Read Online The Kiss That Launched 1,000 Gifs by Sheralyn Pratt - Free Book Online

gives you. She has ulterior motives.”
    Ash fought the urge to look Traci’s way. “I hear you, but it’s just a plate of food. I don’t see how that could be catastrophic.”
    Megan shrugged, tasting the potatoes. “I’m just saying, little Miss Traci is hot for boss. Consider her a poisoned well. Although…”
    “Although?” Ash prompted, picking up his fork and knife.
    Megan shrugged. “If a picture of food is enough to break up Grace and Phillip, maybe they shouldn’t be together in the first place. Relationships are delicate, but they shouldn’t be that delicate.”
    Ash laughed. “Says the girl who has never been in a relationship.”
    Megan replied by taking another bite of steak with a sage look in her eye. Ash stopped laughing.
    “I’m being serious here,” Ash said, leaning forward. “You’re fifteen. You’re too young to be dating anyone.”
    She shook her head, laughing. “I went on my first date when I was twelve.”
    “What!”
    “Don’t worry,” Megan said, looking pleased with herself. “It was all innocence that ended in a quick doorstep kiss.”
    “And your mom knew?”
    “Of course she knew,” Megan said with an eye roll. “You know my mom. She gave me the kama sutra version of the sex talk when I was six.”
    Ash studied his niece, trying to find a balance between what he wanted to say and what he knew his sister would want him to say. “I think the less I know on this topic, the better. That said, from here on out, any guys you want to date need to go through me. Understand? I meet the dudes. I know who they are and where they live. I know what car they drive, got it?”
    “That seems—”
    “Non-negotiable,” he said, sawing into his steak. “I know I’m not your dad, but I’m still blood which means I’m part of the package. I meet the dude and I track your GPS when you go out on the date.”
    Megan’s mouth fell open in dismay. “Are you kidding me? No way!”
    “Yes way,” Ash said, taking a bite and nearly moaning when the piece of meat all but melted on his tongue. It was a perfect bite that nearly derailed him from finishing his thought, but the competitive look in his niece’s eyes inspired him to stay on task. “Guys your age need to know that they have eyes on them, or they might just get stupid. They need to know you have backup. You need to know you have backup. There’s an app for it. I just saw it the other day. You just hit a button if you’re in an uncomfortable situation you want to get out of and it will ping me. I’ll know exactly where you are and that you want out. I can call, act like a jerk who is forcing your hand, then come pick you up. You save face in front of your friends while also getting out of a bad situation. It’s a win-win.”
    “It’s overprotective,” she countered.
    “It’s non-negotiable,” Ash repeated with finality. “In the world we live in and with a mom as liberal as yours, you need one adult that will still treat you like the growing teen you are. That’s me. And if you don’t like it?” Ash shrugged. “Sucks to be you.”
    For a moment, Megan looked like she was going to object. Then she let out a light laugh, her face blushing slightly. “No. It doesn’t suck to be me, Uncle Ash… Thanks. That would actually be a really good app for some situations.”
    “Like I said.” Ash took another bite. “Non-negotiable.”
     
     

As usual, the evening’s wine tasting with Phillip was more business than pleasure. Luckily Grace’s upbringing had taught her to master the look of polite interest she used as she stood at Phillip’s side. The padded inserts in her four-inch heels had long since ceased to serve their purpose, and two hours ago she’d started shifting her weight around to try to avoid the pain. An hour ago she’d given up and just accepted that beauty was pain. Currently, Grace was numb from the knees down.
    “I really do think the ’12 would be the perfect ingredient for your Boeuf