Page 44 of Forbidden Kisses
“That’s terrific, Jack.”
“It is. I’m stoked. So do you feel like going out to get some celebratory drinks with me later? I know it’d be out in a public place. We can keep our hands off each other for a couple hours, though, right? Celebrate as friends and then celebrate afterward as…” He lowered his voice. “Morethan friends.”
Grace removed herself from his hold and walked back over to her desk chair and plopped down. “Tempting, but I actually have plans with Krista and Abby tonight. It’s Thirsty Thursday.”
“Krista Nelson and Abby Sawyer? You’re ditching me for a couple of girls?”
Grace reached out for him to take her hand. Just that simple touch tugged on his heart. “It’s been awhile since I’ve had time for real friends. I can’t ditch them just because I found a sweet, handsome, amazing lover.”
He waggled his eyebrows, then gestured to the corner of her desk. He recognized the pale yellow box. “Is that from Aunt Mira?”
“Uh-huh.” A large smile swept across her face.
“Chocolate fudge?” he asked hopefully.
“Yep, and it’s all mine.” She laughed out loud.
“No.No, no, no, no. That’s not how friendship works. Friends share with each other.”
“Friends with benefits have different rules.” She laughed as he tried to reach past her for the fudge.
“Friends with benefits, huh? Is that what this is?” He stopped reaching and allowed himself to hover over her. If anyone walked in right now, their cover would be blown. He couldn’t seem to resist this woman, though.
“What would you call it?”
“I’m not sure. It’s unprecedented for me, that’s for sure.”
“You mean you don’t hook up with your ex-stepsisters all the time?”
“You’re the only one,” he said, landing a soft kiss on her lips. That was as close as he’d gotten to telling her how he felt. “Now hand over the fudge,” he said, teasing her.
—
After work, Grace headed home to get ready for her night with the girls. As she waited for Krista’s brother, Joey, to come pick her up, she stared at her computer screen and the email that she’d just written to Garrison Tomlin. Her finger hovered over the Send button. She’d considered calling theBeatrice’s owner to ask if he was interested in selling her the boat. An email was better, though, because it would give him a chance to get beyond his initial knee-jerk reaction. Garrison could say no on the phone, and then what? With an email, he had time to think about her request. If she won the tournament, she’d be able to offer him good money to buy back theBeatrice.
Joey’s cab honked outside of Grace’s apartment. Taking a deep breath, she hit Send, then grabbed her purse and hurried out the front door. She’d spent a ridiculous amount of time getting dressed tonight, even though she’d eventually settled on a fitted pair of jeans and a black stretchy top. Her mother was right. She really had needed to get a life. Only a month ago, she’d worked every night at Dewy’s, then come home and catered to her mother’s needs. Nothing in her life had been about what she’d wanted or needed. Now things were different. Her mother didn’t seem to need her anymore. She had Mrs. Smith. And Grace had friends, too.
“Hi, everyone!” Grace scooted in beside Abby in the backseat of the cab. Krista sat up front with her brother.
“Hey, Grace,” Krista said over her shoulder from the front passenger seat. “Ready to go have some girl fun?”
Abby groaned. “You make what we’re doing tonight sound like a kindergarten playdate.”
Grace laughed. “Whatever it is, I’m definitely ready.” The same could be true for Jack. Whatever was happening between them—friends with benefits or much more—she was ready for it.
Probably.
A few minutes later, Joey dropped them off in front of Castaways. “Call me when you’re ready for me to pick you up,” he said.
“Have I ever told you that you’re the best brother in the world?” Krista leaned across the center console and kissed his cheek.
“Yeah, yeah. And you’re the lousiest tipper in the history of cabby tippers.”
Krista grinned and stepped out beside Grace and Abby. “Here’s a tip,” she said, leaning over to talk to him through the window. “Keep the windows rolled up when you’re driving around the ladies and they’ll tip you more. We spend a lot of time working on our hair, only to have it wind-tossed by the time we get where we’re going.”
Grace smoothed a hand down her straight locks. “Can’t argue with a free ride, though.”
“I can because he’s my brother.” Krista waved at Joey in the car. “Love you, mean it!”
