Three Down the Aisle by Sherryl Woods Read Free Book Online Page B

management at Rockingham Industries had dangled the prospect of a marketing position in front of her, but she realized now that she’d made herself all but indispensable as a receptionist, doing the job so well that they’d left her right where she was. Jeremy had repeatedly promised to remind the executives that she was a good candidate to move up into his department, but somehow it had never happened. What a fool she’d been!
    Fortunately Mike pulled into a parking lot at the nursery just then, so she didn’t have to try to defend her decision. She scrambled out of the car and would have gone on ahead, if Jessie hadn’t demanded that Melanie be the one to take her out of the car.
    Mike gave Melanie an apologetic look. “Would you mind? Once she gets an idea into her head, there’s no peace unless I go along with it. Some things aren’t worth arguing over.”
    “No problem,” Melanie assured him, helping Jessie out of the car. When the girl tucked her hand trustingly into Melanie’s, something in Melanie’s heart flipped over.
    “Can you help me pick out seeds?” Jessie asked. “I know where they are.”
    “Wouldn’t you rather have your dad do that? He’s the expert.”
    “I want you to do it,” Jessie insisted. “Please!”
    There was an unmistakable edge of hysteria in the little girl’s voice that caught Melanie by surprise. She glanced toward Mike.
    “It’s okay,” he said. “If you don’t mind taking her, it might be easier. I’ll fill you in later.”
    Melanie nodded. She smiled down at Jessie. “Okay, then. It looks as if you and I are on a mission, Jessie. Show me those seeds.”
    When Jessie tugged her off in the direction of the seeds, Melanie glanced back and caught Mike’s expression. He looked almost as bewildered and dismayed as she felt.
    “Over here,” Jessie said, giving Melanie’s hand another tug. “See? Look at all the pretty pictures.” She headed straight for a selection of vegetable seeds. She studied them as intently as another child might contemplate a video choice, then gave a little sigh.
    “Is something wrong?” Melanie asked.
    “I like these,” Jessie admitted, “’cause you can see what they’ll look like.”
    “Is there a problem with that?”
    “Daddy says the best ones are over there, in those bins,” Jessie explained. “There aren’t any pictures, so how can you tell if you’ll like them?”
    “Experience,” Melanie said. “I imagine farmers know which ones produce the best crops, so they don’t need to see a picture every time.” Melanie took her over to the bins of seeds. “See, right here it says these seeds are for Silver Queen corn. I’ve had that, and it’s the sweetest and best ever. I don’t need to see a picture to know it’s good.”
    Jessie regarded her with wide eyes. “We could grow corn?”
    Melanie laughed at her amazement. “If you have enough room in your garden, you can.”
    “Daddy never said that, and we’ve got lots and lots of room. I want some of those seeds,” she said at once.
    Melanie filled a small bag for her, then labeled it. “Now what?”
    “Read me another sign,” Jessie commanded. “One for beans.”
    Melanie found several bins of bean seeds and read the labels.
    Jessie peered at them worriedly. “Which ones do you think the bunnies will like best?”
    “I imagine they’ll be happy with whichever ones you choose,” she said honestly. “But I’d pick these.”
    “Okay,” Jessie said readily, reaching for the scoop and a bag that was way too big.
    “Whoa!” Melanie protested. “Not so many. You just need a few.”
    “But I told you, we got lots and lots of bunnies.”
    “Even so, a few seeds will give you more than enough beans.” She handed the child a small bag. “Fill this one up. Then let’s go and find your dad.”
    When they found Mike, he was pushing a cart overflowing with small plants and shrubs. Melanie eyed it warily. “You’ve gone a little overboard, haven’t you?