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

hopeful as he turned and let himself out the door.  “Do I need to go walk around a little bit?  Or is it cool if I just sit on the steps?”
    “I don’t think it’ll take too long, but we’ll let you know.  Just sit for now,” Nicole had an uncharacteristic reassuring quality to her voice that raised Grace’s eyebrows.
    After he’d let himself out, Grace turned to Nicole.  “Has he passed your test?  Already?”
    Nicole shrugged.  “I called his references during my break today, and he got glowing recommendations.  He’s a quiet neighbor, pays on time, and doesn’t seem to be annoying.”
“And he’s HAWT!”  Bree interjected.
    Grace rolled her eyes.  “Ted Bundy was quiet too.”
    Nicole shrugged.  “We need the rent money.  We won’t know if he’s a Ted Bundy anyway until one of us ends up in pieces on the barbecue pit.  I’m tired of interviewing whack jobs, and he’s the first normal-seeming person I’ve talked to in a month.”
    “If you didn’t have such high standards, we would have found a roommate by now.”  Grace pointed out.
    “Yeah, but he seems like he would be a nice fit with us, and he doesn’t seem annoying, unless he’s one of those morning people.  I forgot to ask that.”
    Grace laughed.  “Nic, you can’t base a roommate application on whether or not somebody’s a morning person.”
    “Yeah, I’m a morning person, and I live here.  I would be happy to keep him out of your hair before nine, if you want.”  Bree’s tone got wistful, and Grace smiled at the smirk that Nicole gave her.
    “I bet you would.”
    “Let’s vote!”  Bree said.  “All in favor of hot guy roommate raise your hand.”  Bree’s hand was in the air as she spoke, followed quickly by Nicole’s.
    “Not because he’s hot, though.”  They both turned to Grace, whose hands were at her side.
    “I’m just not sure,” she hedged.
    “Come on, if I can’t disqualify him because he’s a morning person, you can’t disqualify him because he’s gorgeous.”  Nicole told Grace impatiently.  Bree looked disappointed and Grace had to laugh at her own transparency.
    “Okay.  Fine.”  Begrudgingly, she raised her hand.
    Bree ran to the door and opened it, calling out gleefully.  “You’re in!”
    Rafe came to the door, looking ridiculously grateful, beaming at everybody.  Grace felt a shudder wrack her body and turned her head as if his smile would burn her.
    “Thanks guys.  I really appreciate it.”  His voice was warm, and Grace peeked at him in spite of herself.  He was watching her, a knowing smile on his face.  She wondered what he was smiling about.  It was almost as if he knew she was the one that wasn’t totally on board with him joining their humble abode.  She found it wasn’t easy to break eye contact with him, once their eyes met.  The green depths called to her in a way that she didn’t understand, and it was disconcerting. 
    Her cell phone ringing broke the spell.  She turned, reluctantly to dig through her purse to answer it.  Looking at the screen, she saw it was Brad.
    "Hey, honey."
    "Hi babe.  You still going dancing tonight?"  He sounded eager, reminding Grace of a puppy willing to do anything to please his master.  Grace knew he didn't like to dance, that he was just going because Grace liked it.
    "Yeah.  Can you meet us here in a couple of hours?  We'll all go over together."
    "Sure.  I've been looking forward to it all day."
    "Liar."  She laughed at him.  There was no way he was looking forward to hanging out with a bunch of women tonight.
    "I want to spend time with you, Grace.  I'm looking forward to it."  His voice grew husky with the declaration, and Grace realized she felt guilty for comparing him to a puppy with his master.  She wasn't his master, although he would probably do anything she asked him.  "See you soon." 
    She turned back to the group, to see everybody shaking hands.
    "Okay, then you can move in.  Can you