Stirred: A Love Story Read Online Free PDF Page A

stories, or no stories at all for that matter,” tequila added, with a cruel bite that turned her stomach. She had to admit it was right. That was exactly why, despite her great wardrobe and super cute hair, she would always be Sensible Sage, middle child of the Jeffries sisters. It was a cliché but often true—sisters, based on birth order or life experience, were rarely alike, and that was certainly the case in her family. She’d designed a bi-cell assembly machine for her final project at Berkeley but never went anywhere other than home for spring break.
    Letting out another slow breath, Sage sensed the approaching brand new three-hundred and sixty-five days stretched out in front of her. This would be the year of her hot air balloon ride. She’d signed up to teach bridge at the community center and. . . damn it, she would get through this book. And, although the dirty talk chapter only made her giggle, she would push through. She was a Jeffries after all. Looking down at her feet, she decided the boots should guide her. Daring, seductive, like that show Hollis, her oldest sister, used to watch that had all the great shoes. Sex in the City , yes. Even though she’d told her sister when they were in high school that the show was ridiculous, she needed it now.
    Sage recognized the next song pounding overhead, so she hummed along as she returned to her phone and finally found Greatest Friend Ever . Kenna had made that her nickname when Sage had bought her new phone. After a couple of weeks of looking for her friend under K, she now knew instinctively, even after tequila, that Kenna was always in the Gs. With her thumb hovering, Sage made a decision.
    She would still finish the book and keep trying, but not tonight. She’d had enough and wanted the green tea ice cream in her freezer more than she wanted hot sex. Because sex never worked out for her and green tea ice cream was. . . well, things were never awkward with ice cream. Resolved that tomorrow was a new day for naughty, she finally managed to open a text.
     
Hi! I know you guy left early and UR buzy, but I’m a little tippppsy, which I know is crazy ironic for a bartttender, but could you please come and pick up. I’ve had en fun. I guess I could take a cab, but that’s awwkward since most of the cab companies know me because I call them for other drunk people and I. . . Ugh, could you come get meee?
Sure. Be there in 15.
Thank you. Kiss, kiss, kss. Oh, and my sort of date is here. He’s at the bar in a plad blazer, can’t miss HiM. He keeps grabbing my ass, which shold be a good naughty time, but no. Rude.
Got it. Sit tight.
I’m in the bathroom. Come get me when U here. I’m in the Stuart boots so I might need help not falling on my ass.
OK
Are you sure you don’t mind? R you pissed?
No.
Okay. Thank you. I live you. XXXXXX
     
    Sage set her phone back on the tiny shelf, rested her head against the cool concrete wall, and sank back into her fuzzy state. She had good friends.

    Garrett carefully lifted his sleeping niece off his shoulder and handed her over to Travis a few minutes after he’d received the text.
    “You outta here?” Travis whispered, shifting Paige farther up his shoulder.
    “Yeah, I need to get back. Early morning.”
    “Sure, thanks for babysitting.”
    “Anytime.” Garrett leaned in and kissed a slumbering Paige. “Sleep tight, your highness,” he whispered, and was rewarded with a tiny arm that wrapped around his head and squeezed. Heart full, he returned her hand to Travis’s neck.
    “See ya tomorrow morning for deliveries,” Travis said, lowering his voice as he turned down the hall toward Paige’s room.
    Watching after them, Garrett was amazed how comfortable the role of dad looked on Travis. He and Kenna had been engaged less than two months, and they’d somehow already fallen into a rhythm as if they were always meant to be together. As if everything his sister had been through was leading her to this, to