Mail Order Meals - Kirsten Osbourne Page 0,6

the best cooking. You could spend the money on anything you wanted.”

“I’m not terribly worried about that,” Trudie said. “I had a job, and I still have money from it. I’m not going to be dependent on your good will for the things I want and need.” If she wanted a new dress, then she wouldn’t go to him for money. Instead she’d use her own money and buy it if she wanted to.

“Glad to hear it. I like independent women. They have the most sass.” Doug didn’t have to look at her to see she was shocked by his statement.

“And you think sass is a good thing in a woman?” Her brothers had always told her that her sass would keep her from ever finding a man.

“I never really thought about it, but as I was picturing the woman who would come and be my mail-order meals, I thought she’d be in her forties, unable to tie her apron strings, and plain looking. You’re anything but. I guess I’m glad that I got sassy you instead of the meek woman I expected.” He was mostly glad anyway. He was still a little worried that she’d be more work than he’d bargained for, but he had no right to complain.

“Well, isn’t that nice.” They’d reached the parsonage, and she reached out to knock, but he caught her hand. “What?”

“I don’t want to kiss you for the first time with the pastor and Mrs. Goldman watching. How about we try a kiss now?” He hadn’t expected to even want to kiss his bride, but little miss sassy pants made him want a lot more than he’d expected to want.

She sighed, looking at him. “I’ve never even kissed a man, Mr. Charleston. We can’t wait another five minutes so I can say I was never kissed before my wedding?”

“You can still say you weren’t kissed until your wedding day.” He didn’t wait for her to argue with him more, but he instead lowered his head to hers and kissed her softly. He didn’t try to deepen the kiss, but he just enjoyed the feel of her against him. Now, he suddenly didn’t feel the need to have a talk with her about not doing anything that could bring children into their lives. Instead, he was anxious for the wedding night. Whether he was ready for children or not, he was definitely ready for a real marriage.

When he raised his head, he saw a dazed look in her eyes, and he couldn’t help but grin. He didn’t know how it had happened, but that mail order bride agency had managed to send a girl who could stand up to him, and who he wanted in his life. “We should probably get married,” he said, startling her out of her reverie.

She blinked. “Yes, of course.” She turned and knocked on the door, trying to calm her racing heart. The hungry man beside her certainly was more interesting than she thought he’d be.

Mrs. Goldman opened the door and smiled at Trudie. “Are you sure you still want to marry this man?” she asked.

Trudie nodded. “Well, not really sure, but I came here to get married and to cook, so I don’t think there’s much of a choice.”

“Well, there are plenty of unmarried men in the area. Would you like to stay with us for a few days and meet them all? Then you can make an educated choice.”

Trudie looked at Doug and smiled. “I think that could be fun.”

Doug shook his head. “No way, no how. I’m marrying her right now before she meets all the other unmarried men in town. There’s no need for her to even think about those men. She came here to marry me.” And he was keeping her no matter what that took.

Mrs. Goldman laughed. “I thought you’d react that way.” She opened the door wide to let the young couple inside, calling out for her husband. “We have a wedding!”

Pastor Goldman was not what Trudie expected at all. While his wife was rather tall and large in every other way, the good pastor was a small man. Not much taller than Trudie herself, and he was slender. The two of them looked odd together.

He walked into the room and smiled at Doug, reaching out to shake his hand. “Your meals finally got here, did she?”

“She did. And she’s sassy. I like that in a woman.”

Pastor Goldman laughed. “I’m glad you’re pleased. Now, shall we proceed?”

The wedding was over minutes