Taking the bottle, he motioned toward the table where he’d been sitting earlier. “Sorry. Where are my manners? Have a seat. I’ll grab some glasses and a corkscrew.”
He set the wine on the table and headed inside, his thoughts fixed on the woman waiting on the porch.
Wow! Little Grace Whitman has grown into a gorgeous woman.
He never would’ve expected that. The last time he’d seen Grace, she’d been a gangly thirteen-year-old with short hair, skinny legs, and no curves to speak of.
But time had been good to her. Now, fourteen years later, she stood around five-eight with a trim figure, soft curves, and enough natural beauty to make a man forget how to think.
The slam of car doors outside cut through his thoughts.
Glancing out the kitchen window, he spotted his uncle and Bonnie heading up the driveway. Dan carried a large stockpot while Bonnie held a brown paper bag with a loaf of French bread sticking out the top. Trotting ahead of them was Dan’s rescue dog, a black Lab mix named Jinx.
Sean grabbed four wine glasses and a corkscrew before heading back to the porch.
Dan, Bonnie, and the dog climbed the steps, and Sean held the screen door open for them with his hip since his hands were full. The rich aroma drifting from the stockpot had him salivating. It’d been years since he tasted Bonnie’s beef stew—at least three, maybe more.
The older woman shot him a knowing grin. “I see our surprise got here before we did.”
“And a pretty great surprise at that. I just wish I’d had some warning. I’m dressed like a street bum.” Grimacing, he glanced down at his worn jeans with holes in both knees and the wrinkled gray T-shirt stretched across his chest.
Bonnie kissed his cheek. “Don’t worry. You look fine.”
After they disappeared inside the cottage, Sean returned to where Grace sat beneath the porch light. He set the wine glasses on the table and worked the cork free from the bottle.
“So, how long are you visiting?”
“Oh, I’m not visiting.” She handed him the glasses one at a time while he poured the wine. “My move to Whisper became official about ten days ago.”
“Really? What happened to New York? Aren’t your parents still there?”
“My parents retired to Prescott, Arizona, about six months ago, but I’m an East Coast girl at heart.” She leaned back in her chair with a wineglass in hand. “I’m opening my own physical therapy practice in town. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks.”
“That’s right.” He took the seat across from her. “Bonnie mentioned a while back that you became a physical therapist. Weren’t you working at a hospital in New York City?”
“Columbia Presbyterian. I worked there for the past four years and got a lot of great experience.” She lifted one shoulder in a small shrug. “But I’ve always wanted my own place. When my parents decided to move, I started looking into Whisper and realized there weren’t any physical therapy clinics nearby. The closest one is twenty minutes away. This way, people won’t have to drive that far two or three times a week for appointments. I applied for my North Carolina license and got it a few months ago.”
“Good for you.” He lifted his glass toward her. “Here’s to your success.”
Smiling, she touched her glass to his. “Thank you. And from your mouth to God’s ear.”
“What are we toasting?”
Sean and Grace looked up to find Dan crossing the porch with Jinx padding beside him.
“To Grace’s new business.” Sean handed his uncle one of the filled wineglasses.
“Well, then...” He lifted the glass. “Here’s to Grace. May she get so busy she has to hire help.”
Grace laughed, and the sound hit Sean square in the chest. It was warm, genuine, and way too appealing.
He took a slow sip of wine and reminded himself she was Bonnie’s niece. Practically family. Any attraction he felt could become a serious problem.
“The chef sent me out to get you two,” Dan said. “It’s getting too chilly for us old folks to eat outside, so we set the table indoors.” He grabbed the last glass while Sean rose and picked up the empty wine bottle. Grace stood beside him, and he held the door open for her and his uncle.
She flashed him a grin as she passed. “Nice to see all those manners your parents and Dan drilled into you still survived.”
He chuckled and followed her inside. “Not holding a door for a woman or your elders is a criminal offense in Dan’s world.”
