Page 6 of The Corner of Heartbreak and Forever
“Anyway, where’d you find that guy?” Grace tried to act nonchalant, busying herself filling bowls with food and water for Clayton, who was currently winding himself around Reno’s feet. Reno buried his nose in the cat’s fur, while Sable gave Grace a nice-try look.
“It’s the saddest thing,” their mother said. “I hired his uncle, Roy Cross, who came highly recommended and lives in Meadowside, but Roy had a massive heart attack a few months ago. Reed dropped everything and came back to town to help him complete all the projects he’d taken on. Apparently, Reed followed in Roy’s footsteps and he’s some type of big historical preservationist in Michigan.”
Michigan. So that’s where he took off to.
Their mother began putting groceries away and said, “All I know is that any man who would drop everything to help his family is a man worth his weight in gold.”
“Pepper would say that a man needs to treat a woman like a diamond before he’s treated like he’s worth a penny,” Amber said.
“Yes, well…” Her mother smiled warmly. “Our girl Pepper might find herself eighty years old and alone in a house full of computers, books, and electronic gadgets one day if she’s not careful. I love your sister, but she’s pickier than a cotton gin.”
They all laughed.
Sable opened a box of cinnamon buns and held one out toward Grace. “Here, Gracie. You can take Reed a cinnamon bun and apologize for your witch attack this morning.”
“Sable. Be nice, please,” their mother chided, causing Sable to roll her eyes and Amber and Grace to smile. “Although, there is thatlookyou give men, Grace. I wouldn’t call it witchy, but I’ve noticed that you’re not quite as soft as you once were.”
Grace set the bowls on the floor for Clayton. Reno ambled over and tried to stick his nose in, but Clayton hissed.
“Leave it,” Amber said, and Reno backed obediently away.
“Not quite as soft? Was I eversoft, Mom?” She’d certainly tried to change, but had she become hardened orwitchy?
Her mother lovingly touched her hand. “You weren’t really soft, Grace, just softer than you are now.”
“Maybe so, but I don’t have alook. If anything, I’m just tired and maybe a little cranky from being woken up at four thirty in the morning by the Pop ’n’ Fresh girls.” Grace arched a brow at Sable. “And then again at who-knows-what-time byhim.”
“Mm-hm,” their mother said, exchanging a look with Amber that Grace couldn’t read. The two of them were putting away groceries shoulder to shoulder, and Grace swore she heard them whispering, too.
“Right,” Sable said sarcastically. “And I don’t have alookeither.” She snorted a laugh and popped a piece of a cinnamon bun into her mouth.
“Oh my,” their mother said. “I can only imagine what Morgyn would say to that. She thinks you have a look, a laugh, a line, and anything else a woman might need to snag a man.”
“You don’t need alook, Sabe. You’re not exactly shy about letting guys know what you want, or who you want it with,” Grace said. “I, on the other hand, am a little less obvious and much pickier. Although not nearly as picky as Pepper, so don’t even go there.”
“Oh, please! Picky?” Sable narrowed her eyes, pointed at Grace, and said in a singsong voice, “Ice queen.”
The sound of a man clearing his throat sent them all spinning in the direction of the doorway, where Reed stood looking mildly embarrassed and wickedly hot. He’d put his shirt back on, but it clung to his athletic frame. His hair was tousled, and his skin glistened with perspiration, which for some reason made him look even sexier. Grace tried to ignore her quickening pulse, but it was hopeless with the sensual heat rolling off the man she’d once known so intimately.
Reno bounded toward him.
“Settle!” Amber said.
Reno skidded to a stop in front of Reed, a bundle of fluffy energy, his tongue hanging from his mouth as his eyes begged for attention. The dog’s reaction told Grace how well Reno already knew their visitor. She silently repeated the command to her own libido—Settle. Settle. Settle—but unlike the well-behaved dog, it didn’t listen, and lust simmered deep in her belly. From the look Sable was giving her, and the devilish grin spreading across Reed’s lips, everyone in the room could see it.
Chapter Three
REED TRIED NOT to let the way Grace was staring have an effect on him, but he knew the fiery passion she was capable of, and the ravenous look of desire in her gorgeous green eyes was impossible to ignore. The chip on her shoulder she’d flaunted earlier gave her an edge that made her even more appealing. Surely if she knew her defensive attitude only made her hotter, she’d do what she could to temper it, and for that reason alone, he’d never clue her in.
He cocked a smile and hiked a thumb over his shoulder, trying to remember why he’d come into the house in the first place. “I knocked, but you probably didn’t hear me.”
“Reed, come on in, honey.” Marilynn lifted a coffee mug. “Would you like a cup of coffee?”
“No, thank you,” he said as Amber crouched to love up Reno.
Sable leaned her hip against the counter, her eyes dancing between him and Grace. As if Grace had just realized she was staring, she shifted her gaze away. Reed wasn’t sure if he was relieved or disappointed.
“I wanted to show you what I’ve found outside. Do you have a moment? And is your husband around? I’d like to show him, too.”
