Winning His Trust: An Uplifting Inspirational Romance


 
 
 
 “You’re good at this.”
 Declan arched a brow. “Why do you sound so surprised?”
 “Because your website leaves a lot to be desired. Yet you established your authority from the get-go.” Jordan held up a finger. “Made us laugh so we’re comfortable in your presence.” Another tick of the finger. “And not once have I been bored on this hike.”
 “Is my website really that bad?” He hadn’t updated it in years, which was surely part of why his business was struggling.
 She nodded. “It really is, but your guide skills are not.”
 “Do you think you can help me?”
 Her lips quirked up into a grin. “I know I can, Declan Porter. Just you watch.”
 He recognized the spark in her eyes as a promise. He didn’t have the heart to let her know that most people went back on their promises. Trusting another woman wasn’t the smartest thing to do. At least Declan wouldn’t do something ridiculous like trust Jordan Wood with his heart.
 
 
 Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom and multipublished Christian contemporary romance author. She writes to bring God glory and to learn more about His goodness. A member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and of the Virginia Chapter, Toni loves connecting with readers via social media. You can learn more about her at tonishiloh.com.
 Books by Toni Shiloh
 Love Inspired
 An Unlikely Proposal
 An Unlikely Alliance
 Her Christmas Redemption
 Winning His Trust
 Visit the Author Profile page at LoveInspired.com.
 
 
 WINNING HIS TRUST
 Toni Shiloh
 
 
 
 A man’s heart deviseth his way:but the Lord directeth his steps.
 —Proverbs 16:9
 
 
 To the Author and Finisher of my faith.
 
 
 Acknowledgments
 Thanks to Jaycee Weaver for helping me when my brain felt melted and my hamster in need of an oxygen tank!
 Thanks to Andrea Boyd for being an awesome friend and critique partner. Love you!
 Thanks to Teresa Tysinger. I cannot thank you enough for the brainstorming session that finally made this story work. Seriously, talking through that and getting your awesome critiques made this book fun to write.
 And to my bff writer friend, Sarah Monzon, for always encouraging me and being a faithful friend. Oh, and for The Creamery’s name. Love you!
 And last, but not least, thank you to my husband and children for putting up with me being stuck in “The Matrix.” I love you more than words can say.
 
 
 Contents
 Chapter One
 Chapter Two
 Chapter Three
 Chapter Four
 Chapter Five
 Chapter Six
 Chapter Seven
 Chapter Eight
 Chapter Nine
 Chapter Ten
 Chapter Eleven
 Chapter Twelve
 Chapter Thirteen
 Chapter Fourteen
 Chapter Fifteen
 Chapter Sixteen
 Chapter Seventeen
 Epilogue
 Dear Reader
 Excerpt from Falling for the Amish Bad Boy by Emma Miller
 
 
 Chapter One
 “I’m telling you, this will help our sales.” Jordan Wood stared at her older brother, mentally pleading with her face to convey the right expression to get Michael to agree to her plan.
 “Look. I appreciate that you have all these ideas, but this isn’t the boutique you were working in.” He tossed a sympathetic glance her way. “We run a general store, selling groceries and some clothing items. That’s it. We’re not changing the way the store functions because you think you have retail experience.”
 She scoffed.
 “I mean managing retail experience,” he said.
 What he didn’t know was that she did. Okay, not actual in-store management experience; however, Jordan had received her bachelor’s degree in business with an emphasis in merchandising. Only, Mike and the rest of her siblings had no clue that Jordan had actually finished her degree.
 When she’d first made the decision to reenroll at the university, keeping quiet had seemed like the logical first step. Her siblings were always giving her grief about hopping from job to job and losing her scholarship—the reason she hadn’t finished her degree before. Not wanting to hear their comments, she’d kept her plans to herself.
 After successfully completing the first semester, it had made sense to continue the silence. But right then, Jordan regretted her decision since Michael seemed to believe she was inept. Still, she couldn’t bring herself to tell him the truth. Wouldn’t it be better to show Mike the depth of her knowledge before breaking out the degree that had only arrived by mail a couple of weeks ago? Mike was big on actions speaking louder than words.
 “You won’t even consider it?” she asked.
 “I have. I simply choose to continue doing business like we’ve always done. If it’s not broke...” His voice trailed off and his shoulders rose in a shrug.
 Jordan wanted to argue, but the office phone rang. Mike pointed to it, lifting his brows in question.
 She nodded, rising to her feet and muttering under her breath. Big brothers knew how to get under your skin one moment, then uplift you in the next. When Jordan had asked Mike if she could move back home last Christmas, he’d been sweet and totally understanding. Now that she was running the general store—okay, manning the cash register—his compassion seemed to have ebbed. She might as well be after-school hired help instead of a family member who owned a share in the business.
 Walking back into the main area of the general store, she scanned the premise, mentally cataloging all the ways she’d like to change the place for the better. Don’t give up. Surely Mike would acquiesce eventually. All she had to do was keep a smile in place when customers came in and continue to recall all the knowledge she’d gained in her merchandising classes.
 Maybe she could get her sister Pippen or her brother Charles to help. Well, Pippen lived in Fayetteville, Arkansas, instead of their hometown of Willow Springs. Even though the drive was only an hour and a half, Pippen didn’t come back home that often. At least Charles was local. He worked as a registered nurse at the clinic, and