Read Online Dakota Love by Rose Ross Zediker - Free Book Online
Authors: Rose Ross Zediker
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cake fell.
Was she crazy to feel this way? The more she was around Rodney, the more she wanted to be around Rodney. Caroline laughed out loud as she remembered how she’d debated what to wear to church last Sunday. She finally gave in to the urge to dress up for church, wearing a brown pantsuit, green blouse, and dress flats. In addition, she curled her hair and applied her makeup with a careful hand, topping it off with a new shade of lipstick. Why? Because she knew she’d see Rodney. She’d gone from spending church time reflecting on how bad her life had turned out to trying to impress a handsome man.
Caroline tapped the recipe card on the counter. She didn’t know why she bothered going to church anyway. It wasn’t like she really believed in or relied on God anymore. However, she’d begun to look forward to joining the singles group for breakfast, which she’d done the last three Sundays.
The click of the back door startled her from her deep thoughts. She wasn’t expecting anyone.
“Mom? Or should I say Grandma?”
“In the kitchen.” Caroline heard Jason’s boots thud on the entryway floor as he removed them. “What brings you here?” she asked as he entered the kitchen.
“Day off.” His nylon coat swished as he shrugged out of it, then hung it over the back of a kitchen chair.
“How’s Angela feeling?”
“Good—tired but not sick. The doctor says everything’s how it should be at this stage. What are you up to?” Jason stood by her and hugged her shoulders with one arm.
“Just going over a recipe. Want a cup of coffee?” Caroline reached for a mug.
“Sure.” Jason pulled the recipe card closer. “Trout almandine. Kind of a fancy entrée for one.”
Caroline inhaled deeply, dreading Jason’s response to her being involved with a man other than his father. Not that she and Rodney were anything more than friends, but still, she’d gone over this conversation in her mind many times. Every scenario she imagined didn’t turn out well. “Actually, I’m cooking dinner for a friend.”
Jason sipped his coffee, then opened the cupboard where she kept cookies. “Yum, mint ones.”
Caroline received a peck on the cheek for stocking his favorite cookies. She followed him to the kitchen table.
“So who’s your friend? A church or quilt lady?”
“Actually…” Caroline cleared her throat. “I met my friend at church, but, um…”
Jason removed a cookie from the package. “What?” he asked, then popped the cookie in his mouth.
“Well…” Caroline braced for a bad reaction. “It’s not a lady. It’s a gentleman. Do you remember Clara Harris from church?”
“The church pie lady.”
“Yes.” Caroline’s grin at Clara’s title grew as she thought of the nickname Rodney had bestowed upon her. “It’s her son, Rodney.”
Jason finished his coffee and pushed the empty mug from one hand to the other. “So, you’re dating?” he asked, focusing all his attention on the sliding mug.
“No, we’re not dating. Rodney commissioned me to repair a quilt.” Caroline caught Jason’s eye roll at the mention of her business. She paused for a moment, waiting for the pang of hurt to subside.
“Do you fix dinner for all your customers?”
Even though Jason kept his voice conversational, his eyes communicated defiance, and it angered Caroline. “No, I don’t make dinner for all my customers. I’m making dinner for Rodney because he’s helping me update my website.” Defensiveness made her voice shake as she stared him down. “He’s impressed with my business.”
Jason snickered.
Caroline cut him off. “Jason, other than glancing at my long arm machine and going off on a tangent about wasting money, you’ve never even looked at my work.”
The ticking of the kitchen clock kept time with Caroline’s pounding pulse as she waited for the argument to begin. To her surprise, Jason sighed, and her tension-pinched shoulders relaxed.
“Mom, I know you’re a good
Was she crazy to feel this way? The more she was around Rodney, the more she wanted to be around Rodney. Caroline laughed out loud as she remembered how she’d debated what to wear to church last Sunday. She finally gave in to the urge to dress up for church, wearing a brown pantsuit, green blouse, and dress flats. In addition, she curled her hair and applied her makeup with a careful hand, topping it off with a new shade of lipstick. Why? Because she knew she’d see Rodney. She’d gone from spending church time reflecting on how bad her life had turned out to trying to impress a handsome man.
Caroline tapped the recipe card on the counter. She didn’t know why she bothered going to church anyway. It wasn’t like she really believed in or relied on God anymore. However, she’d begun to look forward to joining the singles group for breakfast, which she’d done the last three Sundays.
The click of the back door startled her from her deep thoughts. She wasn’t expecting anyone.
“Mom? Or should I say Grandma?”
“In the kitchen.” Caroline heard Jason’s boots thud on the entryway floor as he removed them. “What brings you here?” she asked as he entered the kitchen.
“Day off.” His nylon coat swished as he shrugged out of it, then hung it over the back of a kitchen chair.
“How’s Angela feeling?”
“Good—tired but not sick. The doctor says everything’s how it should be at this stage. What are you up to?” Jason stood by her and hugged her shoulders with one arm.
“Just going over a recipe. Want a cup of coffee?” Caroline reached for a mug.
“Sure.” Jason pulled the recipe card closer. “Trout almandine. Kind of a fancy entrée for one.”
Caroline inhaled deeply, dreading Jason’s response to her being involved with a man other than his father. Not that she and Rodney were anything more than friends, but still, she’d gone over this conversation in her mind many times. Every scenario she imagined didn’t turn out well. “Actually, I’m cooking dinner for a friend.”
Jason sipped his coffee, then opened the cupboard where she kept cookies. “Yum, mint ones.”
Caroline received a peck on the cheek for stocking his favorite cookies. She followed him to the kitchen table.
“So who’s your friend? A church or quilt lady?”
“Actually…” Caroline cleared her throat. “I met my friend at church, but, um…”
Jason removed a cookie from the package. “What?” he asked, then popped the cookie in his mouth.
“Well…” Caroline braced for a bad reaction. “It’s not a lady. It’s a gentleman. Do you remember Clara Harris from church?”
“The church pie lady.”
“Yes.” Caroline’s grin at Clara’s title grew as she thought of the nickname Rodney had bestowed upon her. “It’s her son, Rodney.”
Jason finished his coffee and pushed the empty mug from one hand to the other. “So, you’re dating?” he asked, focusing all his attention on the sliding mug.
“No, we’re not dating. Rodney commissioned me to repair a quilt.” Caroline caught Jason’s eye roll at the mention of her business. She paused for a moment, waiting for the pang of hurt to subside.
“Do you fix dinner for all your customers?”
Even though Jason kept his voice conversational, his eyes communicated defiance, and it angered Caroline. “No, I don’t make dinner for all my customers. I’m making dinner for Rodney because he’s helping me update my website.” Defensiveness made her voice shake as she stared him down. “He’s impressed with my business.”
Jason snickered.
Caroline cut him off. “Jason, other than glancing at my long arm machine and going off on a tangent about wasting money, you’ve never even looked at my work.”
The ticking of the kitchen clock kept time with Caroline’s pounding pulse as she waited for the argument to begin. To her surprise, Jason sighed, and her tension-pinched shoulders relaxed.
“Mom, I know you’re a good
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