One Sweet Taste by N.J. Young Read Free Book Online Page A

laughs at me, Georgia? What if this is all in my head, and
he doesn’t really have feelings for me?”
    “Seriously,
Mom?” Linzee could almost hear her daughter roll her eyes. “I rode back to the
festival with him from the train station,” Georgia said. “I heard the way he
talked about you. Trust me, he has feelings. I’d give anything if a man’s eyes
lit up that way when he talked about me.”
    She
turned to study her daughter. Georgia was probably around the same age as the
blonde she’d heard talking about Foster at the coffee shop the other day. What
if he just didn’t want Linzee because she was too old? How could she compete
with girls her daughter’s age?
    “I
know exactly what you’re thinking. You’re only forty, Mom. That’s young!”
    Linzee
practically snorted. She thought of her daughter’s teenage years when Georgia
had once referred to her as old and out of touch.
    “I’m
serious. And if people think differently, who cares? Didn’t you always teach me
to stand up for myself and not care what anyone else thinks of me?” Georgia
sighed. “I love Dad, but I’m not stupid. He never treated you well, Mom. You
spent way too long in an unhappy marriage. You finally have a chance to be
happy, and if you don’t take it, I’ll … I’ll…” Georgia fisted her hands. “Well,
maybe I’ll take you over my knee.”
    Linzee
laughed despite herself. “When did you get to be so smart, little girl?” She
reached over to pull her daughter in for a hug.
    “I’ve
always been smart,” Georgia said. “I’m just like you.”

 
    Chapter Fourteen
     
      The laughter and chatter of his family swirled
around him as Foster sat on Ethan’s couch and nursed a cup of eggnog. He’d
looked all over the festival for Linzee, but she wasn’t there. He’d thought
about tracking her down, but she needed to spend time with her Georgia.
    Tomorrow,
he’d find her. He couldn’t wait any longer to tell her how he felt about her. He
just had to control his urge to jump up and go in search of her this very
second.
    “Who’s
going first?” Becca asked. She held her gift on her lap, vibrating with
excitement like a little kid.
    He
grinned as Dylan laughed. “You ask that every year, Bec. You know damn well we
go from oldest to youngest.”
    “Oh
yeah?” Becca huffed. “Well, screw you guys. I think it’s time to change that
rule. I say youngest goes first.” When she started to rip the wrapping paper,
Dylan snatched the gift out of her hand.
    “Hey!
Gimme!” Becca leaped at her brother.
    Foster
was about to jump into the fray when the doorbell rang. “Who on earth could
that be?” He looked at Ethan, who shrugged, making no move to get up from his
big club chair.
    Foster
rolled his eyes. “Gee, don’t bother to get up or anything. I’ll get it.” His
family was all here. He didn’t know anyone else who would be at the door after
eleven on Christmas Eve.
    “Maybe
you’ll get lucky, Foster.” Becca’s eyes glimmered. “Maybe it’s Santa.”
    He
chuckled as he got up to answer the door. His breath stilled when he opened it
to see Linzee standing there with her daughter.
    “Linz,”
he breathed. She looked so beautiful. Her cheeks were pink, and her green eyes sparkled
as she looked at him. What ever made him think he could let her go?
    “You
made it!” Ethan boomed from behind him. He nudged Foster aside to take Linzee’s
hand and lead her into the room.
    “Oh,
yay,” Becca squealed. She ran over to grab Georgia’s hand and led her over to the
couch. “I hope you like eggnog. Ethan’s is the best.”
    Tori
appeared from the kitchen and handed a glass to Georgia before she came over to
wind her arm around Ethan’s waist. “I’m so glad you guys made it, Linzee.”
    Foster
still couldn’t take his eyes off of Linzee. That pink tongue snaked out to
swipe over her lips, and he immediately felt himself harden.
    “Me
too,” she said, looking at him. “Uh, Foster,” she said