Forever Curves - Piper Sullivan Page 0,20
turned back to the road as we entered the town of Tulip, as small and idyllic as Pilgrim, but with a more storied beginning. “You know about Tulip?”
Brenna huffed out a laugh. “The badass woman who bucked tradition by refusing to marry a very rich but terribly old man, and turned around to found a town? Yeah, I know all about this place. What a testament to female strength, don’t you think?”
“Hell yeah. I can’t help but admire people who make their own way in the world. Strong women are a real turn on for me.”
She laughed and stepped from the car—without waiting for me—when we got to the liquor depot. “I imagined you were surrounded by strong women in the military. That couldn’t have been comfortable, being turned on all the time.”
I laughed and held the door open so she could enter first. “No. The women were strong as hell, but they were teammates, they were part of the unit. One of the guys, no matter how pretty.” I wasn’t one of those guys who could hit on anything with tits, especially in a warzone.
“Look at you, being all forward thinking. Now that is a real turn on, Grant.”
“Good to know,” I whispered in her ear, smiling at the shiver produced by my closeness. “Come on, let’s take care of this order so we can get some grub.” It didn’t take much time since Miles had already placed the order and paid for it.
“Is that everything?” The woman behind the counter looked at the receipt and then to me.
“Uh, yeah. That’s what’s in the order, right?” This wasn’t my party, I was merely the delivery man. “Right?”
“There’s no champagne?” That question came from Brenna with an accompanying frown.
“Miles didn’t say anything about champagne.”
“But it’s an engagement party, where you’re celebrating the fact that two people are about to combine their lives.”
I snorted. “Right, but Shannon can’t drink.”
“But the rest of us can toast her, Grant.” Her words were even and calm, but there was an underlying hint of her thinking I was an idiot. “Or, this is fine.”
I groaned. “Can you add a case of champagne to the order? I’ll pay for it,” I said and pulled out my wallet. “This will be my gift for the happy couple.”
“I’m sure Shannon will appreciate it.” I pretended to ignore the smile that she couldn’t hide, or the pride that I’d done the right thing. “You’re a good friend, Grant.”
“Yeah, I’m a real saint. A saint really in need of pizza.”
Brenna’s laugh echoed down the aisles as we left the liquor depot. “Who knew you had such a pizza craving? I guess with a box of meat and cheese pizza, a person could easily lure you into their perv van.”
I barked out a laugh and slid behind the wheel. “What the hell is a perv van?”
“You know, a van driven by a pervert who wants to lure you inside to do wicked things to you? They don’t have those in Boston?” Her lips twitched before the teasing smile won the battle and lit up her face.
“No, they don’t have them in Everett, either, which is where I actually grew up.”
Her blue eyes lit up. “You’re a small town kid too? I never woulda guessed!”
“It’s not Tulip or Pilgrim small, but compared to Boston, yeah it’s small.” It as a nice suburban town, a good place to raise a family and make stupid mistakes that wouldn’t haunt the rest of your life. “I don’t recall any perv vans, though.”
“There’s a first time for everything,” she said as her lips curled into a teasing grin. “If you’re lucky.”
“I’m always lucky, Brenna. It’s my middle name.” The shocked look on her face was the last thing I saw as I stepped out of the car and jogged around to open her door. She beat me to it, once again.
“It is not!” She gave my shoulder a shove and I took advantage of her proximity and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her body flush up against mine.
“It is. Grant Lucky Lopez.”
Her mouth dropped into a sexy, surprised ‘O’ and I couldn’t resist one little kiss, right there under the golden glow of the pizza place parking lot. Her lips were sweet and pliable, a hint of a cherry taste. “Is Lucky trying to get lucky?”
“I got you here with me, don’t I? I’m already lucky.”
She rolled her eyes. “Cheesy, but I’ll allow it because you’re just so cute.” Brenna turned away and I