Courted by Trouble: A Courting Romance (In Hyacinth Book 3) by Bree Cariad Read Free Book Online Page A

think any worse of you for it.”
    Except she probably wouldn’t get another chance with Christopher and that thought bothered her. Breathing out slowly, she nodded. “Thanks, Jerod.”
    “You’re welcome. Was there anything else you needed?”
    “No. I had best go back. I have an outfit I need to deliver this afternoon.”
    “All right, though while you’re here I have something to ask you.” Surprised, she looked up at him. “I want to get Cami something unique, a gift she wouldn’t have asked for, as a wedding gift. You’ve known her forever. What would she want?”
    The answer came without a thought. “She’s always wanted a sleigh bed.”
    “A sleigh bed?”
    She nodded. “In cherry.”
    He nodded slowly as if thinking about it and smiled. “Thank you.”
     

Chapter 4
     
    Saturday came quickly, much quicker than it should have and Stephanie found herself in the passenger seat of Charlotte Covington’s car, being driven to their house. “Thanks for picking me up,” she said quietly.
    “Oh, it’s no trouble. I was glad for a little time with you.” After a brief pause, she continued. “If you ever need someone to talk to, you can always come to me, Stephanie. I loved your mother as a sister and you’ve always been a sister to my daughter which makes you another daughter to me. As such, please feel free to come to me if you need anything.”
    “Thanks, Mrs. Covington.”
    “Oh, please call me Charlotte. We’re both adults now. Well, you are. I’m going through my second childhood or at least my husband seems to think so.”
    Giggling a little, Stephanie grinned. “I’ve always looked up to the two of you. So did Mom.”
    “I miss Jessica,” she said with a quiet sigh. “But I know she would be proud of how you are recovering from what happened to you. I know I am.”
    It was amazing how just a few words could make her feel so good. Cami’s entire family was really good at that.
    “So, are you ready to meet Christopher?” she asked as they got close to the house.
    “I’ve met him actually. Jerod and Cami introduced him to me at the picnic.”
    The Covington household was quiet when they arrived. “Alex and Drake are still out with the cows. They’ll be back an hour before Christopher is to arrive. So, let’s get dinner started.”
    “Umm, Charlotte? I still don’t know how to cook.”
    Cami’s mother laughed softly. “Well, then it’s about time we taught you how. Come on.”
    Thankfully the dinner wasn’t too complex, but Stephanie still managed to burn the vegetables and ruin the cheesecake.
    “Why don’t you go upstairs and rest?” Charlotte suggested when she looked at the sunken mess that was supposed to be light and fluffy. “I can fix that.”
    “I don’t know how you do it,” Stephanie said, taking a step backward. “I can make food from a can or a box, but doing anything from scratch seems insurmountable.”
    “Maybe you should take a couple of the summer event classes.”
    “Oh, no. I had enough of that kind of problem in home economics. All the girls laughed at me constantly because my food never came out right.”
    Smiling at her, Charlotte shook her head. “Somehow I don’t think that’s a problem, Stephanie. You just need more faith in yourself.”
    “And for my cheesecakes not to sink.”
    Laughing, Charlotte shooed her upstairs.
    By the time Alex and Drake came in from working outside, Stephanie was setting the table and dressed in a simple halter-dress she made for herself on a whim. It was a bit whimsical with cartoon characters everywhere, but she liked it.
    In the time she was upstairs getting ready, somehow Charlotte had saved dinner and there was even a new dessert off to the side.
    When the doorbell rang, Stephanie was in the living room with the four of them and she jumped. Alex let him in and when the two walked into the living room, she was struck by how handsome Christopher actually was. He had tamed his hair tonight but his eyes still