Page 33 of On One Condition

I really do.

Liar.

“Ladies,” he says with a subtle nod in greeting as he approaches our table.

Will Gran recognize him?

“It’s all her fault,” Gran says, pointing my way with her good hand, a sly smile on her half-frozen mouth and a twinkle in her eyes that I haven’t seen in forever.

“What’s my fault?” I ask thoroughly confused.

“Whatever it is we’re in trouble for, dear. He’s in a suit—and looking good in one I might add—so whatever he came over here for, it’s your fault.”

Gran just hung me out to dry.

I stare at her, slack-jawed. It’s then I realize that I’m so used to Gran’s slurred speech I know what she said. I’m just about to rephrase it for Ledger, but he beats me to the punch.

“No one’s in trouble,” Ledger says clearly making sense of her enunciation while unbuttoning his jacket as he comes to a stop. “I saw two beautiful women sitting over here, and I couldn’t resist coming over and saying hi.”

Smooth. Real smooth, Sharpe.

“Well, hello there,” Gran says with a fingertip wave and a pathetic bat of her eyelashes. “Please. Join us.”

Ledger glances my way, almost as if to ask if it’s okay. Every part of me wants to tell him to leave me be with Gran and not cloud this time I have with her by adding the confusing mess of “us” to it. At the same time, I haven’t seen Gran this spry in so long. A small, irrational part of me is afraid it’ll leave if he does.

I give a slight nod in consent, prompting him to pull out the spare chair at our table and take a seat.

“Thank you,” Ledger says, smiling warmly at Gran. I can tell he’s looking for any sign of recognition, but she shows none and for that I’m grateful.

“Adele,” Gran says and holds out her hand to him. Ledger’s gaze flickers my way and before he can answer with his unique name that I fear Gran will most definitely remember, Gran’s spitfire kicks back in. “And yours must be Handsome.”

I have to give him credit because his expression of what the hell vanishes as quickly as it appears. “Okay. Sure.” He chuckles as he shakes her hand, his cheeks flushing.

“It’s always better to keep a little mystery when courting.” She winks.

“Good to know,” he murmurs.

“This is my granddaughter, Asher. She’s single, you know. Ready to be courted.”

“Gran,” I warn.

“It’s always important to know your options,” Ledger says, his smile genuine.

“Exactly.” Gran pats his arm and then squeezes there. “Oh my. Look how fit you are.”

Did she seriously just say that?

Yes. Yes, she did, and she hasn’t moved her hand away yet.

“Does your girlfriend enjoy that? Your strong physique?” she continues, adding to this deliberate show of flirting she has going on.

“No girlfriend,” Ledger says, his eyes holding mine briefly.

Her grin is wide, and the finger she points at him when she slowly lifts her hand is gnarled from arthritis. “Get you a girl who likes to argue.” She waggles her eyebrows. “That means the bedroom will never be boring.”

“Jesus, Gran,” I spit out as Ledger just looks at me with the lift of an eyebrow and a ghost of a smile.

“I’m old, dear. I have a lot of advice to give and like to say what’s on my mind.” She glances my way for a beat, her expression falling blank again, and I fear I’ve lost her. But just as quickly as it appears her mind fires blanks, she gives the subtlest shake of her head before focusing back on Ledger. “That’s the freeing part of getting older. Not caring what anyone thinks of you.”