Emerald Green by Desiree Holt Read Free Book Online Page B

Portland and hoped I’d find you out doing something fun. And here you are, with just a book for company again. You’ve got to stop this.”
     
    Meredith pushed herself up in the lounge and the book on her lap dropped to the floor.
     
    Gram picked it up. “Is this your book, honey? It’s not mine.”
     
    Meredith took the book from her. When she saw the title it almost burned her hand. The History of Emeralds. Where had that come from? It wasn’t hers, either.
     
    She shoved her fingers through her hair. “I guess I was reading it and fell asleep. I’m sorry.” She sighed. “I know you wanted me to get out and I really meant to do something this afternoon.” She frowned. Why didn’t it feel as if she’d slept? Why did she feel like she’d been somewhere and done something? She must have been asleep but her body felt too spent to have rested. And sore, in the strangest places. Why did her rear end sting the way it did? A strange feeling meandered into her stomach.
     
    “Well, go wash your face and brush your hair. Mr. Reilly’s decided he can’t take another evening with his computer and he wants to take us out to dinner. I told him I’m beat after this afternoon but you would be more than happy to go.”
     
    “Gram!” Oh, lord. “I don’t even know the man. No, I can’t do this. I don’t want to. Make my excuses.”
     
    Footsteps sounded on the stairs.
     
    “Too late. Here he is now. And you still need to make yourself presentable.”
     
    Meredith threw up her hands. “I can’t—”
     
    “Can’t what?”
     
    Oh, God. That voice. She knew it from her dream. But that was impossible. And then he walked out onto the porch and her breath caught in her throat. It was him ! From her dream. It had been a dream, right? Every pulse in her body began to throb.
     
    “This is my granddaughter, Meredith,” Gram was saying. “Honey, this is J.C. Reilly.”
     
    “You didn’t tell me how beautiful she was,” he teased.
     
    Yet while he wore his charm like a second skin she detected something unsettling in his eyes. Apprehension? No, impossible. He didn’t seem like a man who would be unsure of himself. And besides, they had just met. Right?
     
    “I told Meredith I needed to rest after today,” Gram went on, “but she’ll be happy to have dinner with you.”
     
    Those whiskey-colored eyes that were suddenly so familiar studied her. “I’d be more than pleased if you’d accept my invitation, Meredith.”
     
    She couldn’t make her mouth work. Her brain seemed to have deserted her. Apparently she’d spent the afternoon reading a book she’d never seen and sleeping on the sun porch. Then how did she know J.C. Reilly?
     
    “But…”
     
    “Aren’t you up for a little adventure?” he teased. “You never know what you might find when you venture out of the house.”
     
    “But I…you…”
     
    “For heaven’s sake.” Gram’s voice was edged with impatience. “Just go fix yourself up and come back here. It’s time you got out of here for a while.” She turned to Reilly. “That child would sleep in that lounge chair forever if I’d let her.”
     
    “I think you look just fine.” His eyes dropped to the hollow at her throat. “By the way, that’s an exquisite piece of jewelry you’re wearing. A very interesting pendant. The emeralds just match your eyes.”
     
    “Why, he’s right,” Gram said, reaching out to touch it. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you wear it before. Is it new?”
     
    Meredith’s hand shook as she reached up to her neck and her fingers came in contact with a pine tree charm. She flipped it up and saw it was studded with tiny emeralds. So it hadn’t been a dream after all. Had it?
     
    She remembered all the things she and her dream man had done on that beach and her face flushed hot. Impossible. This whole thing was impossible.
     
    “Meredith?” Gram prodded.
     
    “I-It was a gift. From a special friend.” She turned to Reilly,