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Summary Table of Contents

When teacher Lena Butler agrees to be tour guide for a visiting film producer, she regrets it immediately. He's everything she dislikes?he's charming, undisciplined, and unpredictable. But it won't be long before she can get back to her routine and dreams of securing a vice principal position.

Dixon Edwards came to St. Augustine to scout locations for his Christian film company, yet it's his lovely but uptight guide who grabs his attention. He decides to teach Lena how to relax and enjoy life. Their feelings for each other grow quickly, but w... MORE

Can Lena learn to trust God with her heart's future?

Lena Clare Butler wanted to cry
Spring break
She'd looked forward to this week for months and now, because she was incapable of saying no, it was all ruined
He'd be here any moment-Dixon Edwards, the movie guy
Her ball and chain for the next seven days
It had seemed like a good idea a month ago, when her neighbor and best friend Kelly Arnez had approached her about showing a visiting filmmaker around S... MOREt. Augustine
The sizable charitable donation he'd offered for the assistance had been a motivating factor as well
But now that the time was here, she was regretting her impulsiveness and cursing her deep-seated sense of responsibility that wouldn't let her back out
She sank deeper into her sofa and looked at her to-do list for the week
Clean out refrigerator Organize office Divide and transplant cannas Try out new bread recipes Paint the kitchen
Lena tossed the list onto the end table and reached for her coffee cup, swallowing the sob lodged in her throat
She would not cry about this
Crying was pointless
But her heart ached with disappointment
None of the items on her list were exciting or necessary, but she'd eagerly anticipated tackling each one
She'd earned her masters degree earlier this year, marking the end of a long, sporadic college career
Her sisters' educations had come first
Her elementary education degree had taken nearly six years
Her masters even longer
She had taken classes in her summers off from teaching
Every holiday break, every spare minute had been spent studying and attending classes
It had all been worth the sacrifice
With degree in hand, she'd applied for the position of vice principal at her school
If she got the job, she'd be secure for the rest of her life
Lena took another sip of her coffee
This week had been a special gift to herself
The first sweet "me time" she'd had since her parents had died and she'd become guardian for her sisters, Jeanie and Suzanna
Now it was all gone
The phone rang, and Lena looked at the caller ID
Kelly-the source of the upheaval in Lena's life
"Are you ready for your adventure?"
Kelly's voice was filled with excitement
"No"
"Why not?"
"I should never have agreed to this dumb idea"
She stroked her Shih Tzu, Oreo, snuggled contentedly in her lap
"It's not a dumb idea. You're the perfect person to show Dixon around. You were a tour guide. No one knows more about St. Augustine's history than you do"
"I'm not sure I want to spend the week showing some movie director the sights"
"He's not a director. He's here scouting locations for a movie his Christian film company is making. You're not backing out on me, are you? He's counting on you"
The pleading in Kelly's voice pricked Lena's over-active responsibility gene
"No, of course not. But I had plans for the week"
"Like what? Cleaning the top of the refrigerator?"
Lena took a second to consider her friend's sarcastic question
As long as she could remember, her life had been all about survival
Making sure everything was in order
Staying on top of the financial and emotional surprises and putting her sisters first
"Time to myself for one thing"
Kelly sighed loudly into the phone
"I know, but you'll have the entire summer for that once school is out. And if you ask me, you have more than enough time alone. You need to get a life"
Lena pursed her lips
Why didn't her friend understand?
"I have a life, Kelly. I have a job I love, a ministry I enjoy, and good friends. I'm perfectly content, and if it wasn't for the donation this man made to Josh's therapy pets program, I would never have agreed at all"
Her friend, veterinarian Josh McDowell, started a ministry to bring animals to visit patients in nursing homes and rehabilitation centers
She and Oreo were regular participants, but a sluggish economy had caused a substantial drop in donations
The program was in danger of closing
Edwards's contribution would ensure the ministry's survival awhile longer
"You could have said no"
Lena gripped the phone
"And see the pet therapy program close? I couldn't let that happen"
"Then helping Dixon is a fair trade, right?"
Her friend had a valid point, but while she appreciated his donation, it didn't lessen her uneasy feeling about him
"Are you sure this guy is legitimate? Anyone can claim to have a Christian ministry"
"Of course he's legit. I told you, Dixon and Rick went to college together. That's the reason he's staying with us and not at a hotel. What's this about, Lena? It's not like you to be so suspicious of people"
Lena absently combed her fingers through Oreo's coat
"I'm merely being cautious"
She'd sized Edwards up at church yesterday when he'd addressed the congregation
Had she met him beforehand, she would never have agreed to help him
Ever
Dixon Edwards was charming, friendly, and magnetic, with a smile that could convince people to part with their money and their common sense for any so-called worthy cause
The way her ex-fiance, Peter Cane, had bilked the small church in Tampa out of thousands with his phony mission scam
He'd stolen the money and stolen her heart and left them both shattered
Lena jumped at the loud knock on her front door
"He's here"
"Oh. Yeah, that's why I was calling. To tell you he was on his way over"
"Thanks for the warning"
She hung up the phone, her heart pounding
As much as she dreaded spending this week with Edwards, she was looking forward to revisiting all the sights of St. Augustine
Though she doubted a self-absorbed man like Edwards would appreciate her lovely hometown
Her conscience stung, and she offered up a quick prayer for forgiveness
She shouldn't be pigeonholing Dixon Edwards before she actually met him
Her mistake with Peter was a long time ago, and God had healed her broken heart
But He'd also shown her a major flaw in her own character-a tendency to fall in love quickly with charming men
Like Edwards
Her guard would be up
The knock came again
Lena inhaled a fortifying breath, forced a smile, and opened the door
Oreo barked excitedly at her feet
"Miss Butler, I'm Dixon Edwards"
He glanced down at Oreo, who was sniffing at his boots
Lena stared at the man on her doorstep
He looked different than she'd remembered him from yesterday
He seemed taller, leaner, and more imposing
The broad shoulders inside his burgundy button-up shirt tapered to narrow hips and long, jean-clad legs
She hadn't noticed how his light brown hair fell roguishly across his broad forehead and softened his generous mouth and full lips
He was more vital up close
The masculine energy emanating from him was disconcerting
She swallowed and struggled to find her voice
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Edwards"
He smiled and grasped her hand
The contact sent a shiver up her spine and made her knees wobble strangely
She tugged loose and adjusted her glasses
She'd been right to keep her guard up
Edwards was already doing strange things to her nerves
"I appreciate you helping me out this week"
He stepped inside, placing a large case and notebook at his feet
He closed the front door behind him
"It'll go a lot faster with a local showing me around"
He smiled again, and Lena found herself searching for something to say
The dimple in his left cheek softened the angled planes of his face and brought a twinkle to his sky blue eyes
She forced herself to concentrate on the task at hand
"So what exactly will we be doing? Kelly said you needed help finding places in St. Augustine for a movie?"
"Right. I'm here scouting locations to use in a film we'll be shooting here next year. My location manager normally does this job, but she's out on maternity leave. Since there wasn't a local professional to work with, the job fell to you"
Lena frowned, still unclear of his purpose
"So you're here sightseeing?"
Edwards smiled and crossed his arms over his chest
"In a manner of speaking. I'm doing an overall look-see this trip. Tina, the location manager, will come back in a few months with the production team and do a more detailed scout"
Oreo rose up and put his paws on Edwards's legs
"Is this your charity?"
Edwards reached down and scratched the black-and-white dog's head
"Kelly said something about animal hospitals"
"No. Animals in hospitals"
Edwards frowned
"Isn't that unsanitary?"
"Therapy pets," Lena explained
"We bring animals to visit patients in hospitals, rest homes, and rehabilitation centers. Stroking pets is calming and reassuring when people are hurting"
A sweet memory came to mind
"There was an elderly lady in the home we first visited. Mrs. Carter. She was so cranky, so sad, but when she held Oreo, all that faded away. She changed in front of my eyes. It was so rewarding"
He grunted under his breath
"Interesting"
Lena was more interested in her role in this agreement
"And what do we do when we find some of these locations?"
Edwards smiled again
She wished he'd stop doing that
She couldn't think clearly
That dimple made him look like a mischievous little boy
He spread his hands wide
"Lots of things
First I'll take pictures for overall aesthetic of the city
A few stills
A little video and some panoramic
Then we'll hunt down specific sites to match the script
I'll look into the logistics and feasibility of each site-how far is it from the base of operations, is parking available, is the nearby electrical power sufficient, or will we need generators?
Light sources and sound levels for each site need to be checked
Weather conditions have to be assessed
Then I'll have to obtain permission and cooperation from location owners of the sites and their neighbors
Also local governments and law enforcement"
Lena tried to digest all he'd told her
"I had no idea there was so much involved"
"Most people don't"
Edwards rested his hands on his hips, and she couldn't help but notice the strong forearms below the rolled-up sleeves of his shirt
His hands were broad with beautifully tapered fingers
She forced herself to concentrate
"So you really do own a movie company?"
He grinned
"Yes, I really do. Co-own, actually. Larry Austin is the majority partner"
Lena knew better than to take anyone at face value
"So would I know any of your movies?"
Edwards shook his head
"Probably not. Up until recently, we've only made small promotional films and corporate videos. We branched out a few years ago into feature films. The first one will be released this summer
The one we're shooting here in St. Augustine is our second big-budget production"
Lena's guard rose a notch
Talk was cheap, and something about Dixon Edwards made her uneasy
"So could I see some of your work?"
She gauged him closely, preparing to analyze his response
"Sure, but I doubt you'd find them interesting. I can get you a copy of the upcoming release if you'd like"
She started to say yes, just to see if he could actually produce it, but then she reminded herself to dial down the doubt
Edwards was a good friend of Rick and Kelly's
She had no reason to question anything he said-except her own gullible history
"No thank you. I doubt if I'd have time to watch it"
He held her gaze a moment, and she realized he was waiting for her to make the next move
"Oh. I'm ready if you are"
She grabbed her purse from the foyer table then opened the door
The sooner they got started, the sooner she'd be done with the man
"Right"
He picked up his gear and followed her outside to the car
They climbed in, and Lena started the engine
"Where do you want to go first?"
Edwards shrugged then adjusted his seat backward several notches to better accommodate his large frame
"Wherever you like"
He smiled, holding up a thick notebook
"I have a lot of ground to cover"
Lena was more certain than ever that she'd made a huge mistake in agreeing to show this guy around
His quick smile and even quicker tongue meant she'd have to be vigilant
God had revealed her vulnerabilities, but it was up to her to maintain control of her life
"Surely you have a starting point?"
She put the car in reverse then looked at her passenger
His expression was pleasant but unreadable
"Not really. Pick a direction and go for it"
Lena frowned
"Which direction?"
Edwards chuckled
"You don't like being spontaneous, do you?"
"Mr. Edwards-"
"Dix"
She sighed audibly, hoping he'd get the hint
Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.

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