Colton's Christmas Baby Read Online Free PDF Page B

“I’ll go, but only if you give me your absolute word that this is the last blind date you arrange for me.”
    Grinning, Bonnie Gene nodded. “Do you want me to pinky swear?”
    â€œJust give me your word, Mother.”
    â€œFine.” Huffing, Bonnie Gene grimaced. “You have my word. No more blind dates.”
    â€œEver.”
    â€œFine. No more blind dates ever.” Her frown faded and she grinned. “Maybe this date with Gary Jackson will lead to something permanent and you won’t need another blind date.”
    Oh geez. “Maybe. Who knows?” Sighing, Eve went into the kitchen. “Would you like a cup of tea?”
    â€œI’d love one. Do you want my help picking out an outfit for your date?”
    Midway to the kitchen, Eve paused. Turning, she eyed her mother, dreading the answer yet knowing she had to ask.
    â€œWhen is this date with Gary Jackson, by the way?”
    â€œTonight.”

Chapter 3
    E ve nearly said a curse word in front of her mother. “Tonight? How could you do this to me?”
    â€œPlease,” Bonnie scoffed. “You’ve got over six hours to get ready. It’s not like you have to be there for lunch or anything.”
    â€œWhere’s there?”
    â€œYou’re meeting him for drinks and dinner at the Corner Bar and Grill.”
    Of course. Her mother knew that was Eve’s favorite place, as well as the second-most popular place in town, Kelley’s Cookhouse being first.
    Putting the kettle on the stove, Eve got out two mugs and two teabags of orange pekoe tea.
    â€œEveryone will see me there,” she groused, secretly glad her mother hadn’t chosen to have her meet Gary at the family’s barbecue restaurant. She’d done that before and Eve had spent the entire evening answering questionsabout what it was like to be part of the family that owned a famous franchised restaurant. Worse, her date had expected free food and had ordered one of everything on the menu. He’d been shocked, then angry, when Eve had informed him they still had to pay.
    â€œExactly! There’s a live band tonight, the High Rollers, I think. So you know the place will be packed. Everyone will see you there with Gary,” Bonnie enthused. “That man is quite a catch. The town will be talking about it for days!”
    A catch? Mentally, she rolled her eyes. “Honestly, Mom. I’m not exactly fishing.”
    â€œNo, you’re not,” her mother said with a wry twist of her mouth. “Which is why I have to help you. You’ve got me baiting the hook and casting for you. Now all you’ve got to do is reel him in.”
    Reel him in. Had they been mysteriously teleported back to the fifties when she hadn’t been looking? Deciding to ignore the phrase, as she always did when Bonnie Gene started on this subject, Eve stared at the teakettle, willing it to whistle. A good cup of tea went far to sooth frazzled nerves.
    Taking her silence for assent, Bonnie Gene came closer. “What are you going to wear? If you’d like, I could pick out your outfit.”
    â€œOh, for—” Biting off the words, Eve forced a smile. “Mom, don’t worry about that. I’ve got it covered.”
    Six hours later, standing in front of the mirror, Eve wondered why she’d agreed to this. She couldn’t help but wonder if Gary Jackson wondered the same thing. If he was such a “catch,” as her mother put it, she doubted he needed to be set up on a blind date.
    But, heavens knows, Bonnie Gene Kelley could be pretty persistent when she wanted to be.
    For her dinner date, Eve had chosen a thick sweaterdress with a cowl neckline in flattering shades of brown, cream and gold. Brown leggings and soft suede knee-length boots completed her outfit. She brushed her shoulder-length blond hair until it shone, swiped a tube of lip gloss over her lips, and told herself she was ready.
    In fact,