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

I’m working on so it’s going to be a very busy few months for me. What about you?”
    “I like winter, or at least used to. After all, if it weren’t for winter, we wouldn’t have spring.”
    A flash of warmth lit his eyes. “Very true. So are you working on new designs?”
    It was easy to talk to him. He had the same kind of internal warmth she recognized in men like Jerod Kinsley and Alex and Xander Covington. As the lighting outside of the windows darkened and the light turned gray, she looked over her shoulders. “Oh, dear. Looks like we might get snow.” Closing her pad, she began to put things back into her bag. “I had best get back to the bus station before it snows. The roads can get gnarly at that point.”
    He glanced around. The only other people in the café besides the two of them were the baristas who were gazing out another window and not paying attention to them at all. “Stephanie,” he said in a soft voice and she looked up into his eyes. “Do you want to see me again?”
    The question unsettled her. Did she? Yes. But only if she knew where they stood. “Christopher, the courting system here is different. Would I like to see you? Yes. But not at the cost of what could be.” If she spent too much time with him and they weren’t courting, her reputation which was already iffy, would be shot.
    He nodded, seeming to understand. “Thank you for your honesty.” Reaching over, he squeezed the back of her hand before standing up and leaving the café without another word. Figuring that meant she would only see him accidentally, she drank the rest of her coffee and picked up her bag. At least she didn’t feel badly about it. Sure, she would have liked to have been courted by him, but maybe Dora was rubbing off on her. She was learning to accept things she couldn’t change.
    Heading out the door of the café, the first snowflake drifted down in front of her.
     
    * * * * *
     
    Thanksgiving was a date she had ignored the year before, but this year she had two invitations for dinner, one from the Covingtons and one from Dora and her mother. Figuring that the Covingtons would understand, she accepted Dora’s invitation. The Lexington household was quiet but happy. The kitchen was a strange green and purple plaid design that was rather difficult to look at, but she looked past it as that wasn’t what mattered.
    “Thanks for inviting me,” she said as they sat down to a dinner of roast chicken and potatoes. Stephanie had brought along a store-bought pumpkin pie which the other two had seemed pleased about.
    “It’s a pleasure to have one of Dora’s friends over again,” Darcelle said with a smile. “It’s been too long.” There was a spring in Mrs. Lexington’s step that surprised Stephanie. From what Dora said, before summer she had been depressed and missing her husband so much she painted the kitchen a different color every other week. But now, it was as though she had a new lease on life. Stephanie could understand. So did she.
    “It’s good to be back. What are your plans for Christmas?” In high school, Dora’s family had very specific rules for the holidays. Both Daniel and Darcelle, her parents, had grown up in Hyacinth and in extremely religious households and had brought their traditions into their family.
    “Oh, this Christmas is going to be special,” Dora said with a small smile. Stephanie knew she was missing something when Darcelle turned pink. “Mom’s getting married.”
    Dropping her fork, Stephanie looked between the two of them. “Really? Who?”
    “His name’s George Leighton. He’s my sister Vi’s brother-in-law. We spent a lot of time together this summer. He’s not from Hyacinth but he’s a good man. He proposed a week ago.”
    “Congratulations.” Leaping to her feet, Stephanie went to the other side of the table and hugged Darcelle. “I’m so happy for you.” Tons of thoughts rushed through her head. “Is he moving here?”
    “Oh, no. I’m