“I’m guessing you’ll need my truck for the whole day, when you ladies do your shopping.”
“Actually, the sale lasts the whole weekend. It starts on Friday and goes through Sunday. Or we may luck out and get everything we need in one day.” Allison cocked her head. “Think you can drive my convertible that long?”
He grimaced. “I’ll have to see a chiropractor when I’m done.”
“Or me,” Tabitha said brightly.
Grace gave the girl a surprised look. “I didn’t picture you as a chiropractor.”
Tabitha smirked. “I’m not. I’m a massage therapist.”
“She’s a torture specialist.” Sloan deadpanned.
“Come on, big guy. I thought you’d like the hot stone therapy. It’s great for muscles and stress,” Tabitha said.
“Third degree burns are not a stress reliever.”
“You’re such a baby.” Tabitha folded her arms across her chest.
“He did have welts all down his back, Tabitha.” Allison pointed her fork at her.
“Okay, so I get the stones too hot one time and no one lets me live it down.” She took a drink of her wine and looked at Grace. “I usually do deep tissue and Swedish massage. The hot stones were something I was trying out.”
“She’s not telling you that she didn’t even go to training for that. She found some flat rocks at the creek and stuck them in the oven. The next thing I know, my back feels like someone poured gasoline on it and lit a match.”
“I don’t have the time or money to get trained in that stuff. I don’t think anybody around here is going to be booking appointments for that anyway.” Tabitha sighed.
After dinner, Sloan helped Allison with the dishes while Grace and Tabitha sat on the balcony enjoying their wine and watching the streetlamps come to life on Main Street.
“I saw the way you were looking at her.” Allison elbowed him in the side.
“I always look at Tabitha with suspicion.” Sloan dried the plate with the dishtowel, not liking the direction of the conversation.
“I was talking about Grace.”
“Don’t start, Allison.”
“What are you talking about? I was just . . .”
“Look, I know what you’re doing. I find it very interesting that you ‘forgot’ to tell me you had invited Grace over for dinner.” He set the dishcloth down and faced her.
Allison turned and narrowed her eyes. “Sloan, I . . .”
He held up his hand. “No, you listen. I don’t need your help to get a date. And I sure as hell don’t need to be thrown together with another desperate woman.”
Allison’s widened gaze was fixed over his shoulder.
His gut clenched. He knew without turning around that Grace had heard everything.
He turned and ran his hand across his neck. “Grace, I . . .”
“Thank you for dinner, Allison. It was delicious and you are a wonderful hostess.” Grace then turned to him and glared. “Rest assured, Mr. Jackson. I am not a desperate woman. Even if I were and you were the last man on earth, I would seriously consider becoming a lesbian.”
His mouth dropped opened.
Tabitha snickered.
Grace slammed the door behind her as she left.
“Way to go, smooth talker.” Tabitha clamped her hand on his shoulder. “Good thing you aren’t interested. I think it’s safe to say she’ll never want to see you again.”
He told himself he wasn’t interested. So why did he have this unsettling feeling in his gut?
***
On the drive home, Grace rolled down the windows and cranked up the radio. How dare Sloan Jackson think she was after him? Getting involved with an egotistical man was the last thing on her mind.
She breathed in the brisk night air as she drove down her dirt road toward home. It always amazed her how calming just being out in the country truly was.
She pulled into her driveway and eased out of her car. Stars splattered across the inky canvas sky quickly turned her anger into awe. She never knew how many stars a country night could hold.
As she walked up to her porch, she quickly shoved away any thoughts about Sloan Jackson.
He wasn’t worth it anyway.
Chapter Three
Sloan had fucked up royally.
After the debacle with Grace, Allison had been on his ass the whole weekend. She was convinced that Grace would never want to be friends with her and that he was the reason. He felt lower than dirt.
Allison had been so supportive after Felicia Dantry had broken his heart. After the breakup, Allison had waited to make sure he was okay before moving out of the big ranch-style house.
Sloan had repaid her by screwing up her friendship with Grace.