I know I haven't been here in a while. Life has a way of detouring our intentions..

I will be posting once a week for a while to see how it goes. Hopefully it won't take up too much time and I can continue to share some of my stories. :)

The name of the story is Janna's Run and I hope you enjoy it. Make sure to leave a comment and let me know what you think. Have a great day!
                                                                   

Chapter One

Janna James took a breath of fresh air deep into her lungs, increased her speed, pumping her arms all the way. Almost there.

Her heart pounded in her ears causing them to roar in protest. She willed her feet to move quicker, and they did.

She could see the restaurant up ahead. “Dear Lord, please let me make it.” The words came from the very depths of her being. She had to get there.

She was on the parking lot now, “I will make it,” She said out loud.

She was in front of the door now. She could see people inside enjoying their lunch. She reached her arm out and felt the hot metal of the door handle. “Please, Lord.” She started to pull it open, only to be knocked from her feet by the great beast. “Help me!” She screamed.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a figure stood over her, holding something in its hand. “Give me your hand,” it demanded.

She shrank back, scooting up against the scorching glass of the door. “Go away. Leave me alone.” She tried to focus but the sweat and tears in her eyes impeded her task.

“I’m not going to hurt you, and neither is Hairy,” the voice said.

She squeezed her eyes shut and then opened them again. A man stood above her with a quirky grin on his handsome face. The sun haloed around his head, making him look like an angel. “Who are you?”

“My name’s Jessie and this is Hairy.” He dipped his head toward a furry German shepherd.

Janna struggled to sit up, still using the door as a prop. “I haven’t seen you around here before.”

“That’s because I just moved here.” He gave her the hundred watt grin once more and her insides began to melt.

Oh no, I can’t let that happen, she thought. Janna moved around until she got on all fours and boosted herself up on her feet. She brushed her hands against dark gray sweats, squeezed one eye closed and held out her hand. “I’m Janna James. I own this restaurant.” She nodded to the building behind her.

Surprise lit his features. “You do?”

Irritation sped through her. Why was that always people’s first reaction? And this guy didn’t know her in the first place so who was he to judge her? “I do. Why do you find that so hard to believe?” Her warm tone had turned to ice.

The man gave her a look she couldn’t define. “I would’ve thought you were a model.”

Her mouth fell open. He was kidding, right? “Seriously?” The word was derisive, not questioning.

“Yes, seriously.” He took her hand in his warm grip, pumped it a couple times and let it go. “I’m Jedidiah Crane.”

Shock waves of electricity shot up her arm and she subconsciously rubbed it as she examined his features. Black, curly hair lay on the edge of his collar, looking soft as silk. Her eyes traveled upward and deep blue eyes smiled at her in amusement. He knew she was checking him out! Her face turned red. “Well, I’m not a model.” Her words conveyed her disgust.

“I wasn’t trying to offend you.” He tied the dogs leash to the bike rack and followed her in the door of the restaurant. “You’re very beautiful.”

His simple words caused her heart to drop to her feet and shoot back up into her chest where it pounded with the force of a ten pound hammer. “Does that line work with all the gals?”

“I don’t say it to all the gals, but I suppose it probably would.

There was that quirky grin again.

He had a small dimple at the right corner of his lips and it softened his otherwise harsh features. He was handsome, but not in a boyish way, except for that blasted dimple.

                                                           ***

“Are you finished now?” He plopped on one of the red, vinyl-covered stools at the counter and watched as she moved behind it. She got a glass, set it under the soda machine and pulled the ice lever before filling it with water. She took a long sip and it was Jedidiah’s turn to swallow and calm his pounding heart. He was amazed she didn’t know she was beautiful. Immediately the song sung by a popular country singer ran through his mind and he laughed again.  He was going to like this town. “So what’s the special for today, or do you have one?”

“Chicken and dumplings with two sides, a salad, and a drink.” She finished the water and walked into the kitchen.

He watched her go. Being in this one-horse town had just taken a turn for the better. When she came back he grinned and said, “Aren’t you going to ask what brings me to this rinky-dink town?”

She shrugged one delicate shoulder and returned with, “Nah, was I supposed to?”

Yes, he was going to love it here. She had spunk, and was nothing like her brother had portrayed her. Was the man blind? He planned to call him as soon as he was done and ask that very question. “It doesn’t matter really, that’s just what most people would say.”

It was her turn to grin. “Well, I’m not most people, which you’ll find out soon enough if you stay in this little ‘rinky-dink’ town.” She waltzed back into the kitchen and didn’t return.

He ate the meal he’d ordered from the heavy-set, red-headed waitress, took one last swig of his soda and walked out the door whistling Dixie, the bell over the door tinkling his departure.