Clean Inspirational Romance: Escape to Paradise (Inspirational Happy Sweet First Love Second Chance Romance) (Contemporary New Adult Love Inspired Holiday Short Stories) by Johanna Jenkins Read Free Book Online Page B

stood there looking around.
    “Are you, Miss Meyers, by chance?”
    “Mr. Preston?” the young woman asked. Kale smiled and extended his hand, nearly stumbling over his own feet. Alicia Meyers was beautiful. Her long wavy hair was the color of rich wheat that was just coming to maturity. Thick and shining, it lay clear to her waist, pouring over her shoulders; a style that most women would find contradictory to say the least. She wore a pretty bonnet to keep the intense sun off her face and Kale thought it seemed appropriate, as it matched her lovely dress. It hid her eyes well, but could do nothing to hide her pretty smile or the rosy color of her cheeks. Kale thought himself extremely lucky indeed to host such a lovely young lady. As she carried her luggage from the train, however, he wondered for a moment about the way she huffed and puffed over a bag that didn’t seem as heavy as she wanted to make it seem.
    “Kale at your service,” he said. Once Alicia had taken his arm, he led her to his buggy and helped her up. “How was your trip?”
    “Tiring,” Alicia said, her dark eyes darting every which way. “I’m famished as well. The train, for being a cross-country run, didn’t offer the best amenities.”
    “Would you like something to eat before I show you the boarding house?”
    “I’d love something to eat and a huge cup of coffee,” Alicia sighed. Kale drove her to the end of town where the Tin Spoons Café was feeding the masses who’d stopped in for an early dinner.
    “Well hello, Kale!” Daisy Clark smiled. She came around the counter and hugged him. “About time you came in to see me.”
    “Good to see you too Daisy. May I introduce Miss Alicia Meyers? She’s come all the way from Louisiana to visit me for a time.”
    “That right?” Daisy smiled. “That’s terrific.”
    “Don’t get that look Daisy,” Kale chided. “She’s staying at Clara’s boarding house until we’ve made up our minds about whether to move a relationship forward.”
    “If you say so,” Daisy chuckled. “What can I get you two to start with?”
    “Coffee!” Alicia nearly screamed. “Please bring coffee and leave the pot.”
    Kale felt like someone had punched him. It wasn’t that he minded a woman speaking for herself. It was more that Alicia had made it sound as if she’d die without coffee. He’d have to ask her if that was customary for women in Louisiana.
    “So,” Kale started, after helping Alicia to her seat. “Tell me a little about yourself.”
    “I’m the youngest of seven. I just turned twenty-one a week ago and I have to be honest, seeing Texas sounded like a wonderful way to treat myself for my birthday.”
    Kale ground his teeth. If this woman, a term he used lightly, had spent his money to see the world for her birthday, she’d see herself on the first train back to civilization come the next day. “Is that the only reason you decided to accept my offer to come out here to Westin?”
    “Oh no!” Alicia smiled. “My daddy’s got this idea that I should get married and settle down. Except I don’t want to marry anyone in my home town. When I read your advertisement, I knew it was fate. I must say it’s smaller here than I’d thought originally. Everyone always says everything’s bigger in Texas. There is tons of potential here though, so that’s good.”
    “Tons of potential?”
    “For expansion of course. What with the ideas I have running around in my mind, I could get Westin its own place on the map within the decade.”
    Kale didn’t respond as his stomach and heart sank. Clearly Alicia was not ready for the type of marriage he was looking for. He knew everyone had their own idea of what makes a marriage work but their differences would probably cause more conflict than anything else. Kale decided to enjoy his time but not to invest his heart. It was still nice to have some female companionship. 
    After Alicia had drank a pot of coffee and barely touched her homemade