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Just like agreeing to take Olivia with her had been foolish.Dammit.Well, too late to decide otherwise now. Grace would have to be careful. Not let that cute face and smoldering dark eyes sway her, even if Olivia stuck in her mind like a limpet to a rock.Not good.She was also far too unpredictable, another thing Grace was not used to. It occurred to her now that it was sort of appealing as well.Jesus.

“Grace?” When she sighed, Charlie pulled her into a gentle hug. “Just so you know, I like Olivia a lot.”

“Yes, I got that. I’ll go easy on her, don’t worry.”

“No, darling. I mean to say I hope you go with your heart. I think it’s time.”

???

Olivia was all set and ready to go by 07:00 on Sunday morning. Dana arrived at 07:12 to pick up an excited puppy. They shared a cup of coffee and a quick chat. At 07:29, a powerful engine growl made them both glance out the window.

“Well, well.” Her friend raised an ironic eyebrow. “Your woman, I presume?”

“You got it, D.” Olivia grinned.My woman?Yeah, she liked the sound of that.

Dana continued to stare. “I hope she’s got appropriate snow tires on that show-off muscle car.”

Olivia had not given a thought to the kind of vehicle Grace might show up in. But this, a dark-burgundy latest model Ford Mustang, suited her like a tailor-made outfit. Sexy and powerful, with a slice of badass and dangerous thrown in...Perfection.At precisely 07:30, Grace honked.

“Jeez.” Dana snorted. “The impatient kind, is she?”

“Just punctual, I suppose.” Olivia grabbed her coat.

“She growls, she honks, and you go running? She not going to come in and say hi?”

Olivia laughed, kissed her puppy, and hugged her.

“We’ve got a long drive ahead of us. Gotta go! Thanks for puppy-sitting, I owe you.”

“Yeah, yeah. Have fun. And be careful!”

While still under the 07:30 mark, Olivia sank into the plush front passenger seat of the gleaming car.

“Good morning, Olivia,” Grace greeted her in that elegant, husky voice.

“Hi, Grace.”

Olivia did her best not to stare or smile too hard, but it was a challenge. Grace was dressed for the occasion in a pair of blue jeans that hugged her slender legs very nicely. Classic Nike on her feet, and a white V-neck sweater (it looked like cashmere) under a fitted black leather jacket. She smelled of good leather, which Olivia could not dislike even though it made her feel a bit guilty, her trademark expensive perfume, and a hint of strong coffee as well.Phew…She was alluring and tough at the same time, and Olivia felt instantly warmer when Grace cast her an approving look.

“You’re right on time.”

“Yep, usually am. Hey, cool ride.”And you look gorgeous, by the way.

She figured it best to hold off saying this sort of thing while they were still in front of her house… Didn’t want to give Grace an excuse to boot her out early, and she would not put it past her to do so.

“She’ll do,” the woman stated, and pointed. “Who’s that?”

Olivia looked back to see Dana at the window with Everett in her arms.

“It’s Dana. You’ve heard of her, right? She’s dog-sitting for me for the day.”

“Why’s she frowning at us like that?”

Olivia bit on her lip as Dana’s long list of reservations about ‘her woman’ popped into her head.

“She’s just being watchful. And a little protective of me.”

“Hmm.” Grace narrowed her eyes ever so slightly before once again nodding in assent. “Good friend to have.”