Waiting For Rachel: A Christian Romance (Those Karlsson Boys) (21 page)

Serena glared at him, but Alex saw the twinkle in her chocolate brown eyes and didn’t take it too seriously.

“You should know better than to tease a lady.”

“I know, but seeing you blush was worth it.”

Serena wrinkled her nose at him before turning back to the counter. Marie slipped a tray towards her
that held her sandwich and soup. Another tray appeared next to it with his order on it. Alex followed Serena to where the cash register sat.

“Lunch is on me,” Alex said, digging his wallet out of his pocket.

The other three protested, but Alex insisted and won the battle. It had been too long since he’d last been able to treat his family to a meal.

They followed Rachel
to a booth along the wall. Damian slid in next to her leaving the other side for Alex and Serena. Alex let Serena slide in first so she was across from Rachel and then settled himself on the soft, vinyl covered bench seat.

“Would you like to say grace?” Damian asked him.

Alex nodded and they bowed their heads while he said a quick prayer.

For the first few minutes no one said anything as they began to eat. Alex quickly came to appreciate Rachel’s fondness for the restaurant.

“So is this where you’re having your reception?” Alex asked jokingly.

Damian and Rachel exchanged
glances and burst out laughing.

“What did I say?” Alex asked Serena.

She grinned. “You may have been joking, but you’re closer to reality than you know.”

Alex looked back forth between Serena and the two seated across from him. “
You’re really having your reception here?”

“Not exactly,” Rachel said when she finally stopped laughing. “But they are catering for us.”

“Well, that’s interesting. So what are you having?”

Rachel laid out the reception menu for them. Alex found it hard to believe that someone would settle for sandwiches and soup and said as much.

“I think I’d do the same thing,” Serena commented. “Simple and meaningful, that’s what I’d want for my wedding. And I think that’s what Rachel and Damian’s will be.”

Damian nodded. “No fancy-shmancy for us. Although I still have to wear a suit. I tried for blue jeans, but it was a no go.”

“So I’m not going to have to wear a tux?” Alex asked.

Rachel shook her head. “Nope. In fact you don’t even have to wear a suit. Damian is wearing one because he’s the groom, but you only have to wear a shirt and tie.”

“So that’s why you asked if I had a pair of black pants and a white shirt,” Alex said to Rachel.

She nodded. “I have the tie. It will match what the girls are wearing. So you’re all set.”

“Haven’t been to too many informal weddings lately,” Alex said. “And I’ve been to a lot of weddings.”

“After what we’ve gone through to get to this point, we decided that we wanted something simple because while the wedding is important,
it’s what happens after that really needs our attention. No need to create undue amounts of stress even before the marriage has begun,” Damian explained.

“Well, I can’t wait,” Alex said.

They continued to talk about the wedding as they ate. Within an hour they had Serena back at the church, and they were on their way to his parents’ house. But try as he might, Alex couldn’t seem to keep Serena from his thoughts.

He hadn’t dated much in the past few years. A lot of it was because he hadn’t found a woman who had captivated him and held his attention. Serena was doing both, and all without even trying to. Or at least it seemed that way.

Mentally he compared her to the checklist he kept of what he wanted in any woman he dated with an eye to marriage. He didn’t believe in dating just for dating sake. To him, dating was the precursor to marriage, so if she didn’t meet his standards for a wife, it wouldn’t work to have her as a girlfriend.

So far, s
he appeared to have many of the qualities that were important to him in a wife. Only time would tell if she had them all. His heart skipped a beat at the thought that coming home to Minnesota might mean the wait was over and he might finally have a home and a family of his own.

Download your copy of

Worth the Wait
!

~*~*~

Contact

Please visit Kimberly Rae Jordan on the web!

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKimberlyRaeJordan

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/KimberlyRJordan

Website:
www.kimberlyraejordan.com

Christian Books in Multiple Genres!

Join Christian Indie Author ~ Readers Group on Facebook.

Opportunities for free books and giveaways!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/291215317668431/

Kimberly Rae Jordan’s Books

If you wish to share your thoughts on the story you’ve just read, please click on the link below to be taken to the page on Amazon where you can leave a review.

Thank you for taking the time to read my stories.

I hope they brought you enjoyment for a few hours.

New Release

Home Is Where the Heart Is

Home to Collingsworth – Book 1

Ten years ago, Violet Collingsworth left the town founded by her family, eager to escape a domineering grandmother and a past filled with hurt. Finally able to pursue her own dreams, Violet has spent the last decade travelling and enjoying adventures in the outdoors she loves so much. But now her grandmother's death has brought her back to Collingsworth and to the conflicted familial relationships of her past. Settling down anywhere, let alone Collingsworth, was not part of her agenda, but a run-in with the town sheriff has her reconsidering. 
Sheriff Dean Marconett had heard plenty about the Collingsworth sister who loved to travel, but he never imagined he'd be so drawn to her when they finally met. Will he be able to convince Violet to consider settling down in the town she fled from so long ago? Or will her adventuresome spirit and the hurts and fears of her past drive her away from a chance at love?

Home Away from Home

Home to Collingsworth - Book
2

Laurel’s story

Available April 2014

Single Titles

Faith, Hope & Love

After several years in captivity, missionary Quinn is finally freed,

but he returns to his wife a stranger.

Will they be able to find their love again?

Or will his lack of faith rob them of a future together?

Marrying Kate

She’s loved him for years so when he asks her to marry him for the sake of the children,

she says yes.

But will a man’s determination to keep his secrets threaten Kate’s dream of a marriage of love?

~ * ~ * ~

Those Karlsson Boys Trilogy

Waiting for Rachel

Though Rachel longs to accept Damian Karlsson’s romantic advances,

her secrets make her keep him at arm’s length.

But when her secrets are forced out in the open,

will Rachel discover that forgiveness and trust are worth the risk when it leads to love?