Mr. O'Grady's Magic Box Read Online Free PDF Page A

describing the box, adding a bit of mystery to it."
    "You do have a way with words."
    The long pause seemed to drag on.
    "Aubrey…" He paused again as if searching
for just the right words to say.
    She wished he'd say them, too. "Yes?" Her
hand gripped the phone tighter willing him to say something to let
her know he cared.
    "I wish I could be there."
    She closed her eyes and let out a breath she
didn't realize she'd been holding. "Do you? Do you really wish you
were here?" She felt foolish for asking, but she needed to
know.
    "Of course I do. What kind of question is
that?"
    She pinched the bridge of her nose in
frustration. He didn't answer her question. "It didn't seem like
you wanted to come with me, is all."
    "I packed my bags, didn't I?"
    He had, but that didn't mean he ever planned
on going.
    "Listen, can I help it if I have clients
that demand my time?"
    She opened her eyes. "I guess not."
    Silence.
    "I've disappointed you," he finally stated.
"I can hear it in your voice."
    "Is it so terrible that I would want my
boyfriend with me?"
    Another long pause and a sigh. "No, it
isn't. I'll make it up to you. I promise. Dinner, wine and—"
    "Dancing," she threw in. Nelson didn't like
the clubs. The loud music gave him a headache and he thought they
were too crowded. She could imagine Nelson's thick eyebrows coming
together as he gauged his next words carefully.
    He cleared his throat. She hadn't realized
until now how much he did that. "Sure. For you, I will. Listen, I
have to go. I'll call you tomorrow, okay?"
    Whatever. He was brushing her off
before she demanded something else he didn't want to do.
"Sure."
    He hung up with a quick goodbye.
    Placing the phone back in her pocket, she
sat down on the patio chair to soak in the last of the sun's rays.
She watched the red, orange, and yellow blend into the blue of the
sky. Mr. O'Grady was correct; the sunset took her breath away.
    The wind felt cool against her face as it
caressed her hair. Reluctant to go back to her lonely room, she
stayed planted in her chair until goose flesh covered her arms and
forced her to seek the warmth of the hotel.
    She strolled into the library for a cup of
tea before heading up the stairs and into her room. Her drapes were
opened and she went over to shut them. Down below, she caught sight
of Mr. O'Grady walking a man to his pickup truck. Maybe it was his
grandson. They were shadowed in the fading light. She could tell
the man was tall, standing at least six inches taller than Mr.
O'Grady with wide shoulders, tapering down to narrow hips – and a
nice set of buns, too. At that moment, as if sensing someone was
watching him, he turned and looked up in her direction. She
immediately stepped back as if he could see her. Surely, he
couldn't. She let the curtain fall, not wanting to take the chance
she'd be caught ogling the owner's grandson. Funny, in her head
she'd conjured up a sixteen-year old boy, not a good-looking man.
"You didn't even see his face," she told herself with a laugh. Then
she sighed dreamily. With a physique like that, who cared?
    She looked at her laptop sitting on the
table and took one last sip of her tea. "Time to work." She plopped
down in the chair and reached for her notes.

Chapter Six
     
    Ian had driven to LA to pick up the rose
bushes and trees he planned for the patio area in back of the inn.
Reece finished his homework at school and took the long ride with
him. Traffic was horrendous on the way back with bumper to bumper
crawling at times. Reece fell asleep about a half an hour ago with
his earplugs still in his ears. His brother carried the iPod
everywhere. When he pulled into the inn's parking lot, he didn't
have the heart to wake him. After he unloaded the plants, he'd head
home and usher Reece into the house and to bed.
    The cool sea breeze felt wonderful after the
heat of the day pounded down on him as he worked. He lowered the
door to the truck bed and reached for the potted plant closest to
him. He looked