Page 26 of Clueless
She squeezed my shoulder.“She’ll come around, hon.You’ve just got to give her time.”
“I’ve been out of prison for four years.”I drew a breath, lowering my voice, when the kids looked up at me.“How much more time do I have to lose with her?”
“I don’t know.I wish I could pave the way for you, but when I’ve tried to reach out to her, she ignores me too.Your bitchy ex has poisoned her mind against all of us.”
“Don’t trash talk Robin, sis.She was there when I couldn’t be.She raised that girl, and I’m sure she’s done a good job.I can’t blame her for being over-protective.If our situations were reversed, I would be too.”
She sighed.“When are you going to give yourself a break?It’s so easy for you to give everyone else the benefit of the doubt, but you’re still beating up on yourself.And I hate it.”
I closed my eyes when I saw her eyes fill with tears.“Don’t do that.You know I can’t stand to see a woman cry.Especially you or Mama.”
She leaned over to give me a hug.“You deserve good things, big brother.And you deserve a woman who loves you.Someone smart and sweet and beautiful, who knows what a great guy you are.”
“If you say so.”
She grabbed my face, looking fierce.“You deserve Grace.”She smacked me upside the head.“So don’t do anything to screw it up!”
ChapterNine
Grace
I’d just painted my nails and toes, and laid out my dress for work in the morning, when someone tapped on my door.It was moments like this when I wished I could afford to live in a building with twenty-four-hour security.But student loans prevented that luxury, for now.
I peeked through the peep-hole and my heart immediately started racing when I saw who was standing on the other side.Taz.I’d avoided calling him because the man was so damn hard to resist, and here he was standing at my door, with flowers, no less.
I could pretend I wasn’t home, but I wasn’t a coward.And since he’d become friendly with my sister and brother-in-law, I knew I’d have to face him eventually.Besides, I was always encouraging my clients to face their problems head on, so I had to be willing to take my own advice.
I took a deep breath and opened the door, but the exhale came out on a whoosh when I saw the look in his eye.It could have melted chocolate.And me.
“Hey,” he said, smirking as he handed me a large bouquet of multi-colored roses, tied with a bright pink bow.“These are for you.I hope you like them.I can honestly say it’s the first time I’ve ever bought flowers for a woman so…” He shrugged, looking gruff and adorably uncertain at the same time.
“I love them.Thank you.”I sniffed the blooms, closing my eyes.“Would you like to come in?”I asked, opening the door wider and taking a step back.
His eyes travelled leisurely over my body.“If you’re sure you want me to?”
I was wearing tiny black cotton shorts and a matching cropped tank top he seemed to like.
“Quit looking at me like that,” I whispered, feeling the heat creep up my neck.“I wasn’t expecting company.”
“I sure as hell hope you don’t open the door to all visitors dressed like that.”He stepped inside, closing the door with a little more force than necessary.
“I would have run to get a robe, but you’ve already seen me in a lot less, so it seemed pointless.”
“Girl, you don’t make it easy,” he said, curling his hands into fists at his side.
“I don’t make what easy?”
His eyes finally found mine before he said, “Being a gentleman.”
My breath stuttered before I huffed, trying not to laugh.“I swear, you have no filter.”
“Yeah, sorry about that.”
“I’m not.”Why play games?I loved how bold he was, and might as well admit it.It was one of the many things that set Taz apart from every other guy I’d ever dated.“Come into the kitchen.I need to put these in water.Do you want a beer?”
“Sure, thanks.”
My galley kitchen had never seemed smaller than it did with him in it.“Um, could you grab that for me?”I asked, pointing to a glass vase on a top shelf.
