Flirting with Temptation - By Kelley St. John Page 0,99
Granny Gert noticed that her eyes appeared to glisten instantly.
Don’t cry, Babette. Be strong, child.
“I’ve had a little stomach problem,” Babette said.
“A virus?” Kitty asked, taking a small step back as she spoke.
Babette paused, then said, “Maybe,” and Granny Gert inwardly applauded. That was a good way to keep Kitty at bay.
“Is that why you didn’t answer my calls this morning? I called several times on my way down to thank you. I got an e-mail from Jeff telling me he wanted to talk in person, and I came right down,” she said, then smiled brightly. “You really are a love doctor, aren’t you? Less than two weeks, and he wants me back. Well, I’m going to see him now. I just wanted to thank you, and tell you that you can still use the condo until your time is up. Take a vacation, have a good time. You deserve it for pulling this off. I can’t tell you how happy I am! And you know, you may even see us around, if we ever leave the condo. He should be there now, right?”
Babette felt sick, and it wasn’t merely the problem with the yeast in her stomach. Jeff had asked Kitty to come to Destin so they could talk things out. She swallowed past the threatening nausea that came from Kitty’s statements. It’d only been sex, nothing more, just like always. Because he didn’t believe she could commit. And because she couldn’t wait to be with him, she’d proven him right.
“He is there, isn’t he? Or is he at one of his stores this morning? Do you know?” Kitty asked.
“I believe he’s in his condo,” Babette said miserably.
“Thanks. I’ll let you know soon how everything goes,” Kitty said. She started to leave, then turned back toward Babette and Gert. “Not too soon, of course. We’ll need some time to make up.” She walked out and the door snapped shut behind her, then Granny Gert turned to Babette.
“You love him,” she said, while Babette fell onto the couch, her hand still cradling her weak stomach.
“I can’t talk about this now, Granny.”
“Sure you can, and you will, child. You love that boy, and I have a strong suspicion he loves you too, and yet you’re going to let her come in and try to take him away.”
“Didn’t you hear what she said? He asked her to come, Granny.”
“Listen here, young lady. You are not the granddaughter I thought you were if you’re going to throw in the towel now.”
Babette looked up at her. “He knows how I feel. I told him last night. But—”
“But what?”
“But he wants her. I blew it. I was trying to show him I could commit to something, my job, and then I blew that by going after the guy that I’m supposed to be getting back with my client. Not exactly the best way to show him.”
Gert huffed out an exasperated breath. “Not that long ago, you said that you wished you had the amount of gumption that it took for me to approach Grandpa Henry that day in the barn. Do you remember that?”
Babette nodded.
“Well, now’s the time.” Granny Gert grabbed Babette’s hand and pulled her up from the sofa. “Go up there and stake your claim.”
“I told him that I love him, Granny. Now it’s up to him to determine what he wants, who he wants. Right now, I just have to wait.”
“Sit back and wait? Child, you have no idea what I’ve been doing lately, just to have another chance at love. I’ve been talking to golf balls, for goodness’s sake.”
Babette’s eyes widened, but Granny didn’t offer additional explanation. Instead, she opened the door and nudged Babette toward the hall. “Let me know what happens after.”
“After what?” Babette asked, bewildered by her grandmother’s sudden surge of strength, or perhaps her own weakness. Granny had pushed her out of the condo.
“After you get up there and find your gumption, then take what you want,” Granny said, slamming the door and locking it, and leaving Babette out in the hall.
Babette banged on the door. “Granny! I don’t even have all of my clothes on!”
“Close enough,” Granny said, her voice echoing from the other side.
Babette waited for Granny Gert to come to reason, but she heard nothing beyond her grandmother’s footsteps fading as she walked away from the door, and then she heard the television volume kick up a notch within the condo. She banged again. The volume got louder.