Page 44 of His Saving Grace

She was beautiful, her skin seeming to glow in the evening light. Her hazel eyes were bright, the wariness from before gone. There was a touch of color in her cheeks, but he didn’t know if it was because she was embarrassed or what. Her pink lips were full, tempting. He wanted to reach over, pull her to him, taste her again. See if she was as sweet as he remembered.

But, because he wasn’t a jerk, he reached into the picnic basket and pulled out the bottle of wine he brought instead.

“I don’t think you’re allowed to have that out here.” There was a scandalized edge to her hushed words, her gaze darting around like the cops were going to burst out of the bushes and bust them.

“We’ll be discreet.” He replied with the same scandalized whisper, reaching back into the basket and fishing out the two plastic cups. “Besides, I’ve got connections in the sheriff’s department.”

One side of her mouth turned down, and she stood. A streak of panic shot through him. Shit. Was she leaving? What should he do?

What do you think, idiot?

He needed to apologize for being a dumbass. He tucked the wine back in the basket, ready to confess his dumb-assery. She picked up her plate and then held out her hand for him to pass her his. The wave of relief that washed through him was so intense, it left him stunned for a second.

On autopilot, he passed her his plates. And then realized what he’d done and went to get up to help her.

“I’ve got it.” Her gaze lingered on his leg.

He looked away, his relief morphing into embarrassment. Heat rose into his cheeks and his fingers curled into fists of their own accord. Now, he was fucking blushing again. What the actual fuck? Along with being damaged, people were starting to consider him helpless.

“Mason?”

He looked up at her. The setting sun was behind them, casting her in its soft glow. She watched him, and there was no sadness or pity in her eyes, just understanding and condemnation. Like she knew what he was thinking and she understood, but was angry he was thinking it.

It threw him for a second, and he stared at her. And then, slowly, he let some of the tension seep out of him. Obviously satisfied by what she saw, Grace threw him another of those dazzling smiles and then spun and headed for the trash cans.

Fine, he would stay put, but only because he was no longer in pain. Not that he’d mind if she put her hands on him again. Although, her touching him might not be such a good idea right now. If she touched him again, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to resist kissing her. And once he started, he might not be able to stop.