Read Online How to Rope a Real Man by Melissa Cutler - Free Book Online
Authors: Melissa Cutler
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I’m excited about starting my career. Nothing to feel guilty about.”
That was the God’s honest truth. Except that she couldn’t shake off the regret. Even with a future as bright as hers was looking, the unfinished business of her past wouldn’t lie down and die.
Two hours and a pit stop later, the Rocky Mountains began. The road snaked a path through the rising elevation. Santa Fe unfolded from the darkness one light at a time until the string of homesteads lining the road gave way to a bustling city. Unlike Catcher Creek, which rolled up the welcome mats early, even on Friday nights, Santa Fe was alive with activity and cars.
It was nearing midnight when they stopped for coffee at a convenience store. Jenna poured from the pots that were the fullest with the hope that they were also the freshest while Matt walked the aisles with a basket, dropping in snacks. Loaded with goodies, they drove the remaining few blocks to Tara’s flower shop.
Carpe Diem Flowers sat in the parking lot of a supermarket and shared a flat, Southwest-style roof with a dry cleaner and sandwich shop. Behind the glass walls of the shop, all the lights were on. The doorway and aisles were crammed with plant stands and signs that looked like they belonged outside during operating hours.
Matt parked his SUV out front. He met Jenna on her side and took the tray of coffee cups from her. A pretty thirty-something woman with a slick, black pageboy haircut and a one-sleeved green shirt looked up from a spread of flowers on the counter. She gave a wave as she trotted toward the door to unlock it.
She shared Matt’s rich brown eyes and was blessed with a willowy figure that was soft around the edges in a way that looked carefree and happy. Up close, it became clear to Jenna that the one-sleeved shirt was actually an emerald-green tank top and an elaborate hummingbird-and-flower tattoo cascading down her left arm. Bold. And totally forbidden by Jewish laws, Jenna recalled reading somewhere. It seemed as though Tara took a carpe diem approach to life as well as her flower shop. Jenna admired that.
“Tara, hi. I’m Jenna.” She held out her hand. “Thank you again for doing this.”
“Oh my gosh, you’re adorable.” Tara’s words were filled with genuine delight. She bypassed the offered hand and embraced Jenna in a sincere hug. “And young.” She pulled back and lifted Jenna’s left hand. “And single. You’re single, right?”
Unfortunately. Thanks to your brother . “Definitely single. Painfully single.”
Tara raised on tiptoes to look her brother square in the face. “Do you hear that, Matt? This adorable, young woman is single. Painfully so. Isn’t that terrible?”
Matt kissed her hair and handed her the tray of coffees. “Almost as terrible as you, sister dearest.”
Jenna’s chest shook in a silent chuckle, even as her cheeks heated. She walked to the flower-prep counter so Matt wouldn’t see her blush.
Tara moved next to Jenna, sliding the coffees onto the counter with a wink. “It certainly makes the male population of New Mexico seem downright stupid, if you ask me.”
Amen to that.
Tara was a riot. When Jenna moved to Santa Fe, she’d have to invite her out for drinks or maybe they could get the kids together for a playdate. “I don’t date much. My son keeps me busy.”
“Ah.” Tara’s eyes shifted briefly to Matt and her expression blanked. “You’re a single mom.”
Jenna would’ve sworn she heard a strain in her tone.
Matt, wearing an odd smile that didn’t seem a hundred percent genuine, walked to the counter and cracked a couple knuckles. “Jenna’s a great mom. She has a five-year-old son named Tommy who’s a lot like Brittany. A real spitfire. And as smart as they come, like his mama.”
Even his words, though effusive in their praise, lacked his usual spark, but held an undercurrent of some unspoken message to Tara. Jenna fingered the delicate pink petal of a peony and decided to
That was the God’s honest truth. Except that she couldn’t shake off the regret. Even with a future as bright as hers was looking, the unfinished business of her past wouldn’t lie down and die.
Two hours and a pit stop later, the Rocky Mountains began. The road snaked a path through the rising elevation. Santa Fe unfolded from the darkness one light at a time until the string of homesteads lining the road gave way to a bustling city. Unlike Catcher Creek, which rolled up the welcome mats early, even on Friday nights, Santa Fe was alive with activity and cars.
It was nearing midnight when they stopped for coffee at a convenience store. Jenna poured from the pots that were the fullest with the hope that they were also the freshest while Matt walked the aisles with a basket, dropping in snacks. Loaded with goodies, they drove the remaining few blocks to Tara’s flower shop.
Carpe Diem Flowers sat in the parking lot of a supermarket and shared a flat, Southwest-style roof with a dry cleaner and sandwich shop. Behind the glass walls of the shop, all the lights were on. The doorway and aisles were crammed with plant stands and signs that looked like they belonged outside during operating hours.
Matt parked his SUV out front. He met Jenna on her side and took the tray of coffee cups from her. A pretty thirty-something woman with a slick, black pageboy haircut and a one-sleeved green shirt looked up from a spread of flowers on the counter. She gave a wave as she trotted toward the door to unlock it.
She shared Matt’s rich brown eyes and was blessed with a willowy figure that was soft around the edges in a way that looked carefree and happy. Up close, it became clear to Jenna that the one-sleeved shirt was actually an emerald-green tank top and an elaborate hummingbird-and-flower tattoo cascading down her left arm. Bold. And totally forbidden by Jewish laws, Jenna recalled reading somewhere. It seemed as though Tara took a carpe diem approach to life as well as her flower shop. Jenna admired that.
“Tara, hi. I’m Jenna.” She held out her hand. “Thank you again for doing this.”
“Oh my gosh, you’re adorable.” Tara’s words were filled with genuine delight. She bypassed the offered hand and embraced Jenna in a sincere hug. “And young.” She pulled back and lifted Jenna’s left hand. “And single. You’re single, right?”
Unfortunately. Thanks to your brother . “Definitely single. Painfully single.”
Tara raised on tiptoes to look her brother square in the face. “Do you hear that, Matt? This adorable, young woman is single. Painfully so. Isn’t that terrible?”
Matt kissed her hair and handed her the tray of coffees. “Almost as terrible as you, sister dearest.”
Jenna’s chest shook in a silent chuckle, even as her cheeks heated. She walked to the flower-prep counter so Matt wouldn’t see her blush.
Tara moved next to Jenna, sliding the coffees onto the counter with a wink. “It certainly makes the male population of New Mexico seem downright stupid, if you ask me.”
Amen to that.
Tara was a riot. When Jenna moved to Santa Fe, she’d have to invite her out for drinks or maybe they could get the kids together for a playdate. “I don’t date much. My son keeps me busy.”
“Ah.” Tara’s eyes shifted briefly to Matt and her expression blanked. “You’re a single mom.”
Jenna would’ve sworn she heard a strain in her tone.
Matt, wearing an odd smile that didn’t seem a hundred percent genuine, walked to the counter and cracked a couple knuckles. “Jenna’s a great mom. She has a five-year-old son named Tommy who’s a lot like Brittany. A real spitfire. And as smart as they come, like his mama.”
Even his words, though effusive in their praise, lacked his usual spark, but held an undercurrent of some unspoken message to Tara. Jenna fingered the delicate pink petal of a peony and decided to
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