Page 93 of Eight Years Gone

With thirty minutes left until closing, this was the last objective for the day—playing with the flowers—which was one of her favorite things.

“I’ll have food sent up to my room if you’re still up for a FaceTime dinner,” Jagger said as he drove his rental car in the DC traffic.

Grace grinned, holding her phone up to her ear with her shoulder as she reached for a white lily. “Definitely. What’s on the menu?”

“Probably a burger and fries. I imagine I’ll add a salad because I’m good like that. What about you?”

“I’m thinking about a big bowl of chicken barley soup with a thick, buttery slice of sourdough.” She glanced up as a gust of wind blew against the building. “It’s so cold outside.”

“It’s raw down here too. I wish I could be there with you. Tonight’s the perfect night for blankets, popcorn, and a movie.”

She picked up a succulent to add to the lilies and roses combination. “Add warm double-chocolate brownies to the menu, and we’ve got something.”

He groaned. “Now you’re speaking my language.”

She grinned because she knew what he liked. A lot of things had changed over the years, but not his favorites. “I wish you could be here, too, but I think I like this arrangement better—you being gone on a Thursday night instead of this weekend.”

“Yes.”

“We still have to figure out what we want to do.”

“I have a few ideas.”

Her smile was back as she rolled her eyes. “I bet you do.”

He chuckled. “Getting you naked is definitely on the agenda, but we also need to look at the resort’s spa menu—the woman who took our reservation suggested we get something booked as soon as we can.”

She nibbled her lip with another grin. They were doing it—actually going away on a real vacation together. Flights and accommodations had been booked shortly after they’d both orgasmed last Friday night. “I was scrolling through the website this afternoon.”

“Always so efficient.”

She turned the vase in a slow circle, scrutinizing her work. “Of course. They’re supposed to have excellent estheticians. We can add facials after our massages. The nourishing avocado honey mask sounds amazing.”

Jagger made a sound in his throat. “How about you add a facial after your massage?”

“Facials are the best. You don’t know what you’re missing.”

“I can live with that.”

She laughed.

He chuckled again. “I’m about ten minutes from my hotel. I need to give Jason a quick call so I can start wrapping this trip up.”

“That’s perfect because these flowers have a date with the fridge.”

“Text me when you’re settled in at home, and we’ll get this dinner thing going.”

“Okay.”

“I love you, Gracie.”

She grinned, certain she would never get tired of hearing him say so. “I love you, too. I’ll talk to you in a bit.”

Hanging up, she set her phone on the counter to bring the vases to the cooler.

Goosebumps puckered her skin as she stepped into the chilly space despite the white cable-knit sweater and jeans she wore.

“This is the last place I want to be, but you ladies will be much happier in here. And you look amazing, by the way.”

---