Pinky Promise — Valerie Comer

A Springtime Romance

A Christian Romance Novella

Kelly Bryant's young daughter wants a daddy and sets her sights on her new best friend's single father. The man may be charming, sweet, and a believer, but Kelly is embarrassed. She extracts a pinky promise from her six-year-old to stop proposing to men on her behalf.

Ian Tomlinson isn't looking for a wife but does need care for his daughter during spring break the week after his move to Riverbend. He hates to ask Kelly -- and plant ideas in the girls' minds -- but he's rather low on options.

How can two single parents fall in love for real with a pair of mini-matchmakers pushing from both sides -- pinky promises or not?

Welcome to Riverbend!

1. Secretly Yours
2. Pinky Promise
3. Sweet Serenade (available in Splash!)

Riverbend, BC, is the quaint Canadian town you wish you were from, where everyone knows everyone, seasons are celebrated, and love is in the air. Look for more Riverbend Romance Novellas through 2015.

The Riverbend Romance Novellas are a series of contemporary Christian romance stories. These inspirational romance novellas are heart-warming shorter reads with true-to-life (but fictional) characters who face challenges in finding their one true love.

EXCERPT

“I love you, Mommy.” Elena wrapped her arms around Kelly's neck, her shoulder digging into Kelly's throat. “But I still want a daddy.”

“There is something you can do.”

Elena pulled back, a hopeful expression on her face. “What?”

“You can ask Jesus for a daddy.”

“Will He give me one?”

Kelly lifted a shoulder. “I don't know. Sometimes He says yes to prayers, and sometimes He says no. And sometimes, like Mommy, He says to wait a while. Like when you wanted Sophie to come visit, and I said not until tomorrow.”

Elena nodded thoughtfully. “I'll ask Jesus lots.”

A vision of Elena running around the playground at school and shouting out her prayers popped into Kelly's mind. “There's another rule. I've told you that you can talk to Jesus anytime, anywhere, and He'll always hear you. But this is a special kind of prayer, and you're only allowed to pray it out loud at bedtime. Otherwise it has to be a quiet prayer in your head.”

“Why?”

“It just does. And one more thing.”

Elena sighed. “What?”

“Remember when we talked about pinky promises?” Kelly held up her hand and stretched out her little finger. “I want you to pinky promise me you won't talk to Sophie's daddy about it. That you won't ask him to be your daddy.”

“I don't want to pinky promise that.”

“I need you to.”

“But -- ”

“Elena, please obey me.”

How could such a small body come up with a sigh the size of an elephant? Elena twined her finger around Kelly's. “Pinky promise.”

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