Page 34 of Forbidden Kisses
Krista laughed, taking a huge bite of her own muffin. Krista’s hair was pulled back in a ponytail. She was dressed in aquamarine-colored nursing scrubs with the Blushing Bay Memorial logo printed on the front pocket. “I woke up ravenous. I usually stop in and eat alone, but I wanted more scoop.”
“More scoop?” Grace nearly choked on the bite of muffin in her mouth.
Krista stared at her. “Yeah, you know, about your new job,” she said slowly.
“Oh.” Grace exhaled and pulled her coffee toward her.
“You thought I was talking about something different.” Krista raised a dark eyebrow, inspecting Grace across the table. “Something else has happened between now and when we talked on Saturday. Another lunch date maybe?”
“What? No.” Grace tried to offer a straight face as she hid behind her coffee. Tried and failed.
Krista cocked her head to the side. “Don’t try to play it off.Tell me.”
Grace swallowed. “Well, the job at Sawyer Seafood Company is still going well. Noah is actually talking to me now, which is good. And I spoke to a new prospective customer yesterday. They’re opening a restaurant in Blushing Bay and need someone to supply their fish. The guys are thrilled.”
Krista licked a crumb from the top of her mouth. “You had a huge crush on Jack growing up.”
“Hmm?” Grace asked, glancing around the café, hoping her face wasn’t revealing anything.
“It was so obvious,” Krista confirmed. “Everyone knew. I’m guessing that maybe”—a wicked grin spread across her face—“you still have a thing for him now.”
Grace laughed nervously. “That’s crazy.” She glanced at her watch. “Oh wow. I should get going. I don’t want to be late.”
Krista frowned. “What? You just got here. You have twenty minutes before you have to be at your desk and the guys are complete pushovers.”
“If you’re not early, you’re late,” Grace chimed, collecting her purse and coffee.
Krista bagged the rest of her muffin. “Right. Well, we should definitely finish this conversation later. How about tonight?”
Grace pushed her chair back under the table. “I, um, can’t. I’m actually staying in tonight. I sort of have…plans.”
Krista grinned, her dark eyes lighting up. “Okay.Tomorrow morning, then. Same time, same place. And if you don’t spill the beans over breakfast tomorrow, then we’ll both be late for work, because I’m not leaving here without it.”
Chapter 9
Jack stood at the edge of the new recreational area pier. It was done.
“It looks great.” His cousin Gabe clapped a hand on Jack’s back. “Fast. Well built. I wasn’t sure about Dewy’s kid working with you, but he did a good job under your guidance.”
Jack nodded. He had to admit that he was surprised at how well Tristan had done, too.
Gabe gestured at the new pier. “This is really fantastic work, man. Tristan crashing into my kayak launch was a stroke of luck for me. Maybe this is what you’re meant to do now.”
Jack glanced over. Working with his hands, finishing something he started, felt good.Hefelt good, better than he had in a long time. “I’m building a boat, too.”
“Yeah? Well, if you start carving out kayaks and canoes, let me know.”
Jack laughed.
After saying goodbye to his cousin, Jack hopped back into his truck to go see Grace. He couldn’t wait to lay his eyes, and hands, on her. When he got to her apartment, he knocked once before she pulled him inside and shut the door behind them.
“I’ve been thinking about you all day.”
He grinned against the kiss she landed on his lips. “Your boss might not appreciate me dominating your attention.”
“What your father doesn’t know won’t hurt him.” She curled her hand around his and dragged him farther inside her apartment. “I was just making iced tea. Want some?”
“I’d love some.” He followed her to the kitchen and sat down as she retrieved two glasses from her cabinet. Jack glanced over at her laptop on the bar. She had several tabs open with what looked like articles. “What are you doing?”
