Redeeming Heart Read Free Page A

nose, hazel eyes, and unkempt facial hair
to mask the man’s handsomeness. His skin seemed so flawless; razor
bumps probably had second thoughts about making an appearance. Even
his wrinkled clothes made a fashion statement—he looked like a male
model on a runway.
    Now his scent was another matter. He didn’t
have a pungent odor, which was saying a lot in this humid weather,
but there was definitely a residue of perspiration.
    She knew every family, man and woman had a
story that had shattered their world and plummeted them into the
underground world of homelessness. If it weren’t for the grace of
God, it could have been her seeking refuge. Despite Landon’s
current fate, she respected his privacy, but that didn’t stop her
from wondering about the circumstances that caused his misfortune.
“Hungry?”
    He frowned. “Never ask a displaced person or
a man if he’s hungry.”
    The more he talked, the more Octavia liked
his slight dialect and his sense of humor. She nodded. “Good
point.” When was the last time Landon had a hot meal besides in a
soup kitchen? She checked the time and made a detour.
    When she pulled into Applebee’s parking lot,
Landon faced her, merriment dancing in his eyes. “Nice church.”
    “Don’t get too happy. We have exactly an hour
and twenty minutes—and don’t even think about jumping ship. God
always has a tracking device on our whereabouts—physically and
spiritually.”
    “With a beautiful dining companion and a
mouth-watering steak—never.” Landon hurried out the car as if he
was about to stampede the restaurant, but slowed his stride to
assist her out the car.
    “Thank you.” Octavia could never get enough
of chivalry. He fell in step with her, but as they got closer to
the entrance, his steps quickened, so he could open the door for
her.
    She might as well take advantage of the
treatment as long as she could. She was single with no prospects
insight. Like any other woman, Octavia wanted to be loved, wooed
and married sooner rather than much later. The holdup was God
sending her a Christian man to fulfill the desires of her
heart.

Chapter 3
     
     
    The lust of the flesh, the lust of the
eyes ….Landon had heard that phrase beat over his head since he
was a teenager. He hadn’t listened then, but he was trying now to
use restraint. Landon exhaled as he tore his eyes away from the
view that Octavia was probably oblivious to giving him. She was
shapely and had nice legs. Where was the man, husband or
significant other that set his woman free like this?
    It’s the pride of life that keeps you from
coming to Me, Jesus said, whispering 1 John 2:16.
    Landon grunted as a dispute of God’s verdict.
He was an outcast. He had nothing—no family, friends, job, food,
shelter. His self-worth seemed like all he had left.
    Consider the birds in the air. I feed
them, I shelter them, I protect them. God whispered Matthew
6:26 to him.
    “Hey, are you all right?” Octavia placed a
hand on his wrist. Her voice was soft.
    He had operated on autopilot, opening the
door to the restaurant, but not seeing his surroundings. “Sure,” he
recovered.
    “Don’t be nervous about your clothes. I’ll
ask for a booth up front, okay?” she whispered.
    She thought his distraction was about his
attire? Her own beauty was the distraction. “Thanks.” At the
moment, he was hungry and didn’t care how he looked.
    That wasn’t the case a year earlier. Landon
had an expensive lifestyle and the money and women to stroke his
ego. He always dressed appropriately for any occasion. Landon had
been groomed for better than this. It seemed as if every day he was
losing a little bit of himself along the way with every sock or
shirt that was somehow misplaced.
    Yet, Landon was optimistic. He was a
survivor, and this too shall pass. He knew his family was praying
for him. To them, he was the prodigal son, brother, grandson,
cousin and other titles he didn’t want to think about. If anyone
could get a