The Christmas Bouquet by Sherryl Woods Read Free Book Online

was bound to follow for her to say yes.
    “Well, of course it is,” Trace said, proving her point. “It’s the right thing to do.”
    Her mom frowned at him.
    “I’m just saying,” he said defensively.
    “Caitlyn’s decision,” Abby reminded him.
    “And Noah’s,” Caitlyn added. “I’ve thought of inviting him to join us for dinner tomorrow, but I won’t do it unless you all promise to treat him decently.” She looked directly at her grandfather and then at Trace as she said it. “I want all of you to get to know him, but I don’t want any pressure about wedding dates.”
    “They’ll be on their best behavior,” Nell assured her before glancing sharply at both men. “Won’t you?”
    Silence fell.
    “Won’t you?” Nell repeated.
    Trace sighed. “Of course.”
    Mick’s scowl settled in. “I reserve the right to say whatever I please in my own home.”
    Megan lifted a brow. “Do you want to meet this young man of Caitlyn’s or not? You’ll guarantee politeness or the rest of us will be having dinner at Brady’s without you.”
    Caitlyn choked back a laugh at Grandpa Mick’s stunned expression. “Maybe that would be best,” she said innocently.
    “Over my dead body!” Grandpa Mick blustered. “Okay, okay, I’ll promise to keep a civil tongue in my head, but if I don’t like what I’m hearing, none of you can hold me to that.”
    That wasn’t quite the assurance that Caitlyn would have preferred, but it was more than she’d anticipated. She crossed the room to give him a fierce hug. “Thank you.”
    When she looked into his eyes, she saw they were damp with tears.
    “You love this man?” he asked, his tone quieter and far more reasonable.
    “I do.”
    “Then we’ll start from there,” he said. “Everything else can be worked out.”
    Caitlyn wished she were as confident of that, but knowing that her family was on her side was a huge relief. It already felt as if a tremendous weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
    “I think we’ve had enough surprises for one morning,” Nell said. “Sweetheart, why don’t you come back to my cottage with me? You can help me make a big pot of Irish stew for tomorrow’s lunch.”
    “I’d love that,” Caitlyn said eagerly.
    And it wasn’t just because it meant she could escape from this room before either her grandfather or Trace could go back on their word and start asking questions she was nowhere near ready to answer. It had just as much to do with the soothing effect of being around Nell, and maybe finally learning to cook a favorite Irish meal that would be edible.
    * * *
    “Okay, now that they’re gone, what are we going to do about this?” Mick asked his son-in-law.
    Trace gave him a startled look. “I was under the impression that we’ve been given clear marching orders. We’re to be nice and keep our mouths shut.”
    “Oh, balderdash!” Mick retorted. “Have you ever known me to sit back and wait to see what happens?”
    Trace smiled. “And how has that worked out for you?”
    “Perfectly fine,” Mick replied at once, then sighed. “Mostly.”
    Trace gave him a rueful look. “It’s those exceptions that worry me.”
    “But you agree with me that Caitlyn and this man need to get married as soon as possible?” he pressed.
    “Not necessarily,” Trace said.
    Mick was startled by Trace’s apparent indecision. “You don’t agree? What kind of father doesn’t want to see his daughter married to the man who got her pregnant?”
    “Stepfather,” Trace corrected.
    Mick rolled his eyes. “We both know you’ve been more of a father to that girl than Wes Winters ever was. Why are you hesitating about doing what we both know is right?”
    “Because this is Caitlyn’s decision. If she has second thoughts about marrying this man, maybe there’s a reason for that. I think we need to meet him and then decide on the best course of action.”
    Mick took his son-in-law’s suggestion under advisement. “You could be