A Great Catch Read Online Free PDF Page B

I forgot. You can’t cut it.”
    “I can take care of it, Grandma.”
    “Nonsense, dear.” She pulled the plate over and began to cut neat squares. “We wouldn’t want any mishaps, now would we?”
    Carter snickered, and Emily shot him a glare. His midair catch obviously hadn’t won him any favor in her eyes. If he had to guess, she’d tried and convicted him of being a cocky baseball player, not worthy of thinking beyond the field. Fine. He’d change her mind. He enjoyed a challenge. And she should realize he wasn’t used to losing.
    She pushed back from the table, stood, and pressed a hand to her stomach. “Never mind, Grandma. I’m not hungry anymore. Besides, I need to prepare for my meeting this afternoon.”
    Carter rose to his feet beside her. “I enjoyed having breakfast with you, Emily. I’d offer my hand, but . . .”
    Her cheeks flamed afresh, but she met his gaze defiantly. “You should be more careful about that syrup.”
    “Maybe so.” He pushed a nest of curls off his forehead with the back of his berry-stained fingers. “I don’t mind a little mess, even when things get sticky. What will you be discussing at your meeting?”
    “Renewing our efforts—not that you’d care.”
    “I don’t think you have any idea what I care about, Miss Graham.” He turned toward Grandma Kate. “Ma’am, I’ll be here tomorrow at the same time, and there’s a game tonight if you and your sisters care to attend. We’re playing the Merchant Browns.”
    Grandma Kate glanced from Carter to Emily. “We might come watch, and thank you for coming to check on Emily.”
    “Yes, Carter, thank you for your concern.” Emily gathered her tablet. “But I really must be going.”
    “In that case, I’ll walk with you since we’re going the same way.”
    “The baseball field is on the opposite side of the lake from the Yacht Club.”
    He gave Emily a lopsided grin. “Is it? I hadn’t noticed.”
    Before she had a chance a respond, Aunt Millie waved from the doorway of the cabin. “Oh, Emily, wait for Aunt Ethel and me. We have a new prospective suitor we wish to discuss with you.”
    Carter’s lips tugged into a grin as a crimson blush infused Emily’s cheeks.
    Emily lifted her chin. “Well, apparently I won’t need a walking companion, so you can be on your way.”
    “Just like that?”
    “I know you’re a busy man.”
    Even though he didn’t expect Emily to let him be privy to the details her aunts would be giving, his curiosity had been piqued. The don’t-you-dare-ask look in Emily’s eyes told him, however, now was not the time to broach the subject.
    He touched the brim of his ball cap. “All right, I’ll leave you in your aunts’ capable hands.”
    Nodding to the ladies, he spun and jogged down the path away from the whitewashed cottage. He chuckled as he pictured the horrified expression on Emily’s sweet face when she realized he’d caught the piece of waffle. Things were probably always exciting around that little spitfire.
    He flexed his sticky fingers and shook his head. If he wasn’t careful, he could get stuck thinking about her a lot more than he should.
    No girl—certainly not one who’d already made up her mind about him—could be in his plans for this summer.

    Dragging another set of chairs over to the center of the Yacht Club’s upstairs meeting room with her good arm, Emily completed the seating arrangement. In moments, the Council Bluffs chapter of the Iowa Women’s Suffrage Association would arrive for their first lakeside meeting of the summer. She hoped the change of venue would give the ladies a much-needed boost in their enthusiasm for the cause. Marguerite Andrews had arranged for them to use the second floor of the usually men-only Yacht Club for their meeting. That alone should give the ladies’ spirits a lift.
    “Emily, you’re early.” Marguerite breezed through the doors and tugged off her gloves. “I said I’d help you set up. How’s your