Page 22 of The Corner of Heartbreak and Forever
THE AIR BUZZED as rides soared up toward the night sky, alive with bright colored lights, their riders screaming, arms flailing, mirroring everything Grace felt as she and Reed meandered through the crowds. For the first time in forever, Grace felt carefree and truly happy—and it scared the heck out of her because where would she be three weeks from now when she went back to New York? She couldn’t go through another heartbreak, but being with Reed, even just being around him when he wasn’t kissing her dizzy, was everything she’d remembered. He was real, and he didn’t put on a front, pretending, orhoping, to be something he wasn’t. She’d always admired that about him.
They stopped for cotton candy, and Reed pulled a piece of the sticky sweetness off and held it up to Grace’s lips. “Open up, beautiful.”
She opened her mouth, and he set the cotton candy on her tongue. “Mm. I haven’t had cotton candy in ages.”
He gathered her in his arms and lowered his lips to hers, the sugary goodness giving way to his unique, heavenly taste.
“Well, well, well, look at my big sister making out like she’s not Miss Buttoned-up City Girl.”
Grace tore her mouth from Reed’s at the sound of Brindle’s voice. She tried to step away, but Reed’s grip tightened, keeping her close. He didn’t flinch, didn’t blink, as he cupped her jaw, keeping her attention focused on him as he placed a tender kiss to her lips and said, “No hiding, Gracie.”
How could he be so calm when her insides were whirling?
Reed brushed his thumb over Grace’s cheek and turned slowly toward the others. Brindle was tucked beneath Trace Jericho’s arm like she was sewn there, her eyes dancing with delight at catching Grace in a compromising position. Trace was a strappingly large cowboy, with dark hair and eyes and an ever-present arrogant smile. Beside him, two of his four siblings, Shane and Trixie, who helped him run their family ranch, were talking with Chet, who carried his four-year-old nephew, Scotty, on his shoulders.
A slow grin spread across Reed’s lips as he said, “How’s it going?”
“Apparently not as well as it is for you guys,” Trixie said with a smile. “I’d hug you hello, but it looks like your hugs are all spoken for.”
Grace couldn’t suppress her smile, even though she hated the snarky look on Brindle’s face. “Hey,” she said, then chided herself.Hey?How long had it been since she’d replacedhelloorhiwithhey? She’d worked too hard to shake off those country ways to fall back into them. If that’s what Reed’s kisses did to her, she’d have to rethink things.
As if he could read her mind, he leaned in, touching his cheek to hers, and whispered, “Doesn’t it feel good to beusin public?”
Maybecountry bumpkinwasn’t so bad after all, because heckyes, it felt amazing!
“Oh my gosh! I just figured it out!” Brindle waggled her finger at them. “This is why you freaked out the other night. How long have you two been secretly hooking up?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Reed winked at Brindle, and Grace glared at him. He pressed his lips to hers. “Guess they figured us out, huh, Gracie? No more hiding.”
Taking his much-needed hint to avoid any further questions about their past, she said, “You caught us, Brindle. We’ve been having a secret long-distance, torrid affair for years.”
Brindle seemed to think about that for a minute, her brows furrowed, nose wrinkled, in that adorable way she had that Grace had always envied.
“Man, that sounds perfect,” Shane said. “Long-distance means you see each other often enough to make the most out of each visit without having time to get sick of each other.” He was every bit the cowboy, like Trace and the rest of his brothers, but he was three years older than Trace and had never been as cocky.
Grace liked all the Jericho siblings, but Shane had a certain gentlemanly way that made him one of her favorites.
Trixie tugged at the knot in her flannel shirt, which was tied above her belly button, leaving a glimpse of tanned flesh above her denim shorts. “We’re going on the Ferris wheel. Want to come?”
“Heck, yes,” Reed said. “I’ve been dying to kiss Grace at the top of it for years.”
Her stomach flipped. He really was going for no more hiding. She made a mental note to define borders on their newfound relationship, likeplease don’t out me to my family. She’d never been a liar, except where seeing Reed was concerned, and she knew she needed to come clean to her family about their past before they heard about their fake multiyear relationship from Brindle.
Falling into step with the group, Trixie nudged Grace’s arm. “Those boots are wicked cute. Aren’t you worried about ruining them?”
Grace looked down at her black leather ankle boots, which were already covered in dust, and she winced. She’d forgotten how dirty the fairgrounds were, and she’d been so swept up in Reed, she hadn’t given a thought to anything other than looking cute for him.
“You should have worn Mom’s boots,” Brindle said.
As much as she hated to admit it, Brindle was right.
Reed glanced down at her boots. “I’ll get those cleaned up for you back at my place. No worries.”
Butterflies swarmed in her belly at the prospect of going back to his place,andat his confidence that that was exactly where they were heading. But weren’t they? Hadn’t she spent the whole evening trying to ignore that she was secretly hoping for the same? Apparently Brindle didn’t miss that comment either. She was grinning like a Cheshire cat as they made their way into the Ferris wheel line.
They finished their cotton candy, sharing with everyone as they waited their turn. Chet set Scotty’s feet on the ground. His face and hands were pink and sticky.
“Be right back.” Reed gave Grace a quick kiss, then ran out of line to a nearby food vendor. He returned with a bottle of water and a handful of napkins. “Give me your hands, buddy.” He poured water over Scotty’s hands and cleaned them off.
