That earned a squeal from Mrs. Peterson, and Rachel had to hold the phone away from her ear. What had she just gotten herself into?
Rachel set the last of the bags into her truck and shut the door. One store down, another three to go. She shoved her keys into her pocket and walked toward the butcher shop. The streets were chaotic as people scurried from one place to another, getting the town ready for the week-long festivities. Red, white, and blue flags were plastered everywhere, and flowers were being replanted to match the theme.
The shop was cool compared to the heat outside. The butcher nodded toward her and continued helping the woman in front of her. The woman glanced over her shoulder and smiled when she saw Rachel.
“Oh, honey, I just heard the news. I’m so glad you’ll be singing next weekend. I’ve missed your voice.” Sherry was a good friend of Rachel’s mom and was connected to all the latest gossip.
“I haven’t agreed yet. I just told Mrs. Peterson I’d do it if they don’t find someone else.” The news had spread fast, even for a small town like this. Mrs. Peterson must have sent out a mass text.
Sherry laughed. “So stubborn—like your father. Well, I hope you’ll agree. Heaven knows we need something to help us forget last year’s fiasco.”
Rachel laughed. “Anything would be better than that.”
The mayor had convinced his niece to sing, and it had turned into a disaster when she forgot the words, burst into tears, and ran off the stage.
“True, but even so. I’ve missed your singing.” Sherry thanked the butcher and left the store with a wave.
“Sorry, Rachel, your order isn’t quite ready yet.” Stuart dried his hands on a towel. He was the same age as Rachel and had played football for college until he injured his shoulder.
She pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to him. “It’s fine. We’re still making space for it. I just have the information for the sheep we’re bringing in next week.”
Stuart took the paper from her and looked it over. “Everything looks great. I’ll send your family the invoice.”
“Thanks. I’ll be back in the morning for the burgers.” Rachel pulled out her wallet to pay the deposit for the meat he would be butchering for her.
“So, Rachel, are you really going to sing?” Stuart asked.
Rachel stared at him for a moment before she realized he was joking. “I’m kind of afraid to say no by now.”
He laughed. “I get it. Either way, you can’t blame everyone for trying.”
“I guess not.” Rachel put her purse away. “See ya, Stuart. Tell your mom I said hi.”
“Will do.”
Rachel left the butcher shop and climbed in her truck. She still needed to stop by the bank, but after being pestered all day, she decided to head home. If one more person asked if she was going to sing . . .
It wasn’t that she didn’t enjoy it, but since the day she’d been left at the train station, she didn’t have much of a reason to sing.
Rachel took a deep breath, excitement threatening to make her heart explode. She checked the itinerary one more time. Blake would be there any moment, and they’d head off to California where he promised her fame, fortune, and a small homestead in San Diego County.
Her bags sat around her, ready to be loaded. The bus driver tapped his foot, waiting for Blake to arrive.
An hour later, three buses had come and gone, with no Blake in sight. It wasn’t until Mama sat next to her on the bench and put an arm around her, staying silent, that Rachel finally had to admit that Blake wasn’t coming.
“Mama, I’m home.” Rachel set the groceries on the counter and went to the sewing room. “How are the quilts?”
Mama stopped her sewing and turned around, taking the pins out of her mouth so she could talk. “They’re giving me fits. I’m about to put this one away for the day. Did you get the meat?”
“They’ll have it ready in the morning.” Rachel stepped closer to the blanket. The bright reds, whites, and blues matched the decorations in town. The pieces were shaped into stars and stripes. “This is beautiful. Where did you come up with the pattern?”
“My head.” Mama pushed away from the sewing machine. “Let’s go make some dinner. I sent Nancy home sick, so we’d better get moving.”
Rachel followed Mama into the kitchen. “Where is everyone? I expected them long ago, in this heat.”
“Cattle got out into the south fields.” Mama might have been at her sewing machine all day, but she kept a radio nearby so she could hear what was going on. “Start on the salad. I’ll get the meat cooking.”
Rachel went to the fridge and pulled out the lettuce and carrots. “Sherry says hi.”
“So does half the town.” There was a short silence. “Is it true?”
“I don’t know, Mama. I don’t want to talk about it.” Rachel used her foot to shut the fridge and set everything on the counter. She pulled out two of their largest serving bowls and got to work chopping lettuce. “I wish people would just drop it already.”
Mama sighed. “It’s a small town. They need something to talk about.”
“Yes. I just wish I wasn’t the one they talked about. But if wishes were fishes, right?” Rachel smiled at the saying her grandpa had used all the time.
“You’re young and single. Once you’re married with a few kids, they’ll forget about you and move on to the next person.” Mama chuckled and added onions to the large frying pan.
Rachel felt the sting of the words, but knew Mama didn’t mean any harm by them. She pushed the thought aside. “The town is all decorated. You should see it.”
“They went out of control again?”
“Yep.” Rachel finished the first bowl of salad and started the next one. “Every year they say they’re going to stay on a budget, and every year they go just a little crazier.”
The radio crackled to life. “The cattle have all been found. We’re coming in.”
Mama picked up the radio. “Thanks for the heads-up. See you when you get here.”
The kitchen was silent except for the chopping of vegetables. It would take about twenty minutes for everyone to get there and wash up, and there was still a lot more cooking that needed to be done to feed their family and the ten ranch hands who helped out.
Rachel grabbed two of the salad bowls and carried them into the large dining room. While Mama finished up the potatoes and sausages, Rachel set the table. The menial tasks allowed her mind to wander back to the jar of money hidden inside the mansion. Soon she could be doing this at her own house for her own guests. The idea brought a smile to her lips.
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Escape to thrillingly romantic destinations
with the Kiss Me series!
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Kiss Me in the Moonlight: Kissing her way through Europe wasn’t in the job description. When Paige’s secret agent boyfriend dumps her in an email, chaperoning hormonal teenagers through Europe seems like the perfect way to cope. She doesn't bargain on working with her ex, who’s investigating his partner’s suspicious death. As sparks fly and the investigation heats up, one kiss in the moonlight changes everything.
Kiss Me in the Rain: Will she risk the mansion she treasures for the man she loves? Cypress Grove Mansion, a treasured constant in Layla's perfect life, will be sold to the highest bidder if she doesn’t date an investor's son. The problem? The man she really wants just rolled into town.
Released as part of the multi-author Destined for Love series. To find out about the books in the series by other authors, visit http://destinedforloveseries.com.
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“This heartwarming, feel-good romance will leave you swooning and cheering for
the characters as they fight for true love.” -InD’Tale Magazine
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Meet Your Match: Nothing slows love down like the friend zone. Brooke’s convinced all boys are trouble. Luke’s a player who loves the thrill of the chase. Can a set of crazy rules keep these two safely in the friend zone? Enjoy this witty and fast-paced romance today!
Miss Match: Playing cupid may break her heart. With the matchmaking company she works for in decline, Brooke is desperate to sign Luke, her billionaire best friend, as a client. But Luke is more interested in capturing Brooke’s heart. Escape into this lighthearted romantic comedy today, which InD’Tale Magazine calls a “feel-good romance that will leave you swooning.”
Not Your Match: Sometimes it takes dating Mr. Wrong to find Mr. Right. Dating the wrong people has convinced both Ben and Andi that what they really want is each other. All that’s standing in their way is a fake boyfriend, a jealous ex-fiancée, and being afraid to risk their hearts. Explore this emotionally-charged romance today!
Mix ’N Match: Fire and ice aren’t meant to mix. Zoey and Mitch couldn’t be more opposite. One passionate kiss has convinced them they’d never work. But three weeks in Paris could change everything. Take a trip to Paris in this fun-filled romantic comedy today!
Mistletoe Match: A kiss shouldn’t be this complicated. When animal rights activist Michelle kisses a mystery man underneath the mistletoe at a holiday party, she's horrified to realize he's the new marketing director of the pharmaceutical company she's trying to destroy due to their nasty habit of animal testing. Can one impulsive kiss be the foundation for a happily ever after? Curl up with this delicious holiday romance today!
Match Me If You Can: Coming soon!
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No Match for Love volume 2: Strike a Match, Meet Your Match, Mistletoe Match
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Cupcakes and Cowboys: He’s everything that broke her heart. Cassidy wants two things—to make her cupcake shop a success, and to forget that her fiancé traded her for the lights of Hollywood. When Jase—best friend of her ex and A-list actor—shows up at the ranch to research an upcoming role, forgetting is the last thing she can do. Can Jase convince her he’s really a country boy at heart? Devour this deliciously romantic story today!
Twisters and Textbooks: Some storms can’t be outrun. After the death of her parents, chasing tornadoes is the only thing that makes Lauren feel alive. Each storm gives her the adrenaline rush she craves, but it can’t make her forget Tanner, the country boy she left behind in Oklahoma. When a tornado brings the couple back together, Lauren and Tanner are caught up in a cyclone of emotions neither is sure they want to escape. Can they weather the storm of their past, or will they let it consume them? Get caught up in this wildly romantic story today!
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Tomorrow’s Lullaby: Falling in love just got complicated. When Sienna McBride placed her baby for adoption, she never dreamed that two years later she’d find herself falling for someone who resents his birth mother for not keeping him. Will Sienna choose to live a lie, or trust Aaron with the truth?
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Chasing Tomorrow box set: Chasing Someday and Tomorrow’s Lullaby
Lindzee Armstrong is the USA Today bestselling author of the No Match for Love series, Kiss Me series, and Sunset Plains Romance series. In case it wasn’t obvious, she’s always had a soft spot for love stories. In third grade, she started secretly reading romance novels, hiding the covers so no one would know (because hello, embarrassing!), and dreaming of her own Prince Charming.
Lindzee finally met her true love while at college, where she graduated with a bachelor’s in history education. They are now happily married and raising twin boys in the Rocky Mountains.
Like any true romantic, Lindzee loves chick flicks, ice cream, and chocolate. She believes in sigh-worthy kisses and happily ever afters, and loves expressing that through her writing.
To find out about future releases, you can join Lindzee’s VIP reader’s club. You can also find her on Facebook or her website.
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Copyright © 2017 by Lindzee Armstrong
Published by Snowflake Press
All rights reserved. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. No part of this book can be reproduced in any form or by electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without the express written permission of the author.
Cover Design by Novak Illustrations
Interior Design by Snowflake Press
Edited by CookieLynn Publishing Services
Tooele, UT
Print ISBN 978-0-9981667-4-2
Library of Congress Control Number 2017913444
Kiss Me in the Rain (Destined for Love: Mansions) Page 15