Mountain Secrets by Elizabeth Goddard (good books to read for teens txt) 📕

“Do you know they have to mine over two hundred and fifty tons of ore just to find a one-carat colored diamond? And the radiant cut means it has seventy-seven facets.”

Colin wouldn’t tell her he had no idea what she was talking about. How could he when she was clearly in her element? The diamond looked like she’d captured sunshine in the palm of her hand, and that sunshine reflected on her face as she talked about what was near and dear to her heart—her family and the family diamond business. She may have left it all behind twenty years earlier, but she clearly hadn’t forgotten a thing.

The fact she talked long and knowledgeable on a subject he knew absolutely nothing about reminded him all too well she was out of his league, really, as he’d always thought.

He pressed a finger on it—cold to the touch—and sucked in a breath.

And then he knew he couldn’t do it. He couldn’t step away from her. This diamond might be cold, but the jewel before him was anything but.

He wrapped her hand around the diamond and covered it with his own. “This isn’t the jewel I want. This belongs to you. Your confession, your past, has no bearing on how I feel about you, Jewel Caraway. How I’ve always felt but denied.”

His throat grew tight. “I thought that you and I would both be better off if I stepped back. Turned away from this force that pulls me to you at every turn, but I’m not strong enough to walk away from you anymore. You’re more precious to me than anything in this world. Even my own life. And I’ve wasted so much time already.”

He searched her eyes for understanding. For the love he wanted to see reflected in her gentle hazel gaze, unclouded by fear or uncertainty or doubt. And he was not disappointed.

How many years had he imagined, dreamed about this moment, then shoved aside his longing to do what he had thought was right for them both? But right now he was weak, so very weak. His will bowed to the current running between them, a quaking force that shook him to the bones. Or maybe he was finally strong enough to accept the path that God had wanted for him all along. To stop running in fear from the prospect of getting hurt again.

Colin slowly wrapped his arms around Jewel and pressed his lips against hers. She kissed him back, and he savored her response.

Accepting. Eager.

Ecstasy. He was enraptured at the slightest pressure of her soft lips. Any more and he would lose himself completely. He breathed in deeply the jewel he’d longed for, and realized that somehow his heart had carved the perfect place for her within him.

He could have stayed forever with Jewel in his arms, letting her know how he felt about her, but he had to rein in his emotions. It was dangerous to linger. He inched back. Still, he was close to her, closer than he’d ever been physically and emotionally, even spiritually. There was something about loving a woman who loved God, and he could feel that in her, as well.

He let go of his resolve never to love. God didn’t want that for him, and he didn’t want it for himself—not when he had the treasure of Jewel’s love as recompense. Her heart in exchange for his own.

“I heard you tell Meral that you loved me. I love you, too, Jewel. I think I always have.”

Her eyes shimmered with what he hoped were tears of joy along with her beautiful smile. Despite the tragedy and pain around them, she was free of her stalker and her past, as was Colin.

“This experience has taught me something,” he said.

“What’s that?” Her voice was lyrical, and he loved that about it.

It felt wonderful to be free finally to enjoy everything about Jewel, instead of always pushing thoughts of her away.

“If I didn’t know before, I know now how precious life is and I don’t want to waste a single moment. I don’t want to waste time regretting the past or fearing the future. I don’t need days, weeks or months to get to know you. I’ve known you for years. I’ll court you, ask you on a real date first, if that’s what you want, but I feel like in my heart I’ve been secretly courting you for years. And there’s so much more I want to do with you.”

She laughed and nodded, wiped at a tear.

“Will you be my wife, Jewel? Will you marry me?”

She shuddered, hung her head back, but the look on her face was pure elation. Then she rolled her head forward and smiled. “How about next week? You can marry me first, and I’ll take the courting for a lifetime.”

Hidden Away

Sharon Dunn

Ever since she found the Nancy Drew books with the pink covers in her country school library, Sharon Dunn has loved mystery and suspense. Most of her books take place in Montana, where she lives with three nearly grown children and a hyper border collie. She lost her beloved husband of twenty-seven years to cancer in 2014. When she isn’t writing, she loves to hike surrounded by God’s beauty.

Books by Sharon Dunn

Love Inspired Suspense

Montana Standoff

Top Secret Identity

Wilderness Target

Cold Case Justice

Mistaken Target

Fatal Vendetta

Big Sky Showdown

Hidden Away

In Too Deep

Wilderness Secrets

Undercover Threat

True Blue K-9 Unit

Courage Under Fire

Texas Ranger Holidays

Thanksgiving Protector

Visit the Author Profile page at Harlequin.com for more titles.

Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it?

—Isaiah 43:18–19

To my Lord, savior, friend, counselor and king. Jesus, for more than thirty years, we have walked this journey together.

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

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

ONE

Despite the windows being shut against winter temperatures, a chill skittered across detective Jason Enger’s skin. Hidden in