Chapter 3
Chapter Three
Sam pulled up outside the little beach house and grabbed the envelope from his passenger seat.
He’d never be the type of man to strong-arm any woman into keeping a contract with him.
No matter how beautiful she was. He jogged up to the door, rang the bell, and tapped the envelope against his palm.
The sweet smell of roses from her garden drifted to his nose, making him look down.
He spotted the zombie garden gnomes and grinned.
The front door swung open, and Grace stood there with wide eyes and with a toothbrush hanging out of her mouth. A tiny bit of toothpaste dripped from the crease of her lips onto her shirt.
“Cm in,” she mumbled and left the door open for him to follow.
He took his cue and stepped inside the cozy home, shutting the door behind him.
The smell of fresh-baked cookies drifted to his nose as Grace disappeared down a hall.
A laptop sat open on the couch. A book lay open across the armrest, holding her spot, and a blanket lay nearby.
He spotted the plate of cookies next to her seat.
If this was Grace’s life, no wonder she’d come to him.
All she needed was a glass of wine and a cat.
Grace re-emerged minutes later. “I’m sorry, my sisters came back and told me that I was the one that had to cancel the contract and I forgot to call.”
“Not a problem.” He held out the envelope as his gaze took her in. Her black yoga pants had a small pair of red lips on the hip. Her matching tank top had a wet spot where the toothpaste had landed. She was a cute mess. “I voided your contract.”
“Thanks.” The smile she gave him didn’t reach her eyes as she took the envelope and tossed it on the table. “You could have just sent it to the office or called and I would have picked it up. I’m sorry about my sisters storming your office.”
“It’s not a problem.” He nodded toward the couch. “Big plans?”
“Nope. A little book boyfriend and a glass of wine.”
His lips twitched, trying as he might not to smile that he’d gotten the wine part right, but not the cat.
“You?”
“I’m still heading out of town for a family wedding, which is why I decided to bring the contract. If you don’t have any big plans, maybe you’d still like to join me. I hate to attend those. No pressure, since we cancelled the contract.”
“You don’t strike me as the kind of guy in need of a date,” she said, tossing the same words at him that he’d used on her.
“Touché. I’m not. I thought if you’d still like to go, maybe I could give you some pointers on what to look for in a guy, like how to spot the married ones who conveniently forgot to wear their ring, or the ones that are just out looking for a good time.
You know. The kind you should avoid, if you’re wanting a serious relationship.
There should be plenty there for us to work with.
Free food, champagne, and advice. No strings attached. ”
“I’ve never heard of a wedding lasting a week. What else did you have planned?”
“I’m thankful it’s only a week. I’m the best man.”
Grace wet her lips. “Aren’t you worried that I’ll ruin your chances with a bridesmaid?”
He chuckled. “I’m hoping you do.”
She studied him, and he didn’t know what she saw in his eyes or on his face, but something like sympathy crossed hers. “Been there, done that, three times in fact. Let me pack a bag.”
“Seriously?” His mouth parted.
“Yeah. Sounds like fun. No strings. I’ve got claws, and I’m not afraid to get dirty. I’ll keep those hoes away from the Italian sausage, and it would serve my sisters right, the way they think they can manage my life.”
“Sausage?”
“Never mind.” She waved his question away. “Make yourself comfortable and give me ten minutes.” She quickly moved back down the hall.
Sam sat on the couch and clasped his hands while he glanced around the room.
Family pictures filled the top of her bookshelf.
Books, just like the one lying open on her sofa, filled the rest of the shelves.
He picked up the book she was reading and glanced at cover of a half-dressed woman with a man kissing her chest.
He turned to where she’d left off and read. His jeans tightened as his cock hardened behind his zipper with every heated word of the hero and heroine having sex. When did they start putting porn on pages? He’d been so engrossed with every word and every detail he hadn’t heard her return.
“Good stuff, huh?”
“I’m sure some of their positions defy the laws of gravity.”
“Yum. I hadn’t read that part. I’ll take it with me.
” She grinned like a woman ready to pull out sex toys and grabbed the book.
She flipped it around and scanned the words.
Any man would be crazy not to date this woman.
Maybe it was the sex scene or the way she’d snatched the book from his hands and devoured the page in two seconds flat, but she was everything he imagined she’d be.
She snapped the book closed. “Those positions are doable for a woman that does yoga. You just need a flexible partner and a strong guy.”
“Do you do yoga?”
“I grew up doing gymnastics. I’ve twisted my body in all kinds of directions. Yoga is a piece of cake.”
As if his erection hadn’t been hard enough, it now was pressed painfully against his zipper. Why was this woman still single?
Grace walked over to the bookshelf and grabbed another book. She pressed it against his chest. “You’ll like this one.”
She released the book, and he had no choice but to catch it. “What’s the plot?”
“A guy, a girl, who cares. You’ll learn some new positions in that sucker. Even I was surprised. You want to impress your partner? Take notes. These books are written by women, for women. That’s my tip for you.”
“Says the woman still looking for love.”
“Maybe if a guy took the time to read these books, there might be a better pool, or at least a lot more satisfied women. Win/win. You should make that book a required read before signing your male clients. You can thank me later.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Was there no filter? A lesser man would have blushed, but he found himself oddly intrigued.
“Seriously?” She looked surprised.
“No.”
She shrugged. “Your loss. Are you ready?”
Was he?