Secrets Among the Cedars (Intertwined Book 2) by Sherri Wilson Johnson Page A

Kathryn. Her countenance, her beauty, everything about her had taken him prisoner. How, in two short days, had she stolen his desire to remain carefree and unattached and replaced it with a longing to spend every moment with her?
    A strong, independent woman on the outside with an internal yearning for love—that was Kathryn. She'd had the encounter at church which proved her heart wasn't too calloused yet. No matter what damage had been done to her in the past, her heart was fertile soil, ready to receive God's goodness. Kathryn wanted to belong. She craved acceptance. Phil could help her find it. He'd point her right to the One who would love her unconditionally. Could he be more to her than that though? Would she allow him to visit her in Mitchell’s Crossing and take her on a real date?
    His phone vibrated, and he rolled over onto his side and dug it out of his pocket. Judging by the area code, it was Kathryn. Panic coursed through Phil's body like an incurable virus, and he jumped up off the couch, ready to go into attack mode. "Hello?"
    "Hey, it's Kathryn."
    "Are you okay?"
    "Yes, I'm fine." She laughed.
    Phil relaxed his shoulders and let out a heavy sigh.
    "I was wondering…I know we've already eaten but…I found an ice cream maker here at the condo and thought maybe you'd want to come over in a bit and eat some ice cream and dig into this file with me."
    "I'd love to. What about the background check?"
    "I can't exactly do that now, can I? I'm not even supposed to be acquainting myself with the case anymore."
    "I guess not. Then I must say thank you for trusting me enough to have me over for ice cream. Do you have your ingredients?"
    "No, but I'm going to run back to the store. I want to revisit that manager or owner or whatever he is."
    "Kathryn, you're off the case. Remember?"
    "Oh, I remember, but he doesn't know that. Even if I don't get to talk to him, I need groceries if I'm going to stay the week."
    "How about I go with you?"
    "No, I'll be fine. Thanks though."
    Independent women—why was he attracted to them? They never knew how to let a man be a gentleman. He chuckled. "Okay, if you're sure. What time can I come over?"
    "Give me an hour. I'm going to hurry so I don't miss—"
    "The sunset?"
    "You guessed it!"
    “You had better hurry because the store closes at 8:00 p.m.”
    Kathryn said goodbye, and Phil did a disco spin in the middle of his living room. He scratched his stubbly chin. He shouldn't get too excited. Kathryn was three-fourths business and one-fourth personal. This was about solving the case. But as he trotted off to his room to shower and change clothes, something blossomed inside his heart that had been dead a long time. Hope.
    #
    Kathryn fluffed her hair and straightened her T-shirt when Phil rang the doorbell. Sadie jumped up from her spot beside the sliding glass door and beat Kathryn to the door. Kathryn sucked in a deep breath, determined not to let Phil sweep her away by his presence. "Come on in. You walked?" She motioned outside to the path where his vehicle should have been.
    "Sure. It's nice out. And you're so close." Phil handed Kathryn a bottle of chocolate syrup and a bag of mini chocolate drops. "For the ice cream." He leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her cheek, sending a jolt of heat to her toes, the scent of exotic spices and wood tickling her nose.
    She smiled and stumbled away from the door, dizzy with glee. "Thanks! And thanks for coming over." Trying not to let this man affect her was a useless battle.
    "Thanks for inviting me. This is a beautiful place, isn't it? They've updated it since I was here last."
    "I like it. It's got everything a vacationer could need." Kathryn mixed the ingredients for the ice cream, poured them into the canister, stuck the dasher into it, then snapped on the lid. She added the rock salt and ice and turned on the machine. "The ice cream should be ready in about twenty-five minutes."
    "I can't wait to try it." Sadie sidled up next to Phil