Sweet Carolina Morning Read Online Free Page B

said smugly. “Pick a few you want to do with me. Dare has dibs on paintball and Mike wants the NASCAR driving deal. The rest are up for grabs.”
    â€œI like to read on the sofa with my dog,” Linny reminded her. “I’m not that adventurous.”
    Mary Catherine scoffed. “You’re plenty adventurous. You play golf, you can put in wood floors, and you own a small business.” She gazed at Linny and arched a brow. “I also think a twice-widowed woman marrying again and taking on a child is adventurous. Don’t you?”
    Linny nodded, warmed by the support.
    Thumbing through the coupons, Mary Catherine selected one and lay it on the table with a flourish. “Here’s a tame one: an evening of pampering at Quiet River Spa.”
    Linny broke into a smile. “Now that’s more my speed.”
    â€œGood. We’ll do it. Think about doing some of the others with me, too. They’d be fun, different,” her friend encouraged. Glancing at her watch, she gulped the last of her coffee. “I’ve got to be in court at nine.”
    Linny flushed, chagrined. “I’m sorry, girl. Breakfast is over and we haven’t even had a chance to talk about you.”
    Her friend waved a hand dismissively. “We had business to discuss, and luckily, my life is calm right now.” Mary Catherine stood and pulled Linny into a quick hug. Slipping on her coat, she grabbed her red Coach bag and strode off with a jaunty wave.

C HAPTER 3
    One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
    L inny found herself humming as she finished getting ready for her and Jack’s Saturday night date. Marnie’s Café—a restaurant she’d frequented since they’d first opened their doors just a few years ago—had just been given a five-star rating by the food critic at the Raleigh Clarion . The café was such a hot spot these days that she’d had to make tonight’s reservation two weeks earlier. Tonight needed to be special; it was her and Jack’s four-month anniversary. In the bathroom mirror in Jack’s guest room, Linny looped dangly gold earrings in her ears and turned around to make sure the steam from her shower had relaxed the wrinkles from her dress. She smoothed the soft fabric over her hips and gave a little nod, satisfied. The dress would make Jack’s eyes light up. In a creamy flaxen color, with a sweetheart neckline and a simple cut, the dress had a retro feel to it that she loved. Best of all, it made Linny feel pretty.
    The dress was a splurge, the first she’d allowed herself in a long time. After the year she’d had cleaning up the messes left by her hound dog of a late husband and getting her new business off the ground, she was feeling better about money. She also couldn’t believe she’d met a man as amazing as Jack. Her life was looking up. Even with all her uncertainty about how she’d manage with Neal, Linny felt like she’d walked out of a cave into a clear, sunny day. She knocked on the wood wainscoting on the wall and shivered. Feeling so hopeful and happy—especially about a man—made her nervous.
    In the bathroom, she reached in the cosmetic bag she toted back and forth from her trailer to Jack’s house and smoothed on moisturizer. She smiled, thinking about her day with Neal. When Jack had worried aloud about it being his weekend with Neal but needing to spend time at his vet clinic Saturday to work with his tech person on upgrading the computer system, Linny had piped up, “Let me take him for the day. We need to spend time together, one on one.” She wanted to be of help to Jack and she needed to build a bond with the boy. He could be so prickly and standoffish.
    As she applied beauty balm with SPF 50, she thought about the hours she’d spent online, researching events or exhibits Neal might like. She’d so wanted an outing that would knock his socks off, especially given how