Page 79 of The Corner of Heartbreak and Forever
He lowered his lips to hers, filling her with love and pushing away those other awful feelings. He took the kiss deeper, made it sweeter, then rough and demanding, and then easing once again, claiming all of her attention.
Their lips parted with a series of tender kisses. She felt a hundred times lighter, wishing she could stay within the warm safety of his embrace, lost in him, instead of giving in to the clock ticking away in her head.
“Okay?” he asked softly.
She nodded, hating the way thoughts of her long drive ahead pressed in on her. Any traffic would make her late to the meeting, and she still had to figure out the best way to handle the situation with Keagen.
Reed’s lips tipped up in a sexy smile. “I see the gears of your brain churning. I’ll pack your stuff, since you clearly want to break something in the process,” he said teasingly. “You can get started on that list of yours.”
They finished packing, and Grace called Nana, who promised to call the girls. She decided to call Sophie from the road, since she’d need her comfort anyway.
They packed her car, and she stood beside it clinging to Reed, their hearts pounding furiously against each other.
She buried her face in his chest and said, “I want to be five years old again just for ten minutes.”
He tipped her face up, his sad eyes cutting straight to her heart. “Why?”
“Because then I could throw a tantrum and get my way so I can stay.”
“Aw, baby.” He crushed her to him. “I love you, and we’ll see each other soon. Don’t worry about us. We’re solid, babe. We’ll always be together. You just concentrate on handling the things you need to.”
“Tell Frank I’m sorry?” Her entire body ached with sadness.
“Of course.”
She pushed up on her toes, and he met her halfway in another soul-drenching kiss. She clung to his back, soaking in his strength as their union turned fierce and hungry.
“Wish I could stay,” she said between frantic kisses.
“Me too. Love you.”Kiss, kiss, nip, kiss.“Call me the second you get there.”Kiss, kiss, grope, kiss.“And at any rest stops.”Kisssssssss.
By the time they finally parted, she felt flushed.
“Better go,” she managed. “I can’t be late.”
He opened her car door, and she sank down to the seat, then popped back up, tugging him down by his shirt for another passionate kiss. Frustratingly aware of the minutes ticking by and the urgency of her trip, she reluctantly pressed her hand to his chest, the dreadful weight of their separation looming between them.
Neither of them spoke as she settled in behind the wheel. He hooked her seat belt, gazing into her eyes, his big body taking up the space between her and the steering wheel.
He pressed his lips to hers one more time and whispered, “Go get ’em, Gracie.”
Fighting against tears as he climbed from the car and closed the door, she started the engine and feigned a smile.Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Don’t cry.
He blew her a kiss, and she pretended to catch it and press it to her lips.
She watched him in the rearview mirror as she drove away. He followed her into the street, his hands in his pockets, broad shoulders rounded in sadness. Frank was due there in ten minutes. She hoped her leaving wouldn’t affect their visit. With one last glance in the rearview, she turned the corner as tears slid down her cheeks.
REED STOOD IN the middle of the road feeling like he had years ago, when he’d told Grace she was doing the right thing by going away to college but he’d wanted to beg her to stay. He wasn’t that stupid kid anymore. Why was his mind doing this to him? He had commitments, had to work out the subcontractors for the Majestic, order supplies so they’d arrive right after settlement, and most importantly, he had only a couple days to spend with Frank. It wasn’t like he could up and leave.
Frank was leaving Monday. Maybe Reed could postpone his other meetings and drive up then. Monday felt a lifetime away.
Frank’s car ambled down the street, and Reed stepped to the curb. Frank had enough on his plate; he didn’t need to see Reed’s distress. Forcing a smile and a wave, Reed vowed not to make the man’s life any more difficult than it already was.
“How’s it going?” Reed asked as Frank stepped from the car, looking a little less disheveled than he had the last time he’d seen him. He had about a day’s worth of scruff and his clothes were wrinkled, but there was a renewed spark in his eyes.
“Not as well as it is for you.” He reached into the car and grabbed a bouquet of orchids and handed them to Reed. “Congratulations again. These are for you and Grace.”
Another pang of longing stroked through him with the sight of the orchids. Reed didn’t quite have it in him to tell Frank she wouldn’t be joining them. Instead, he said, “Thank you. These are her favorites.”
