Coming Home to Love (Lakeside Porch Series Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

Wegmans?”
    “You’re serious? I thought that was just the latest buzzword, like ‘low-carb’ used to be.”
    Gianessa shook her head and gave her a one-minute spiel about gluten intolerance and celiac disease. “I have celiac disease.”
    “Tragic,” Sara said again. “No wonder you eat so healthy and stay so thin.”
    They ate in silence for a few minutes. Gianessa’s thoughts wandered back to her conversation with Justin.
    “So, spill, what’s Mr. Cushman like?” Sara watched her with an eagle eye.
    “He’s actually a smart, funny guy.”
    “Grace told us you had him naked in the closet.”
    Gianessa burst out laughing and rescued the olive that flew from her mouth. “There was no treatment room available and he was not going to go away.” She took a sip of water and said with dignity, “So we used the closet. I really don’t understand why we don’t schedule that room, especially this time of year when we’re so busy.”
    “Everyone else hates it. Was he naked?”
    “Don’t be silly.” Justin hadn’t had to disrobe completely for his massage, but he had chosen to. Gianessa fought down a flare of heat at the memory of that thin sheet draped carelessly over his cute butt. She needed a distraction. “His name’s Justin, by the way.”
    “Justin and Gianessa. Has a nice ring, don’t you think?”
    “Stop, he’s almost old enough to be my father,” Gianessa protested.
    “How old do you think he is really?”
    “I don’t know. Probably forty-five.”
    “That’s not too old for you.”
    “I’m not in the market for a man right now.” Gianessa wanted to clang her fork on the side of the plate to emphasize the point, but she kept her voice calm. “You know that.” She needed to distract Sara. Inspiration struck. “And I would never get involved with anyone I work with.” She stole a look across the table.
    Sara paled. “You think he’s going to be our boss while Joel’s out, don’t you?”
    Beautiful . “Possibly.”
    “What do you know? Grace was, like, totally freaked today.”
    Gianessa shrugged. “You know the rumors. Justin’s probably just home to support Joel until his recovery is well under way, and then he’ll go back to his world-traveling, high-finance life. End of story.” Why does that make me sad ? “I’m looking for a career, not a man.
    “So, is he cute?”
    Gianessa squelched her first thought: Justin Cushman was a handsome man, and, if she had her way, he would be buff again in the coming year, leaner than before. If this weren’t Sara she was talking to, she might open up a little about Justin, so she could get him out of her head.
    She concentrated on her food while she decided how to answer. “Justin’s cuter than Joel, in a mature sort of way,” she conceded, “and if you tell anyone I said so, I’ll cook you Brussels sprouts and liver for a week.”
    “Oh barf!” Sara made a show of pushing her plate away. “You’re disgusting. I don’t know why I asked you to room with me.”
    “Because you’re lonely.” Gianessa gestured at the spacious living-dining room. “I’d have gone crazy by myself in this huge townhouse.”
    “It’s not my fault my parents own it and want me to live here and take care of the place.”
    “But I’m right, aren’t I? It’s too big for you. And you were lonely by yourself?”
    “I could have gotten a cat.”
    “Cats can’t cook.” She pushed Sara’s plate back to her. “Finish that while I get the dishes started.”
    “Yes, Mom,” Sara said with a smirk.
    Glad for a break from a conversation that centered on Justin Cushman, Gianessa hummed along with Adele on the radio while she put leftovers in the fridge and scrubbed the baking dish.
    A glance at the clock told her it was time to leave for the AA meeting.
    Sara slid her dishes into the soapy water. “I’ll do the rest later, roomie. I’m going to watch TV.”
    “Enjoy.”
    She wanted to borrow a coat, but she knew if she asked, Sara’s