Page 20 of Barefoot Dreams
Only I haven’t moved at all, frozen by the shock and something else at seeing her and she has to practically squeeze past me to get inside. Her arm brushing against mine and that jolt of electric energy at the contact finally makes me jerk away.
I don’t remember it ever stinging like that. Before, when I’d give her hugs or catch her in a game, it never felt like this. Like I’d do just about anything to feel it again. To have her skin against mine. To have more. To have it all.
“Would you like some tea and cookies?” Mom asks.
“Oh no, thank you, Izzy.” Julie says sweetly, tucking her loose hair behind her ear as she shifts from one foot to the other. “I have to get back to the shop.”
“Nonsense, you have the lovely Lia gal there, she is more than capable to take care of it while you have a cup of tea. I’ll go make it.” Mom pushes us toward the couch and now I understand why she goes to those workouts every morning. The woman is freakishly strong. “You two go sit, talk, don’t feel rushedat all,” she says, and then murmurs quietly, “Should’ve drank that ashwagandha brew before.”
I’d think I misheard her if it wasn’tmymother we were talking about.
“Did she just say ashwagandha?” Julie frowns.
“Yep, and no, you don’t want to know,” I add when I see her gearing up for the next question.
“Right, well, I really can’t stay for too long.” She chews on the inside of her cheek. “The lunch hour rush is about to hit, and I need to be there but I haven’t seen you in days and I know you said you were hiding so I didn’t want to bother you but I also thought maybe you could use something to help with clarity andpeace, so I brought you this.” The speed of her words increases with each one until she lifts the yellow pot. “It’s—”
“Lavender,” I cut her off. and she closes her mouth in surprise.
“You know what this plant it?”
“Birdy, even I’m not that far gone to not know how lavender looks.” I look at her from underneath my eyes, my mouth tipped up on one side. It wasn’t my intention, but I do rather like the blush that creeps onto her cheeks as she worries her lower lip.
“Right. Of course. It’s a widely known herb.” She nods along with her words.
“Mm-hmm.” What I don’t add is that I know all the herbs. At least all that she’d grow in their garden.
“Well…” she thrusts the plant onto my hands, revealing the most sinful looking cleavage known to mankind.
Fuck, fuck, fuck…not this again. Why is it always like this? I shove the pot over my rapidly growing cock so fast I knock it against my raging hard-on and let out the most unflattering squeak of my life. It’s also not helping that the whole room now smells like cherries.
Jesus…could this get any worse?
“Griffin? Are you okay?” Julie leans in, laying her hand on my thigh.
I really,reallyshould stop tempting the universe! Of-fucking-course, it could get worse. I could come in my pants like a pubescent idiot because a girl is touching me.
“Yep,” I quip quickly as I tug the damn pot closer to me. “All good!” I add, but my eyes are on her hand that’s still resting on my thigh. It’s almost safer than looking at her eyes or her cleavage but still a danger to my male ego.
Julie notices right away and snatches it off as she gets up from the couch.
“Set it by your bed so it helps you sleep better at night. It’s a wonderful herb. I should get going. You know, my shop…and Liais all alone there. And…yeah.” She’s rambling again, and I can’t figure out why. Julie was never nervous around me.
Oh, hell…she probably saw my dick and the show he’s throwing in my pants. No wonder she wants to run out the door as fast she can.
“Griffin!” Mom hollers from the kitchen. “Come help me carry this.”
I glance at my lap pensively. “You know I think I’m good here.”
“Griffin!”
“Izzy, I’m sorry. I gotta go.” Julie saves my ass.
“What?” Mom rushes down the stairs at breakneck speed, the liquid—because I refuse to call it actual tea—sloshing over the rim. “So fast?”
“Um, yes, sorry. Come by Sip of Love and I’ll make one for you to make up for running out so fast?” Julie offers.
“Sure thing, sweetie.” Mom smiles sweetly at her.
