Love by Design. Christine Johnson
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Romance Takes Flight
Jen Fox won’t let anyone stand in her way of joining the first flight expedition to the North Pole. Even if the person trying to take her seat is the dashing world-famous stunt pilot Dan Wagner. Being on that flight crew would fulfill her father’s last wish for her. And Dan should know better than to unseat the dressmaker’s determined daughter.
When Dan arrives in Michigan, he’s intrigued by the offer to fly over the North Pole. He needs the money, even if it means taking the spot from the driven—and attractive—Miss Fox. Yet their strictly business relationship hits turbulence when they realize they both wish for something more personal...
The Dressmaker’s Daughters: Pursuing their dreams a stitch at a time
“I was never serious about any woman, and I never will be as long as I fly airplanes.”
Jen gasped. Dan had made himself perfectly clear. He would never have a serious relationship with a woman as long as he flew. That meant forever, as far as she could see. “You can’t mean that.”
“I won’t risk making a woman a widow.”
Now he was making her angry. “Don’t you think she ought to have a say in that?”
“No.” The man didn’t even have the grace to hesitate. “A relationship can’t work unless both partners work together. Until I stop flying, that can’t happen.”
“Why not? Jack and Darcy have made it work.”
“Oh?”
That simple question infuriated her. “We are not here because both Jack and Darcy fly airplanes. This could happen to anyone. At any time.” That reality finally sank in. “No one can remove all risk from life.”
“Perhaps, but I can minimize it. I won’t make a woman suffer from losing her husband.”
“That sounds to me like you’re afraid of losing someone you love.”
His expression darkened, all sense of calm gone.
She had finally pushed him too far.
“If that’s true, Miss Fox,” he growled, “then we both are.”
A small-town girl, CHRISTINE JOHNSON has lived in every corner of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. She enjoys creating stories that bring history to life while exploring the characters’ spiritual journeys. Though Michigan is still her home base, she and her seafaring husband also spend time exploring the Florida Keys and other fascinating locations. You can contact her through her website at christineelizabethjohnson.com.
Love by Design
Christine Johnson
To give unto them…the oil of joy for mourning.
—Isaiah 61:3
To God belongs all the glory.
My deepest gratitude to Mary Hayes, RN, MS, CNM, who helped me understand the potential problems faced during pregnancy and answered my many questions. Your ideas and assistance were vital.
Contents
January 1925
Jen Fox had to pass the test this time. She had to.
She nervously tapped the end of her pencil on the tabletop, drawing a glare from the flight instructor who was scoring her written examination. Already the instructor’s red pencil had scratched the