Free That Dog Won't Hunt (Dearing Family Series) by Brandilyn Collins

tellin’ me you’re never gonna do anything for me?” Serving someone was a sign of love, wasn’t it?
    Christina made an exasperated noise. “I didn’t say that.”
    “You just did.”
    “Well, I didn’t mean never.”
    “Then what?”
    “I mean, I don’t want you to expect me to wait on you all the time. But I might choose to do it on my own.”
    “Oh.”
    They stared at each other.
    Ben tapped his forefingers together. This honesty business was harder than he’d thought. “Okay. I won’t expect you to wait on me.”
    Christina gave him a long look— I’ll believe it when I see it. Then her face relaxed. “Okay.”
    Ben turned his head and looked at her out the corner of his eye. “Anything else?” He was almost afraid to ask.
    “I think that’s enough for now, don’t you?”
    His heart sank. “So there is more.”
    “No.”
    “But you said …”
    “I said that’s enough.”
    “For now.”
    She shrugged. “I can’t think of anything else.”
    Ben tipped his head back and regarded the ceiling. Why did she have to talk in circles? “Okay, Christina. If you do, you’ll tell me. Right?” Except—what would he have to give up next?
    “Yes.”
    “Promise?”
    “I do.”
    No deceit in her expression.
    Ben ran a hand through his hair. He felt plumb tuckered out. “Good.”
    He offered Christina a tentative smile, and she smiled back. Her smile grew wider, clearly from relief. “See?” He pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “That wasn’t so bad, was it?”
    She shook her head and leaned forward to lie against his chest. Ben held her, feeling love bubble up. They’d just had their first … whatever it was. And it worked out just fine. Had to be all downhill from here.
    Right?

CHAPTER 9

    Ruth could hardly finish her apple pie. The worry over Ben and Christina swirled in her stomach as she lingered with the rest of the adults around the dining table. The three little ones had gone into their play room to watch TV.
    Sarah took a satisfied drink of her coffee concoction. “Ben sure picked a fine time to ‘talk.’ Christina’s latte’s gettin’ cold.”
    “Yeah, well, apparently they need it.” Jess tossed her head. “You see the look on his face when Christina said her father was dead? I’ll bet anything she hadn’t told him that.”
    “How do you know?” Maddy pointed her fork at Jess.
    “I was sittin’ across the table from ’em. I saw it clear as day.”
    “I didn’t see anything.”
    “Maddy, you don’t see things if they’re right in front of your face. I’m tellin’ you, there’s trouble in the Garden of Eden.”
    Ruth pushed her plate away. “Really, now, we shouldn’t be talkin’ about ’em. Whatever this is, they’ll work it out.”
    She hoped. But she had to admit, she’d noticed Christina’s nervous behavior too. Something about that girl just didn’t sit right—
    “Of course we have to talk about ’em,” Jake said. “It’s how the Dearing family does things. Gets in each others’ business.”
    “Speak for yourself, Jake Samuels.” Maddy gave him a look.
    “Oh, come on, Miss Maddy. You don’t think I heard later ’bout everything y’all said when Sarah and I were datin’? I think Jess even put down a bet we wouldn’t make it.”
    “Speaking of.” Sarah set down her mug. “Where’s my money, sister?”
    Jess sat back and folded her arms. “We did not bet.”
    “Did too.” Sy regarded his daughter from under his eyebrows.
    “Daddy! Whose side are you on?”
    Sy’s palms went up. “Neither. I’m on the side of the Lord.”
    “What?” Ruth laughed.
    “He’s quotin’ the Bible. Sort of.” Tamel grinned. “When the angel appeared to Joshua before battle.”
    “Know-it-all.” Jess shook her head.
    Ruth had to smile. “Knowing it all” was Jess’s territory.
    Tamel looked to Ruth. “Anyway, I agree with you. They’ll work it out. Christina’s a fine girl.”
    “How do you know?” Jess demanded.
    “I got eyes.