Page 16 of Getting the Grinder
Her scent is light and citrusy, and I can’t help drawing her in a little closer so I can smell it better.
“Ready?” There’s a smile in her voice.
I smile and she leans her face against mine, her hair soft against my jawline. I have to remind myself that it’s Mara, the queen of mean.
“Got it.”
She steps away from me, turning her phone screen to show me the photo.
“Damn.” I arch my brows. “That’s convincing.”
She pours herself a glass of wine and grabs a taco, taking both with her when she takes Darling and the dogs out to the backyard.
I stand at the island and eat several tacos, spending the entire time thinking about how addicted I could get to a softer version of Mara. When her claws are retracted, she’s breathtaking.
But most of the time, she’s prickly and downright hostile to me. This has to be a fluke I caused with the steak tacos, wine, and brownies.
Tomorrow she’ll be back to hating me.
Chapter Six
Mara
* * *
“Did you guys hook up?” Suki’s expression is half-shocked, half-thrilled.
“God, no. I told you it was a prank.”
She practically flew into the house after Carter pulled their giant SUV into the garage. The two of us are alone in a main-floor half bathroom, her carry-on bag still clutched in one hand.
“I don’t understand. Why were you even here?”
“Well, it’s kind of a long story, but you asked me to check on your plants.”
She nods. “Yeah, but that probably took like five minutes.”
“My Darling!” Young Hallie’s exuberant greeting for her pet makes me smile.
“Come here, Noods. Aw, you’re a good boy.” That’s Charlotte, the middle girl.
“The trip was good?” I ask Suki.
She lowers her brow in a look of confusion. “It was great, but I want to know how you ended up cozied up to Leo and not only were neither of you bleeding from a knife wound, you were both smiling.”
That interaction a couple nights ago was pretty much the end of the camaraderie between me and Leo. I was so exhausted after dinner that I crashed in the guest room until I had to get up for work the next morning.
Leo slept in the living room with the animals, and I wasn’t much help that night. Darling wasn’t sick anymore, though, so it was easier than the night before.
I didn’t need to come back over once things were smoother, but Leo texted me earlier today and asked if I could take over for him for the final two hours before Carter and Suki got back. That’s why I’m here now.
“Darling is fine.” Once she finds out their pet pig was sick, Suki’s going to freak out, so I open with the good news. “But he did eat part of your aloe plant and it made him sick.”
“What?” Her brow crinkles with worry.
“He’s fine. Leo asked the team doctor to come look at him. But there was one long night of diarrhea and vomiting, plus a puppy and a new dog to take care of, so I stayed to help.”
She balks at that. “You stayed here? All night? With Leo?”
