Grace Under Fire by Jennifer Raines

Author:Jennifer Raines
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Opposites Attract, Enemies to Lovers, Small Town Romance, Family Heritage, Land Grab, Second Chance at Love, Australia
Publisher: Inkspell Publishing
Published: 2023-02-07T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

Headlights hitting the main farmhouse then turning off to the left, a dying engine, a car door slamming—Ryan announced his arrival for dinner even before her mother’s old dog, Bailey, a permanent fixture on the back veranda, barked in welcome. Wanting to keep the heat inside, Grace opened the laundry door. Ryan held a bottle of wine in one hand and a box in the other. Satan and Bailey had finished sniffing each other, circling and remembering they’d met before. Satan pushed forward to nuzzle Grace’s hand.

“Hello, darling,” she crooned before eyeing the bottle suspiciously.

“You don’t have to drink it”—Ryan handed her the bottle—“darling.”

“We’re eating in the kitchen.” She turned and led him through the laundry, his husky endearment sending her nerves into a jig.

“That’s put me in my place.”

“I was living at Grandma and Grandpa’s old house but moved across here this afternoon. I thought the family kitchen was the best place for a business transaction between maybe-friends, one of whom has brought a dog to dinner.” She opened the kitchen door, and the temperature climbed several degrees, enveloping them in its warm, fragrant air. Pointing to a blanket in front of the fuel stove, she smiled when Satan obediently walked in a circle then curled up.

“Smells good.” He sniffed appreciatively while his eyes travelled around the room. “I remember the chairs.” He sounded delighted. “Your parents talked endlessly about their plans to renovate them.”

“Work and a growing fondness for their battered state kyboshed those.” She placed the bottle of pinot on the table. “Would you like a beer to start?”

“That’d be great. This room hasn’t changed much at all.” He crossed to the large sideboard backing onto the hall’s wall and ran a respectful hand over its red timber. “Always loved this piece.”

“The cedar came from the valley,” she said, topping a beer and handing him the bottle and a cold glass. “You must have heard Grandpa’s stories about the old timber cutters.”

“I loved them. Rare to find a piece like this today. It’s a good history to have, Grace. Are you going to join me in a drink?” he asked curiously.

“With dinner. If I have a drink now, I might pass out.”

“That would be a pity.” His deep growl told her whatever happened between them, he wanted her to be fully awake and aware.

Her body jangled with anticipation. He wasn’t wearing glasses. That didn’t give her the advantage she’d hoped for. His eyes, a dark chestnut in this light, studied her with a slow patience, making her body ache for his touch. She’d already been primed. Standing naked in the shower earlier, goose bumps had spread across her body imagining his broad shoulders and solid chest a short metre across from her at her kitchen table. She’d shivered, not from the cold. Now she swallowed a groan. “What’s in the box?”

He set his beer on the table and lifted the lid. “A rhubarb and strawberry pie.”

She peered into the box, then lifted her gaze to his. “A Bess Riley award-winning pie?”

He nodded.

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