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shouldn t have touched her. But she was appealing in her innocence, as so many experienced women
weren t.
He touched her cheek with his fingertips.  The inspector s going to have everybody doing handstands
Monday, so I m taking the afternoon off, to get my supplies at the feed store. Want to come along?
 Yes!
He chuckled at her enthusiasm. What the hell. He was enjoying her company. He didn t need to start
worrying about the future. It could take care of itself.
He bent and kissed her again, very softly.  Then I ll see you Monday. Goodnight.
 Goodnight. I really had a good time.
He smiled.  So did I.
She walked into the house on a cloud. Life was sweet.
EARLY MONDAY morning, she drove into town to shop for some clothes that weren t as old as she
was. She had a little cash in her checking account that wasn t necessary for bills. She wanted something
pretty to wear for Garon. She stopped by Barbara s to ask her advice.
Barbara directed her to the little strip mall in front of the community college, where there was a thrift
shop. There were some beautiful things there, used but like new, and they didn t cost much. Grace
walked out with two bags full of nice things, and with a cashmere coat with a fur collar over one arm. She
felt like flying.
 Grace, Barbara said gently,  you know I m happy for you. But don t walk into a relationship blind.
That man isn t the marrying sort. And whether he knows it or not, he s not small town material, either.
 That s what they said about his brother, Grace pointed out, smiling,  and look at him!
Barbara didn t return the smile.  Just& go slow. Okay?
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 Worrywort, she chided, and hugged her friend.  I m happier than I ve ever been in my life, she
whispered.  I m so happy!
Barbara gnawed her lower lip as she hugged Grace back.  Be happy, then. But if he hurts you, I ll make
him sorry. I swear I will.
 Stop that. I m a grown woman.
 I know, Barbara agreed. But she didn t smile. Garon Grier was a mature, worldly man, and Grace
was a card-carrying innocent. She d suffered enough already at the hands of one man. She didn t need
Garon to put nails in her coffin. But Barbara knew she couldn t stop this train wreck of a relationship
from happening. She could only be there for Grace when the bottom fell out of her world.
GRACE HAD BOUGHT a pair of embroidered jeans and a matching long-sleeved white shirt and a
denim jacket to go with them. She left her hair around her shoulders, because Garon liked long hair. She
studied herself in the mirror and felt really good about the way she looked.
Remembering how tender he d been with her, she was walking on clouds. She was falling in love.
Surely, he must be, too. A feeling so deep and wondrous had to be shared.
He pulled up in her driveway at one o clock sharp, and she ran outside to meet him, radiant with joy. He
was driving one of the ranch pickup trucks, a black one with lots of chrome trim. His Expedition was still
with Miss Turner inAustin .
He got out of the truck and didn t even try to resist the urge to open his arms for her. She made him feel
young again, full of hope and optimism. She made him feel like the man he had been, before tragedy had
turned his world black.
She hugged him, feeling closer to him than she ever had to anyone else. It was like a miracle, that she
could enjoy letting a man touch her, hold her, kiss her. She lifted her face to tell him, but his mouth was
already burrowing tenderly into her lips. She opened them for him and held on tight. It was like flying. Joy
overflowed like a dammed river suddenly free.
After a minute, he had to put her away from him. He was almost shaking with the need to carry her
inside to the nearest bed. He couldn t do that. It was too soon.
 Ready to go? he asked, smiling.
 I ll just lock the door, she replied breathlessly, her gray eyes shimmering with happiness.
He watched her go up the steps. Odd, she d come down them running, but now it seemed like an effort
to go back up them. She took longer than necessary to lock the door, too. He wondered why.
She could feel the question on his face before she read it. Her heart was cutting cartwheels, and she
couldn t let him see. She forced a smile.  See what you do to me? she asked pertly.  You take my
breath away.
The suspicious look was replaced by an arrogant one. He actually grinned.
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SHE WALKED into the feed store beside him, smiling and happy. Old Jack Hadley, who d owned this
feed store, one of two in Jacobsville, since Grace s grandfather was a young man, smiled benevolently at
Grace.
 Nice to see you out and about, Miss Grace, he said.  And in good company, too. He smiled at
Garon and winked.
Garon shifted, as if the teasing look made him uncomfortable.  I ve got a list, he said, handing it to the
manager.
He pursed his lips.  Well, this seed is a special order. Will next week be soon enough?
 Yes, Garon replied.
 But the rest is in stock. Jake! he yelled, and his teenaged assistant came running from the back of the
store.  Get this feed for Mr. Grier and carry it out to his truck, will you?
 Sure thing! the boy agreed. He smiled at Grace.  You look nice today, he said, blushing as he made
the bold remark.
 Thanks, Jake, she said, but her smile was impersonal and faint.
Garon moved to her side, glowering at the boy, who took off like a human rocket.
Grace was confounded at the look on Garon s face. And when he noticed, his dark eyes began to burn
in an odd, intimate way as he held her gaze until she flushed and dropped her eyes.
His big hand slid over her small one and held it tightly, as if to emphasize what his eyes were telling her.
She could barely breathe for the stab of joy right through her body. She returned the pressure, and felt
his fingers ease slowly, sensuously, between hers.
She bit her lower lip, hard, to keep from moaning.
 Don t forget the fertilizer, Jake, Mr. Hadley called after the boy. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]