Read Online Romance on Mountain View Road by Sheila Roberts - Free Book Online

only had a ghost of a chance.
    But he believed in ghosts. So tomorrow he’d read about the Viscount Vampire and the Cursed Cowboy. Then he was going to go online (where no one would see what he was buying) and buy a bunch more romance novels. He had a lot of research to do.

Chapter Four
    M other’s Day dinner at the Gerard residence with Jonathan’s sister in charge was a culinary adventure. To say that the meal didn’t measure up to the fancy table setting and fresh flowers would have been an understatement. The roast was done well enough to qualify as jerky and the asparagus was scorched. The cake...well, it wasn’t cake, at least not like any Jonathan had tasted—since the last time he ate Juliet’s cake. Wasn’t cake supposed to be...taller? And, whoa, what was that bitter taste?
    Juliet made a face, too. “I shouldn’t have added the baking powder at the last minute,” she said.
    â€œIt does need to be sifted in, sweetie,” her mother said gently.
    â€œBut I’d forgotten it. And I knew I had to add it.”
    â€œBut since you did add it, the cake should have risen better,” Mom said, playing culinary detective. Even Columbo couldn’t solve the mystery of why Juliet’s kitchen creations never turned out, so Jonathan didn’t know why Mom was trying.
    â€œThen Cecily called about book group and I forgot the eggs.” Juliet sighed. “I hoped the baking powder would be enough.”
    â€œThe baked potatoes weren’t so bad,” said her husband, Neil. “Anyway, it’s hard to screw those up.”
    Was that a compliment? Jonathan wasn’t sure. That was often the case when he listened to his brother-in-law talking to his sister. “She made the effort and that’s what counts.” And even if the spuds were a little underdone you hardly noticed after smothering them with sour cream and butter.
    â€œI’m not complaining,” Neil said. “My girl’s got other talents.”
    From the way he was looking at Juliet, Jonathan could guess what they were. He held up a hand. “You don’t have to tell us.” There were some things a guy didn’t want to think about his sister doing.
    â€œIt was a lovely dinner, dear,” said their mother.
    â€œNo, it wasn’t.” Juliet frowned at the frosted yuck on her plate. “I’m sorry, Mom. I wanted this day to be special.”
    â€œIt is.” Mom swept her gaze around the table. “I’m with all of you and that makes it perfect. But if you want to top it off...”
    â€œI’ll go get ice cream,” Neil offered.
    â€œOh, I wasn’t thinking of anything to eat. I was thinking of—”
    â€œFarkle,” Jonathan and Juliet finished with her. Their family had played a lot of games when Jonathan was growing up, and his mother still loved to beat him at Words With Friends. He’d gotten Farkle for her last Christmas and it had become a new favorite.
    â€œI just happen to have it in my purse,” Mom said with a grin.
    Jonathan wouldn’t have been surprised to hear she had the entire population of Luxembourg in there, too. How much stuff women could fit in their purses amazed him.
    â€œDice,” Neil said, rubbing his hands together. “That’s a game even I can get into.”
    Unlike their family, Neil wasn’t much of a game player, unless it involved a football and a good dose of aggression. He was a big, well-muscled guy, who used those muscles working in the Sweet Dreams warehouse. Today Jonathan couldn’t help thinking (with only a tinge of jealousy) that his brother-in-law could pose for a cover on one of Juliet’s books.
    Neil’s looks—that was what had hooked her in the first place. Jonathan wasn’t sure what kept her hooked, although she seemed happy enough with her choice. Other than going dancing at the Red Barn, their favorite honky tonk, they