“Without the glasses, maybe.”
“Oh, but to a girl, that matters little when your kind heart and fun personality obliterate such an insignificant obstacle.” She plucked his glasses off and smiled up into his big blue eyes.
He tried to snatch his glasses back. “I sort of need those.”
“You can see me without them.”
“Not from this far away.”
“Exactly.”
“Ah, I see.” He pulled her closer. “Poor me, I’ve lost my glasses.” He laughed again. “But, still, being practically blind is not a heroic quality. Grendel and his mother would have eaten a myopic Beowulf for lunch, and then the poem would’ve been over within pages.”
He’d forced her to read Beowulf with him a month ago. She would have preferred a shorter version. “Well, you’re also tall and can quote poetry.”
“And I can shoot really well—let’s not forget that.”
“Of course not.” She rolled her eyes but couldn’t keep a chuckle from escaping. “With those qualities, no wonder your female students are the highest achievers. What girl wouldn’t want to impress you? I certainly did when I was their age—and you were a terrible shot back then.”
She could tell he was trying hard not to argue about his past shooting skills, but then he smiled and pulled her closer. “I guess I’m completely irresistible now.”
“Hmmm.” She tapped his chin. “Maybe I shouldn’t let you continue teaching, then.”
“No worries.” He nuzzled her hair. “You’re the only girl I want.”
Lydia peeked up from her work and smiled over at them. Maybe they were being a little too demonstrative.
Charlie gave him a quick peck on the cheek and handed him back his glasses. “I’m worried for Lydia though,” she whispered. “She might be pretty, but with no money and a father like hers . . . I’m not sure any decent men will be interested in her.”
“All she needs is a Mr. Darcy—a man rich enough not to care about her poverty, who can be caught by her fine eyes, and will look past her family’s poor manners. And considering Lydia’s borrowed Pride and Prejudice from me no less than three times, I’m pretty certain she’d swoon over any proud and disagreeable man who looked at her twice.”
“Don’t say that.” She playfully punched him.
“Don’t worry, she’s attractive enough to snag someone good—maybe not as good a shot as me, but then, no one can be perfect.”
“I do believe if this bragging keeps up, I’m going to have to start practicing more so I can bring you down a notch.”
He leaned closer. “You’re on.” The playful nip he gave her ear caused a shiver to run down her spine, so she stepped away from him lest he do it again. He could only pretend to whisper in her ear for so long before the others in the room realized more than whispering was going on. “Shame on you,” she breathed.
“No, no. No shame.” He grinned.
She swatted him. “Wait until tomorrow.” She blew out a shaky breath.
“Nervous?”
“To say our vows? No.”
“Then what’s got you addlepated, besides me and my good looks?”
She bit her lip and her cheeks heated.
“What’s wrong, Charlie?” When she didn’t answer, he pulled her into the nearby parlor.
She crossed her arms against herself but couldn’t stay silent with him staring at her. “I’m not worried about being able to outshoot you one day, but . . .”
“But what?”
“I was bad at kissing.” She swallowed. “What if I’m not good at . . . more?”
He trailed a finger down her cheek. “I could end up being just as bad as you, but we’ve got a lifetime to work on the ‘more.’” He kissed her forehead and left his lips against her hairline. “But I’m absolutely certain I’ll never tire of practicing at getting better at loving you.”
About the Authors
Two-time RITA Award finalist and winner of the coveted HOLT Medallion and the ACFW Carol Award, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer writes historical romances because she believes in giving the world more happily-ever-afters. She is an avid cross-stitcher and shower singer, and she bakes a mean apple cobbler. Karen makes her home in Abilene, Texas, with her husband and three children. Learn more at www.karenwitemeyer.com.
Regina Jennings graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English and a history minor and has been reading historicals ever since. She is the author of A Most Inconvenient Marriage, which won the National Readers’ Choice Award for Best Inspirational Novel of 2014, as well as Sixty Acres and a Bride and Caught in the Middle, and contributed a novella to A Match Made in Texas. Regina has worked at the Mustang News and First Baptist Church of Mustang, along with time at the Oklahoma National Stockyards and various livestock shows. She makes her home outside Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with her husband and four children and can be found online at www.reginajennings.com.
Mary Connealy writes romantic comedies about cowboys. She’s the author of the TROUBLE IN TEXAS and THE KINCAID BRIDES series, as well as several other series. Mary has been nominated for a Christy Award, was a finalist for a RITA Award, and is a two-time winner of the ACFW Carol Award. She lives on a ranch in Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero. They have four grown daughters and a bevy of grandchildren. Learn more about Mary and her books at www.maryconnealy.com
Much to her introverted self’s delight, ACFW Carol Award winner Melissa Jagears hardly needs to leave her home to be a homeschooling mother and novelist. She doesn’t have to leave her house to be a housekeeper either, but she’s doubtful she meets the minimum qualifications to claim to be one in her official bio. Her passion is to help Christian believers mature in their faith and judge rightly. Find her online at www.melissajagears.com, Facebook, Pinterest, and Goodreads.
Books by Karen Witemeyer
A Tailor-Made Bride
Head in the Clouds
To Win Her Heart
Short-Straw Bride
Stealing the Preacher
Full Steam Ahead
A Worthy Pursuit
A Cowboy Unmatched from A Match Made in Texas: A Novella Collection
Love on the Mend: A Full Steam Ahead Novella
Books by Regina Jennings
Sixty Acres and a Bride
Love in the Balance
Caught in the Middle
A Most Inconvenient Marriage
At Love’s Bidding
An Unforeseen Match from A Match Made in Texas: A Novella Collection
Books by Mary Connealy
THE KINCAID BRIDES
Out of Control
In Too Deep
Over the Edge
TROUBLE IN TEXAS
Swept Away
Fired Up
Stuck Together
WILD AT HEART
Tried and True
Now and Forever
Fire and Ice
Meeting Her Match from A Match Made in Texas: A Novella Collection
Books by Melissa Jagears
Love by the Letter: A Novella
A Bride for Keeps
A Bride in Store
A Bride at Last
Resources: bethanyhouse.com/AnOpenBook
Website: www.bethanyhouse.com
Facebook: Bethany House
With This Ring? Page 29