walk Owen out, and then maybe we can get that ice cream and discuss this calmly?”
“Whatever.” Lex flopped back down on the couch. “No matter what either of you say, I’m not calling my mom.”
Grace patted her niece’s shoulder as she walked by and said, “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.”
“Sorry, Owen,” Lex said as she watched him follow Grace to the door. “I’m not usually this much of a drama queen.”
He smiled over his shoulder at her just as Grace opened the front door. “Don’t worry. I’ve had my share of altercations with the parental figures. It’s just part of growing up, I guess.”
Lex snorted. “If only it were that easy.”
“Lex,” Bronwyn pleaded. “I’m sure there is a way—”
Grace closed the door on the fight that was picking back up in the living room and walked with Owen to his car parked across the street from her house.
Before opening his car door, Owen slipped his arms around Grace and pulled her in for a soft kiss.
Grace leaned into him, enjoying the hardness of his fit body one last time for the evening. “If we’d met last week, this night would’ve ended very differently.”
“Yeah? What’s different about this week?” He ran his fingers along her spine, and even though his touch was through the fabric of her blouse, her skin still tingled.
“Lex just moved in after a fight with my sister’s live-in boyfriend. They seem to be having trouble accepting that she’s never going to marry a man.”
“Homophobes?” he asked, his brows pinching together.
“The boyfriend maybe. But until this week, I never would’ve described my sister that way. I think she’s having trouble accepting that when, or if, Lex starts a family, it’s not going to be whatever Alyssa envisioned when Lex was her little girl. She keeps making references to Lex’s best friend Jackson and how much she always wanted them to get together. How cute their kids would be and that it’s never too late to switch teams.”
“That’s got to be rough for Lex. Is that what she and her friend are arguing about? Or is that her girlfriend?”
“Girlfriend,” Grace confirmed. “Yeah. Bronwyn has a very accepting family. She has trouble understanding how hard it is for Lex to hear her formerly supportive mom suddenly be so insensitive. I don’t know, Owen. It just seems like my sister is letting her opinions be influenced by that jackass she’s living with. And maybe that isn’t giving her enough credit, but ever since he arrived in the picture, she’s been different.”
“That’s tough for both of you,” he said, caressing her cheek gently.
“More so for Lex. I’m just irritated.” She tilted her head up and closed her eyes, enjoying his touch. When she opened them again, he was staring down at her with an intensity that made her skin burn. “What is it?”
“You’re just so lovely,” he said. “The last thing I want to do is go home right now. I’d much rather march you right back into your house and into your bedroom, your niece and her girlfriend be damned.”
Grace groaned. “Stop, or things are about to get indecent.”
He chuckled. “That would be quite the town gossip.”
She kissed him again and then reluctantly took a step back. “See you tomorrow?”
“Actually, no.” He grabbed one of her hands and squeezed lightly. “I’m headed out of town for a cousin’s wedding up north. I’ll be back on Monday. Can I cash in that raincheck for the dinner date?”
“Sure.” Grace was surprised at how disappointed she was that he was leaving for five days. When had she gotten so invested in him? Likely right about the time she’d decided it was a good idea for them to get naked. “Next week then?”
“It’s a date. We’ll work out the details later.” He kissed her on the cheek and slid into his BMW.
Grace watched him go, taking a moment to let the night air cool her heated body. Then she took a deep breath and headed back into the house.
The living room was empty, and Grace followed the sound of clanking dishes into the kitchen. She found Bronwyn fumbling with the coffee grinder while Lex angrily scooped ice cream into three bowls.
Grace moved to Bronwyn’s side and showed her how to work the machine. Once they had the decaf coffee brewing, Grace pulled a can of whipped cream out of the refrigerator and squirted the creamy goodness in each of the bowls. When they were all seated at the table