The Come to Me Complete Collection: Contemporary Christian Romance

by Leah Atwood

  Raising the microphone, she listened for the right beat and began to sing.

  “I see you running, fighting what’s happening.

  I see your fear, know your thoughts.

  That breath you’re holding

  You can let it go.

  Fear is a friend who’ll always betray,

  Keep you running or locked in a cage.

  Like a weed it will strangle,

  But you are a rose, meant to bloom.”

  A lump of emotion filled her throat and she couldn’t finish the verse. Recovering from his speechlessness, Bryce removed his guitar and leaned it against a stool. In slow motion, he came to her, grabbed the microphone and clasped her hands.

  Moisture pooled at the corner of his eye. It could have been sweat, but she suspected it was something more. Some tears of her own trickled down her cheek.

  He began singing the refrain. Swallowing the knot in her throat, she found her voice. The thousands of men and women in the audience ceased to exist for those few minutes as she and Bryce sang together, for each other.

  Come to me, come to me now

  Let me love you, bring you alive

  Yesterday’s Gone and Tomorrow’s not here

  Don’t just live, let me awaken your soul

  Ignite every ember, fan every flame

  Don’t settle for ash, when you can be the glow

  Come to me now, come to me alive

  The song ended, and they remained gazing at each other, still lost in the moment. Only when the audience erupted in wild applause were they brought back to the reality of where they were.

  Bryce turned to face the crowd, and Sophie also did. Still holding her hand, he raised it in the air. “Ladies and gentleman, give it up for Miss Sophie Thatcher, who, earlier today, agreed to marry me.”

  Another round of cheers and clapping exploded through the audience, continuing after they’d left the stage. As they walked back to the dressing room, they were greeted with echoes of “great show” and “congratulations”. Bryce kept his hand firmly on her back as they wove their way through the bustling crew. They made it to the dressing room before the rest of the band—she suspected they lingered to give her and Bryce a moment of privacy.

  “I can’t believe you came on stage and sang. I mean, I’ve heard you sing in church, but wow. You were amazing.”

  Adrenaline pumped through her. “I still can’t believe I did either.”

  “We should record a song together.” He winked at her and she knew he was teasing.

  “This was a one-time deal. I’ll leave show business to you.”

  Pulling her to him, his eyes became serious. “I didn’t think I could love you more, but you proved me wrong. I’ll never forget what you did for me tonight.”

  She leaned into his embrace. “It was no more than what you’ve done for me.”

  “When I saw you come onstage and you started singing, I realized something. I’ve been doing the exact thing that I accused you of.” He brushed a hair away from her face. “I wanted you to accept me and all that came with me, but I wasn’t willing to accept you and your fears. You love me and support what I do, only in a different, more subtle way.”

  She raised an eyebrow.

  He laughed and a twinkle returned to his eyes. “Okay, so tonight was definitely not subtle. But now, there’s only one thing left to settle.”

  “What’s that?” she asked.

  “How soon can we get married?”

  “Soon. Very soon.”

  Epilogue

  “Gracie didn’t so much as blink an eye.” Bryce pulled out a barstool and sat at the kitchen island watching his wife sort through the mail. “You were smart to change her into pajamas at the last rest area.”

  “It’s been a long eight weeks on the road. All that playing with Shannon and little Lilah wore her out. She’s such a little mom to Adam and Elle’s girls.” Sophie’s gentle smile adorned her face, her fondness for Gracie shining through. “Are you hungry? Fjolla left some casseroles in the freezer.”

  “I’m good.” He continued watching her sort through two months’ worth of mail, more in love than ever.

  Next week marked their three-month wedding anniversary, and everything since had been a whirlwind. They were married the weekend after school let out for the summer and she’d moved out of her little house in Oden Bride to his house in Nashville. After a weeklong honeymoon in the Poconos, they returned to Tennessee, only to leave a few weeks later for his Redemption tour.

  “Look at this.” She slid an ivory envelope to him. “That explains why Caroline didn’t stay for the whole tour.”

  Lifting the flap, he pulled out a piece of card stock with a silver ribbon looped at the top. “It’s about time. Leave it to them to wait six months after the engagement to finally announce a wedding date that’s only thirty days away.”

  “I knew,” Sophie confessed. “They want Gracie and Shannon to be flower girls. Elle and I will be bridesmaids.”

  “I’m not sure I’m ready to see my little girl walking down the aisle, even if it’s just as a flower girl.”

  She arched an eyebrow. “So that’s the real reason you had her wait upfront with you at our wedding.”

  “I plead the fifth.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Can’t she stay a little girl forever?”

  “No.” Her eyes held a mischievous gleam. “One day she’s going to turn into a hormonal teenager. Then she’ll go off to college and the next thing you know, you’ll be giving her away to some guy, of whom you’ll never approve, who warned her away from a deranged duck while at the park one day.”

  “You really know how to hurt a dad.” He crossed his fists over his heart. “Besides, your mom said you were one of the few level-headed teens she’d ever met. And your dad likes me.”

  Coming around the island, she slid her arms around him. “I’m just giving you a hard time. Yes, my dad does like you. Sometimes, I think you talk to him more than I do. And Gracie still has lots of growing up to do. She’ll be little for a while yet.”

  He slid around in his seat so that he faced her. “Plus, there’s always the option of having more kids to keep a little one around. Gracie has been asking for a brother or sister.”

  Sophie laughed. “Trust me, I know. Every time after she played with Shannon and Lilah she would ask. I told her in time. I don’t think the school would appreciate me taking maternity leave my first year there.”

  “You could stay home if you wanted.” He knew she wouldn’t, at least not for long. Teaching meant too much to her, as his music did to him. But the option was there if that was what she chose.

  “Who knows? Fifth-graders might just make me want to stop teaching.”

  “I don’t think that could ever happen, but you’ll do great. They’ll love you just like your first-graders always did.”

  “We’ll find out in two weeks.”

  “Too bad you couldn’t get one of the first-grade positions and keep an eye over Gracie.”

  “I’ll be in the same school with her. I’ve met her teachers and they are great.”

  He yawned. They’d been up over twenty-four hours, driving straight through last night so they could get home.

  Sophie re-stacked the remaining mail in a pile. “This can wait. Morning will come awfully early.”

  “Why did we agree to meet everyone for breakfast before church? Haven’t we seen enough of them?” He was joking, of course. Partially. Adam, Elle, Jay, Rob and Caroline were family, but eight o’clock seemed too early to meet them when he was so tired right now.

  “It was your idea,” she reminded him, her eyes fluttering from her own lack of rest.

  He stood and kissed her cheek. “Let’s go get some sleep.”

  “Good night, Mr. Landry.”

  “Good night, Mrs. Landry.”

  Come to Me Free

  Copyright © 2015 by Leah Atwood

  Cover Design © Covers by Ramona

  C
over Image © Wavebreakmedia Ltd | Dreamstime.com

  Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible®,

  Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973,

  1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

  Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Epilogue

  The Lord your God is in your midst,

  A victorious warrior,

  He will exult over you with joy,

  He will be quiet in his love,

  He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.

  (Zephaniah 3:17)

  Chapter 1

  Lesson learned–don’t wait until the last minute to buy shoes for a wedding.

  Cramped toes, squeezed into shoes a size smaller than needed for her solid size-seven feet, screamed for relief in the form of blisters and pinched nerve endings. Dani Trahan lifted her right foot a sliver of an inch to relieve some pressure off her aching extremity, thankful for the long gown that covered her subtle movement.

  Momentary relief attained, she put her foot back on the ground and returned her attention to the ceremony. Her cousin, Bryce, and his very soon-to-be wife, Sophie, were exchanging vows. The bride’s back was to Dani, but she could see the groom clearly. A calmness surrounded him, a long-absent peace settled into his smile as he pledged his life to Sophie.

  If anyone deserved a slice of happiness, it was Bryce. Though cousins, Dani had always looked at him as the brother she never had, and she wanted nothing but the best for him. They grew up a thousand miles apart, but Bryce’s summers were spent with their grandparents, here in Oden Bridge, Louisiana and were always the highlight of Dani’s year. There was a time he had drifted away, but when he returned two years ago, it was like he’d never gone.

  “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.” Even the preacher couldn’t conserve his smile.

  Sun streamed through the church’s window, a blessing from Heaven, on the day of celebration. The recessional began, and the beaming bride and groom walked down the aisle to the music of Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus.” The audience stood, applauding the newlyweds.

  Due to an uneven number of bridesmaids and groomsmen, Sophie’s sister, Mia, and best friend, Kate, escorted Gracie, the flower girl who was Bryce’s daughter, down the aisle. Dani’s turn was coming. With a smile on her face, she kept her gaze on the center aisle.

  The wedding planner nodded the signal. Dani stepped forward and so did Rob, the groomsman by whom she’d be escorted. They faced each other for only a split second, but it was long enough for Rob to flash her a subtle wink.

  She ignored it.

  His insufferable flirting over the last few days was driving her up the wall. If, and that was a big if, she was interested in dating, it wouldn’t be with someone like him.

  Turning, they faced the crowd. Rob crooked his arm, and she slid hers through until they were locked at their elbows. Each step further pinched her feet. She blocked the pain. Too bad she couldn’t also block Rob. Soon enough.

  Twenty-five steps. That’s how many she counted from the front of the church to the back. The moment Rob and she exited the church, she removed herself from his touch. She jerked her arm from his with an unnecessary force.

  He chuckled, but didn’t say anything. His azure blue eyes, however, spoke volumes. Amusement danced in them, and Dani’s ire rose with the realization that he was well aware of his effect on her. Her face flushed, and she spun away from him, the lavender silk of her dress swishing as she walked.

  Standing to the side, she watched the wedding planner scurry to place the receiving line members in their proper order as the bride’s and groom’s parents came out from the church. The bridesmaids and groomsmen wouldn’t be participating in that ritual. Instead, they would mingle among the guests and make sure everyone had a satchel of lavender buds, which would be thrown in lieu of traditional rice.

  “Was I a good flower girl, Aunt Dani?” Gracie tugged on her hand.

  Dani looked down at her adorable niece and forgot her irritation toward Rob. “You were the best—the prettiest one, too.”

  Gracie grinned at the praise. “I was quiet the whole time, just like they told me to be.”

  “I’m very proud of you.” Gracie was famous for her ability to talk non-stop, even during the rehearsal last night.

  “Come here, Gracie,” Bryce called from a few feet away.

  Gracie skipped to her dad and new stepmom. Guests filed out of the church now, stopping to greet the newly married couple. Dani spotted a distant cousin leaving the receiving line and went to speak with her.

  The pregnant cousin waddled to meet her halfway. “I’m so happy to see you again.”

  “You too, Gina. How long’s it been?”

  “Too long. I think the last time I saw you was a few months after my own wedding.”

  “And now you’re having a baby.” Dani stepped back and gave a pointed look to her cousin’s distended belly.

  Gina giggled and rested her hands on her stomach. “The little one is due on our anniversary.”

  “What a great present.”

  “I just hope we get moved in time.”

  Dani cocked her head—even though they weren’t very close because Gina was six years younger than her and lived a couple hundred miles away in north Louisiana, the news took her by surprise. “Where are you moving to?”

  “Here, Oden Bridge. Greg’s going to work for one of his uncles who has a construction company in town.”

  “Milton Construction?” It was the only one she knew of in Oden Bridge.

  “Yes.” Small wrinkles creased Gina’s forehead and her smile didn’t reach her eyes.

  A gut feeling told Dani there was more to the story that Gina didn’t wish to disclose. “Give me a call when you get here. I’d love to get together sometime. And if you need any help to move or unpack, let me know.”

  “Thank you, I will. How have you been?” Gina asked. “Any wedding bells in your future?”

  The miserable question that every married person felt necessary to ask this weekend.

  “No, I’m married to my career for now.” The answer slipped off her tongue with a practiced ease and was usually met with a look of disgust or a condescending nod that said ‘that’s what everyone who hasn’t found someone says.’

  In her case, it was true. Bayou Bits was her passion and most of her time was dedicated to keeping the restaurant afloat. It wasn’t that she didn’t want a family someday, but now wasn’t the time. She was only twenty-eight—she still had plenty of time to fall in love, marry and have children.

  “Doesn’t mean you can’t still date.” Gina leaned in, her head inches from Dani’s face. “That guy who escorted you down the aisle is a major cutie. Isn’t he one of Bryce’s band members? He couldn’t keep his
eyes off you during the ceremony.”

  “Rob? He’s Bryce’s guitarist.” An unladylike snort escaped, drawing a glance from a nearby couple. “And I don’t think so, not even if he were the last man on earth.”

  Gina’s features froze, and she covered a cough with her hand.

  “Is that so?” The identity of the deep timbre voice was unmistakable.

  Heat rushed to cover her face. Her cheeks undoubtedly looked like tomatoes.

  “I see Greg waving me over.” Gina took a step away. “I’ll get in touch with you next week sometime.” Her rapid departure was anything but discreet.

  Scanning the people milling about outside the church, Dani couldn’t find a single person not already engaged in conversation to whom she could escape from the man behind her. Sucking in a deep breath, she tamped down her embarrassment.

  She would not give him that satisfaction.

  Before she could turn around, he moved to stand in front of her. “Last man on earth, huh?”

  “I see Kate gathering everyone together to send Bryce and Sophie off to the reception.” Choosing to ignore his jibe, she pointed to a small group standing off to themselves. “Can you go let them know? I’ll ask Kate if she needs my help with the others.”

  “Sure thing.”

  That was too easy. No verbal exchange with Rob this week had been that simple. He’d made it his personal mission to annoy her at every corner. “Thanks.”

  “Just make sure to save me a dance.” And there it was. His lips slanted in an arrogant grin before he sauntered away.

  Inhaling a grimace, she chided herself for noticing his cheeks dimpled when he smiled. Even worse, she’d noted his hair looked lighter under the sun’s natural light—almost a dark blond instead of brown.