Naked Pursuit by Jill Monroe

Author:Jill Monroe
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2015-02-01T05:00:00+00:00

7

THE HOUSE DID not disappoint. French doors led from the courtyard into a large and airy great room. She’d imagined something stuffy and maybe a bit formal to go with the Tudor Revival style, but the furniture was soft and inviting. Family pictures graced the walls, the mantel and the bookshelf...actually, every available space.

The ceiling soared high above her head, arched with cross-timbers and two beautiful stained-glass bay windows with stuffed cushioned seats, which invited a quiet conversation. Or a stolen kiss.

The great room opened into a large kitchen where Karen and Bethany and two other women who must be Owen’s sisters were busy laying out cold cuts and sides. Karen rushed over to her as soon as they entered. “I’ve placed one of Charlotte’s blouses for you in the hall bath if you want to freshen up before you meet the rest of the family.”

With a grateful smile, Stella quickly ducked into the bathroom. She closed the door and hugged her arms around her waist, alone for the first time since...well, she didn’t know how long. After splashing water on her face and smoothing her hair into some semblance of order, she removed her shirt.

Stella loved this little black-and-white top, but there was no saving it now. With a shrug, she tossed it into the trash. A folded lavender silk blouse waited for her on the counter. The cut was a little old-fashioned, but the fabric was soft and expensive, and Stella gratefully smoothed the shirt in place. With a deep breath, Stella twisted the knob and left her refuge to return to Owen’s family.

In front of a roaring fire sat a nice-looking man who shared Owen’s height and broad shoulders. The man’s eyes were brown instead of hazel, but he had to be Owen’s father. Beside him sat an older woman, a cane at her feet. This must be the Gram Gram everyone was talking about.

Owen’s father stood as Stella entered, and he greeted her with a warm smile. She suspected the man would have preferred to meet her with a hug, he seemed so happy to see the both of them. “Welcome, come in.”

“Stella, this is my dad, Roger.”

“We’re so glad you were able to make the trip down from Colorado,” he said, his hand engulfing hers in quick shake.

“She’s from right here in Dallas, honey,” Karen called from the kitchen.

His big smile widened. “Even better.”

Owen kneeled in front of the older woman still reclining in the overstuffed lounger, although she didn’t appear to be happy about it. Her toes tapped against the hardwood floor and her fingers gripped the armrest like she’d propel herself to stand by force if she could.

“And this lovely lady is my grandmother, Charlotte Perkins.”

“I’d greet you properly if the surgeon wasn’t forcing me to sit in this chair.”

“You’ll be dancing in no time,” he assured her. Owen glanced up toward Stella. “She just had knee replacement surgery. Gram used to be a Rockette.”

“And I should be practicing my kicks instead of taking it easy.

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