Gracie had so many worries about starting over, but
mostly about people figuring out what her life had once
been like. She never wanted to return to that ugly, vile
place again.
"Most folks are, until they stab you in the back."
She arched a brow. "Does that bit of advice come with
personal experience?"
"Sadly, yes." Stone's eyes grew heavy as he reviewed
the menu in front of him. "That's why I'm here, to set
things right with an old friend."
Before Gracie could ask any more questions, Madeline
returned with the teas. "Have you decided on lunch?"
"Yes, I think so," Gracie said. "I'd like the club
sandwich with fries." She glanced toward Stone, letting him
know it was his turn to order.
"I'll have the bacon cheeseburger with onion rings."
Gracie inwardly sighed. "Well, I guess you're not
kissing anyone tonight," she said with a giggle. Then her
gaze settled upon Stone, whose eyes were filled with wicked
surprise. Gracie felt her chest tighten and her pulse race.
The desired heat within his eyes intensified as he
asked, "Is there something I should know about tonight,
Gracie Myles?"
Holy shit! Was he asking if she planned to kiss him as
a waitress hovered beside them? Is this what honest
flirting was?
"I'll get this out in a flash," Madeline said, turning
quickly from their table.
Gracie's mouth felt dry, and she licked her lips,
looking everywhere but directly at him. "Are you done
teasing me, Stone?"
He shrugged. "You're the one who brought up kissing me."
She sucked in a sharp breath and eyed him. "I did not!"
"Yes, you did."
Calming herself, she explained, "I made a general
statement."
He pinched his brow tight at the bridge of his
nose. "So you don't want to kiss me then?"
She locked onto his sexy gaze, and her heart thumped
hard in her chest. "Stop," she demanded, lowering her voice
as to not draw attention. Her entire body was humming with
excitement. Stone was a dangerous man. He was making her
tingle just by looking at her. His teasing words had her
mind racing with thoughts of sex without inhibitions.
"Stop what?" He grinned. "I'm just glad I'm not the
only one."
She crinkled her forehead. "What are you talking about?"
He licked his lips, and a crooked smile tugged at the
corner of his mouth. "I'm glad you're thinking about
kissing me." She started to argue until he added, "Because
I can't stop thinking about kissing you."
Her mouth formed a small O.
"What?" he said, surprise in his deep voice. "Has no
one ever made a comment like this to you before?"
She pressed her lips together and shook her head.
"Now that amazes me." He slowly reached across the
table, brushed her thick, wavy hair back from her face, and
gently stroked her bottom lip with the pad of his
thumb. "You're a beautiful girl, Gracie, and you have a
mouth—"
Madeline returned with a pitcher of tea. Gracie eased
back in the booth, and Stone's hand quickly fell away.
Silence loomed over the table as she topped off both
glasses. Gracie smiled, and it was the fakest smile she'd
ever plastered on her face. She couldn't stop wondering
what Stone had been about to say. She also couldn't stop
wondering if she'd enjoy being kissed by a man who clearly
wanted her. That idea alone warmed her in places that had
never felt so alive.
Gracie quickly picked up her glass and took a big gulp
of tea to wet the dryness that had suddenly consumed her
throat. Placing the glass on the table, she met Stone's
gaze head on. "You were saying?"
He grinned wide as his gaze explored her. He started at
her long fingers, trailed slowly up her arm, over the tight
T–shirt that covered her now sensitive breasts, and
up her neck until he finally locked eyes with her once
again. "You're beautiful, and a mouth like yours was made
for kissing."
For the first time in her life she was turned on
because her body wanted to be. She was attracted to Stone,
and she couldn't help but blush over his directness. She
instantly felt naked under his greedy stare, and she liked
it.
Gracie smiled shyly and then said, "Please excuse me."
She scooted out of the booth and walked to the bathroom.
Once she was there, she leaned against the door and
rested her head on the hard wood. Closing her eyes for a
moment, she sighed heavily.
Stone had a way of making her blush, and that was
incredibly hard to do with the experience she'd had with
men. Still, there was something so different, so amazingly
sensual about him that was driving her wild. She took a few
moments to gather herself, splashing some cool water on her
face.
As she returned to the table, the aroma from Stone's
cheeseburger filled her nostrils. The scent was
mouthwatering as was the sight of him studying her as she
sat back down in the booth.
"Here you go," Madeline said, placing their meals in
front of them. "Anything else I can get for you?"
Gracie suddenly realized she needed directions to the
nearest lodgings. She wasn't likely to hang out in the
diner all night, and who better to ask than a local? "Yes,
actually, where is the nearest hotel?"
Stone choked on his tea, and his eyes widened.