Tapestry of Trust Read Online Free Page B

and as he looked down, a small Bible peeked out from beneath a stack of mail. His gift from Grace Christian Church. Picking it up, he fingered the gold letters etched into the leather, The Holy Bible . God’s perfect word. A truth he’d balked at in the past, but now he knew better. He turned to the concordance and let his gaze skitter down the page, stopping when he came to trust . His eyes rested on Psalm 22:5. They cried to You and were saved; in You they trusted and were not disappointed.
    Head bowed, Charlie meditated on the verse until the sound of footsteps triggered his attention. He glanced up to find Erica in the doorway. She stared at him for a moment, leaning against the doorjamb, her booted ankles crossed. He had to admit she was a beauty. Tall and slender with bouncy, blonde hair curling about her shoulders, and blue eyes fringed by thick lashes, her skin flawless. When they met in grad school and started dating, he’d been the envy of every other guy in class.
    “Busy?”
    Charlie rocked back, the chair squeaking. He closed the Bible on his lap. “My first client rescheduled, but I do have work to do.”
    A grin broke across Erica’s face. Waving a manila folder in her hand, she sauntered toward him. “Guess what this is.”
    He wasn’t in the mood. “Is it something I should know about?” He doubted it.
    Erica tossed the folder onto the desk in front of him then eased into the chair opposite his desk, her fingers stroking his jacket as she refolded it on the armrest. Before he could remind her not to get too comfortable, she crossed her willowy legs. “Open it Charlie. I think you’ll be pleased.” She winked, flashing that same bewitching smile that used to make his heart throb.
    Charlie inhaled a long breath, trying to ignore her sultry perfume. He rubbed his nose. The spell she used to keep him under had long ago dissolved. He no longer desired a relationship built on good looks and business connections. Her shallow tactics wore on him. Not to mention, her shameless flirting with Carson Farthling at the Dallas conference, complete with the “harmless little kiss,” as she defended it. Oh yeah, the last straw.
    Dropping his gaze, he noticed the Bible still in his lap. As discreetly as possible, he slid it into the left desk drawer. “Jamison’s Imports, Jaguar and Porsche,” he read, flipping open the file. He looked from the paperwork to Erica, whose brows cocked beneath wispy bangs. “I don’t understand. Larry Wright has this account.”
    Erica tossed back her hair and stood. “I spoke with Daddy. He agreed you should have it.” She padded her way around the desk and stood at his shoulder. “You know, Charlie, when we get married, you’ll move up to VP and be in charge of all the accounts. You need to get acquainted with our best clients.”
    Charlie clenched his teeth. He adjusted his tie, taking a sturdy hold of his patience. “Erica we’ve been through this. We’re not getting married. You know that. After we broke up, your father requested that I stay on with the firm. He understood things were over between us. I hope you haven’t led him to believe anything different.”
    Silence. Charlie inhaled. “Hey, I need to get to work. You know we agreed not to discuss our personal issues in the workplace.”
    That familiar smile flashed across her face. “Don’t talk that way.” Inching closer, she touched his cheek. “Workplace or not, there’s still time to work things out.”
    Charlie pulled back, his jaw tightening. “Erica, there is nothing to work―”
    Erica jabbed a finger at the Bible stuffed inside the opened top drawer. “This is the reason, isn’t it?” She stomped a high-heeled boot and knotted her fists. “Our problems started with you going to church.”
    Charlie shoved the drawer closed and shot to his feet. “You’re wrong. Church isn’t the reason we broke up. My relationship with God is. Be honest Erica, you know we were going nowhere as a couple.