Grady shook his head. She was acting as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. She really was one of a kind. Grady took her hand and pressed it to his lips. “I think we were about to watch a movie.”
“No, we weren’t.”
“Well, we are now. You lost your chance to seduce me,” Grady said. “Now it’s you, me, and whatever action movie I can find on AMC.”
Sophie ground out a raspy sigh. “Fine. Tomorrow, though, you’re going to do what I want to do.”
Grady slung an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close so she could settle her head on his chest. “I’m look forward to it.”
Twenty-Five
“I can’t believe I have to go back to work today,” Sophie said. She was naked, cuddled on top of Grady, and lamenting her bad luck. Their bodies were slick with perspiration, but neither one of them seemed bothered by their general stickiness.
Five days had elapsed since her accident – and almost all evidence of her near-death experience was gone from her body. Only a slight yellowing around her hairline remained to hint at the horror.
“I bet your boss would give you another day off,” Grady said, pinching her rear suggestively. “I could call him for you.”
“Don’t you have to go to work today?” Sophie asked. “We haven’t left this house in days. I’m actually surprised that your brothers haven’t sent out a search party.”
“We’ve been texting,” Grady said. “Mandy texts more than a teenage girl.”
“You’ve been texting with Mandy? That’s kind of cute. Weird, but cute.”
“She’s been asking for details,” Grady said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she tries to organize another girl’s night out in the near future.”
“That sounds like fun,” Sophie said, rolling off of Grady. “I really like her. Your sister is a hoot, too. I even like Heidi.”
“I don’t suppose I can talk you into putting off another outing with the blonde wonder until after this is all over with, can I?”
Sophie arched an eyebrow. “Are you actually asking instead of ordering?”
“I’m trying.”
“Well, since you asked so nicely, I have no choice but to agree.”
“Don’t play with me,” Grady warned.
“I’m saving that for the shower,” Sophie said. “If you hurry up, I’ll play with you in there before work.”
Grady didn’t need a second invitation.
“YOU KNOW I’m going to have to take you to work today,” Grady said an hour later. They were both showered and dressed – but he already missed her bed.
“I figured,” Sophie said. “You can take me straight to the county building. There’s a commission meeting today.”
“During the day?”
“They have subcommittee meetings during the day,” Sophie said. “I want to sit in on the finance committee.”
“You think the topic of the missing money will come up?”
“I’d be stunned if it didn’t.”
Grady drained the rest of the coffee from the mug he was holding and dropped it in the sink. “How about I come with you?”
Sophie frowned. “Why?”
“You know why.”
Sophie pressed her mouth shut, breathing heavily through her nose. “While I think it’s really sweet that you want to act as my personal bodyguard, I don’t need your help to do my job.”
“How are you going to get back to the newspaper without a car?”
“I could take the car Peter left for me,” Sophie suggested.
“I thought we both agreed that was a bad idea?”
“We did,” Sophie said. “It might make things easier.”
“I don’t want things to be easier,” Grady countered. “I can take you to work.”
Sophie bit her lower lip. “I can call Conrad for a ride after the meeting,” she said. “The newspaper is like five minutes from the county building. He’ll be glad to come get me.”
“Why go through all that trouble if I’m willing to go with you?”
“Grady … .”
“Sophie,” Grady growled back in mock consternation.
“What are you going to do there? This will take hours.”
“I’m going to watch and learn.”
“I’m not sure it’s a good idea.”
“Well, these meetings are open to the public, right?”
“Right.”
“Then you can go to the meeting on your own,” Grady said.
“You’re just going to pretend to drop me off at the county building and then show up in the meeting room five minutes later, aren’t you?”