No one said a word as they drove toward church. It had been months since the fire. Daniel had the frame of the new church up with the bell tower finished. He'd even put benches for pews for his last service in Jefferson.

He knew Karlee worried about how the town would accept a preacher's wife who swam nude, but he didn't care. They hadn't accepted him before, and he could find no shame in loving her. He'd give his last sermon to a congregation of three if need be.

As they turned the corner Karlee let out a startled cry even before Daniel looked up the street.

The framed walls marked the boundaries of the church, but people stood all around. What would be the inside was packed with families, while many others waited out on the grounds and sat on blankets and boxes all the way to the boardwalk.

Karlee straightened with pride as Daniel helped her down. She looked very proper as a minister's wife in her finely tailored traveling suit. She walked to the first pew while Daniel stepped forward and unfolded his notes. When he glanced down at her, she winked in a most unminister's wife's way. He fought down a grin and cleared his throat.

As Daniel McLain began to speak, no one noticed the hairy giant in the back who laughed.

“Inspired,” Wolf mumbled as he watched Daniel talking only to Karlee. “Makes a man want to believe in love.”

He slipped away, not wanting to overdo his first time in church.

“Maybe I'll shave.” He scratched his beard. “Maybe I'll make up my mind to fall in love one of these days.”

JODI THOMAS


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