Restoration Read Online Free PDF Page A

on, have a great time. Excuse me if my loss clouds your fun.” The sarcasm in her voice was hard to miss.
    Valerie set her coat down. “Grace . . .”
    “No. You know what? I need some time. Go and have fun. I’m going out for a walk.”
    Grace shoved past her and snatched her keys from the counter. Her feet slipped easily into her unlaced running shoes and she was out the door before Valerie could say anything else.

Chapter 4
    Drew craned his neck as he ran, looking for the telltale swing of the deep, coffee-colored hair that Grace McConnell kept high on her head while running. He wasn’t stalking her, he hoped, but he needed to see her. His running schedule, once a strict lunchtime activity, had altered, based on one chance encounter.
    Due to an emergency adjustment in staffing at the grocery, his hours had shifted from early to late. Still trying to acclimate, he’d woken with the sun and decided to start his day with a run rather than skip it all together. That was when his world had shifted. He’d changed from a man, mildly interested, to confused, flustered, and achingly obsessed.
    His mind spun with thoughts of her, visions of her gorgeous mouth, formed in an O of surprise when she’d almost knocked him arse-over-teakettle for the second time. He felt lust rising at the memory and bumped up the volume of his music for distraction. He wasn’t an early morning runner as a rule, but after seeing Grace that first morning, he’d told himself mornings weren’t so bad.
    I’m not a stalker , he kept reminding himself .
    He scanned the footpath and kept up his pace.
    His phone buzzed and he sighed in frustration as he pulled it out of his pocket to see an incoming call from Sarah. Again. He hit the ignore button and put his phone back. Part of him was annoyed to have her bothering him constantly since her latest break up. The egotistical part of him, however, was boosted by the knowledge of her interest after all this time. They’d been divorced almost six years now and the hurt was still there, reaffirmed every time she tried to worm her way back into his life. He knew the best tactic in her case was radio silence. Her manipulative ways usually threw his life into a tailspin.
    Disappointment seeped in as he reached the half-way mark and headed home. He wanted to see Grace, needed a glimpse of her perfection. Their brief interactions were the highlight of his days.
    Rounding a corner, his breath caught in his chest. She was there. Beautiful, bathed in the golden rays of the early morning light, stretching her back with her arms raised high above her head. He slowed as he approached. Her eyes were closed as she clearly enjoyed the stretch. When she opened them, a wave of arousal shot straight through him. Wanker, he thought as she trained her eyes on his. He squirmed slightly, wondering if she could sense his ungentlemanly thoughts.
    “Morning.” He had to work to get the simple greeting past his lips.
    “Morning, Drew. Nice to see you.” Her eyes were tense. It seemed as though she was trying too hard to talk to him, as if having contact was painful. She was so puzzling.
    “You as well, Grace.” He stood there, taking in her fitted running clothes, pink trainers, and matching top. Her hips swayed enticingly as she walked past him. He wanted to ask if he could join her, even though he’d already finished a five-mile run. His hands itched to brush aside a piece of her hair, which had come loose from her ponytail, wanting to feel her skin to see if it was as soft as it looked. He wished she wasn’t so skittish. Not understanding why she wouldn’t say more than a few words was killing him.
    Ask her out. Go on.
    Before she got out of his view, he mustered all of his courage and shouted, “Have dinner with me?”
    She turned her head to look at him over her shoulder. “What?”
    “Dinner? You, me?”
    “I understand the concept, Drew.” Her face was a carefully composed mask.
    “I just, well, I thought it