Read Online Heart's Reward by Donna Hill - Free Book Online

set them up in the lushness of what they are used to.” She lifted her chin and folded her arms. “I think they need a bit of a challenge. If they can get through it, experience something new, then we can pull out all the stops.”
    â€œI’ll take care of it.”
    Melanie nodded. “Keep me posted. Give Mr. Montgomery a call, bring him up to date on what we have for him so far.”
    â€œOh…” The one word from Veronica hung in the air.
    â€œProblem?”
    â€œNo, it’s just that, well it’s what you usually do.”
    â€œWe’re doing things differently, remember?” was all she said and walked out.
    Â 
    Melanie went to her room to change into her running clothes. The air was cool, almost chilly, but her body was on fire. She needed to douse the flames. A run along the beach and around the property always helped to clear her head.
    Dressed and ready she told Evan that she was going out for a run in case anyone was looking for her.
    She pulled her headband down over her ears andwrapped a towel around her neck. Her midnight-blue running jacket came just below her hips. Her running pants in the same blue clung to her legs like a second skin.
    At the front door, she did several minutes of stretching before taking off. She began slowly, heading down the path from the mansion onto the bluff then to the steps that led down to the beach. The sun was pale today, barely strong enough to give off any rays of warmth. The sky was slightly overcast and storm clouds could be seen in the distance. The water was gray and choppy. She took this all in as she started out on her run. It was a picture of solitude and loneliness, emotions that she was unable to shake lately. And as a result she’d quietly begun to question her ability to manage the business. Between having the hots for her client and questioning her own feelings, she wasn’t sure of anything anymore. How effective could she continue to be in helping perfect strangers find love when she couldn’t even put together a relationship of her own?
    She started off along the beach, following the horizon for about a mile, willing her mind to simply turn off and relax for a few minutes. But her thoughts refused to obey.
    The truth was, after Steven, she’d dived into work, putting all that she had into finding love, the kind of love she’d shared with her husband, for others. Andfor a long time, that was enough. She felt fulfilled. There had been men from time to time, men that she met at parties or while traveling. She’d even received several proposals over the years. Yet there had been no one that made her want to say “I do.” She’d seen the rainbow, crossed the colors to the other side, but she never got her pot of gold, her reward.
    A low ominous rumble caused her to look outward. The oncoming dark-gray storm clouds sped across the foamy waves. In the distance a zigzag of terrifying bright light cut across the sky. She had maybe five minutes before heaven and earth collided. She picked up her pace and headed back toward the house and none too soon. Halfway there, the first drops of rain began to fall and within moments, it was nearly blinding. If she hadn’t run this road a million times she would have never found her way back. The rain splashed against her face, whipped up by the frenzied wind, pinning her clothes to her body, determined, it seemed, to push her away from where she wanted to go. Her legs suddenly weighed a ton as she ran across the sand that sucked her feet like a vacuum. The added exertion accelerated her heart. She wiped water from her eyes as she rounded the bend and could just make out the shape of the house up ahead. If she wanted a workout, she’d certainly gotten one. She reached the steps and fought against the rising wind and rain to make it to the top thenacross the lawn and down the pathway to the front door, ignoring everything except the refuge of her