Page 34 of The Corner of Heartbreak and Forever
“Oh good!” Lauryn lowered her voice and said, “I want to see if Nana will write with me. Iloveher!”
“I’ll write with you,” Nana said, apparently eavesdropping on their conversation. “But I don’t want to write anything sappy.”
“There’s enough sap in real life,” Hellie said. “We’re going for rebellious characters.”
“Sounds fun,” Phoenix said. “Maybe we should do a group project.”
“Only if Janie agrees to spice up our characters,” Nana chimed in.
Janie laughed as she hoisted her bag over her shoulder. “Now you’re speaking my language.”
They left in a group, tossing out ideas one after another. Grace pulled her phone from her bag to check her messages, and Amber appeared in the doorway.
“It sounds like they had a great time.” Her sister walked around the table pushing in chairs.
“So did I. It was awesome.” She opened and read a text from Reed.Hope your class went well. I’m running late and got stuck in the middle of a project. Can you meet me at my place? Wear something that can get dirty.
Amber peered over her shoulder. “Reed?”
“Yeah. We were going out to dinner, but he’s running late. What do you think he means by ‘wear something that can get dirty’?”
“If you were Brindle, I’d say wear sexy lingerie. If you were Sable, I’d say wear a grease monkey suit. And if you were me, I’d say prepare to garden or something like that. But since it’s you, I have no idea. Did you guys used to do anything dirty?”
Laughter burst from Grace’s lungs. “Wedid!”
“I didn’t meanthat!” Amber blushed. “I don’t want to know that about you!”
“Sorry.” She tried unsuccessfully to stifle another laugh and hugged her sweetest sister. “Seriously, I don’t remember doing anything particularlymessy.”
Amber glared at her.
“I’m sorry! This time I really wasn’t trying to be naughty.” She hitched her bag over her shoulder. “Although…”
“Don’t!” Amber put up her hand.
Grace pretended to zip her lips.
“Let’s get back to your question. Since Reed is friends with the Jerichos, maybe you should dress for horseback riding or four-wheeling?”
“Oh boy. Maybe I’ll go with sexy lingerie and see if I can sidetrack him.”
Chapter Eleven
THE SOUND OF Grace’s car drew Reed’s attention from the living room wall he was painting. He climbed down from the ladder and leaned the brush on the paint tray, hoping her class went well. Earlier in the day he’d gotten a glimpse of the strong businesswoman she was, while she’d paced the yard, talking on the phone as he’d worked on her parents’ porch. He hadn’t eavesdropped, but it would have been hard for anyone to miss the determined set of her stride and the calm though firm sound of her voice.
“Knock, knock,” Grace said through the screen door, ogling his bare chest.
Reed made his way to the door. He’d been thinking of her all day. Her familiar scent had still lingered in his bedroom when he’d come home, and as he’d painted, he’d felt her presence all around him, rousing his emotions. Now, as he opened the door and she stepped forward looking innocent and sensual at once in her miniskirt and blouse, he drew her into his arms and his heart poured out.
“Welcome home, pretty girl.” He closed the door and lowered his lips to hers, kissing her with all the passion that had been building up all day. He intensified his efforts, and the bag she was carrying dropped to the floor.
“Can I go back outside and knock again? I like this greeting.”
“How about you stay right here and I kiss you until those gorgeous legs of yours don’t have the energy to take you anywhere?”
“Yes, please,” she said in a sultry voice, and rubbed her body against him.
He took her in a slow, sensual kiss that brought fire to his veins. Her hands moved up his back, keeping him close as he nipped at her lower lip.
