Page 128 of The Ampersand Effect

Watching her worlds collide—her past and present—stirred a swirl of nameless emotions in her stomach. After the chaos of the past week, Tobin found herself considering the future—and she hoped it looked an awful lot like this.

Grier glanced up from kneading the pie dough, catching Tobin staring. Her eyes pinched adorably, and her cheeks warmed with the slightest blush of embarrassment at Tobin’s unguarded affection. She mouthed a silent,Hi.

Tobin’s body responded instinctively, a warm mix of affection and desire flooding her senses. Grier confounded her—always. This constant state of heightened emotion had done a number on her body over the last several weeks. Her body was buzzing with an electrical current only Grier could moderate. Like a human transformer, amping her up or stepping her down at will.

Right now, a switch had flipped inside Tobin, and Grier’s every move was charging her. Her body was a live wire.

She needed an outlet for this energy. Soon.

She mouthed back, Hi, yourself.

Their eyes locked. Tobin couldn’t look away. She watched Grier knead the dough, her fingers sinking and folding, the motion rhythmic and sure. When Grier rose onto her toes for extra leverage, the muscles in her arms contracted and relaxed—reminding Tobin of how those same arms had held her above the sheets.

She definitely needed to get Grier out of here—and alone.

Her gaze flicked around the room; everyone else was busy. When Tobin looked back, Grier had already caught her movement and raised an eyebrow in playful question.

Tobin mouthed, slowly and deliberately,I want you.She felt the words as much as she formed them—each one deepening the ache low in her belly. Her skin felt like it was crackling with the electricity of Grier’s attention. Watching Grier’s reaction—the way she flushed with her own arousal—Tobin had to brace herself against the counter, her knees suddenly unsteady.

Now?Grier mouthed, a coy smile curving her lips, her expression a blend of disbelief and intrigue.

Tobin couldn’t hide her need. She nodded, just once. The flush that spread across Grier’s chest and up her throat nearly undid her. Tobin crossed her legs, desperate for friction.

“Elodie, I think these are ready to cool in the fridge for a bit,” Grier said suddenly, her voice cracking on LoLo’s name before smoothing into composure.

Tobin barely—barely—stifled a laugh.

“Okay, dear,” LoLo responded, without bothering to check Grier’s work.

Seriously?

What in the hell was happening? LoLo was decidedly including Grier in tasks sheneverdelegated to anyone. Tobin had to literally fight her for counter space to cook alongside her—even after all these years. The only times Tobin wasinvited into LoLo’s space were during pre-orchestrated lessons. Otherwise, it was LoLo’s kitchen.

And here Grier was, just sidling up to the countertop and kneading dough, changing LoLo’s approach like it was just an ordinary day in the lives of the Maeses.

Something was up. And Tobin was going to get to the bottom

of it.

After she gotunderGrier.

She’d deal with LoLo later. Because, priorities.

Grier wrapped the two equal balls of dough in plastic wrap and

placed them in the fridge, while Tobin monitored her every move. When Grier washed her hands and set the dish towel on the edge of the sink, Tobin was at her side in an instant, grabbing her hand and rushing her out the porch door. She vaguely muttered something to the others about wanting to show Grier something outside.

As soon as their feet hit the grass, Tobin increased their pace. Grier giggled next to her, electrifying her blood and hastening her need.

“Where are we going?” Grier asked, her voice vibrant and conspiratorial.

“Somewhere I hope is private enough,” Tobin responded, stealing a glance at Grier—only to have her feet stop beneath her, without consulting her brain. In an instant, her lips crashed into Grier’s, swallowing her gasps of surprise. One hand tangled in Grier’s hair, holding her face against hers; the other slipped low around her waist, fingers teasing beneath the waistband of her navy shorts, teasing the top of her ass. Grier bucked into her, aligning their centers in a rush of heat and need.

“Enough?” Grier asked against her mouth, a modicum of concern now mixed with the conspiratorial edge.

Tobin broke their kiss. Grier sighed in frustration at the loss of contact. “I hope it’s enough,” she repeated wistfully, before the carnality claimed her, pounding in her ears and persistently throbbing between her thighs. Grabbing Grier’s hand, she took off again, “Come on—we need to finish this.”

They ran—actually ran—through the groves, weaving between rows of cherry trees, stealing quick kisses and mingling their heavy gasps with laughter. By the time they broke through the tree line and reached the quiet shore of a small pond, both were flushed and breathless.