Page 12 of The Corner of Heartbreak and Forever
She had to laugh at his confused expression. “Your lips. They’re like crack.No, worse than crack. They’re like a sip of beer to an alcoholic. One sip leads to a shot, which leads to a glass, then a bottle, and the next thing you know, I’m passed out in your bed—”
He stepped closer, the heat in his eyes stealing her voice. His wet jeans grazed her thighs, wreaking havoc with more than her voice. She took a step back, but his hand swept around her waist, keeping her close. “I’ll keep my lips to myself. We’ve got a decade of bad feelings between us, Gracie, and a few kisses sent me right back to where we were all those years ago. I’m pretty sure you were right there with me.”
She opened her mouth to deny it but realized it would be an outright lie.
“I’m going to be working at your parents’ house for a while. All I’m asking is to clear the air.”
“It’s a bad idea,” she said too quickly. “I mean…It’s a good idea to clear the air, but no more kisses.”
“No more kisses,” he agreed, though his arrogant smile told her he didn’t believe she wanted that rule.
“No touching, either.” She peeled his hand from around her waist.
He held both hands up, his amused smile making him even more handsome. “No touching. Anything else?”
“It would be great if you could stop breathing. It hinders my ability to think rationally.”
That earned another sexy laugh. “No can do, Gracie. Fair warning, I might use that to my advantage.”
“I’d expect nothing less,” she said with a smile. She’d wondered over the years if she’d exaggerated or romanticized his personality, but she hadn’t. He was still as honest and affable as ever.
“Do I get to make rules, too?” he asked.
Save for his demanding kisses, Reed had never been one to ask anything from her. They’d seen each other only when they could sneak away undetected. Sable had covered for her after she’d caught Grace sneaking out one night and learned of their secret relationship, but still, it had never been enough time. She’d always wanted more, but she’d been afraid of the grief she’d get from her friends if they knew she was dating the rival quarterback. Grace had complained more about their lack of time together than Reed had. Now it all seemed so silly, but back then the rivalry between schools had felt like a black cloud hanging over them.
She figured she owed him a rule or two and said, “Go for it.”
“No hiding from the truth.” He held her steady gaze. “That’s all I ask. We did so much hiding when we were kids. I just want to lay it all out in the open.”
Could she do that? Tell him how hurt she’d been when he’d left town, when she knew she’d already made her choice and had no right to be hurt?
“What do you say, Grace? The ball is in your court.”
The last time she’d held the ball she’d walkedoffthe court and had regretted it ever since—despite knowing she’d done the right thing for herself at the time. She was older now, and she knew better than to start something that would end in heartache. Surely they could handle being friends.
“Okay,” she said, earning another earth-shattering smile.Down, girl.
Reed retrieved her sandals and his boots, and as they made their way toward the bonfire, she was glad she was soaking wet, because she was playing with fire. She needed all the help she could get to douse the flames.
Chapter Five
THE HEAT OF the fire warmed Grace, but she was still shivering, and she knew it had more to do with nerves than cold as she stood in the wet grass beside Reed. Even the heavy musk of burning wood wasn’t enough to erase Reed’s alluring scent. If confidence and loyalty had a scent, it would smell like Reed. The thought was odd, given how badly he’d hurt her by leaving town, but it was there in her head, as real as the man standing beside her. He looked like a million bucks in drenched denim and soaked cotton, while her sisters had made fun of hercity dress—a simple princess-waisted summer dress with diamond patterns and an A-line skirt—amplifying her insecurities about not fitting in with the country setting.
“Sorry I startled you this morning,” Reed said as he stepped closer, his arm brushing hers.
Had he always insisted on standing so close? It wasn’t exactly awkward standing there with him, but it wasn’t completely comfortable, either. She didn’t know how to react to the tingling his touch sparked, or where to start in the whole coming-clean process. But she didn’t like anyone knowing she wasn’t in complete control and said, “It’s okay. Sorry if I was witchy, but nobody warned me you were here.”
“Who could have warned you? Nobody knew about us back then except my aunt and uncle.” He glanced at the people climbing out of the creek. “It’s like we were some kind of dirty little secret.”
She swallowed hard against the truth. “We were a secret, but not dirty. Just young and stupid. Sable and Sophie knew. They both covered for me sometimes, remember? But I think Sable gets a kick out of shocking me.”
He laughed softly, eyeing her rebellious sister, who was playing the guitar across the lawn. “I had forgotten about Sable knowing. I guess we don’t owe her one anymore.” His gaze swept down Grace’s body, and an appreciative smile lifted his lips. “You look incredible tonight.”
“Thanks, but according to Brindle and Morgyn, my dress looksmatronly.” She tugged at the wet material clinging to her legs. “It’s perfect for a summer party in the city, but I sort of stick out like a sore thumb here.”
“That was always part of our problem.” His expression turned solemn. “You were never supposed to fit in or look like everyone else, but you thought you were. You thought being different was a bad thing, when really, you were meant to stand out. You outshone everyone back then, Grace. And you did the right thing, breaking things off with me and leaving town to follow your dreams. I was just too young and blinded by my feelings to see it.”
The sincerity in his voice cut through her like a knife, but the old hurt rolled in again and came out without warning. “I didn’t want to end things with you, but you said you’d never leave Meadowside.”And then you did.She swallowed those words, but holding them in made her feel like a bomb ready to explode, and she started breathing harder. “I can’t do this here.”
