Page 100 of Forged in Secrets

Maybe he had a point about God. Well, maybe their father did, at any rate.

Ben had been going to church every Sunday for years. He believed. But when he looked at Grace’s faith, he couldn’t help but notice what was missing in his own.

Even when things seemed dark and painful, Grace chose to trust Jesus.

Ben usually chose to trust in himself.

He blew air out of his nose, resting his head in his arms along the railing of the ship. He couldn’t deny that it was true. But was it too late for him to ask Jesus to change his hardened heart?

Before he could figure out the answer, he felt a hand on his back, startling him for the second time.

“Asher,” he snapped, “I swear–”

Grace was standing there, her blonde curls swept back by the gentle breeze as the cheerful afternoon sun made her blue eyes sparkle.

“Sorry for scaring you,” she said, a smile teasing at her full pink lips. She didn’t look sorry at all.

“You don’t scare me, Hinton,” he said, leaning back against the railing.

Her eyes lingered on his. Like Asher, she saw more than he revealed. She had questions, but unlike Asher, she didn’t pry. But nonetheless, she deserved answers, andhe’d give them to her–just as soon as he’d had the chance to have a long talk with Jesus.

If he wanted to learn to trust, he was going to have to let go of the bitterness he carried.

His father was right. God would not only forgive him; He’d cast his sins into the sea. That was where his healing had to begin.

He cleared his throat. “Where’s Jade?”

“She’s still tied up on the bridge for now,” Grace said, fiddling with a lock of her hair. “Asher offered to give me a break from listening to Princess Gorsky complaining about us meddling kids. And from captain duty.”

Ben’s eyes narrowed. “You do realize I barely trust him to operate my car, correct?”

Grace rolled her eyes, but her pretty smile stayed in place. “Oh, be nice. The auto navigation is set. We’re far enough out that I don’t see us running over any wayward fishing vessels, and if the radar beeps, he knows to come running for my assistance in a fit of panic.”

Something about the teasing look in her eyes made his heart pick up speed.

She hadn’t moved any closer, hadn’t even tried to walk up to the rail and look out at the view beside him. She wasn’t going to make a decision for him.

There were so many serious words left to say. So many apologies he still had to make. So many ways he’d failed to protect her.

And here she was, standing there like some kind of tropical angel, waiting for him anyway.

He stood up straight and closed the gap between them in a single long stride, his hands finding her waist. She looked up at him and then let her eyes fall gently shut, asthough the angel had gone to sleep, completely trusting the man she had chosen to bless with her love.

He leaned down, pulling her in close to his chest as their lips connected, wanting to feel her heart beating against his own.

He heard her humming gently as they kissed, clearly savoring each second just as much as he did. He shut his eyes as well, wanting to feel every sensation. Not like anything could distract him right now, short of the world falling to pieces beneath their feet.

Maybe not even that.

At last, she broke away, opening her eyes as though waking up from a good dream. She looked as though she was going to speak, but instead, she leaned her head against his shoulder.

She was waiting for him, and he knew it.

Should he pour out his heart to her, even with so many other things he still needed to explain?

Only God knew.

But today, he was stepping out in faith.

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