.
    “I feel a little guilty for taking you away from your family this afternoon,” she said, glancing over at him.
    “There is no need. Everything around the ranch has already been taken care of, and Jack’s older sister, Anne, is going to be staying with Joe for the time being. Jack and Ethan will probably stay around to visit a little longer and then head on back to the house themselves.”
    “Maybe so,” she said, “but I imagine you were close to her as well. I’m sorry to put you to work on a day you would normally spend with your family.”
    “It seems to me Jack is more worried about me seeing to your AC
    problem than he is about whether I follow funeral protocol, whatever that would be in a case like this.”
    When he asked her, she described the problem in detail to him on the way down the drive. He asked her a few questions to make sure he had whatever he’d need on the truck. When they got to the house, he insisted she come inside while he changed out of his suit. Their house was cool and neat as a pin, everything in its place. While she waited, she looked at the photographs that hung on the living room wall near the front door.
    She especially liked a