Secretly Smitten by Diann Hunt Denise Hunter Kristin Billerbeck Colleen Coble Read Free Book Online Page B

place back. It’s filled with mice and spiders.”
    “Eew!” Zoe shuddered. “Last time I looked, half the floorboards were rotted too.”
    “Carson is donating new floorboards,” Anna said. She was wearing black slacks and a bright pink top that lit her fair skin with color.
    Tess had often wondered why she had never remarried after their father left ten years ago. Anna was still lovely and vibrant, and several single men at church had given her more than a passing glance.
    “So the train is coming?” Zoe popped a brownie into her mouth.
    Anna put a chicken breast on her plate. “We don’t know yet. The town is going to put its best foot forward. The decision won’t be made for several months, and there will be visits by RailAmerica to evaluate what we could bring to the table. But you have to admit our town would make a perfect backdrop to a scenic journey.”
    “The train station will look darling when it’s restored,” Clare said. “Just imagine flower boxes under the windows and the walk lined with purple pansies. We’d have enough tourists coming through that the nursery could stay open year-round. I talked to Mr. Lewis about selling wreaths, holiday decorations, and souvenirs. I wouldn’t have to look for a winter job.”
    “Are you doing the landscaping for the train station?” Tess asked.
    “I sure am. I have a ton of plans for the yard.” Clare settled beside Tess at the picnic table. “But I’m more interested in what you’ve found out.”
    “It’s kind of sad.” Tess told her family about the letter they’d found.
    Anna’s eyes filled with tears. “So his family never received it. What if he never found them?”
    “He had to have come to town or his dog tags wouldn’t be here. So maybe he was able to find out where they’d moved.”
    “But if he was in town, why didn’t someone see him and tell Grandma?” Zoe asked. “I would have thought that kind of news would be trumpeted all over town. It’s very odd.”
    “It’s strange for sure,” Tess said. She glanced at her younger sister, who seemed unusually distracted today. Ordinarily Zoe would be demanding they get to the bottom of this now. She’d be pushing for them to talk to their grandmother too. “What’s up with you, Zoe? I heard you quit your job at the coffee shop.”
    A smile played around Zoe’s lips and her dark eyes snapped with excitement. “I’m starting my own business.”
    “Doing what?” Anna asked. “Zoe, you never think before you leap. What is it this time?”
    Their mother managed not to roll her eyes, but Tess wouldn’t have blamed her. Zoe changed jobs like most people changed brands of hand lotion. But maybe this would be what her sister needed.
    “Go on,” Tess prompted when Zoe’s shoulders sagged.
    Zoe sat up. “Smitten may be the romance capital, but for those of us who are single here, it’s still tough to connect. We see couples wandering the town hand in hand and it makes us feel even worse. So I’m starting a romance club, so to speak. There will be online meetings, but I’ll also have parties where people can meet in a safe place in person.”
    “Where will these ‘meetings’ take place?” Anna asked.
    “There’s the community center, for one thing. And I can get restaurants to offer special rates to my group. Natalie has already agreed to host a monthly meeting on the night she’s normally closed. So it will be just for my clients.” Zoe leaned forward eagerly. “And if we can get the train, imagine the romantic dinner trips!”
    “I like it,” Clare said. “No big surprises that way. It feels safer than regular online dating. If you don’t like the guy you came to meet, you can leave and know your friends are looking out for you.”
    “Exactly,” Zoe said.
    Tess tried to imagine herself in a situation like that. She enjoyed meeting new people, but the whole dating scene was scary. Her thoughts flew to Ryan. Would he agree to do something like that? What if he