Page 4 of Undoing the Grumpy Guy

She’s still small and odd, yet those things don’t seem to matter as much as finding out more about this unusual woman and pinpointing why exactly I want to spend my afternoon with her.

CHAPTER TWO

WINNIE

When he first stomps around the bushes, his pale blue eyes narrowed, with his mouth pinched tight, I want to rush up and hug him. Poor guy really looks like he needs one.

And not one of those wimpy, there-there hugs or a quick grab and dash one.

No, he needs a full-on power hug, the ones that you feel deep in your soul. The ones where the other person doesn’t let go until all the magic of human touch has done what it needs to do and helps patch up whatever ache is troubling you at that moment.

Sadly, hugs really can’t heal all things.

Oh, if they could, Mimi Sandra’s would be in demand, and I might never feel her heavenly arms squeezing me tight as she rocked us slowly because the waiting list would be too long.

But while they can’t heal, they certainly help, and I could sure use one of hers right now as my nervousness vibrates through me.

He doesn’t remember me.

I certainly remember him, though I didn’t know his name.

We tend to have lunches with our grandmas on the same day most weeks, and how could I not take notice of such a beautiful man?

I know you’re not supposed to call men beautiful. They’re handsome or manly or other less flowery terms. But Reed Jackson is beautiful.

And I’ve itched to sketch him.

Preferably in the nude.

It’s a naughty thought that’s brought a burning flood of blood to my cheeks numerous times and a tingle low in my belly whenever I see him.

And that’s why I’m here hiding behind the bushes, trying to get up the nerve to go say hello to him and praying every single one of my thoughts aren’t plastered for all to see on my face.

When Mimi asked me to go on a date with one of her friend’s lonely grandsons, I said yes. One, because I can’t ever say no to my sweet Mimi, and two, because I understand being lonely all too well and felt that would immediately put me and my date on the same footing.

Two lonely people meeting up at the urgings of our dear, sweet grandmas. And who knows, maybe a bond would bloom between us, and we could ease each other’s loneliness and true love would flourish.

All so perfectly romantic, I could almost swoon at the very thought.

I never would have guessed in a million years that the lonely grandson would be the man I’ve secretly crushed on for the past several months.

Him? Lonely?

HA!

I bet he has to beat women off! He’s probably agreed to this date only to please his grandmother. There’s absolutely no way a man like him is hurting for female attention.

“Winifred?”

My pulse shoots up at my name and I clutch at the fragile holly branches for support.

“Can you please come out, Winifred?” he asks gently.

Swallowing hard, my voice comes out a fast squeak. “It’s Winnie, actually.”

“Winnie, will you come out, please?” he asks, offering his large hand.

I feel like a princess taking the hand of the handsome prince as he draws me forward and I blink up at Reed. I never knew his name before.

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