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“Tulsi is doing just fine,” Mia said, temper flaring. She wasn’t sure what to think or feel about Gram’s latest bombshell, but she was sick of Emily acting like single motherhood was a death sentence. “Tulsi’s business is thriving, her daughter is lovely, and they’re both happy as pigs in shit.”
“And they both had to move back in with Tulsi’s parents because Tulsi couldn’t afford her own place,” Gram countered. “And Tulsi has to beg favors to cover childcare costs, and hasn’t dated anyone in years, even though I know she must be lonely. I can see it in her face, the same way I saw it in the mirror when I was her age, and raising your daddy all alone.”
Mia’s protest that she was happy to help Tulsi with childcare died on her lips. Because Tulsi was lonely, and she had given up a lot of freedom other people in their early twenties took for granted to do what was right by Clem.
“But that doesn’t mean it was okay to lie, Gram,” Mia said as gently as she could. “I guess you probably think I’m an idiot, but I really believed in the curse. Hell, I was thinking about it this morning.” Mia rolled her eyes skyward. “God, I feel like the biggest idiot in the world.”
“I’m sorry.” Gram hung her head, and her shoulders sagged as if the picnic basket weighed a hundred pounds. “I realized you were taking it too seriously after you came back last year, but by then I didn’t know how to tell the truth. I didn’t want you to hate me. You’re my favorite granddaughter, you know.”
“I’m you’re only granddaughter.” Mia sighed, reaching down to take the picnic basket from her gram and setting it on the ground before claiming one of the older woman’s slim, soft hands. “I could never hate you. But this…I’m shocked, Gram, I really am. I mean, does Daddy even know?”
Emily’s eyes snapped up to hers. “No, and he can’t, Mia. It would break his heart. His daddy never even tried to see him. Not one single time. The only reason I told you is because I want you to be happy. I want you to marry that boy, and have the kind of love a sweet girl like you deserves.”
Marry that boy.
She could marry Sawyer. There was nothing standing in their way. The realization was enough to banish the last of her anger, and a moment later she was hugging her gram so tight she lifted the other woman off the ground.
“Thank you so much!” Mia kissed Gram on the cheek before setting her back on her feet.
“I’m forgiven?” Gram smiled as she adjusted the still perfectly tidy collar of her polo shirt. “I have to admit this is going a lot more smoothly than I thought it would. I expected you’d be mad at me for at least a week or two.”
“I don’t do grudges,” Mia said, picking up the picnic basket and backing away, grinning so hard her cheeks started to hurt. “Especially not when I just got great news. Amazing news! I’m sorry, but I have to go see Sawyer. Right now.”
“But what about our picnic breakfast?” Gram asked. “I made homemade cinnamon rolls.”
“I know, and they’re coming home with me.” Mia turned to go, throwing her parting shot over her shoulder. “Consider it your penance, sugar britches.”
“Well, you two enjoy them,” Gram called after her. “But don’t break my plate and I want my good thermos back, Amelia Louise. I’m attached to that thermos.”
Mia waved an arm to let Gram know she’d heard, but she didn’t turn around or slow her steps. Now that she knew she and Sawyer were free to be together, without any darkness hovering over their heads, she couldn’t wait to tell him. She couldn’t wait to jump into his arms, kiss him senseless, and tell him to put a ring on it.
Or maybe she would put a ring on him…
The thought appealed to her romantic side, the romantic side she would never have to rein in now that the Sherman family curse had turned out to be nothing but smoke and mirrors.
The thought made her smile even harder as she rolled down all her windows and let the wind whip through her hair, carrying her whoop of celebration out across the desert.
CHAPTERNINETEEN
Sawyer foundthe note from Mia on the coffee pot and set his morning coffee on to brew. He got dressed and went down to the corner to grab a copy of the morning paper, and stopped to talk to Tulsi and Clementine, who were zipping into Brew You for a coffee and hot chocolate on their way to church. After saying goodbye to Tulsi, he took his time getting back to the apartment—not looking forward to a morning with no Mia in it—but when he reached Lavender and Lace, he found the door to the shop wide open.
His heart leapt into his throat and his fingers clenched around the paper in his hand, but Sawyer reminded himself that there was nothing to be afraid of. Paul was dead and the chances that someone had broken into the town lingerie shop on a Sunday were slim to none. He must have simply forgotten to pull the door tight behind him.
Still, he should do a sweep of the shop and make sure nothing was missing.
He started up the steps, only to stop dead when he saw the red thong hanging from a string tied to the cowbell above the door. A note was pinned to one side of the lacy fabric.
Red roses symbolize passion, and I’m certainly hot for you. I’ve got a surprise I can’t wait to share, and a little gift for you, too. (Look for your next clue by the cash register. And yes, I know these are panties, not roses. Just go with it, big guy.)
With a grin, Sawyer stepped inside, closing the door behind him before crossing to the cash register and finding a pair of yellow underwear puddled on top of the number keys, another note balanced on top. He had no idea when Mia had had time to write these notes, but he’d already decided he was going to have to keep them.
Yellow is for friendship. I hope that’s not a shock. I love sharing a day with you, as much as I enjoy your cock. (If you are not alone for some strange reason, DO NOT go any further with this scavenger hunt. If you are alone, proceed into the back room.)
Sawyer’s grin stretched wider, hoping the last part of the note meant he was going to find Mia at the end of this scavenger hunt, and that she would be wearing nothing but a pair of lace panties and a smile.
He stepped into the back room and on the other side of the curtain ran into another pair of panties hanging from the top of the door. These were white and made of transparent lace, like the ones Mia had been wearing the first time they’d been together. Just imagining how sexy Mia had looked lying in the moonlight in those panties was enough to make his cock thicken inside his jeans, and make him even more eager to reach his prize.
White is for new beginnings and hope, big and bold. It’s also the color you wear when you promise to have and to hold… (Come peek into Clem’s blanket fort for a big surprise.)
