AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You should change, too. You have vomit on your t-shirt.”
He looked down. “I have nothing else to wear.”
And no, neither did she. Not that would fit him, anyway. “You could put my robe on?”
He glanced at the fluffy robe hanging on her bathroom door. “I’m not putting your robe on,” he growled. “If you don’t mind helping Sabrina, I’ll clean up the car the best I can.”
“Good plan.” She nodded. “I have cleaning stuff in the kitchen. In the cupboard beneath the sink. Help yourself.”
“Thank you.” He caught her eye. “For everything.”
“You’re not the one who needs to thank me.”
“But I am anyway.”
A smile ghosted her lips. “I’m glad you called. I’m always happy to help.” And she was. Pleased they were in this together. Even though her heart hammered against her chest every time he looked at her, his eyes a mixture of dark and soft.
He glanced down at her legs again, his brow furrowing before he resolutely tore his gaze away from her. “I’ll let you clean her up. I’ll be outside in the car. Call me if you need me.”
“I don’t have your number.”
“I meant shout.” His lips twitched. “But yeah, I’ll text you my number. What’s yours?”
She reeled it off and a moment later he was tapping at his own phone, pressing the send button and making hers vibrate.
“Try not to change your number this time,” he murmured.
She grinned. “Noted. Now go clean out your car.”
He touched his fingers to his brow. “Yes, ma’am.” She watched as he walked out of the bathroom. A moment later, she turned back to Sabrina, giving her cousin a reassuring smile.
“Ready to take a shower?” she asked, encouraging her to sit up so Grace could take her top off.
Sabrina opened her mouth to answer, then went pale. “I’m going to be sick again.”
Grace got her over to the toilet before she erupted this time. Rubbing her cousin’s back, she thanked god that at least there wasn’t more to clean up.
“Good girl. Better out than in.” She held Sabrina’s hair away from her face, hearing the distant sound of the front door as Michael presumably went out to clean his car. A glance at her phone told her it was nearly one in the morning.
This was going to be a long night.
* * *
Michael scrubbed at the stains in his rental car as fast as he could, not wanting to leave Grace for too long. It was best that he wasn’t there while Sabrina showered, but he still felt guilty for bringing this shit show to her door.
When she’d walked outside to help him with his sister, there’d still been vestiges of sleep softening Grace’s face. He’d noticed her legs in those shorts. And her abdomen, or the sliver of it that was showing between her cropped t-shirt and her waistband.
God help him, he’d wanted to touch her. Even though he was here for Sabrina – and so was Grace. He’d still wanted to feel the softness of her skin.
And he knew that made him an asshole.
He’d certainly felt like one when he’d had to rifle through her closet for a t-shirt that would be appropriate for Sabrina. Mostly because his fingers had touched something silken. Not her panties, thank god, because then he might have had to cut them off. Instead, they’d curled around a tank. A white one, the fabric so soft it made his chest contract.
He finished scrubbing, putting the cloths he’d used into a trash bag. He’d buy Grace a new set of them, to thank her for her help.
Convenient how it’ll give you the opportunity to see her again, huh?
Sliding the gloves off his hands and putting them into the sack too, he closed up the car and walked back to her house. Damn, he’d closed the front door. He didn’t want to ring the bell, in case she was still in the middle of dealing with Sabrina. So he sat on the stoop and let out a long breath, looking out into the night. Grace lived on a quiet road, one that had a dead end, so there was no through traffic. The house across the street had some kids’ bikes leaned against the wall, and the one next to it had a slide in the front yard. A family neighborhood. Nice. Safe.
