Read Dakota Love for Free Online Page A

coffee and browsed the links that appeared on the screen. After viewing several different sites, they found unique and pretty patterns but none matching the fabric in Rodney’s quilt.
    Although Caroline delighted in searching the Internet for matching fabric, Rodney’s interest waned. He enjoyed Caroline’s company, but he’d imposed on her time long enough. No sense wearing out his welcome. “You mentioned a fabric store earlier that might carry it.”
    “Yes, it’s a quilt shop. They carry some replica fabric. If they don’t have what we need in the store, they may be able to special order for us. I advertise there. They direct clients my way. I have some quilts to pick up sometime this week, so I’ll take yours with me and maybe they can help us out.”
    “Would you like company?”
    Caroline frowned and sucked in a corner of her mouth.
    Was she afraid that this was a date? Although he intended it to be, he tried to alleviate her apprehension. “I have some errands I need to run. We might as well save gas.”
    After a few minutes, Caroline said, “I guess it’d be all right.” Worry continued to etch her features. “What day were you thinking?”
    “It depends on the weather for me. Can I call you after the six o’clock weather report?”
    “Sure. Meanwhile I’ll look through my quilt books and see if I can locate the name of this block.”
    “I might have a response to my e-mails that sheds some light on the quilt’s origins. I probably should get going.”
    “I’ll get your coat.”
    Rodney waited by the door and watched Caroline descend the steps with his quilt neatly folded over her arm. Who knew this morning that he’d be designing a website and accompanying Caroline on a shopping trip? Rodney peered through the door glass at the winter sky and found his answer. A cloud blocked the sun, yet its rays broke through, casting shafts of light that seemed to connect heaven to earth. No longer taking anything for granted and knowing who was in control, Rodney whispered, “Thank You, Lord, for all the plans You have for me.”

Chapter 3
    T he unpredictable South Dakota weather postponed the trip to the quilt shop for about a week and a half. Temperatures dropped into the teens with some sort of precipitation every other day. Between plowing driveways and making sure his crew finished his clients’ sidewalks by either snowblowing or hand scooping, Rodney redesigned most of Caroline’s website.
    Vitality surged through Rodney, a feeling he’d thought he’d never experience again and decided he missed. His creativity ebbed and flowed while working on Caroline’s website, forcing him to not only challenge but frustrate himself. The text he contributed had provided the right marketing punch. Credit for the eye-pleasing and user-friendly layout of the web page went to his former intern, Allison. In the short year since his resignation, the rapid change in technology stumped him more than once, so he called in a favor and asked Allison for help.
    Today, God blessed him. His morning workout had seemed effortless as he mentally planned their day in Sioux Falls. Now Caroline’s flowery fragrance filled the pickup cab.
    “I love the improvements you made to the website. It looks so professional.”
    His chest swelled with pride at Caroline’s ecstatic reaction to the basic website changes. He did give his all to his current occupation, but clearing a driveway didn’t quite provide the same sense of accomplishment.
    Caroline’s excited chatter about which quilts to photograph and upload to her website fueled his exuberance and made the hour-long drive between Riverside and Sioux Falls fly by. Nothing could do his heart more good.
    “Lucky for me I photographed Mildred’s quilt. Your quilt will make great before-and-after pictures.”
    The sun through the windshield accentuated the various tones of red in Caroline’s unencumbered curls. She pulled a white notepad from an oversized tote bag. “I’ll