Mail Order Stepbrother Read Online Free

emails. To that end, your profile suggests that you like to read but haven’t had time for it recently. Is that because of your work? Do you do other things in your free time? Do you like to hike? Or do you prefer indoor activities?
    Nash
    Melanie’s eyebrows rose at the mention of an engagement. She wondered who she was and what happened. Did they break up because they were young? Or was there something else? Was he unfaithful?
    She really didn’t want to get involved with someone who had been unfaithful in the past. In her experience, that almost always led to unfaithfulness in the future. She had worked in a hospital setting long enough to see what long hours and professional stress could do to a marriage. If she was with a man who cheated under less provocation than that…
    That wasn’t something she wanted.
    It crossed her mind to just end the whole thing, but she liked some of things she saw on his profile. And she liked the no-nonsense tone of his emails. What would it hurt to just talk a little?
    Nash—
    I have a very busy career, so I don’t have a lot of free time…but, when I do, I like to watch TV or read a good book. Occasionally, I like to go hiking, especially in the company of good friends. In high school and college, there was a group of us who liked to go camping from time to time, but that was before I moved to Texas. I haven’t done much of that since then, though I think it would be nice to get back into it. My life recently has been centered on my career…I guess, maybe, I’m ready to step back and see what else life has to offer.
    Melanie
    He must have been waiting by his computer, because Nash’s next email came within minutes:
    How long have you lived in Texas? Where did you live before that?
    I like to camp, especially down in the hill country. My current favorite place to go is a place not far from Bandera. Unfortunately, the drought has had a detrimental impact on the area, but it’s still great for hiking and other pursuits.
    Would you consider hiking a good first date?
    Melanie smiled as she read that last line. He certainly was different from other men she’d dated the past five years or so. She liked that he asked questions, that he didn’t seem focused solely on himself. And he seemed interested in what she might like to do on a date. When was the last time a guy asked her where she wanted to go, or what she wanted to do?
    She couldn’t remember.
    I’ve lived in Texas for five years. Before that, I lived in California, starting in San Diego, a few years in Los Angeles, and then Palo Alto. What about you? Are you from Texas originally, or a transplant like me?
    I haven’t had a chance to visit the hill country, but I’ve heard Austin is a beautiful place to visit. I’ve also heard there’s good camping down around San Antonio, but haven’t had a chance to go there, either. Goodness, I guess I haven’t had a chance to go much of anywhere!
    I think a hiking trip would be an ideal first date…you’d be too busy to do much more than talk, and that is all a first date should be about.
    Melanie hesitated before she pushed the send button on her comments. She was afraid of scaring the guy off by telling him too much about herself and her opinions, but then she couldn’t see the point of hiding anything. He would learn about her one way or the other eventually. Maybe if she laid it all out there to start with, neither of them would waste their time on something that wasn’t going to go anywhere.
    He surprised her by coming right back with a response.
    You’re really missing out, not visiting the Austin area. It’s gorgeous down there. And if you like music, the SXSW festival is worth every moment.
    No, I’m not from Texas, either. I was born back east, but spent most of my childhood on the west coast. You lived in Palo Alto? Is it safe to assume you’re a Stanford alumni?
    I think a hiking first date is perfect, in part for the same reasons you mentioned. And because I