Amazing Love

Amazing Love
Mae Nunn

Texas beauty Claire Savage learned a hard lesson the day her father left to pursue his selfish dreams. Trust no one.Now in possession of an MBA, and the owner of her own business, she felt in control. A woman like her had no use for church newcomer and former rocker Luke Dawson. What kind of a man had nothing better to do than produce music for her church's youth band? The kind of man she needed to keep an eye on.She never expected Luke's noble spirit to soothe her, yet could even his gentle touch curb her mistrust when his past resurfaced to threaten them both?

“I didn’t get asked out a single time in high school.”

“Oh, please. A girl as beautiful as you didn’t date?”

“My looks were just one more strike against me. The girls were jealous, so they never included me, and the boys figured they wouldn’t have a chance, so they didn’t bother asking.”

Luke stopped walking and stared down into her questioning eyes. “Well, this boy’s gonna bother. Claire Savage, will you have dinner with me?”

“Are you asking me on a date?”

“Well, no—you don’t have to sound so shocked by the possibility. Friends do occasionally spend time together, you know.”

She stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “Thanks for asking. Sure, I’ll go to dinner with you…friend.”

But before her heels could even touch the ground, he brought his lips down to meet hers….

MAE NUNN

grew up in Houston and graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in communications. When she fell for a transplanted Englishman who lived in Atlanta, Mae hung up her spurs to become a Southern belle. Today, she and her husband, Michael, and their two children make their home in Georgia. Mae has been with a global air express company for twenty-seven years, currently serving as a Director of Specialty Services. She began writing four years ago. When asked how she felt about being part of the Steeple Hill family, Mae summed her response up with one word—“Yeeeeeha!”

Amazing Love

Mae Nunn

Dedication

This book is for Sunny.

7/28/49–1/1/05

Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.

—Psalms 32:1–2

Acknowledgments

I owe my gratitude to so many who impacted this project, whether they knew it or not.

To my Crossroads Church family in Newnan, Georgia, (especially the Williams/Worhola/Zauner Community Group) where “Being and Building Disciples of Christ” is a way of life.

To the readers who gave me so much positive feedback on Hearts in Bloom and encouraged me to take the faith in my writing to a deeper level.

To my daughter, Maegan, my sunshine.

To my son, Paul, for planting a seed that grew into the character of Luke Dawson.

To my darlin’ Michael—you make it all worthwhile.

And to three incredible women who prove it’s never too late to become biker babes. My amazing sister Pam Hruza has never let me down, not even once. My gifted critique partner, Silhouette author Dianna Love Snell, makes me a better writer. And my precious friend Sunny Rigsby inspired me with her “Ride it like you stole it!” enthusiasm for life.

Contents

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

Letter to Reader

Chapter One

Claire Savage gripped the wooden knob of the stick shift and dropped the limited-edition pink pony into low gear for the steep climb up the bridge that spanned the Houston ship channel. On a Saturday morning when the worst driving hazard should have been glare from the relentless Texas summer sun, something just beyond the crest of the high, arching bridge interrupted the progress of weekend traffic.

As a chain reaction of red taillights flashed, she jammed a foot on the brake of her 1967 coupe. Her gaze flew to the rearview mirror and she pleaded aloud with the truck on her tail not to collide with the recently rechromed bumper. The driver struggled but managed to control his heavy-duty pickup and the fully rigged boat that fishtailed behind him. Within moments, everything ground to a standstill.

Claire switched off the finicky air conditioner and cranked the window down. She pumped the clutch with her left foot and accelerated with her right as the traffic crept forward, inching up the sharp incline along with the other vehicles. Rubberneckers turned their heads to catch a glimpse of the nuisance that dared to delay their interstate progress.

Curious like everybody else, she sat tall in the seat and craned her neck to see beyond the sedan in front. When a long-legged, yellow Lab pup lumbered between the cars up ahead, her hand flew to her face to cover the gasp that escaped her mouth.