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

footsteps in the gravel. Finally Jake couldn’t stand it anymore.
    “So, what do you think of these crazy kids getting married?” He flashed Melanie a goofy smile, hoping that his attempt at humor wasn’t failing as badly as he thought it was.
    To his surprise, she smiled back. “Kids these days, right? You try and tell them not to rush into anything, they’ve got their whole lives ahead of them, but do they listen? Of course not.”
    They glanced at each other before laughing. Jake hurried the last few steps to open the door for Melanie, bowing low in mock servitude as she slid into the truck.
    “You’re not leaving, are you, Mel?”
    Jake scowled at Raymond, who was hurrying down the lane after them.
    Melanie shook her head. “Ice run. Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon.”
    Jake slammed the door, gave Raymond a withering glare, and headed for the driver’s side. Sliding in behind the wheel, he said, “He’s married.” He started the truck. “And soon to be a father.”
    Melanie didn’t look at him, instead rolling down the window and waving at Raymond as they drove away.
    They traveled down the country roads for several miles in tense silence, passing fields full of corn and soybeans. The earlier storm had moved on, leaving behind vibrant green corn stalks contrasted with the grayish-green of the soybeans and the yellow-greens of the mighty cottonwoods crowding around invisible creeks. The smell of the rich dirt in the fields wove through the truck. Melanie stuck her arm out the window, letting the wind caress her hand as they drove.
    Jake interrupted the silence. “You can do better than Raymond Turner.”
    Melanie rolled her eyes, her light-hearted laugh sounding more like choking. “You don’t know anything about him, the demons he’s overcome.”
    Raymond’s demons were public knowledge, especially at the local hotel bar, where everyone could watch his escapades with the women who passed through town. Unfortunately, not enough women stayed overnight in Bender on a regular basis, which left Raymond to hit on the wait staff. Jake frowned, completely at a loss as to why Melanie would tolerate Raymond’s antics. She clearly wasn’t afraid to give someone a piece of her mind, and he’d seen how she’d reacted when introduced to Raymond’s wife. Was Melanie one of Raymond’s extramarital pastimes? The idea didn’t sit well with him. He just couldn’t picture Melanie agreeing to be the other woman for anyone. He recalled their kiss, how passionate she’d been. Had that all been a show for Raymond?
    Jake shook his head. He didn’t like where his thoughts were taking him. He didn’t know what kind of relationship she had with Raymond and didn’t care. He was just looking for a good time. If that good time happened to be with one of Raymond’s playthings, well, that could be an added bonus. He didn’t think Raymond would be all that appreciative of someone, especially Jake, showing one of his women a better time. The thought caused a satisfied grin that Jake couldn’t hide.
    As they pulled into town, he slowed the truck but continued past the store.
    “Aren’t we going to stop?”
    He shrugged, but said nothing else. She went back to looking out the window.
    She pointed to the new building on the corner of the town’s main street. “Is that the new hotel?”
    “Yup.”
    “Nicer than I expected.”
    “What’s the matter? You think everything in a small town has to be run down?”
    “No, of course not.” Melanie frowned. “It’s just, it’s changed since I left. This hotel wasn’t here before, so when I made reservations, well, honestly, I expected a drive-up motel. That would be more befitting of a town with only a few thousand people. That place looks...”
    “Modern?”
    She nodded. “Modern and inviting. Almost like an upscale spa.”
    Jake glanced at her. “It’s amazing what a little investment can do for a small town.”
    “I guess so.”
    “Plus the taxes the city gets