Rock and A Hard Place (Cascade Brides Series) (23 page)

She glowered at him. “You still haven't answered my question.”

“I have.” He sighed dramatically. “I guess you just want some
extra reassurance.”

Faith wondered if he was going to kiss her again, but instead he
took her hands, his fingers warm against her palms.

“I'd do this on bended knee, but I'm not sure I'd be able to get
back up at this point.”

She stared up at him, startled by his words.

“And I had wanted to take you some place panoramic and amazing,
but you've already beat me to just about every one.”

“Shane,” she said, her respiration rising without wanting to
acknowledge why. “What are you talking about?”

His expression gentled. “Now, who's the impatient one?” He
reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box.

When Faith saw it, she had a sudden urge to faint.
No way. This
can't be real. Not yet anyway. Maybe a year down the line...or
something
.

He tugged on her hands, bringing her back to the present. “Faith,
I love you with all my heart. Will you marry me?”

She blinked as she looked up at him, his image going a bit blurry
around the edges. “Are...are you
sure?

He smiled, his dark eyes shiny. “Of course I'm sure. See, I have
this ring and everything.”

Faith once again heard the hint of tension in his words. Well, if he
was sure, that was enough. Because no way was she letting anyone
else have Shane Zadopec.

Taking a deep breath, she whispered “Yes.”

The look in his eyes only increased her light-headedness. He put the
ring on her finger. Faith figured it was beautiful, but couldn't
quite tear her gaze away from Shane to check and see.

He pulled her into a fierce embrace and held her until she felt his
heartbeat against her own. Faith opened her eyes after a moment and
saw the Three Sisters picture over his shoulder, then thought of the
Painted Hills picture just behind her. As her past and present
looked on, she could only imagine the new prospects opening before
her with Shane by her side; the hikes, the photography—the
arguments
...

The making up
.

A prayer of thanksgiving lifted from her heart and was sent
heavenward.

Her cell phone rang.

Shane released her with reluctance, a bemused look on his face.

Faith sent him an apologetic smile and dug the phone from her front
pocket. She frowned at the unfamiliar number.

“Who is it?”

She shrugged.

“Answer it. Maybe it's good news.”

“I think I've had more than I can bear today.” But to humor him,
she flipped the phone open and said hello.

“Faith?” said a woman's voice. “Is that you? This is Hope.”

Book Two in the CASCADE BRIDE SERIES

Bayward Heart
(Oregon Coast)

Hope Conrad runs a whale watching business and is readying for the
peak season when her boat is damaged. Boat captain Eric Bandon
offers a solution that may only deepen her dilemma. Strapped for
cash and time, and knowing one bad season will sink her business for
good, she reluctantly accepts Eric’s offer. Will she heed his
challenge to take the plunge with him as well as be reconciled to
her sisters?

Coming in 2012 in the CASCADE BRIDE SERIES

Project Love (Willamette Valley)

Charity Conrad loves the bustle and quirkiness of living in the
middle of downtown Portland. Her work as a barista at a coffee shop
keeps her in the company of adoring customers and the caffeine keeps
her personality perking.  Next to her job, she stays involved
in community and church causes. It makes her feel needed and
important and she can also prove to herself that she's not
weak—something she's fought ever since being a small, sickly
child. When coffee shop patron Daniel Tabor begins coming in, she
makes it her personal goal to get the taciturn man to smile. She
soon discovers he has something of a goal himself—to help her face
the fears that keep her frantic. Maybe then she'll see him as a
prize instead of another project.

OTHER KINDLE TITLES BY BONNIE BLYTHE

Restorations

(Book
One of Oregon In Love)

Can her old boyfriend rebuild their relationship as
well as her house?

Lights
and Shadows

(Book Two of Oregon In Love)

Chiaroscuro: the treatment of light and shade to give
an illusion of depth—even in love.

Milagro
For Miranda

(Book
Three of Oregon In Love)

Miranda needs a miracle—finding her lost sister in a
Mexican orphanage

Claire’s
Not-So-Gothic Romance

Jane
Eyre meets Lucille Ball

How
Sweet It Is

Chocolate maker meets surfer dude

Dearly
Loved

She
loved him long ago. Can she now that he's back in her life?

Texas
Whirlwind

Did she buy her ready-made family and can she do it
alone?

Restorations

Can her old boyfriend rebuild their relationship as
well as her house?

Melody’s
Knight

British girl who has a hankering for American cowboys.
A novella

Love's
Unmasking

Regency novella. Two people mask their affections for
one another.

Visit
the author at
www.bonnieblythe.com

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Rock And A Hard Place
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Thank
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