Falling for Grace (Four Winds) Read Online Free PDF Page A

again, this time with a gleam in his gorgeous eyes that made her feel warm all over.  As she continued touring the house, pointing out the other bedrooms, she could feel his eyes on her, and a flush rose on her cheeks under his gaze.  In the kitchen, she stopped and turned to him, noticing belatedly that he was really close to her.  She had a hard time breathing when she realized he stood close enough to smell: sweet and spicy.
    "Um, we each buy our own groceries.  Occasionally, we'll make a meal together, but nobody really cooks much.  We mostly eat cereal and salads.  There's a grill in the back, but we only use it once a month, maybe."
    "I like to cook.  I could make some meals for everybody," he said quietly.  "Although, if y'all would prefer your cereal and salad, I won't mess anybody up."  He flashed that dimply grin again, and Grace warned herself to stay away.
    "Do you have a job?"
    "Not yet.  I just got into town this week.  I have some money to last a few months, though.  I just need a roof over my head."  His manner was easy, reassuring.  Grace found herself drawn to his open, casual demeanor, wanting to know more about him.  Something about him seemed so familiar, but she couldn't put her finger on what it was.  His eyes, maybe?  Maybe she knew someone who uses the same cologne.
    "Where did you move from?"
    " Houston, I lived by the medical center."
    "Did you work there?" 
    He answered quickly, "Yes.  I did."
    "Cool."  She said it noncommittally, but something about the guy excited her, made her pulse beat a little faster, made her breaths a little shallower, made her belly hot.  Hot.
    He was hot.  And she was in trouble.
    Grace didn't date hot guys.  They inevitably knew they were hot and used it to their own advantage.  Hot guys were users, chewing up women and spitting them out, leaving them as unrecognizable pieces of flesh with missing souls.  Her mother was proof of that.
    As gorgeous as Rafe was though, Grace had to admit that there was something unassuming about him.  He didn't seem like the type of guy to flaunt his looks to get what he wanted.  He didn't seem like he wanted to charm her pants off. 
    Then again, she'd known him all of twenty minutes.
    She realized that being in Rafe's presence had completely taken her mind off her nightmare.  That was a good thing.  Usually the nightmare stuck with her for a couple of hours after waking up from one.  She led the way back into the living room and motioned for him to sit.  He did, in the chair next to the sofa, so she sat on the opposite end of the sofa, to put some space between them.  He relaxed into the chair, crossing one ankle over his knee, resting his hands on the arms of the chair.
    "Bree should be home in about an hour, and Nicole will be home soon.  Nicole's the one you have to convince.  The rest of us just want basic consideration from a roommate.  Nic's the one with the extreme expectations."
    "Any pointers on how to win her over?"  He threw her another one of his charming grins, and her toes curled.  She put her feet under her rear on the sofa.  She certainly didn't want this guy to know the effect he had on her.
    "Um, you don't play any musical instruments, do you?"
    "Nope."
    "Good.  She told you about the no smoking, no pets, no insomnia, no messes?"
    "Yep."  The grin widened at a memory that Grace could only imagine.
    "What about drugs?"
    "Never.  I don't even drink."  His face turned serious for a minute, then broke back out into another smile.
    "Scared of hurricanes?"
    "Nope.  I love displays of Mother Nature."
    "You're not one of those crazies that like to surf in the storms, are you?"
    He laughed, a deep belly laugh that sent the white heat from Grace's belly to her nether regions, making her blush at her reaction.  His voice was like liquid sex, deep and rumbly, and his laugh was even better.  Why was she encouraging him?  She couldn't live with this guy.
    After he recovered from his