Role of a Lifetime by Denise McCray Read Free Book Online

information wash over her and sink in. She wouldn't allow this to get to her head, or her heart. He just brought her out here to prove a point, nothing more.
    “So, what have you and my papa been talking about while I was gone?” Joseph came out the door and sat down beside her.
    She scooted over to sit closer to him and laid her head on his shoulder. “Not much.”
    He gave a short laugh and wrapped his arm around her. “Yeah, right. He probably told you my life story, am I right?”
    David winked at her and she smiled in return. This felt right, being here with him in his environme nt. She could get used to this.
     
    “So where are we going now?” Sharese waved goodbye to David and the rest of the neighborhood as she and Joseph returned to the truck and headed down the road. They'd spent a couple more hours visiting with his grandfather, having a good time talking about nothing in particular. Just talking.
    “ Someplace special.” He turned his head and gave her a dazzling smile.
    She returned the smile and patted him on the hand. “You mean another special place.”
    “ So, you enjoyed yourself today?”
    “ Of course I did. And for the record, I'm officially in love with your grandfather.”
    “ Yeah, all the women fall for him.”
    “ Tell me more about him.”
    “ There's not much to tell. Like I said before, after my parents died, he raised me.”
    “ Alone?”
    “ Yeah, alone. My grandmother died a few years before my folks. Complications from diabetes.”
    “ That's so sad.”
    “ Diabetes is pretty prevalent on the res. So is alcoholism. I've insisted the writers on the soap mention these issues every once in a while.”
    “ You know something? You're a good guy.”
    “ Thanks, but I'm just trying to give back when and however I can. How about you?”
    “ What do you mean?”
    “ What are you doing for your old neighborhood?”
    Sharese lowered her head and bit her lower lip. “To tell the truth, not much of anything. I go home every once in a while when some organization wants to honor me, but...” Her cheeks burned as she realized just how little she did for her hometown and the residents. With all her success, she could certainly do a whole lot more. “After seeing everything you've done, I feel like a slacker.”
    “ I doubt that.” He  took one hand off the steering wheel to touch the side of her face. She closed her eyes and leaned into the caress, loving the way he felt.
    Silence reigned for the rest of their trip, with Sharese concentrating on the beautifu l surroundings. Colorful rock formations she’d only seen in the movies dotted the horizon. As the sun began to set, he turned off onto a narrow, gravel road, the truck bouncing.
    “ Are you going to tell me where we're heading yet?”
    “ To one of my favorite places in the whole, wide world. I come here when I need to think, get my head together. When I need to reconnect to the earth.”
    “ Then why are you bringing me?”
    He shrugged. “I guess I wanted you to see where I come from, the real Joseph.”
    Her throat tightened and she could only nod her head in response to his declaration. No man had ever affected her like he did. This had to be a dream, one she prayed would not end anytime soon.
     
     
    Joseph smiled as Sharese stared openmouthed at the tipi with the fire roaring out in front.  Thankfully the staff at the campground set everything up exactly as he instructed. He wanted this night to be perfect, something she'd always remember.
    “ I'm speechless.” She walked over to the tipi and ran her hands lightly down the skins. “This is so soft.”
    He wanted to tell her it did not compare to the softness of her skin, but instead he walked over, took her in his arms and kissed her, long and deep. Afterwards, he continued to hold her, lost in the flickering flames reflected in her brown eyes.  
    “Excuse me, folks.” An employee of the campground appeared, causing both of them to jump. “Just stopped by