Page 50 of Wicked Love

Two strangers bumping into each other in a supermarket aisle. A single billionaire dad and a homeless woman. Things were easy between them. Nobody judged them for falling in love, no matter how impossible their relationship appeared to be.

“You wanna know a secret, Grace?” I asked her sleepy figure. “It’s not that I don’t love you or that I don’t want you, because God knows I do. I’m just too chickenshit to admit it to you. Happy now? You were right. I’m scared of what we could be.” I set the tray beside me and massaged her feet. Grace moved in her sleep, murmuring stuff I couldn’t comprehend, a smile stretching her lips. “One day I will be brave enough, and I hope it won’t be too late then.”

* * *

My back hurt from the uncomfortable position I slept in. With my hands, I massaged my shoulders in an attempt to remove the knots that were lodged there.

“Good, you’re awake. Morning, sleepyhead.”

“Grace?” I cracked my eyes open, searching for the source of her voice.

She sat next to me on the couch, tying her sneakers.

Couch?

I scratched my temple. “We slept here?”

She shrugged. “Guess I fell asleep, and you followed suit. I have very foggy memories of last night.”

“I picked you up at Santa’s Lodge after you went on a drinking spree with Lea. Then you were hungry. I made you ramen soup, but you were out before it was ready.”

“You cooked for me? In the middle of the night?”

I moved to a sitting position. “No big deal.”

“Joe, it is a big deal. You cooked for me, and I didn’t even stay awake long enough to enjoy it.”

“There’s leftover in the fridge.”

Her lips thinned. “Thanks, Joe. I appreciate it.” She breathed out, and her easy smile returned. “Now get up and put some shoes on. We’re going out.”

I rubbed a hand over my face to erase the last traces of sleep tightening my features. “Going where?” I checked the time on my phone. “It’s not even nine o’clock yet.”

“It’s snowing.”

“It is?”

“Yes. And I wanna make the most of it. Hurry.”

She opened the door and ran outside before I could even move to my feet.

At the front door, I rested my shoulder against the doorjamb, enjoying the sight as Grace spun around, trying to catch snowflakes with her tongue. My lips curled up of their own volition. “Have you never seen snow in your life?”

She stopped twirling to stare at me. “I’m from Texas, Joe. Snow isn’t a common occurrence.”

“You love?”

“No, I adore. It’s beautiful. What are you waiting for? Put some shoes on. We have a full day ahead of us.”

“What’s on the schedule?”

“Snowmen, snow angels, snowball fights, snow sculptures, snowshoes. Everything snow.” She frowned when her eyes landed on me. “Why aren’t you excited? It’s a snow day. It’ll be fun. Trust me.”

“Girl, I trust you, but there’s not enough snow to do any of those things. You need at least an inch, if not more.”

“Oh. You sure?” Her face fell.

“Huh…sorry?” My answer sounded more like a question than an affirmation.