The door opened.
“Hello.” Jamie didn’t smile. What he wouldn’tgive to see her smile.
“Hi, Jamie. I…” Heck, now what?
Awkward silence followed. He tried hisbest not to stare at her, dressed in jeans that moulded to her thighs like a second skin.She blinked back at him, her huge emerald eyes holding himspellbound. Caramel-coloured hair hung loosely around her slightshoulders and framed her pretty face. Perfect, smooth skin thecolour of ivory, with not a hint of that orange stuff she had onthe first time he’d met her.
Wow, she’sstunning.
For the life of him, he couldn’t work out ifshe looked pleased or angry to see him.
Tension filled the air between them, heavyand thick.
She fiddled with a strand of hair, drawing his attention to herneck, pale ivory too. He had a sudden urge to bury his head in thecurve between her shoulder and neck, breathe in her scent as hekissed her skin.
He cleared his throat. “I… err, did Willowtell you I was coming?” he asked, desperate to break the silence.
“Yes, she mentioned it.”
Nothing. Her expression showed not even ahint of a clue as to what was going on inside her head.
She wasn’t going to make this easy for him,but had he expected anything else?
Cujo ran past her and straight to him, awelcome distraction. The dog wagged his tail, his little bodywiggling in excitement as he pawed at his ankle.
Grayson bent down and scooped him up withone hand. “Hey there, Cujo. How are you, little fellow?” Hemade a fuss of the dog,tickling his ears and letting him lick his hand. He glanced atJamie and half-smiled. “At least someone’s pleased to see me,” hesaid, keeping his tone light.
Her expression softened a fraction, and aghost of a smile played on her lips.
Grayson put the dog down and reached forthe picture. He’d framed it himself too—nothing fancy; a simpleblack frame, his small sketch of Cujo mounted in the centre of awide cream surround. “I’d like you to have this.” He handed her thepicture and held hisbreath.
Jamie took it, her pretty eyebrows crinklinginto a frown.
He swallowed. “I made it myself.”
Surprise flashed across her features. “Youmade it?”
“It’s a kind of a peace offering, not a gift,since you don’t like those…”
She tore the plain paper slowly. “It’s not that I didn’t like theflowers you sent, it’s just—” Jamie stopped mid-sentence as sherevealed his drawing. She stared at it for a good few moments, hermouth slightly open. “You drew this?” she asked, glancing up athim. “And the sketches on the cards that came with theflowers?”
“Yeah, a hobby of mine, but if you don’t likeit…?”
“It’s perfect,” she whispered, a wobble toher voice. Her eyes glistened.
“I’m glad you like it.”
“It’s the loveliest thing anyone has everdone for me.” She dabbedher finger on her eyelashes and blew out a breath. “Thankyou.”
He hadn’t expected that. He hoped she wouldlike it, but he hadn’t imagined it would evoke such emotion in her.She seemed genuinely touched. “So I’m forgiven?”
Her soft smile tugged at his heartstrings. “No promises, Grayson,but you’ve earned yourself a second chance. One date; and onlybecause my dog and my best friend seem to like you.”
He grinned. He’d draw her a hundred picturesto see that smile.
Willow appeared behind Jamie. “Hi, Grayson.” She peered overJamie’s shoulder at the picture. “Oh, it’s Cujo. That’s amazing.Who drew it?”
“Speak of the devil,” Jamie said to herfriend. “Grayson drew it. We’ve been over that.”
Willow raised her perfectly paintedeyebrows. “Did he now?”She winked at Jamie. “I’ll leave you two to it then,” she said,skirting around Jamie towards him. “Bye, Jamie, and have some funfor a change.”
He stood back to let her pass. “Thank you foreverything, Willow.”
“You’re welcome.”
Grayson returned his attention to Jamie. She was staring atthe picture again.
“I suppose you better come in then. Willowonly gave me five minutes’ notice and I was about to getchanged.”
So she’d already decided to give him achance, even before he gave her the picture. “You look perfect as you are,” he toldher.
“What, in these old jeans? Where are youtaking me anyway?”
“It’s a surprise.”
She pulled a face, then turned to walkalong her hallway. Cujo ran off ahead. “That’s not helpful. Ifwe’re going to some expensive restaurant—”
“We’re not, but I am taking you out forlunch,” he said, closing the door and following her. His gazeflitted downwards, taking in the way her tight jeans clung to herpetite yet shapely backside.
His foot caught on something and hetripped. He reached fora side table for support.
Jamie turned as an ornament toppled over theedge, but with his enhanced speed, Grayson caught it before itsmashed to the ground. “Oh God, I’m so sorry,” he mumbled.
“Lucky you have such quick reactions.” Shepropped the picture of Cujo against the wall, took the ornament from him and placed itcarefully back on the table. “It was a present from my latefather.”
“I’m sorry,” he repeated, feeling like anidiot.
“Don’t be. He was clumsy too.”
“I’m not clumsy. I got distra—” he stoppedhimself. He could hardlytell her what distracted him. “I got my foot caught on this.” Hepicked up what he’d tripped on; a sweatshirt lying in a heap on thefloor. He went to hand it to her.
Jamie’s beautiful eyes widened, makingthem even bigger. Her porcelain cheeks turned a delightful shade of pink as she grabbed atthe clothing and attempted to snatch it from his grasp. “Err…thanks. I don’t know what that’s doing there.”
Something about her mortified expressionpiqued his interest. Grayson held on to it and took a closerlook, holding it up. Hearched an eyebrow as he read Team Jacob printed on the front. He’d watched the teen film once,purely to see how they’d portrayed werewolves, ofcourse.
She swiped at it again, her cheeks crimsonnow. “Give it here.”
He turned the sweatshirt, laughter erupting from his chest as hespotted the huge pawprint on the back. “Oh, it gets evenbetter.”
Her lips curved at the corners. “You weren’tmeant to
