The Magnolia Sisters (Magnolia Sisters #1) - Michelle Major Page 0,54
market around the corner, bought a huge bag of chocolate and ate the entire thing in one sitting. Of course, I got sick, a fact of which my mom reminded me whenever I begged for junk food.”
“I can’t imagine you begging for anything,” he told her, leading her through the kitchen toward the family room connected to it.
Her cheeks heated as she thought about begging Tony’s wife to forgive her for the part she’d played in destroying their family. Not that she thought she deserved any sort of absolution.
“I don’t make it a habit,” she said, lowering herself to the sofa. He took a seat next to her, a polite distance away but still close enough that she could almost feel the thrum of attraction pulsing between them.
“That sounds like a challenge.”
“Hardly.” She unwrapped the ice-cream sandwich and bit into it, the cold on her teeth sending a shiver through her. She pointed it toward him. “You’ll remember I kissed you today.”
“How could I forget?”
“Which makes me not much of a challenge.”
He leaned forward, as if he were sharing a secret with her. “You didn’t see me complaining.”
“So we’re friends who kiss?”
“That might be the best kind.”
She laughed. “Does that go for your buddies at the station? I’m open-minded—”
“Just you,” he interrupted with a sexy half smile that had her heart stuttering.
The kick in her heart was accompanied by a healthy dose of fear. She liked Gray. Based on her previous experience, that could easily lead to disaster.
“I don’t know if I can do this.” She gestured between the two of them, figuring he had to be as aware of the pull as she was.
“We don’t have to do anything,” he said gently, and didn’t his willingness to give her the reins just make her want to launch herself into his arms?
“Do you like movies?” she asked, needing to change the subject to something less charged.
She took another bite of ice cream as he glanced toward the television. “I can’t remember the last time I watched something that didn’t involve talking snowmen. By the time Violet goes to bed and I get the house in order, I’m normally beat. Most nights I don’t have her I’m at work. I’d taken today off because I thought Stacy would change her mind.”
“We could watch something tonight,” she suggested, then felt stupid for assuming he’d want to spend the whole evening with her. He’d helped her feel more comfortable at the fair and then made her dinner tonight. Maybe this had been his way of repaying her for helping with Violet’s braids.
“How do you feel about Clark Gable?” He popped the last bite of his ice cream into his mouth and grabbed the remote from the coffee table.
“Is that a trick question?”
“I used to watch a ton of black-and-white movies when I was a kid. Are you up for something old-school?”
“Sure,” she agreed. “My mom loved classic movies, too. It Happened One Night was her favorite. But if you’d rather enjoy a rare night on your own, I understand.”
“You saved me from myself today.” As the television blinked to life, he moved closer, not so they were touching but enough that only inches separated them. “I put on a good face—or at least I try—but I would have moped around all damn morning feeling sorry for myself. Instead, it was a great day.”
Sparks danced along Avery’s spine like she was a teenage girl wishing her guy crush would pull her in to cuddle. As if everything with Gray was new and fresh and unspoiled by the complication of real life.
“Let’s go with It Happened One Night. You can’t beat Gable and Colbert.”
As the actors appeared on-screen, Avery settled in, trying to tamp down her awareness of Gray. Slowly, she relaxed again, her body recalibrating to deal with his nearness. At least she no longer felt as though she might spontaneously combust. In fact, she simply felt happy—able to put aside her worries and enjoy an ideal end to a perfect day.