Grace (The Family Simon #5)- Juliana Stone Page 0,17

his hunched protectively over a fragile puppy made her heart pick up. Her chest tightened, a lump formed, and the yearning that washed over her wasn’t simple or small or anything that didn’t scream complicated.

She wanted him. Plain and simple. But how much rejection could she take?

Determined to start the day over with a clean slate, Grace exhaled and decided to concentrate on something other than the very sexy and very complicated Mr. Matt Hawkins.

Puppies. Concentrate on the puppies.

The little bundle in his arms squirmed and made the sweetest noises. She remembered this particular pup from the night before. Rosie’s babies were all black except the smallest, which sported white spots along the back end and a pure white nose to offset a midnight face.

Matt nuzzled the little guy and Grace’s heart filled up watching him. She thought of how swiftly he’d turned to stone the night before. Of how he was so desperately trying to push her away when all along she knew he felt the pull as strongly as she did.

Bad guy my ass, she thought taking a step forward and whacking her knee against a small side table.

Matt glanced over his shoulder and she offered a tentative smile and a small wave. “How did Rosie make out?” she asked, moving closer so that she could have a look herself. The dog was asleep, as were all of her babies, nestled up against her body for comfort and warmth.

“She did good,” Matt replied, placing the puppy among its littermates. “How did you sleep?”

“Your bed is…well, there’s a lot of room and the mattress is firm and…” Darn she was mumbling like an idiot. “I slept like a baby.”

Matt was silent for a few moments, though his eyes never left hers. “The storm isn’t letting up until Monday. Looks like we’re stuck here at least until then.”

Grace glanced out the window. She knew it looked bad out there but…

Panic set in.

“Monday? I can’t leave until Monday?” How in hell was she going to survive in such close quarters with Matt when all she wanted to do was rip those jeans off and have her way with him?

“Nope. All roads have been closed. Even the road crews are grounded.”

“Oh.” Grace frowned. “How did we not know this was headed our way? I mean, I knew they were calling for snow, but a blizzard?”

Matt shrugged and hiked up his zipper. He grabbed his shirt from the sofa. “It wasn’t supposed to be this bad. The storm picked up strength overnight. Happens a lot out here.”

“What about Betty? Wasn’t she flying in with Fitz this morning?”

Matt moved past her into the kitchen. “Not anymore. I already talked to her. She’s staying put in Florida until this storm blows over. They’re probably going to reschedule the fundraiser to next weekend.” He paused and arched an eyebrow. “Your brother Tucker wants you to check in with him as soon as you can.”

Crap. “He talked to you?” She thought of the missed calls on her phone.

“Not me personally, but apparently he gave it to Betty real good. He called the hotel as soon as he found out how bad the storm was and when he learned that you hadn’t checked in, he had a little convo with Hayden. Apparently your little boy toy told him that you’d gone home with some guy named Matt and he blew a gasket.”

Annoyed, Grace frowned. “Josh Hayden isn’t my boy toy.”

Matt leaned against the countertop, still barefoot, still shirtless, and still sexy as hell. He needed a shave and Lord but his hair was a mess, and yet something about this side of him, this at-home, intimate, and comfortable side of him—made her girlie parts roar to life.

“Didn’t think so.”

“Then why say it?”

He smiled—a full-on, sexy-as-hell smile. “Because when you get pissed off your cheeks turn this shade of red that I like, and your nose scrunches up a certain way that’s kind of cute.”

“Glad to know I’m so damn amusing.” His house might be cold as hell but her temperature was rising.

“You just did it again.”

“What?” she snapped.

“Scrunched up your nose.”

“Why don’t you put a shirt on?” Wow. Grace inwardly cringed. Great comeback.

The smile on Matt’s face didn’t go away, not even when he tugged the Henley he’d been wearing the night before over his head. He pulled it down slowly, his smile fading as the two of them stared at each other for what seemed like a very long time. He ran a hand over the stubble