Read Online The Valentine Grinch by Sheila Seabrook - Free Book Online Page B

at her, his brows drawn together in a
frown. “If making love to you means I’ll lose your friendship, then
I’d just as soon keep my hands to myself.”
    With a shrug and a smile, she turned back to the
sidewalk and pretended her heart wasn’t breaking into a million
pieces. “We kissed. It was nice, but that’s the end of it.”
    Thankfully, it took most of their concentration to
maneuver over the ice, and they walked the remainder of the
distance in silence. Once they reached the restaurant, Dane took
her coat and went to hang it up.
    Grandpa appeared beside her, his face almost red
with his glower. “Now she’s just rubbing Morty in my nose.”
    Amanda followed his gaze to where Grandma and Morty
were seated, the urn set on the middle of the table like a
centerpiece.
    “She doesn’t even know you’re here,” she whispered
as she headed across the restaurant toward the elderly couple.
    “She’s making a fool of herself over that bastard
Morty.”
    “Quit calling him a bastard,” she hissed. “He had a
mother and father, just like you.”
    He turned his glower on her. “Are you switching
sides, bumpkin?”
    “I’m not on anyone’s side, but isn’t it time you let
go? Grandma is trying to move on. You should, too.”
    As Dane caught up to her, Grandpa poofed out, then
reappeared on the chair beside her grandma.
    “I don’t see your parents here yet.”
    Amanda focused on ignoring the deep rumble of Dane’s
voice in her ear and the way her insides reacted with pleasure.
“Guess I should’ve checked the garage after all. They better not be
using Mom’s car and messing up the decorations.”
    He laughed, which relieved some of the tension
inside of her, and he took her elbow to guide her the rest of the
way to the table. Amanda stopped beside her Grandma, leaned forward
to wrap her arms around the older woman’s narrow shoulders, and
kissed her on the cheek. “Steph phoned and said hi. Asked me to
give you a kiss and a hug.”
    “Where is your sister? Why isn’t she here yet?”
    “She promised she’d be here in time for the
wedding.”
    The restaurant door flew open,
letting in a blast of cold air. Amanda sat down on a chair across
from her grandma and watched as her parents rushed in. Her mom’s
cheeks were flushed from the cold, her eyes bright, her coat
buttoned up crooked.
    Dane nudged her in the back and whispered in her
ear, “One guess as to where your parents have been.”
    Amanda slid a glance toward Dane and saw the
laughter in his eyes. “If you want to talk about their sex life,
I’m leaving.”
    Her mom hurried toward the table. “I’m so sorry
we’re late.”
    “We had a flat tire,” her dad explained.
    Dane pushed to his feet and went to hold out the
chair beside Grandma. “Here, Mrs. G. Sit down and catch your
breath.”
    She stopped beside him and reached up to pat him on
the cheek. “You’re going to make some lucky mother a wonderful
son-in-law. Too bad it won’t be me.”
    And with that, she gave Amanda a disappointed look,
then sat down, pulled the scarf off her head, and gave Grandma a
peck on the cheek. It was clear by the flat hair on the back of her
head that she’d been laying on her back since the rehearsal.
    Dane returned to the chair beside Amanda, sat down
and nudged her on the back again. “Did you hear that?”
    “How could I miss it?” While her parents fussed with
their coats and scarves, Amanda turned Dane’s attention toward the
engaged couple. “Something’s not right.”
    He leaned closer, his shoulder touching hers. “How
can you tell?”
    The elderly couple looked stiff and unnatural.
Amanda placed her forearms on the table and addressed them. “Is
everything okay?”
    Her grandma folded her arms across her chest and
grunted.
    Morty pointed at the urn on the table. “I insisted
Elvira leave that thing at home tomorrow, but she refuses.”
    Grandma sent him a look she only used when she was
mad.
    Dora leaned forward. “Elvira,