Now and Forever 4, The Renovated Heart Read Free Page A

afternoon at the Caldwell house with Callie, Mac
and their kids.
    Through the window, Jim saw Sarah reach for
a tissue. She looked up, noticed him and smiled. He pushed the
window open to call to her.
    “Writer’s block?”
    “Big time.” She walked over to her open
window, leaning her elbows on the sill.
    “Can I help?” His gaze settled on her
bow-shaped lips while a new hunger crept through his body.
    Although Jim had sworn off women for a
while, he grew increasingly lonely. The companionship of an
attractive woman in and out of his bed became a preoccupation. When
he tried dating again, love eluded him. Though sexually attracted
to several women, the relationships never evolved into anything
deeper.
    “I don’t think so.” She rested her chin in
her hands.
    “Want to go for a walk? Always helps
me.”
    The warm, caressing August breeze coming in
the big window enticed her.
    She nodded.
    Jim met her on the front lawn.
    “What are you writing?” he asked as he
steered her to a narrow path leading to the woods.
    “A novel. I have the first fifty-six pages
but can’t seem to get started again.”
    “What’s in the way?” He glanced at her. Her
small hand appeared lonely dangling by her side.
    “Everything. My kids, my finances, knowing
I’ll have to get a job in six months, Bob’s death…”
    “I lost my wife several years ago. The
adjustment takes time.” He positioned himself closer to her.
    “Do you have children?” she asked.
    “I don’t.” He took a chance, moving his hand
over to capture hers. She didn’t move away.
    Although he was attracted to Sarah
physically, caution held Jim back, protecting his heart. Her
beauty, unequaled by any of the women he had met before, drew him
like a moth to a flame.
    “Mine are having a hard time adjusting.” The
joining of their hands caused Sarah to move closer.
    “Writing is a good escape. You create your
own world…go there any time.”
    “Never thought of that.”
    “A walk by the woods always helps me. See
any deer?”
    Jim noticed how the sun played off Sarah’s
hair, bringing out sparks of red among the almost black strands. He
watched the graceful way she moved, seeming to glide rather than
walk over the bumpy pathway, her hips swaying provocatively. Her
small hands were the hands of a woman who worked, strong, capable
hands, but delicate at the same time.
    Her breasts bounced a little, drawing his
gaze. Her sundress revealed enough tantalizing cleavage before the
blue bodice tapered down to her slender waist for him to see they
were the perfect size, not too small, not too big. She folded her
arms across her chest, making Jim color at being caught
peeking.
     
    * * * *
     
    Several hours later, Sarah set the table for
dinner on the back porch of the little house she was renting. After
her husband, Bob, died in a car crash, she moved her family from
Seattle because she needed the emotional support her sister
offered. Even though she’d been planning to get a divorce, his
death turned her world upside down.
    With just enough room for the three of them,
Sarah liked the cozy house, especially the lovely backyard and
porch. On warm days, she often moved her computer out there to
write.
    Laura sprawled in a lounge chair, texting
her new girlfriends from camp while Scottie practiced soccer moves
in the yard. He whacked the soccer ball over the low fence between
their yard and Jim Caterson’s. Fortunately the ball cleared Jim’s
flower bed, but unfortunately, it knocked over a flower pot waiting
to be planted, spilling dirt on Jim’s patio.
    “Scottie!” Sarah yelled, dropping a Corel
plate with a clatter on the table.
    “Sorry, Mom.”
    “Don’t apologize to me. Apologize to Mr.
Caterson,” Sarah instructed.
    “Sorry, Mr. Caterson,” Scottie called
through cupped hands to Jim.
    Jim picked up the ball and ambled over to
the fence.
    “No problem, Scottie. You can call me Jim,”
he said, tossing the ball to the boy. Sarah felt his gaze