Read Dakota Love for Free Online Page B

put that under ‘website plans.’ I’m writing down all the suggestions since my memory isn’t always reliable.”
    “Don’t forget to include those two baby quilts, unless it will spoil the surprise for your son and his wife.”
    Caroline sighed. “I doubt it will. I’ll make a note of it.”
    When Caroline looked up from the pad, concern replaced the twinkle in her blue eyes. In the past week he’d noticed the look every time she spoke of her son. He assumed it was Angela’s pregnancy, but when he asked, Caroline said everything was going great.
    He regretted not having more family experience. Not knowing what to say to put her mind to rest, he prayed nightly that Caroline’s burdens would ease so everyday decisions would no longer cause her anxiety.
    “Have you given any thought to Allison’s suggestion of posting a blog or newsletter on your website? She says either could increase hits to your site.”
    “I’m leaning toward a blog, but I just don’t know yet. I want my business to succeed, so I weigh every decision carefully.”
    Caroline sucked in the corner of her lower lip and turned toward the window as they passed dormant winter fields speckled with snow patches and cornstalk nubs.
    Rodney’s people skills, honed to perfection from his previous career, included awareness of body language. The way Caroline turned from him and focused on the passing landscape indicated there was another reason she weighed every business decision. He suspected it had to do with money, but then again, he’d been wrong about her daughter-in-law’s health. He wished Caroline would confide in him, but it was too soon; even
he
knew that.
    He did, however, intend this day to be fun. The business side of Caroline’s venture never failed to dampen her spirits. Her passion lay in the creative side of quilting.
    “So you mentioned you had quilts to pick up today. For repair?”
    Caroline shifted in her seat to adjust the fur-lined hood of her white parka over the shoulder belt. A royal blue turtleneck that deepened the blue in her eyes peeked out above the zipper.
    “No, these quilts belong to the owner of the store. I do his quilting.”
    “
His
quilting?” Surprise filled Rodney’s voice. “Isn’t the name of the store Granny Bea’s Quilts?”
    “Yes, but Mark Sanders runs the quilt shop and fabric store. It’s his family’s business. He took over for his mom when her MS progressed, then continued to run the store in her memory. He buys quilts and quilt tops online or at auctions. I repair or finish them; then he uses them for display before he sells them at the shop.”
    Rodney chuckled. “I see. I thought you meant he quilted.”
    Caroline raised her eyebrows. “Some men do quilt. It is an art form. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
    “I didn’t mean to imply that there was. It’s just that I don’t know any…” Rodney laughed. “Actually, I don’t know anyone but you who quilts, so I stand corrected.”
    “Mark’s a salesman. The only time I’ve seen him sew is while he’s demonstrating sewing or quilting machines to a customer. I purchased my regular sewing machine from him.”
    “He’s an advertising opportunity then.”
And a better son than me
. Sure, Rodney had taken care of his mom before she died, but only because his own health demanded a life change.
    “What do you mean?” Caroline’s sharp tone jolted Rodney back to the present. “Mark’s my friend. I don’t want to jeopardize our friendship.”
    Something inside Rodney bristled at her last statement. Was Mark the reason she insisted this trip was strictly business? Her potential interest in another man never crossed his mind. Everyone at church agreed Caroline had crawled into a shell like a hermit crab after her husband’s death. He glanced at Caroline, the deep crease once again formed between her brows, a constant reminder of her worrisome nature.
    Rodney gripped the steering wheel until the urge to massage the distress