“Ben narrowed his eyes. "You love that restaurant."
"So does Noah."
He shook his head impatiently. "No, I mean I thought you loved it too much to let it crumble."
Agatha stepped out from behind the desk to pace. "I don't think that will happen. Noah will return before it does. But. . ." She looked up and held Ben's gaze. "It's worth the risk."
Because she loved Noah. Oh, Ben doubted she'd ever admit it, she was such a crusty old witch, but it was there in her faded blue eyes, in the strain on her aristocratic face. Ben turned away from her to run a hand through his hair. Everything was suddenly more complicated.”
“Take it easy, Grace," Noah told her as he stepped into his slacks. "According to Ben she's doing fine now and is kicking up a fuss at all the attention. To quote Ben, 'She's pitching a bitch about looking old and frail.”
“Agatha surprised them both when she groused, "As for you, Grace, you'll return as well."
Grace blinked. "But..."
"No buts!" Agatha glanced from Noah to Grace. "I'll give you plenty of time off to continue this courtship with my grandson. But for the time being, I need you, so you will be there for me."
With the shoe on the other foot, Grace scowled. Knowing how she felt, Noah squeezed her hand, and Grace finally muttered, "All right."
Ben was chuckling at their predicaments when Agatha turned to him. He gulped.
"And you," she said, and she now sounded as demonic as she looked. "You're my damn grandson."
Wearing a facade of disregard, Ben cocked a brow. "Which makes you my damn grandmother?"
"Exactly." Looking satisfied, Agatha suddenly smiled. "I like all this cursing. It's sort of fun."
Ben sputtered, and Agatha added, "Oh, hell, you're too old to get tongue-tied, Ben, so knock it off."
Ben stared up at the heavens and pretended to pray.”
“I've created a monster," he muttered thickly and quickly positioned her over his lap. "I need to come, Grace. Bad. I'm shaking like a virgin, but you've got some catching up to do.”
“Grace?" He kissed her again, then again and again, lingering here and there, tasting her. Her toes curled as he licked a sensitive spot on her nape. Grace sighed and squirmed against him.
"Oh no you don't," Noah scolded. "No more tempting me to unreasonable levels of lust. We need nourishment, woman." And to punctuate that, he gave her hip a swat. "What would you like to eat?”
“Grace," he admonished, catching her bottom in his hands and holding her still before she swayed him from his purpose. "I want to talk."
"Oh." Her tone was filled with disappointment. "We could talk later."
"We'll talk now."
She sighed long and drawn out. "Okay. About what?"
Noah laughed. "You haven't been paying attention, Grace."
"Well," she teased, now nibbling on his bottom lip, "I've got this big, gorgeous, buck-naked hunk in my bed. If that's not enough to stop a woman's heart and scatter her wits, I don't know what is." And then, more seriously, "I never, ever thought anything like this would happen to me, Noah. I can hardly believe it. I want to relish every moment.”
“Three men came in. They wore ragged jeans, tight T-shirts, and work boots. And they sat at one of Grace's tables.
Noah was up and off his bar stool in a heartbeat. Ben silently wondered if he should be paying Noah a bouncer's salary, considering how much time he spent making certain Grace's work environment stayed pleasant. Noah didn't say anything to the men, but he did stop Grace, tip up her chin, and give her a lingering kiss right in the middle of the floor. Grace got so flustered, she nearly dropped her tray.
Noah released her, gave the men a long look, and positioned himself at an empty table—facing them.
Ben had to turn away so no one would see him laughing. If he ever got that smitten with a woman, he hoped someone would shoot him to put him out of his misery.”
“Noah." Grace sounded as though she was strangling. "Why don't you just paint a big red A on my forehead, for heaven's sake?"
He grinned. Grace was more prickly than usual, and Noah hoped part of that mood was caused by sexual frustration. She wanted him, but he'd deliberately kept her from knowing what he'd ask of her. He'd hoped to heighten her anticipation, and help her forget some of her nervousness.
"Gracie, you're the one who announced to all and sundry that you'd taken advantage of me. What difference does it make if Graham knows your intent?"
She mumbled again and punched the elevator button.
Making no attempt to hide his good humor, Noah asked, "What was that, Grace?"
The elevator doors slid open and he allowed Grace to yank him inside. As the doors shut behind them, she glared, and her brown eyes smoldered. Indicating her clothes, she said, "I'd at least like to look presentable while ruining my reputation.”
“It is of interest of times to change, Mr. Helecki. And it is the business of gentlemen to change with them.”
“If we must have an enemy at the head of government, let it be one whom we can oppose, and for whom we are not responsible.”
“I can handle it. But it stinks, if you ask me, really stinks, that you get to go out somewhere drinking beer while I'm stuck at Baby Central. Just because you have a penis."
"We'll think fondly of you over beer, me and my penis."
She ate a little more, then smiled slowly. "You've still got to be in the birthing room when she pushes it out."
"Shut up, Eve."
"Your penis won't save you then, Pal.”
“As she wove in and out of all the people - rushing, talking, eating, laughing; some in clumps, some alone - she realized that no one, no one at all in the airport, or on the entire planet for that matter, knew her thoughts, knew what she was carrying inside her head and heart. And at that very minute, what was inside her head and heart made her feel as though there was no one else in the whole world she would rather be.”
“But if you don’t decide what you want in life, you can’t change your course to get it. No goals, no growth. No clarity, no change. I’m sorry.”
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