Page 98 of The Arrangement

I flush, forgetting that he knows me too well.

“Let’s check on your grandmother,” he says, climbing out of the car. He says something to Mimi as he rounds the front and then opens my door for me. “She’s feisty. I’m warning you.”

I laugh, getting to my feet. “When is she not?”

My ring catches the light as we walk hand in hand to the patio outside of the guesthouse. Mimi tosses her book aside and prepares for our arrival with a big smile.

“Jason, you get more handsome every time I see you,” she says, holding her arms out for a hug.

He envelops her without hesitation. “You look like you’ve been enjoying yourself. Mara told me you’ve been romping the streets in the golf cart.”

Mimi gives me a quick hug. The fact that I’m an afterthought in her new life is amusing.

“So,” she says, as if discussing war strategy. “There’s a man who lives two streets down and four houses to the right. Samuel Hickman. Do you know him?”

“Oh, Sammy. Yeah,” Jason says. “I know him. Why?”

She wiggles her brows.

Jason snorts, shaking his head. “I’m going to leave the two of you alone.”

He pulls me to him, pressing his lips softly to mine. The tenderness in his kiss makes my knees go weak.

“I’ll be inside soon,” I say.

“Take your time, beautiful.”

He pats me on the butt before waving at Mimi and walking toward his house.

I pull out a chair and sit with my grandmother. “You look good.”

“You know what? I’m feeling good, Chloe.” She grins. “I’d forgotten what it was like to have a friend like Mara. Someone upbeat and energetic who doesn’t care how old we are. Old women can still have fun.”

“Of course, you can.”

“How was the honeymoon?”

I’m not sure what my face does, but Mimi cackles. “As expected.”

“What?” I laugh. “What’s that mean?”

“You just gave me a look of a very satisfied woman and that’s just what I predicted would happen when you returned.” She points at me and winks. “Good for you, Chloe. Good for you.”

“I’m not … I don’t know how to respond to that.”

She stands, vaguely groaning, and smiles. “I’ll tell you how to respond to that. March that little, cute butt of yours over to the big house and enjoy your man. Mara should be here in a few minutes for some recon.”

I stand, too. “Recon?”

“Recon of Samuel Hickson.”

“I leave you for two days, and you’re a totally different person,” I say, laughing.

“It’s funny what a little fresh air will do for a woman.”

She shuffles back to her house. “Don’t mind me if I roll in late.”

I watch her swing open her door and scoot inside her house.