Horizons — Bobbi Kenady

Horizons is the third book in the Creative Women series which follows the stories of three talented, successful women as their lives are touched by love.
Over the past two years, Rayna Houston has watched her two dearest friends find true love, get married and start families of their own. She has already attained relative success in her career as an artist with her own gallery, Horizons. But lately she is finding herself more obsessed with her dream of falling in love and having her own baby. She is growing impatient waiting on God's timing. When an old childhood friend steps back into her life to offer a tremendous boost to her career with a showing in his gallery, she begins to wonder if he could hold the key to her future happiness. Slate Chandler is blown away by the beauty that Rayna Houston has grown to be; but he has very strict rules about mixing business with pleasure. Will he find out that some rules are made to be broken?
Excerpt: At the sound of the bell over the front door, Rayna absently called out a greeting as she quickly ended the program that was running and stood to scan the gallery for the customer that had just entered.
A man a little over six feet tall, with dark blonde hair stood with his back to her. She noticed his gaze was trained on a painting that she had done at her brother, Reed's farm. It showed the swing at the barn with the rolling hills and a line of trees in the background. The breeze was captured by the painting, as the swing was lifted slightly into the air.
“This is amazing. It is so real. Not many artists can capture movement so eloquently.” The man's voice was as appealing to listen to as his broad shoulders were to look at.
Rayna chided herself for noticing such a thing about a customer.
“Thank you,” she spoke a few feet behind the stranger.
The man turned and ran his gaze quickly over her features. Normally she would have felt uncomfortable with the obvious appraisal from a stranger but something seemed familiar about this man.
“Rayna Houston?” Her name flowed from his mouth.
Did her name really sound as beautiful as it did when he said it? Whoa, she needed to rein in her imagination and quickly.
“Yes.” She answered cautiously. Do I know you?”
The man smiled broadly, revealing perfect teeth and a breathtaking smile. Did she actually hear her own intake of breath? She hoped not.
The man stuck his hand toward her. “I'm sorry. That was rude of me to not introduce myself. Yes you do know me; or at least you did. I guess it was almost twenty years ago. Slate Chandler.”
Rayna's eyes grew as large as saucers. “Slate?” Her voice rose to the excitement of a school girl. Without hesitation, she launched herself into his arms.
Slate was a little taken back by Rayna greeting. But he was certainly not sorry. What did shock him was how the eight or nine year old girl that he remembered had grown into the beautiful woman that was currently hugging him?