Hometown Reunion. Lisa Carter

      

      A single dad starting over.

      Is this his second chance at love?

      Widowed former Green Beret Jaxon Pruitt comes home to face his toughest battle: reconnecting with his toddler son. He also makes an unwitting enemy of childhood friend Darcy Parks when he takes over the kayak shop Darcy hoped to buy! For little Brody’s sake, she’ll stay until summer’s end. But could a growing connection turn their temporary truce into an unexpected forever?

      LISA CARTER and her family make their home in North Carolina. In addition to her Love Inspired novels, she writes romantic suspense for Abingdon Press. When she isn’t writing, Lisa enjoys traveling to romantic locales, teaching writing workshops and researching her next exotic adventure. She has strong opinions on barbecue and ACC basketball. She loves to hear from readers. Connect with Lisa at lisacarterauthor.com.

       Also By Lisa Carter

      Love Inspired

       Coast Guard Courtship

      Coast Guard Sweetheart

      Falling for the Single Dad

      The Deputy’s Perfect Match

      The Bachelor’s Unexpected Family

      The Christmas Baby

      Hometown Reunion

      Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

      Hometown Reunion

      Lisa Carter

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      ISBN: 978-1-474-08425-3

      HOMETOWN REUNION

      © 2018 Lisa Carter

      Published in Great Britain 2018

      by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

      All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

      This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

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      Version: 2020-03-02

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      “Why are you leaving, Darcy?”

      “The longer I’ve stayed—maybe I’ve overstayed—the more lost I feel.” She averted her eyes. “Perhaps it’s time for me to see if there’s more out there.”

      “Does more have to be out there? Not here?”

      Her gaze returned to his. “I thought you’d understand, Jax. We’re both all or nothing people.”

      “You want to know the real reason I didn’t return until now?” His heart drummed in his chest. “I didn’t think there could ever be a place here for me again.”

      “But you’re home now, Jax.”

      “Am I?” He studied her. “Will you forgive me, Darcy?”

      His question was about so much more than what happened this afternoon.

      She looked at him. “I’m here, aren’t I?”

      “Can we get back to being friends?” He thrust out his chin. “We were friends, Darcy. Once.”

      “Trust might be trickier than merely coming home.”

      Jax tightened his jaw. “A chance is all I’m asking.”

      Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

      —Matthew 11:28–30

      Dear Reader,

      Like Jax, have you ever struggled with guilt? Which have you found harder—to forgive someone else or to forgive yourself? Neither are easy.

      Or like Darcy, have you ever felt second best or second choice?

      But when Darcy embraces the person God made her to be and pursues the dreams God placed in her heart, only then does she gain real freedom and peace. Whatever dream God has placed in your heart, I pray you, too, will find the courage to pursue it.

      Whenever you’re feeling second choice, read Isaiah 43 to see how much God loves you. He has redeemed you and called you by name. You have a place all your own in God’s heart. You have been chosen—you are His.

      And what about dealing with guilt? True guilt drives us to repentance and helps us find our way back to what is right. False guilt, however, brings only condemnation, with no way out. True guilt leading to repentance brings freedom and healing. False guilt paralyses and enslaves.

      This is a heavy burden we were never created to shoulder. Jesus took the heavy load of sin on the cross so that you don’t have to. He is the only one who can be our burden-bearer. It is in the laying down of our burdens that we find rest and