Vibrant Heart: Book 1 in the Great Plains Romance Series Read Online Free PDF Page A

didn’t want to ruin Evelyn’s fun. It was her wedding day after all. Besides, her father would read her the riot act if she offended his new bride.
    The one good consequence of being ushered around by Evelyn was that she shooed Jake away every time he got too close to them, although usually by making a comment that made the guests laugh and Melanie’s face burn in embarrassment. Jake seemed completely unfazed by his mother’s reminders that he’d already welcomed Melanie to their family. He would move away, but never too far, so Melanie was constantly aware of his presence and his deep emerald eyes following her.
    Soon Evelyn was introducing Melanie as a big city writer, patting the younger woman’s hand with pride as she asked Melanie to share her latest projects. Melanie didn’t have the heart to correct her and explain that she had abandoned writing to work full time as an acquisitions editor, but she was able to name drop a few of her bigger-named clients, which led to oohs and ahs and questions about what they were really like. Before Melanie realized it, she had forgotten all about her pre-wedding embarrassment and was enjoying herself. It helped that Evelyn’s family and friends were certainly entertaining.
    Melanie was introduced to a group of three little old ladies all dressed in varying shades of pastels, each with blue-tinted hair that matched their polyester dresses. “These are my aunts: Rose, Lily, and Daisy,” Evelyn said. “Spinsters the lot of them.” She winked at the women, who cackled in response.
    “Oh, you are incorrigible, Evie,” Lily said. “Spinsters my tiny wrinkled patootie.”
    “Spinsters who have married more men than you bothered to invite to this shindig,” Daisy said.
    “Married and buried,” Rose corrected.
    Daisy shushed her sister, then turned back to Evelyn. “Where are all the single men you promised, anyway?”
    “I never promised you anything, auntie.” Evelyn laughed and rolled her eyes at Melanie.
    “Bull puckey,” Lily said. “I heard it myself. You told us to come and enjoy the meat market.”
    Melanie bit her lip to keep from laughing too hard.
    “What about Jake?” Rose said.
    “What about him?” Evelyn said.
    “Maybe he’s got some single friends and can hook an auntie up,” Rose said.
    Lily waved Jake over to join them. He kissed each aunt on the cheek, and they in turn batted their eyes at him.
    “So where are all the single men, Jake?” Lily asked. “We’re looking for the real action.”
    Jake affected a sheepish expression as he smiled at his great-aunts. “I invited some friends, but they were all afraid they wouldn’t be man enough for you.”
    Rose and Daisy laughed, but Lily harrumphed loudly.
    “You’re no help,” Lily said. “Especially now that you’re all googly-eyed over this one.” She pointed at Melanie, who tried to laugh and brush the comment off.
    “Be nice, Lily,” Daisy said. “Don’t embarrass the young lovers.”
    “Oh, we’re not—”
    Before Melanie could finish, her father interrupted them to inform Evelyn that they were running low on ice.
    “Shoot, I was afraid of that. The rainy day meant even the farmers showed up today, and they are a celebratory bunch.” She looked at Melanie and shrugged, then turned to Jake. “Sweetie, will you make a run into town for more supplies? Oh, and Melanie, can you go with and get some more drinks? Last time I asked Jake to get sodas, he came back with four cases of generic cream soda.” She stuck her tongue out in disgust.
    Melanie opened her mouth to argue, then thought better of it. Driving into town would give her the perfect opportunity to talk to Jake. She didn’t want him to think that he could go around kissing her whenever he felt like it. And if he was driving, he wouldn’t be able to sneak up on her again and do something unexpected, no matter how good it felt.

Chapter Eight
    The walk to his truck was cloaked in a strained silence punctuated by their