Carol Steward - This Time Forever

No one—especially not a woman with no ties to family or land—would come between him and the dreams God had called him home to.

Adam didn’t need or want his life turned inside out by a stubborn woman who didn’t believe in promises, or God, or slowing down long enough to see exactly what she was missing. A loner like himself had no business tying anyone else down to his obligations.

Keeping Lisa around in the confines of his lodge was definitely asking for trouble. Regardless of her familial connections or her charming personality, the beautiful drifter couldn’t stay. Wouldn’t, even if he’d be foolish enough to ask her to…

wrote daily to a pen pal for ten years, yet writing as a career didn’t occur to her for another two decades. “My first key chain said, ‘Bloom where you’re planted.’ I’ve tried to follow that advice ever since.”

Carol, her husband and their three children have planted their roots in Greeley. Together, their family enjoys sports, camping and discovering Colorado’s beauty. Carol has operated her own cake-decorating business and spent fifteen years providing full-time child care to more than one hundred children before moving on to the other end of the education field. She is now an admissions adviser at a state university.

As always, Carol loves to hear from her readers. You can contact her at P.O. Box 5021, Greeley, CO 80632. She would also love for you to visit her Web page at http://members.aol.com/csteward37.

www.millsandboon.co.uk

And He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while.”

—Mark 6:31

I’d like to acknowledge my husband, Dave, and my three kids, Sarah, Matthew and Scott.

It’s not always easy having a writer for a wife and mother, yet they keep encouraging me, even when the going gets tough. Thanks.

And a special thank-you to my editor, Melissa Endlich, for her patience and understanding, and the faith that I would finish this book.

To my two Dads: Tom Bohannon and Jack Steward.

Wow, we really miss you!

Acknowledgments

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Epilogue

Letter to Reader

Lisa Berthoff watched the quarter-size flakes of snow swirl in the darkness as her sister and brother-in-law drove away for their honeymoon. Guests left and family hurried around, cleaning up after the wedding and reception. No one wanted to be stranded at the church. The blizzard had dumped twelve inches in the three hours since they had arrived.

On her way up the stairs to the bridal suite, she glanced at the bride’s bouquet, caught in the crystal chandelier. “That could only have happened to Katarina,” she said with a chuckle.

Adam MacIntyre, the groom’s youngest brother added, “It’s becoming a family trait, getting the bouquet caught on something.”

Lisa smiled. “Oh, yeah. Emily’s caught in the tree—I forgot about that. Guess I was only concerned with how to avoid catching it.” Lisa had been expecting Katarina to throw the bouquet to her or Adam since they were the only unmarried siblings left.

“You’re not superstitious, are you? That was only a coincidence.”

“Superstitious? Not me, but I saw you hiding across the room.” Lisa laughed. “Don’t tell me you weren’t half expecting our families to set us up. First Emily and Kevin caught a bouquet, and six months later they’re married. Five months later Alex and Katarina catch Emily’s bouquet, and eight months later—”

“Doesn’t matter now, does it?” He motioned toward the chandelier. “We’re free from the wedding curse. What do we need to finish up here? Since Kevin had a car full of people, and the rest of the family went to their hotels, I agreed to make sure you get home okay before I leave.”

Lisa had convinced her mother and eldest sister, Emily, that she could make it to Katarina’s house without a problem. Leave it to them to arrange for an escort. “I just need to load the cake into Katarina’s van and get my things from upstairs. I won’t be long. You can go on home.”

“Katarina and Alex’s house is on my way out of town. Besides, I don’t think Kat’s van is going anywhere on these roads. I’ll take care of the cake.”

Lisa ran upstairs, gathered her things and put them into her bag. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, and paused. She swayed back and forth, watching the fabric move in fluid motion, then spun on one foot and watched the dress fan out and swirl around her legs.

“Katarina’s quite a seamstress. All three of you looked beautiful in your dresses.”

Lisa turned. She swallowed a lump of embarrassment at being caught doing something so childish. Adam was leaning against the door frame with his arms crossing his chest. The MacIntyre men looked handsome as ever in their tuxes. Adam was no exception. “Thank you. You and your brothers clean up pretty nicely yourselves.” She turned to find her purse. “I thought you were taking the cake to the van.”

“Pastor Mike had already taken care of it. I thought I’d better see if you had anything else to carry down. Mike doesn’t think his car will make it, so I offered to give him a ride home, too.”

After a quick glance to make sure she had everything, Lisa slipped into the leather coat Katarina had loaned her. “Sorry for the delay.” She felt her cheeks heat up again and grabbed her purse.

“Not a problem. I rather enjoyed watching your little dance.”

She faced Adam, waiting for him to move out of the way. “It was terribly rude of you not to let me know you were there.”

“Did you expect me to join you?”

She tried to take her eyes off his dark brown gaze and his wide smile. “Dream on. My boyfriend would not appreciate me dancing with someone else, even if you and I are practically related.”

“Then again, he’s not here, is he?”

Lisa tried to get past Adam. “We’re keeping the pastor waiting.”

Adam chuckled. “Pastor’s going to have a long wait if he’s waiting on me. I dodged that bouquet.”

“You are a true cad,” she said, pushing her way past him. “If you think I was implying…” She stopped and spun around to face him again. “I didn’t…” Lisa lifted her finger to lecture him, then decided it wasn’t worth the effort and continued down the stairs.

Adam followed. “Everyone knows this MacIntyre will avoid the altar at all costs.”

“Doesn’t appear to be an immediate problem, does it?” Lisa snapped, picking up her pace.

“You ought to talk.” Adam smiled.

Lisa ignored his remark.

Pastor Mike looked up as Lisa and Adam made their way down the stairs. “I need to go get my briefcase from my car. I’ll meet you at your truck.” Mike opened the door and stepped outside. A strong gust of wind blew past them, rattling the chandelier.

Lisa sucked in a breath of icy air and closed her eyes. When she opened them, she saw the bridal bouquet blow loose, right into her hands.