When Love's Gone Camping (Sequel three of the Embracing Love Trilogy)

By Merri Hiatt

WHEN LOVE’S GONE CAMPING (Sequel three of the Embracing Love Trilogy) - With a campground named Whispering Pines, how could a camping trip be anything but restful and relaxing? Enter Jacob’s friend, Addison. Not only does she have eyes for Jacob, she thinks his dad is a lot of fun, too. Join the gang for ghost stories, s’mores, hiking, fishing and a few surprises. When Love's Gone Camping can be read as a standalone book or after reading the Embracing Love Trilogy.

OTHER BOOKS IN THE EMBRACING LOVE TRILOGY (and sequels!):

WHEN LOVE'S AT WORK (Book one of the Embracing Love Trilogy) - Purity, Courtney and Meg are the She Musketeers, until Alex and Bobby enter the scene. A twenty-seven day job interview, tingling kisses, and Pure's crazy ex make for a bumpy ride to Happily Ever After.

WHEN LOVE'S AT HOME (Book two of the Embracing Love Trilogy) - Meg and Bobby are in the midst of planning their wedding when two young runaway brothers cross their path and change their lives forever. When the boys' parents realize they've stumbled upon a way to get rich quick at Bob and Meg's expense, they jump at the chance. The She Musketeers band together to keep the boys safe.

WHEN LOVE'S AT PLAY (Book three of the Embracing Love Trilogy) - When Court is offered a chance to go to New York and have a gallery showing of her sculptures, she is delighted. Little does she know that leaving the She Musketeers behind will prove to be so difficult. As she spends long hours immersed in her work, other hands are busily making sure they reap the rewards of her labor.

WHEN LOVE'S ON VACATION (Sequel one of the Embracing Love Trilogy) - The She Musketeers are back! Purity, Meg and Courtney are gathering up the men they love and heading for a vacation they've dubbed "California Dreamin'." While they're enjoying fun in the sun, a sinister plan begins to unfold that finds them in harm's way at every turn. They join together to turn the tables on their attackers and even manage to spend a few days in Las Vegas. When Love's on Vacation can be read as a standalone book or after reading the Embracing Love Trilogy.

WHEN LOVE'S GONE COUNTRY (Sequel two of the Embracing Love Trilogy) - A two-week trip to a working ranch has everyone excited to learn about ranchin' and wranglin'. When they arrive, the ranch is not what they expected. Meg summed it up best: "This doesn't look like the brochure." A mysterious hot springs, poisoned water, a trip to Moon Spirit Lodge and issues from Jacob's past make for a vacation to remember. When Love's Gone Country can be read as a standalone book or after reading the Embracing Love Trilogy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Merri Hiatt
• Release date: Aug 19, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301839025

Merri Hiatt

Merri Hiatt grew up in a small town near Shasta Valley in Northern California. Upon moving to the Pacific Northwest in Washington state, Merri fell in love with the mountains, ocean, rain and lush greenery. Merri credits her high school creative writing teacher with giving her the nudge to pursue writing. BOOKS WRITTEN BY MERRI HIATT: PROPOSAL SERIES: Sweet Proposal, Jaded Proposal (coming soon!), Midnight Proposal (coming soon!); LOVE IN THE AIR TRILOGY: Runway Romance, Love on the Fly (Passion at 30,000 Feet coming soon); SEASONS OF LOVE SERIES: Summer Love, Autumn Love, Winter Love, Spring Love; CELEBRATING LOVE TRILOGY: 14 Love Letter Lane, 21 Romance Way, 28 Passion Boulevard; EMBRACING LOVE TRILOGY: When Love's at Work, When Love's at Home, When Love's at Play, When Love's on Vacation (Sequel one), When Love's Gone Country (Sequel two); MANGADARTH TRILOGY: Marayah's Return, City Reborn, My Mother's Eyes; Kat Burglar, a romance novella; Mama Lives in My Hair, a short story about life and death; Sarah and the Magic Beans, a short story about magic and hope; The Magical Christmas Cookies, a short story about hope; Santa Hates Seattle, a short story about hope and second chances; Puddle of Poetry (sixty-two poems from sassy to sensitive to serious); Food So Good, You'll Never Know It's Good For You, 11 Recipes and Tips; and Potato Chip Princess, a young adult short story. Visit Merri's website at http://merrihiatt.com Merri states: "I am a lover of all emotions. They swim and spin around my head with abandon. What fun to let the words these feelings bring forth play along my tongue and whisper into the still of the night. When I capture them on paper, it is a joy and one of my favorite ways to spend time."

Book preview

Chapter One

They’re not here, Courtney Abrams-Thompson yelled, her words muffled by the pile of boxes surrounding her.

They have to be. Brad Thompson’s frame filled the closet doorjamb.

Well, they’re not.

Did you look in all the boxes?

I didn’t look in the ones marked Christmas. I highly doubt your favorite hiking boots will be in there.

I wore them for our trip up Mt. Dickerson.

I remember.

Where did you put them after that?

I didn’t put them anywhere. They’re your shoes, your responsibility. I’m not your mother. Courtney pushed past her husband. He grabbed her around the waist.

Don’t!

I know you’re not my mother. I’ve never had wicked thoughts about her. Brad raised and lowered his eyebrows suggestively.

Courtney laughed, the irritation forgotten. Did you look on the mud porch, underneath the bench?

Why would they be there?

That’s where we keep all our shoes.

Not my dress shoes. He pressed feather-light kisses along her neck.

No, not your dress shoes. Sneakers, slippers, boots, rubbers—

Rubbers I keep in the bedside table.

Not those kind of rubbers, rubber boots.

Brad grinned. Courtney could see the twinkle in his eyes despite the low-lit room. She pushed against him playfully. You are incorrigible.

Are you dissing me? I think you’re dissing me.

Court kissed him with deliberate slowness, allowing her tongue to tease his.

What were we looking for? he asked, tugging at the scrunchie she’d wrapped around her hair to keep it in place. Raven locks fell about her face.

I forget.

You’re so beautiful. I never tire of looking at you.

Beauty fades.

It’s a good thing you have a sparkling personality then.

I can sparkle with the best of ‘em.

They shared another kiss, then made their way to the mud porch.

Bingo!

You found them?

Why else would I say Bingo?

Oddest damn thing I ever heard of.

What?

Putting things in the same place over and over again so you can find them.

Courtney socked him in the arm playfully. She was about to give him the put-things-back-where-you-found-them speech, but a cheery-faced Meg was staring at her through the window in the door.

Hi! Didn’t mean to startle you or anything. Jacob and Jeremy have been pestering me all day about the tent. Did you find it?

Yeah. It was right where I thought it would be, Brad said.

Courtney shot him a quick glance, then said, Come in. We were just looking for Brad’s boots. He’s discovered a new trick, putting things back where he got them.

I hope he’ll talk to Bobby about it. That man can never find anything.

Two women in one place, I’m leaving. It can only mean bad news for me.

You’d better run, Court warned.

Brad left the room. His hiking boots sat on the bench.

Didn’t he say he was looking for those? Meg asked.

Yep.

He didn’t take them.

I know. He’ll be back.

I’ve got a fresh pot of coffee, want some?

I’d love some. Meg followed Court into the kitchen. We almost waited too long to go on this camping trip. They’re saying it might even rain.

A little rain never hurt nobody. Besides, it’s more fun that way.

I’d rather have sun.

I love swimming in the rain.

Yes, but you’re weird.

Point taken. Courtney poured coffee into two mugs. Two sugars and a splash of cream.

Thank you. I love when people know me so well I don’t have to tell them how I like things.

Meggie, I know everything about you. There are no skeletons in your closet.

Meg avoided Court’s eyes. Have you seen Purity and Melody?

Not since last weekend. Mel is growing so fast. Seems like she was only born a few days ago. Every time I see her, she’s discovered something new.

The boys love her. Jeremy is so gentle with her and Jacob acts like he’s her protector.

He is. When she’s old enough to date, her boyfriends are going to be put through the ringer. They’ll have to get through Alex, Jacob and Jeremy.

Tough crowd.

You can say that again.

Tou—

Don’t. Courtney glared at her friend, then softened her voice. How is all this for you?

I’m dealing with it. I’m deliriously happy for Pure, of course.

Of course.

Meg sighed. I just wish…

I know. Courtney put her hand on her friends’ arm. I know.

Any new projects for you?

Nice change of subject. You know I wouldn’t normally let you get away with that, but I do have a new project and I’m dying to show it to someone. Come upstairs to my work room.

Hey, where’s Diego? He’s usually all over me.

He’s having a sleepover with a female dog friend.

Puppy love?

They’re hardly puppies. Two Saint Bernard’s take up more room than two human beings, but he took a shine to her and they’ve been buddies ever since.

Can dogs fall in love?

Court shrugged. If they can, Diego is.

What’s her name?

Charlotte.

Like in Charlotte’s Web?

Well, that Charlotte was a spider, but hey, I guess an animal is an animal.

Technically I think spiders are insects.

Whatever. Court rolled her eyes.

Don’t roll your eyes at me!

How can you see me doing that? You’re walking behind me!

A mother knows these things.

Courtney smiled and turned to face her friend. Yes, a mother knows, and you’re the best one I know.

Not for long.

Purity?

Meg nodded. I’m trying really hard for this not to be a competition, but it’s hard. Pure’s always done everything well. It just stands to reason that she’ll be a better mother than me.

Nonsense. You can both be fabulous moms, in different ways. And, for the record, you can’t compare adopting two young boys from a fractured family with having a baby girl. You and Bobby were in the negative from the get-go. In sheer numbers, you win.

I know it sounds silly, but that means a lot to me. We’ve worked really hard with the boys. It hasn’t been easy, and it’s still not. We have a long way to go.

You’ll get there. We’re all here to help.

I’m counting on it.

Courtney turned around and headed up the stairs. They walked down the hallway to the last door on the right.

It’s a complete mess, but that’s nothing new. Court opened the door to reveal a sculpture eight feet high and six feet wide.

It’s huge! What is it?

How the hell should I know?

You made it.

It’s abstract.

Abstract means you don’t have any idea what it really is, right?

Exactly. I just carved what I felt.

Pepto Bismol might help with that feeling.

Court stuck her tongue out at Meg. Didn’t your mother teach you to say something nice or don’t say anything at all?

Meg eyed the sculpture again. It’s big.

You said that.

It’s wide. Why are there three circles in the middle?

I have no idea, but my guess is that it represents the trinity.

How can you not know when you created this piece of art?

I don’t dissect how I feel when I’m working on it. I just walk in the door and feel my way through it.

What were you thinking about? Meg walked around the piece several times.

Alex and Purity. And Melody, of course. And all of us, our friendship over the years.

Why are pieces jutting out over here?

They just needed to be.

Well, it’s the best abstract art I’ve ever seen.

Why do I get the feeling it’s the only abstract art you’ve ever seen?

That, too. Meg smiled warmly, putting her arm around her friend and squeezing tightly. You know I love everything you do.

Even if you don’t understand it.

Especially when I don’t understand it.

Hey, Court? Brad yelled up the stairs.

Yeah?

Have you seen my hiking boots? I know I just had them, but I can’t find them.

Did you try looking on the mud porch?

Why would they be there?

Courtney rolled her eyes and looked at Meg. Men.

Some things never change.

Chapter Two

I don’t think I’m ever going to get the hang of this, Purity said.

You’re doing fine, Alex said. She’s sleeping like she doesn’t have a care in the world.

Purity watched as Melody lay still in her crib looking like a little angel. I feel like I’m all thumbs sometimes. I get the sticky tabs on the diapers stuck on my fingers, Mel squirms when I’m holding her and I can never seem to get a shower.

You look beautiful.

I appreciate that you think so, but are you listening to me? I don’t know how to do this.

You’re doing a great job.

I don’t feel like I’m doing a great job. I feel like I’m messing up her whole life.

You haven’t messed anything up. Mel is fine. You’re fine. It’s just going to take a few months to get a routine underway.

What if that never happens? Meg wouldn’t have problems like this. She’s practically June Cleaver.

Honey, you can’t go around comparing yourself to someone else, especially Meg. She’s superhuman. I’ve never met anyone so organized. I’ve never seen her house with a speck of dust.

Great! Now I’m a failure as a housekeeper, too!

That’s not what I meant. Alex pulled her into his arms. I don’t want a perfect house, perfect cook, perfect parent. I want you.

You mean you’ll settle for me. Purity didn’t mean to pout, but she couldn’t keep her bottom lip from curling under. Her hair was a stringy mess and the smell of Melody’s latest burp was fresh on the shoulder of her robe. I just don’t know if I can do this.

One more day and we’ll be on our way to Sawyer Lake. Courtney and Meg will practically scoop Mel out of your arms. You’ll have to fight to get her back. It’ll be a good break.

I’m just so tired. Purity snuggled into Alex’s embrace.

I know. He stroked her hair. It’s going to be okay.

Purity didn’t know how it could ever be okay. She was a complete failure as a parent. Alex was just in denial.

Why don’t you go take a shower and I’ll take care of Melody.

I’m too tired. I’ll take a shower in the morning.

Then I’ll handle all things baby related in the morning.

Deal. Purity kissed him on the cheek. Thank you.

We’re in this together.

When they returned to their bedroom, Alex fell asleep quickly. Purity stared at the back of his head. How do men do that? If Melody began crying right now, he wouldn’t even hear her. It’s like a faucet they can just turn off and on.

For the hundredth time Pure wondered why God graced her with a child and not Meg. She was so much more suited to being a parent. She wanted children, adored them, really. And, she knew how to do everything. It was like she had been born with the knowledge inside her.

Purity slipped out of bed and returned to the nursery. Melody was sleeping soundly. She ran her finger along the edge of her little ear, soft and pink. Pure smiled. "I want to be the best mom for you. I want to