Page 21 of The Corner of Heartbreak and Forever
The front door opened, and those thoughts went out the window as he stepped from his truck, taking in Grace’s insane figure in a pair of black skinny jeans, what looked like ankle-high biker boots, and a black silky top. Man, she was hot.
And she was ripping him off.
“What are you doing?” he called out to her as he came around the truck and joined her on the walkway, holding the flowers behind his back.Man, she smelled incredible. “Get back in that house, woman.”
“Excuseme?” she said with wide eyes.
He held the flowers tighter to keep from reaching for her, because once she was in his arms, he wasn’t going to let go. “I have never had the opportunity to pick you up for a real date. I’m not missing out on that again. Now, get your fine behind back in the house and let me knock on the door like a gentleman.” He smacked her butt and said, “Go.”
“That’snotvery gentlemanly,” she said with a sexy laugh.
“Neither are most of the things on my mind right now, so you’d better take the chivalrous acts when you can get them.”
She glanced over her shoulder before walking inside, and in that split second, his world tilted on its axis. Grace was here, within reach, and right that second nothing else mattered.
He tried to clear his head, but it was no use. Grace had taken up residence. He knocked on the door and her father opened it, a smile at the ready.
“Hello, Reed. I hear you sent my daughter back inside.”
Reed nodded. “Yes, sir. When I take a woman on a date, I like to pick her up properly.”
“I told you I liked him,” Marilynn said as she came to Cade’s side. “Reed, come in, please.”
Grace stood off to the side, watching with amusement as he stepped inside. He’d seen the inside of their home when he’d first started working on the porch, but Grace made it look even brighter.
He smiled and handed her the bouquet of pink and white orchids. The same flowers he’d left anonymously on the porch by her bedroom door on every thirty-day anniversary while they were dating. “You look gorgeous, Grace.”
If a melting heart had a face, it would be Grace’s at that very moment. She lifted the bouquet to her nose, smiling as she smelled them. “They’re beautiful.”
He was aware of her parents exchanging a glance but didn’t want to miss a second of Grace to catch it. “I’ve been wanting to get you flowers since”—he noticed the warning in her eyes, but he was done hiding. He’d just have to be creative in his honesty—“I first saw you standing on the sidelines of the football field back in high school.”
Another dreamy look washed over her. “That’s a long time.”
“It is.” Reed couldn’t resist stepping closer, vaguely aware of Marilynn reaching for Cade’s hand. “But some things are worth waiting for.”
Grace lowered her gaze, her cheeks flushing.
“Why don’t I put those flowers in a vase so you two can get on your way.” Her mother took the bouquet from her.
Reed put his hand on Grace’s lower back and said, “I won’t have her back too late.”
“Keep her as long as you want her. Overnight if you’d like,” Marilynn said.
“Mom!” Grace said with a laugh. “Nothing like offering your daughter up for a good time.”
“You take care of my girl, you hear?” Cade said with a friendly wink.
“Yes, sir.”
Once they were alone on the porch, Reed hauled her into his arms and kissed her deep and slow, until their mutual laughter turned to passion. She was so sweet, so eager, he didn’t want to stop, but they were on her parents’ porch. Clinging to her arms, he reluctantly drew back.
“Thank you,” he said, and pressed his lips to hers again in a quick, tender kiss.
“For the kisses?”
He took her hand in his and said, “For allowing me to experience what I was never able to all those years ago.”
Chapter Seven
