Read Online Love and Chaos by Elizabeth Powers - Free Book Online Page A

pointed to the garage,
he offered to walk her to her vehicle.
    “That’s
not really necessary, Mason. I appreciate it, though.”
    “I
insist.”
    They
strolled through the garage until they were standing in front of her car. She
unlocked the doors with her key fob, then tossed her purse onto the passenger
seat, locking the passenger side door as she closed it. Walking over to the
driver's side, she was surprised to find that Mason was holding the door open
for her.
    “You're
a gentleman,” she observed. “Thank you.”
    “You’re
welcome,” he said as he watched her settle herself behind the wheel. “Have a
safe trip. I’ll call you on Thursday night and we can finalize our plans for
the weekend.”
    Closing
the door for her, he stood and watched as she carefully backed out of her
parking spot, and headed for the exit. When Emma looked in her rearview mirror
as she turned right out of the garage, Mason was still standing where she’d
left him.
     
     
     

 
     
     
     
     
    Five
     
    At
home, Emma quickly changed into a pair of sweats and a t-shirt, then took Chaos
out for a quick walk around the block. Grabbing his ‘suitcase’ of dog food,
treats, and his favorite toys, she loaded the dog into the back of her vehicle
and headed for her parents’ home. When she got there, all the lights were on
downstairs, and she could hear loud conversation through the door. She knocked
sharply to let them know that she was there, then turned the knob to let
herself in.
    “Hi
Mom, Hi Dad!” she called as she bent down to let Chaos off his leash. He
immediately disappeared into the kitchen, knowing the best places in the house
to scrounge for food. As Chaos headed into the kitchen, Emma’s mother appeared
from the other side of the hall.
    “Hi
honey,” she said with a smile. “Have you eaten?”
    Emma
laughed. Her mom was always trying to feed her. “Yup. And I’m stuffed, so don’t
be pawning off any leftovers on me. I’m leaving first thing in the morning. And
oh crap. I left Chaos’ bone at the restaurant,” she remembered. “Poor doggy...”
    Her
mother didn’t seem to hear her ramblings. “Your father is in the kitchen,
mixing up some strange concoction in the blender.”
    Emma
looked at her suspiciously. “Strange concoction like a health food mix, or
strange like a new mixed drink?”
    Your
grandmother is here.”
    “Ah.
Enough said. I’ll go say hello.”
    “What
are you doing here on a Friday night?” Emma’s grandmother asked her when she
walked into the kitchen in search of her dog and her father.
    “I
can’t come over and visit my loving family?” she grinned as she leaned down to
kiss her grandmother’s cheek. Straightening up, she located Chaos, his snout
buried deeply under the counter where crumbs of food were apparently lodged.
    “You
should be out on a date,” Gran Jameson offered. “You’re young. How are you
going to find a husband if you spend every Friday with your dog and your
father? Your good looks won’t last forever, you know,” she added, waving her
martini in the air.
    “My
sparkling personality will continue to win me attention, Gran,” Emma assured
her. “Look out! Chaos is going after something under your feet.” The dog, on
the scent of some crumb dropped centuries earlier, was nearly lifting Gran off
her feet in an attempt to claim it as his own. Gran just sighed, sat down on
one of the stools in the kitchen, and lifted her feet. It was impressive,
really, since not a drop of martini spilled over the side.
    “Hi
Daddy,” Emma grinned. “Thanks for watching the dog. Again.”
    “Oh,
no problem. Gets me out of the house and getting some exercise. Besides, he
cleans the floor.”
    “What
are you making?” Emma asked, settling herself down next to Gran.
    “A
lemon drop martini. Ask your grandmother,” he added when Emma just looked at
him questioningly.
    “I
read about it in a magazine,” Gran stated. “It sounded delicious and
sophisticated, so I