Page 49 of Suzanna's Surrender
Yes, it would be good, she thought and smiled. “I’ll see you about seven, then. Bring Sadie if you like.”
Chapter Nine
It wasn’t candlelight and moonbeams, Suzanna thought, but it was a romance. She hadn’t believed she would find it again, or want it. Flexing her back as she drove up the curving road to The Towers, she smiled.
Of course, a relationship with Holt Bradford was lined with rough edges, but it had its softer moments. She’d had a lovely time discovering them over the past few days. And nights.
There was the way he’d shown up at the shop once or twice, just before lunchtime. He hadn’t said anything about the children, or her missing the routine—just that he’d come into the village for some parts and felt like eating.
Or how he’d come up behind her at odd moments to rub the tension out of her shoulders. The evening he’d surprised her after a particularly grueling day by dragging her and a wicker basket filled with cold chicken into the boat.
He was still demanding, often abrupt, but he never made her feel less than what she wanted to be. When he loved her, he loved her with an urgency and ferocity that left no doubt as to his desire.
No, she hadn’t been looking for romance, she thought as she parked the truck behind Holt’s car. But she was terribly glad she’d found it.
The moment she opened the door, Lilah pounced. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
“So I see.” Suzanna lifted a brow. Lilah was still in her park service uniform. Knowing her schedule, Suzanna was sure her sister had been home nearly an hour. As a matter of routine, Lilah should have been in her most comfortable clothes and spread out dozing on the handiest flat surface. “What’s up?”
“Can you do anything with that surly hulk you’ve gotten tangled up with?”
“If you mean Holt, not a great deal.” Suzanna pulled off her cap to run her hands through her hair. “Why?”
“Right now, he’s upstairs, taking my room apart inch by inch. I couldn’t even change my clothes.” She aimed a narrowed glance up the steps. “I told him we’d already looked there and that if I’d been sleeping in the same room as the emeralds all these years, I’d have known it.”
“And he ignored you.”
“He not only ignored me, he kicked me out of my own bedroom. And Max.” She let out a hiss of breath and sat on the stairs. “Max grinned and said it was a damn good idea.”
“Want to gang up on them?”
A wicked gleam came into Lilah’s eyes. “Yeah.” She rose then swung an arm over Suzanna’s shoulders as they started up. “You’re really serious about him, aren’t you?”
“I’m taking it one step at a time.”
“Sometimes when you love someone, it’s better to take it by leaps and bounds.” Then she yawned and swore. “I missed my nap. It’d be satisfying if I could say I disliked that pushy jerk, but I can’t. There’s something too solid and steady under the bad manners.”
“You’ve been looking at his aura again.”
Lilah laughed and stopped at the top of the stairs. “He’s a good guy, as much as I’d like to belt him right now. It’s good to see you happy again, Suze.”
“I haven’t been unhappy.”
“No, just not happy. There’s a difference.”
“I suppose there is. Speaking of happy, how are the wedding plans coming?”
“Actually, Aunt Coco and the relative from hell are in the kitchen arguing over them right now.” She turned laughing eyes to her sister. “And having a delightful time. Our great-aunt Colleen is pretending she simply wants to make certain the event will live up to the Calhoun reputation, but the fact is, she’s getting a big kick out of making guest lists and shooting down Aunt Coco’s menus.”
“As long as she’s entertained.”
“Wait until she gets hold of you,” Lilah warned. “She has some very creative ideas for floral arrangements.”
“Terrific.” Suzanna stopped in Lilah’s doorway. Holt was definitely hard at work. Never particularly ordered, Lilah’s room looked as though someone had scooped up every piece of furniture and dropped it down again like pick-up sticks. At the moment, he had his head in the fireplace, and Max was crawling on the floor.
“Having fun, boys?” Lilah said lazily.
Max looked up and grinned. She was mad, all right, he thought. He’d learned to handle and enjoy her temper. “I found that other sandal you’ve been looking for. It was under the cushion of the chair.”
