Page 19 of She's a Big Deal

Grace Michaels then once again flicked her gaze over her in an appraising and not at all unpleasant manner. Olivia decided it might be safe to ask if she would be spending Christmas in town. She was wrong; it obviously was not a good idea. All it earned her was a single, sharp ‘No’ in reply.

“Ah. Well. Even so, I know Charlie must be delighted to see you. She—”

“Talks about me a lot,” Grace cut her abruptly. “Yeah, you said.”

Man, what a piece of work!Even as Grace crossed her arms across her chest, an obvious signal to deter her, Olvia stood her ground.

“That’s not what I was going to say to you now.” Thinking it might irritate the woman even more and, for some insane reason, eager to provoke her and get under her skin, she fished out an open pack of doggy treats from the cupboard. Then shook it, prompting an excited bark and a mad scramble from the other room, and shoved it into Grace’s hands. Just to see what she would do. “Do you like dogs?”

A shrug. “Dogs are fine.”

“Cool. What’s your puppy’s name?”

Grace flashed the kind of look that said Olivia was toying with disaster. “I don’t have one. No time or inclination.”

She did feed a couple of treats to each dog, though, without really looking at either of them. Then she more or less slammed the box back onto the counter and returned both hands to her hips. Combative. Fiery. Gorgeous, really. And a little strange, for sure. Olivia wondered how any human with a functioning heartin their body could resist picking up little Everett, who sat fixing Grace with hopeful brown eyes. Or, at least, scratching his head. He even lifted one paw clumsily in the air in the most adorable puppy hello, but the woman went on ignoring him. Olivia was both appalled and fascinated in equal measures.

“So,” Grace prompted. “What were you going to say to me before I so rudely interrupted you?”

Mocking her, Olivia realized. And to be honest, she’d been looking for it.

“Just that the situation with your brother hit Charlie hard,” she replied, seriously now.

“Hmm. Yeah. Unfortunately, I only just found out about it.” Frustration sizzled across Grace’s face, and a flash of anger, but these were only brief. She was quick to catch herself. When she smiled, it was so unexpected that Olivia was taken aback. And there was more. “Charlie said you’re a good girl.”

“Oh, did she?” Olivia chuckled in embarrassment. Damn if she did not feel herself blush at the same time. “I do my best to be helpful.”

Grace nodded just once, eyes locked onto hers like two laser beams. “Yes. Thank you for that.”

“No problem.”

Well, what a surprise. It seemed the icy Miami legend could crack a sizzling smile when she wanted to. There was fire in her blue eyes, and when she smiled, her entire face lit up. It made her look younger, too, and always truly beautiful. Olivia melted a bit and, just like that, forgot again to be careful.

“Will you be staying in Burlington, then?”

“No.” The shift in Grace’s tone was like whiplash, though at least she did not remind her that it was none of her business. “I am here for Charlie. Why would I stay twenty-five miles away?”

“Um, yes, good point.”

“Indeed.”

“I know the rest of your family live there, so I just assumed that you would—”

“You’re best not to assume things about me.” Grace glanced down at Everett, still doing his best to catch her attention, with as much warmth as the snow outside. “Anyway. Gotta go.”

Olivia stunned herself with what came out of her mouth next, even if, of course, it would not be the first time she’d sprung this kind of invitation. But not since her breakup with Beth... And never on a woman like Grace, who consistently came across like hugging a cactus may be less painful.

“Hey, we should have dinner. How about it?”

As expected, Grace stared as if she’d just been told that two plus two were sixty-nine. Olivia had no idea why this particular number popped into her head at this precise moment. Or perhaps, more precisely, she refused to acknowledge it. The answer came, predictably curt and negative.

“No,” Grace said.

Even so, watching her, Olivia was pretty sure that she’d at least considered it. Maybe for a micro-second? Foolishly, it gaveher hope. Why she should suddenly feel so keen was not entirely clear to her, but never mind.

“Why not?”

“You’re not my type.”

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