Read Online Blaze (The Firefighters of Darling Bay Book 1) by Rachael Herron - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Rachael Herron
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guys.”
“—the last three guys that I would only date someone healthy. Someone with his head on straight and his stuff together.”
Samantha waved a dirty hand. “Whatever. The real question is, what are you going to wear? I have a couple college application clients tomorrow night. If I do your makeup in the morning, will you promise not to touch it all day? I’d come do it right before, but I have a date, too.”
Grace felt a flutter of nerves in her stomach. “Who?” She knew she was deflecting.”
“Just a guy.” Samantha finished tamping more soil around the root ball. “Can I do your makeup?”
“Oh, crap. Fine.”
“ Yes. Pass me that watering can. And guarantee me you won’t wear those shoes.”
Looking down at her favorite black Dansko clogs, Grace frowned. “These are cute.”
“They’re birth control.”
Shocked, Grace said, “Well, good . It’s not like I’m going to need any other kind.”
Samantha finished with the violet. “Look at all this mint! It’s crazypants! Let’s make virgin mojitos!”
“I’ll pass.”
Samantha pulled off her gloves and stood. “Put down the trowel.”
“I still have three more petunias to put in.”
“Screw the petunias. You can’t kill those things. Come inside, have a fake drink with me, and we’ll decide what you’re wearing.”
“But…”
“Start your loosening up early.” Samantha went inside, the screen door slamming behind her.
“Wait a minute.” Grace followed Sam inside. “What do you mean?”
Sam gave a light laugh as she rinsed the mint she’d picked. “I didn’t mean anything by it. Just that you could stand to let go of the reins a little bit.”
Grace felt a flash of heat. That’s exactly what Gary, her last boyfriend, had said. Right before he’d dumped her to take the trip they’d planned together, absconding with her money which she could only assume he blew on the horses.
Her sister snapped her fingers in front of her. “Earth to Grace. You haven’t heard a word I’ve been saying, have you? Drink this.” She pressed a cold glass into Grace’s hand. “Now, to my room. I have just the right thing for you to wear.”
“I’m not looking like a hooch. You can’t make me.”
Samantha said, “I’m just going to take it as a compliment that you think I could come close to making you look like one.”
“And no heels!” The drink did actually taste amazing. Light and sweet, tart and not too minty. “How did you make this?”
“I stared into it until the sin in my soul filled the glass. Why? You like it?”
Grace said. “It’s not bad. Bring on the carnal wear.”
Samantha pulled Grace into the spare bedroom. “Eye shadow! Perfume! Low-cut top! This is what I’ve been waiting for ever since I moved in!”
“Lucky me.” Grace bumped Sam with her shoulder.
But in fact, she meant it.
The next day at work, Grace had a hard time hiding her nerves. As Scrug Watson hung up his green Deere baseball cap on her hat rack, she’d dropped a box of clean needles with a clatter that made everyone in her treatment room jump. Scrug said, “Whatchoo nervous about, girl?”
“Accident, sorry,” she’d said lightly, picking them up. Within ten minutes she’d stubbed her toe twice and knocked over a glass of water on her desk, soaking her day planner. She told herself to breathe, but somehow taking in air and holding it made her feel even more jumpy.
By five thirty, she was out of the practice, walking home. She stumbled twice. Stupid Danskos.
By quarter to six, she was home.
Ten minutes later, she was in her bathroom, checking her makeup.
She wouldn’t be nervous.
It would be stupid to be nervous.
Jeez , she was nervous. She felt like a jumpy cat balancing on top of a cement mixer.
The mascara her sister had insisted on putting on her this morning was still black and thick. Just like Samantha had promised, it hadn’t
“—the last three guys that I would only date someone healthy. Someone with his head on straight and his stuff together.”
Samantha waved a dirty hand. “Whatever. The real question is, what are you going to wear? I have a couple college application clients tomorrow night. If I do your makeup in the morning, will you promise not to touch it all day? I’d come do it right before, but I have a date, too.”
Grace felt a flutter of nerves in her stomach. “Who?” She knew she was deflecting.”
“Just a guy.” Samantha finished tamping more soil around the root ball. “Can I do your makeup?”
“Oh, crap. Fine.”
“ Yes. Pass me that watering can. And guarantee me you won’t wear those shoes.”
Looking down at her favorite black Dansko clogs, Grace frowned. “These are cute.”
“They’re birth control.”
Shocked, Grace said, “Well, good . It’s not like I’m going to need any other kind.”
Samantha finished with the violet. “Look at all this mint! It’s crazypants! Let’s make virgin mojitos!”
“I’ll pass.”
Samantha pulled off her gloves and stood. “Put down the trowel.”
“I still have three more petunias to put in.”
“Screw the petunias. You can’t kill those things. Come inside, have a fake drink with me, and we’ll decide what you’re wearing.”
“But…”
“Start your loosening up early.” Samantha went inside, the screen door slamming behind her.
“Wait a minute.” Grace followed Sam inside. “What do you mean?”
Sam gave a light laugh as she rinsed the mint she’d picked. “I didn’t mean anything by it. Just that you could stand to let go of the reins a little bit.”
Grace felt a flash of heat. That’s exactly what Gary, her last boyfriend, had said. Right before he’d dumped her to take the trip they’d planned together, absconding with her money which she could only assume he blew on the horses.
Her sister snapped her fingers in front of her. “Earth to Grace. You haven’t heard a word I’ve been saying, have you? Drink this.” She pressed a cold glass into Grace’s hand. “Now, to my room. I have just the right thing for you to wear.”
“I’m not looking like a hooch. You can’t make me.”
Samantha said, “I’m just going to take it as a compliment that you think I could come close to making you look like one.”
“And no heels!” The drink did actually taste amazing. Light and sweet, tart and not too minty. “How did you make this?”
“I stared into it until the sin in my soul filled the glass. Why? You like it?”
Grace said. “It’s not bad. Bring on the carnal wear.”
Samantha pulled Grace into the spare bedroom. “Eye shadow! Perfume! Low-cut top! This is what I’ve been waiting for ever since I moved in!”
“Lucky me.” Grace bumped Sam with her shoulder.
But in fact, she meant it.
The next day at work, Grace had a hard time hiding her nerves. As Scrug Watson hung up his green Deere baseball cap on her hat rack, she’d dropped a box of clean needles with a clatter that made everyone in her treatment room jump. Scrug said, “Whatchoo nervous about, girl?”
“Accident, sorry,” she’d said lightly, picking them up. Within ten minutes she’d stubbed her toe twice and knocked over a glass of water on her desk, soaking her day planner. She told herself to breathe, but somehow taking in air and holding it made her feel even more jumpy.
By five thirty, she was out of the practice, walking home. She stumbled twice. Stupid Danskos.
By quarter to six, she was home.
Ten minutes later, she was in her bathroom, checking her makeup.
She wouldn’t be nervous.
It would be stupid to be nervous.
Jeez , she was nervous. She felt like a jumpy cat balancing on top of a cement mixer.
The mascara her sister had insisted on putting on her this morning was still black and thick. Just like Samantha had promised, it hadn’t
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