The Grand Finale by Janet Evanoich Read Free Book Online Page B

together. “I suppose that will be all right, but I’ve got good ears. You better watch your step.”
    Jake’s face creased into a good-natured smile. “Yes, ma’am.”
    Berry watched the women climb the stairs. “That was really nice of you to get lipstick and moisturizer for them. It’s been a long time since they could afford those luxuries.”
    “You haven’t opened your bag.”
    Berry studied the pale lavender bag on the coffee table. It was smaller than everyone else’s bag, and it was from an expensive shop catering to fancy lingerie and expensive perfume. It was a bag designed to hold silk teddies and lacy thongs. “I’m afraid to open it. Is this something extravagant?”
    “Sleepwear.”
    She extracted a small bottle of perfume that she suspected cost more than a replacement for her Jeep. “There’s only perfume in here.”
    “Yup.”
    “Everyone else got flannel nightgowns.”
    “Isn’t there a nightgown in there?”
    Berry searched the tiny bag. “No.”
    Jake stroked her cheek with his fingertip. His eyes grew dark. His voice turned alarmingly husky. “You’re so beautiful with your unruly blond curls and silky peaches-and-cream skin. You should wear nothing to bed but a dab of perfume.” His hands traced the slender column of her neck and rested in a caress on her shoulders. “I have a confession to make. I’m in big trouble here. I’m having heart problems.”
    “Good Lord. What kind of heart problems?”
    “Heartache, heartthrob, heart flutters. I feel like the Grinch at Christmas—you know, the part where his heart grew two sizes in one day.I thought my heart was going to burst when I saw you for the first time, lying on the ground beneath that big old oak tree. You looked like a crazy modern-day wood nymph.”
    Berry’s eyes flew open. “Crazy?”
    “For crying out loud, you were flat out on a pizza.” He grinned at her indignation and cuddled her close to him. “Maybe someday you’ll develop heart problems, and you’ll come to me wearing just the perfume.”
    “Not anytime soon,” Berry said. “I have a plan.”
    “I’m not liking the plan,” Jake told her.
    He curled his fingers in her hair, holding her head captive while he lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her slowly and gently.
    It was like being drugged, Berry thought. Once he was this close to her she was a goner. Her thinking slowed, and her heart rate accelerated. At the first touch of his tongue, her stomach tumbled. He was pressing himself into her belly, holding her against him so she couldn’t escape the feel of him wanting her.
    “I’m going to tell Mrs. Dugan on you,” Berry murmured halfheartedly.
    “Mrs. Dugan doesn’t scare me.”
    “Oh, ha!”
    “Okay, maybe a little.”
    There was a pattering of slippered feet upstairs and a fit of obtrusive coughing. “We’re going to bed now,” Mrs. Fitz called down. “Anybody need anything from the bedroom?”
    “Yes,” Jake yelled back at her. “Be right there.”
    Moments later he returned to Berry with two sleeping bags draped over his arm and a large royal-blue silk pajama top in his hand. He dropped the sleeping bags on the floor and held the pajama top up for Berry’s inspection.
    “My sister Amy gave me these pajamas last Christmas. She has an enhanced image of bachelor existence.”
    “Mmmm?”
    “I’d prefer you wear only the perfume to bed, but if you’re the shy type you could start out in these.”
    Berry took the pajama top and narrowed her eyes. “To begin with, where’s the other half? You only brought me the top.”
    “I thought the bottoms would get in our way.”
    “Read my lips. I am not going to bed with you.”
    “You would have if Mrs. Fitz hadn’t interrupted.”
    “A moment of weakness. It won’t happen again. And anyway, you don’t know that for sure. Maybe I’ll just sleep in my clothes.”
    “Don’t you think that will be uncomfortable?”
    Berry couldn’t think of anything more uncomfortable than