Clean Inspirational Romance: Escape to Paradise (Inspirational Happy Sweet First Love Second Chance Romance) (Contemporary New Adult Love Inspired Holiday Short Stories) by Johanna Jenkins Page A

well as their married life began. Marc stayed at the ranch and watched the cattle for Kale, while he and Mercy enjoyed their honeymoon. He took his new bride to the Rio Grande and shared with her the story of The Alamo. They toured San Antonio, where the battle took place, and Kale enjoyed watching Mercy soak in the rich history of the birth of the Lone Star State.
    As they returned home to the ranch, Kale asked. “Any regrets?”
    “None.” Mercy smiled. “I’ll work hard to make sure I never regret anything about the blessings God has surely given to me… I love you Kale Preston.”
    “I love you too, Mrs. Mercy Elizabeth Preston.”
    Neither of them knew what life had in store for them, but with their family by their side and their deep, abiding faith, Kale and Mercy would meet and defeat any challenge that came their way.
     
    THE END

Bonus Story 2 of 10

Ray of Hope
     
    Bridget Mathers was obsessed with the colorful little bubbles in the fish tank. As an adult in her twenties, she was rightfully abashed at her choice in favorites, but she remained completely adamant about it. There was something delightfully charming about the innocent little glass tank, with its multitude of guppies and goldfish and plastic, waving seaweed.
    The fishes inside it were adorable – quite large and provided great entertainment for the children that came in. It was a wonderful distraction, she realized, from the daunting prospect of seeing the dentist, however friendly and inviting, Dr. Winters. They did, however, leave a messy smear of fingerprints all over it at the end of the day. But Bridget didn’t mind. She rather liked the quietness at the end of the work day, punctuated only by the hum of the air conditioner and the merry bubbling of the tank and its residents.
    The fish were currently being entertained by a chubby little five-year-old, whose mother watched with a careful eye from behind the creased pages of an Elle magazine. Children weren’t a staple to Dr. Winters’s office, but enough of them were around for there to be a small table and corner filled with plastic toys and books to be dedicated to them.
    “Rachel,” Bridget called out from behind her computer. A middle-aged lady stood up and walked towards the door, where Randy now stood, opening the door with his trademark smile and patient eyes. He was a good friend of Bridget’s, and one of the nicest nurses she knew. Rachel caught Bridget’s eye as she walked towards Randy, smiling as she did so. Bridget returned the favor. She knew most of the people that came into the office – she’d been working for Dr. Winters shortly after graduating from college, and had stayed with him for the past five years.
    A quiet click a short distance away from the desk signaled the arrival of another patient, and Bridget turned her attention away from Randy and Rachel to the entry door. She blinked. He was a new patient. That much she knew immediately; even if she didn’t know all of the patients by name, she knew their faces at the very least. It was one talent she prided herself on: being able to easily distinguish and remember names and faces.
    Yes, he was a new client, about late twenties – quite possibly a few years older than her - and he was attractive. Bridget felt her cheeks redden at the thought, but she didn’t break her gaze away from the man just yet. It wasn’t bad, she told herself. She was merely… being professional and aware of her surroundings so that she could best serve her clients. He approached the desk, and Bridget couldn’t help but notice that he had soft, sandy hair and hazel-green eyes. He smiled as he approached her, and though she instinctively clicked the computer mouse and the icon for setting up a new profile, her head was spinning with only one thought.
    He had dimples.
    “Hi, I’m new here. Do you mind telling me what information I might need to fill out?” He was disarmingly charming, and Bridget blinked a few times before