Read Online A Long Goodbye by Kelly Mooney - Free Book Online Page A

fun now and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” Woody was by the door holding out his hand for me to come along, but Lu leaned in to whisper in my ear, “he’s sweet, Ash.”
    I smiled back at her. “Don’t wait up.” I wiggled my brows at her as she shooed me toward Woody and to my night of adventure.
    Woody and I stood in the elevator alone. Both of us looking straightforward not knowing what to talk about. At least, that was how I was feeling. Right now, my knees were wobbly, my heart was racing faster than a car trying to win the Daytona 500, my hands felt slightly clammy, and yet I still had this ridiculous desire to take his hand in mine. To claim him somehow. Which was ridiculous, seeing as I barely knew him.
    The elevator pinged as we reached the main lobby and Woody guided me out with his hand resting on the small of my back causing me to shiver again. Once out the doors instead of removing his hand, he left it there, making me feel buzzed without even drinking a drop. “You all right, Grace?”
    I cleared my throat. “I’m fine. Where we going?”
    He smiled mischievously as his eyes raked my body from my head to my boots. “Change of plans. You like burgers? I know this place that makes the best in Nashville.”
    I swallowed. “Sure. I could eat a burger,” I answered nervously. I was kind of hoping for a steak, or possibly a piece of fish, but right now I’d take what I could get. I hadn’t eaten all day just so I could squeeze my booty into this dang skirt.
    Once outside I stopped in front of the valet station, but Woody kept walking. He turned when he realized I wasn’t next to or behind him. His lip curled up slightly. “Grace, you coming, or did ya change your mind about our date?”
    “I’m waiting for your car,” I answered, glancing around for the valet that was here earlier when I’d checked in my car.
    Woody walked toward me with his lip still curled up slightly like he was trying to hold back a big ass grin. “My truck is over here. I don’t valet, Darlin’.” He held out his hand for me take, and I didn’t hesitate grabbing on. His fingers instantly wrapped around mine possessively, making me want to pull him back inside and upstairs. Just holding his hand made me feel this sensation of what I didn’t know, just something and knew I was in trouble.

CHAPTER 10
    DANE
    I almost dropped the flowers and swallowed my tongue when Ashton had opened the door earlier. I swore I could’ve fallen to my knees asking for her hand at the sight of her. I planned on taking her to the fanciest joint in town to try and get to know her better, but now, the only thing I could think of was getting that girl on the dance floor, to feel her body move with mine.
    Sitting opposite of me, Grace placed her napkin in her lap as she glanced around the greasy spoon where I’d taken her. Her face was a dead giveaway that she probably wasn’t expecting to be eating in a two star place, but time was wasting and I didn’t plan on wasting it sitting on my ass watching her eat. Although, she looked good doing that too.
    “So, tell me about this bucket list of yours?” I asked as we waited for the waitress to bring over our food.
    She smiled, taking a tortilla chip from the basket on the table, and when she did, it warmed me as nothing else could. “It’s silly, but it’s just well, I have a father who kind of controls my life, so I have two weeks away from him and I want to do as much as I can before I head home.”
    “Why do you let him control you?” This was something that had been bothering since I’d taken on the job. The girl was twenty-two damn years old and not only did he control her, but she let him.
    “It’s a long story.”
    I opened my arms as if I was parting the sea. “We got time, Grace.”
    She sat back, eyeing me up for a quick second or two. “My mama died when I was born.” This I knew.
    “I’m sorry,” I told her.
    “It’s okay. I guess the answer to your question is