Read Finding the Way Back (Book 1 in the Forgiving Hearts Trilogy) for Free Online

progressed to the point where there would be something to tell or died a natural death in which case there would be no need to say anything.
    Just after the principal gave his welcoming speech, Colton’s arm drifted to the back of her seat. Laurel hoped he didn’t notice her slight jump when his hand touched her shoulder. It seemed ridiculous to get so much enjoyment from an innocent gesture.
    Once the final pledge had been made, she leaned toward him and whispered in his ear. “It’s almost over. We don’t have to stay for the refreshments.”
    The subtle perfume she wore teased his awakening senses. How could he have forgotten how stimulating being with a woman could be? Colton stopped dating primarily because the demands of medical school required all his attention. Relationships needed time, and he didn’t have much to spare. Keeping to this decision had been easy until now. Laurel was the first woman in a long time to impose on his consciousness enough to make him willing to change his mind. Since meeting her at the rehearsal dinner, he hadn’t been able to get her out of his thoughts.
    At the close of the ceremony, she turned to him with an apologetic smile. “You look half asleep.”
    Colton rose to his feet. “I was just thinking.”
    “I’ve worn you out with all this high school stuff.”
    “Believe it or not, all this stuff has been relaxing.” Once they were away from all the interested stares, he took hold of her hand and swung it gently as they walked to his car. “What culinary delights await me tonight?”
    She laughed and the sound brought his eyes to her face. “You’ll have to wait and see.”
    He opened her door and waited while she got in. “Sounds exciting; I like surprises.”
    “I’m not sure my cooking will be a nice surprise.”
    “It can’t be worse than mine.”
    * * * *
    Colton laughed as Laurel tried to shoo him out of the kitchen. “Can’t I observe like they do on those cooking shows?”
    “Absolutely not. I’m nervous enough as it is.”
    “I don’t make you nervous, do I?”
    “Yes, but in a good way, if you know what I mean.”
    He moved closer and ran his fingers gently through her hair. “You’re refreshingly honest, Laurel. Most people dance around the truth never saying what they really think or feel.”
    “I don’t have that problem; I’m too blunt most of the time.”
    “Does that mean I can be blunt with you?” he asked.
    “I prefer that to the alternative.”
    “Meeting you has had an extraordinary effect on me. You don’t know this, but everything I’ve done since the rehearsal dinner is out of character. I’m not an impetuous person by nature and yet here I am. I feel this urgency to get to know you that is fighting with my more laidback nature. Part of me wants to throw caution to the wind and go with these exciting feelings. The other part is warning me to be prudent because once my break is over my free time will be reduced to almost nothing. Does any of this make sense or have I scared you into thinking you’re dealing with a lunatic?”
    She grinned. “Something very similar has been going through my mind the last few days.”
    “About me being a lunatic?”
    “No, I meant the other thing you said – about how this situation is so different from anything I’ve ever experienced.”
    “So it’s not just me. You feel it, too.”
    Colton leaned closer and brushed his lips back and forth against her mouth in a kiss that was as gentle as it was exciting. As tingles of pleasure slid down her spine, the thought went through Laurel’s mind that it was nice to be kissed by someone who’d mastered the right balance between those two qualities.
    “I think we should forget about cooking and order pizza,” he suggested with a slow smile.
    Laurel didn’t care what they ate; she was wishing he’d kiss her again. “Are you sure?”
    He nodded as he pulled out his phone. “Is Fazario’s okay?”
    After the pizza had been ordered, she led