Read Now and Forever 4, The Renovated Heart for Free Online

hand.
    “What’s good to eat here? I’m starving.”
Sarah removed her hand from his to open the menu.
    Drinks arrived, food orders were placed
leaving the couple deep in conversation about writing.
    “How do you find the time to write with
teaching on top of running the English department?”
    “I have time…too much time. This might not
be a problem if I had a beautiful woman…like you in my life.” Jim
laced his fingers with hers.
    “Well, then, I wouldn’t want to interfere
with your career.”
    “Interfere, please, it would be a pleasure.”
Jim took her hand in his. His thumb traced a scar on the inside of
her hand.
    “Where’d you get this?”
    “Knife…in the kitchen, chopping.” She tried
to ease her hand away but his grip was firm.
    “Looks like—what they call on TV—a defensive
wound.” He bent his head to place a soft kiss on the two-inch scar
then released her hand.
    Before she could open her mouth, Sunny
arrived with their food. He had Steak Frites while Sarah had
roasted chicken breast with fresh garden vegetables. Her appetite
kicked into high gear. She couldn’t remember the last time she had
eaten a meal she didn’t cook. Glancing up, she noticed him watching
her with an amused expression on his face.
    “What?”
    “You look like you haven’t eaten in
years.”
    “Am I being a pig? I’m so sorry.” Heat rose,
alerting Sarah to the blush in her face, and she dropped her
fork.
    Jim reached over to take her hand.
    “I never meant to imply…no way. I like to
see you enjoying the food. Please, please eat.”
    Hunger gnawed at her belly so she picked up
her fork again. Jim smiled and she shot him a return grin.
    “This is the best chicken I’ve ever tasted.”
Sarah stabbed a small piece, raising it to her lips.
    “You’ve got…” Jim leaned over. Sarah closed
her eyes while he brushed his lips over hers quickly. Then he sat
back. “…butter on your lip.”
    Her eyes flew open. She stopped eating to
stare at hJim, her eyes focused on his lips.
    “Do you always kiss away the drips on your
dates…lips?”
    “Only the irresistible ones.” She spied a
twinkle in his eye.
    They ate in silence for a while glancing at
each other, exchanging shy smiles. When they finished, he ordered
coffee and a special chocolate dessert for them to share. The sweet
confection arrived first.
    “How come you don’t have kids, Jim? You’re
so good with them.”
    His face turned red.
    “I always wanted kids…Nancy…we did. She
actually got pregnant, but lost the baby early on, like in the
first few weeks. That’s when we found out she had cancer. In six
months Nancy passed,” he said, looking down at his hands.
    Tears pricked her eyes as she watched him
struggle for control. Her hand covered his.
    “How awful for you,” she said, leaning over
to kiss his cheek.
    He blinked rapidly then looked away.
    “Then I got engaged to Fran. She didn’t want
kids…I foolishly went along. I guess I didn’t want to be
alone.”
    “And?”
    “She ran off with my niece Lara’s ballet
partner, Andres, to New York City.”
    “Oh my God!”
    “Actually, I think she did me a favor. I
wouldn’t compromise on having kids again.”
    Jim dipped his fork into the center of the
small liquid-filled chocolate cake.
    “You want to have a child?” Sarah raised her
eyes to his, scooping up a taste of the dessert with her spoon.
    “I’ve been looking for a woman who’d make a
good mother and partner but haven’t had much success.” He raised
his eyes, staring hard at her.
    “You’ll be a good father,” she said, trying
to ignore the goose bumps on her arm.
    “You think so?” He put his fork in his
mouth.
    She nodded, her mouth full of the rich
dessert.
    He smiled at her, taking her hand again.
When they finished eating, before the coffee arrived, Jim leaned in
to kiss her.
    “You’re easy to talk to,” he said, sitting
back in his chair.
    Sunny arrived with two cups of steaming
coffee. Sarah