Page 21 of Forbidden Kisses
“We’d split the money.”
Jack shook his head, his hands braced above him on the top of her doorframe. “You should drop this right now, Grace. It’s not happening.”
She wondered if she was imagining the heat circulating between them. It was a hot summer day, but the space between them was at least ten degrees hotter. “Just think about it. That’s all I’m asking.”
He hesitated, then tossed a glance over his shoulder at the diner. “I’m starving right now. If you’ll go inside with me for that sandwich, I’ll think about it, okay?”
One little hope-filled balloon moved her forward. She dipped under his arm and walked past him. “That’s all I’m asking.”
Chapter 6
Jack safely avoided the subject of the East Coast fishing tournament at lunch. Instead, he and Grace talked about everything and nothing under the sun. It almost reminded him of when they were teenagers. They used to be able to spend hours just talking.
He placed some money on the table and pushed his chair back. “Is this your first time in Southport?”
“Yeah.” Grace turned to look out of the restaurant’s window. “It’s a lot like Blushing Bay.”
“There’s nowhere on earth like Blushing Bay,” Jack argued. “But Southport is worth seeing if you’ve never been here. What do you say we go for a walk before we take the two-hour drive back home?”
Grace smiled. “I’d like that.”
They left the diner and walked quietly side by side for a while, navigating the touristy streets.
Jack stopped in front of one of the storefront windows. “As a kid I always begged Dad to take me in there.”
The Bumble Bee Toy store had several old-fashioned toys on display in the window.
“Let’s go in,” Grace suggested.
Jack raised an eyebrow. “You want to go in a toy store?”
She grabbed his hand and tugged him toward the door, but his feet froze. His hand wrapped around hers, hanging on to the touch she’d given him. The touch that part of him, a large part, had been longing for since he’d first seen her at the Blushing Bay Café a couple weeks ago.
She looked at him. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m just glad you’re giving me the time of day again. I’ve missed you over the years.” He let go of her hand. Grace had come into his life when he was a hormone-driven teen boy. She’d been more than just a pretty face or a stepsister to him, though. There’d always been something about her that had pulled him in, hooked him like a senseless fish going after something he knew deep down he couldn’t have.
“I know.” Grace swiped at a lock of hair that was tangling in the wind. “I’m glad we’re friends again, too.”
“Friends. That’s an upgrade. I just thought you were tolerating me. I like friends, though.” If he were honest, he’d like another upgrade—friends withmore.
“So, the toy store?” she asked.
He shook his head. “No, I’d rather just walk off lunch. My toys these days are my carpenter tools.”
Grace shrugged and fell in stride beside him. “What are you making?”
“Aside from the new launch and pier, I’m building a small boat in my garage.”
Her squeal made him stiffen. “I guess you’re excited about that.”
“Yeah, I’m excited. That’s awesome, Jack. If you make a big enough boat, we can enter it in the tournament.”
A low growl erupted from him that made her burst into giggles.
“Just kidding. That would take forever.” She winked at him as he offered up his broodiest stare-down. He wasn’t upset, though. Not really. More relieved that she felt comfortable enough to tease him. And comfortable enough to ask him for something, even if it was something he absolutely did not want to do. He knew that Grace didn’t like to depend on others. She liked to be self-sufficient. And if he had to guess, she probablywouldtry her darnedest to enter the tournament. The big question was why.
They circled through a few scenic blocks and then climbed back into his truck and made the long haul home. Grace fell asleep midway, which left Jack to his own thoughts and frequent stolen glances at her.
