The Redhead Revealed

and should be there sometime late afternoon.

I’ll call when I land. Can I come straight to your house?

Love you, and I miss your body as well.

Please say you will let me be on top of it soon…

Stanley Zbornak

Okay, I’d officially made him watch too much Golden Girls if he knew Stanley’s name. I couldn’t wait for tomorrow.

Chapter 19

The next morning I was up and out before eight a.m. I zipped through Starbucks to grab a Venti Carmel Macchiato with three sugars (a drink Leslie had started me on—I would really miss that little shit) and ran all day. I got all my errands finished and even managed to pick out a fantastic Christmas tree. If you shopped for a tree on the right side of Doheny (which I did), they’d deliver it to you! I also picked up a new iPod for Nick. He’d left his at the gym a month ago, and every email I’d gotten from him since lamented the loss. I even got him a Hello Kitty case, because I was a bitch like that. And I knew he would secretly love it.

I got home just in time to sign for all the boxes delivered from storage, and I set to work immediately. By early afternoon, it was really starting to look like my house. Pictures were placed, although not hung yet. Books were back on the bookshelves, dishes were in the cupboards, and I was a mess. When I got the text from Jack saying he was getting ready to leave Chicago, I knew I only had a few hours left, so I kicked it up a notch.

I got all my Christmas decorations out and arranged them around the house. I probably owned more Christmas decorations than anything else—more than half the boxes from storage were marked XMAS. I raced around like a madwoman with my ass on fire, and I finally placed the last Santa mug on the kitchen counter and hung the last of the stockings by the chimney with care. I had added a new stocking this year, for the Brit.

I glanced at the clock and realized Jack’s plane was due to land any minute. I quickly prepped the di

“Hey,” I said, ru

“Hey yourself. Are you out for a run?” he asked.

“No, just finishing up a few things. Where are you?” I asked, trying to slow my breathing.

“Just got in a car, and I’m headed your way. I can’t wait to see you, Gracie,” he said, his voice low and full of intent.

My heart flipped—at both his voice and the realization that he was so close and I still hadn’t had a shower. Why the hell had I decided to cook tonight? I should have just ordered from Chin Chin’s.

“Mmm, I can’t wait to see you either. I’m just getting ready to run through the shower.”

“Hmm, I could use a shower too. Sure you don’t want to wait for me?”

Jesus Lord, that was tempting. I quickly sniffed my armpit. “Um, no, I’m going to go ahead, but there will be fresh, clean towels for you when you get home.” I smiled as I thought of him naked in my shower. Where he belonged.

“Okay, I’ll see you soon. And Grace?”

“Uh-huh?” I said, struggling to take off my shoes and stay upright at the same time. I was heading straight for that shower.

“I’m hungry,” he growled, then hung up before I could say anything else.

Once again, Jack Hamilton had made me lose all power of speech.

***

Twenty minutes later I stood in the bathroom with wet hair and a bloody armpit. What was it about razors and my pits that seemed to argue every time? I dabbed Neosporin on it, contemplating whether I had time to dry my hair or not when I caught a look at the clock in the bedroom. Nope, wet hair it is. I ran a comb through it and made sure to put on some lotion. Which burned the shit out of my freshly shaved legs. I hobbled into the bedroom, looking for something to put on. I threw on the shirt I’d slept in last night, my white polo, while I decided what to wear.

I went into the kitchen to pour myself a glass of wine to steady my nerves. As I poured, I noticed I hadn’t lit the candles on the table yet, so I quickly did so. I wanted everything to be perfect. As I glanced around the kitchen and dining room, everything seemed to be in place.

Table set? Check.

Salad made? Check.

Potatoes prepped? Check.

What was I forgetting?

Fucking put some clothes on, Grace.

Right!

I threw the dishtowel back toward the counter and started for the bedroom. However, I miscalculated, and the dishtowel fell short—right on top of one of the candles. With a whoosh, it ignited. I squealed and turned to run to the sink for some water when I tripped over a footstool that I’d not yet found a home for and went down with a splat.

“Ooof!” I grunted as all my breath left me. I was struggling to stand when I saw a blur run past me and dump a bottle of water on the dining room table. As I lay on the floor in my white polo, legs twisted and naked bum showing, I parted my hair so I could see.

There stood Sweet Nuts, dumping the rest of his bottle of water on the now smoking dishtowel and appraising the situation. He turned to look down at me, dropping his duffel on the floor.

He cocked his head and smiled curiously. “What the hell are you doing on the floor when your house is on fire, Crazy?”

“Oh, shut it, Hamilton,” I sighed, banging my head against the tile floor. Ouch.

“You know I can see your business, right?” he asked, bending down to offer me a hand.

“I’m aware of that. Maybe this is the homecoming I had pla

He swiftly pulled me to my feet and slapped me on the bum.

“That’s how to keep your lady: barefoot and half-naked in the kitchen.” He laughed.

“Ass,” I said, wrapping my arms around him. He smelled like airport and gorgeous.

We hugged for a moment, swaying gently in the kitchen while the scent of wet, burnt cotton bloomed around us.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” I whispered into his chest.

“Me too. Otherwise it would have gotten a little crispy in the kitchen.” He kissed the top of my head.

I looked up at him, rolling my eyes. “Hey, I need a real kiss, please,” I pouted, sticking out my lower lip.

“Oh, I haven’t begun to get to the real kissing yet,” he said softly, bringing my face closer to his and brushing his lips against mine. I sighed into his mouth and his hands tightened on my waist. As things became more intense, I heard a knock at the door.

“Dammit, if that’s a carload of Joshua-seeking women, I’m not here.” He groaned, then lifted his eyebrow as I flashed him my naked buns on the way to the door. “Don’t you think you should put some clothes on before you open the door?” he asked.

“Hmm, you could be right. If it’s the Christmas tree man, tell him I’ll be right there. If it’s a carload of women, you’re on your own, dear.” I laughed and skipped off to the bedroom to find some shorts.

Turns out it was the Christmas tree man. As I supervised the placement of the tree, I encouraged Jack to go take his shower and get comfortable. I was going to do all I could do to get him in the holiday spirit. Including a little stocking stuffer…

Once the tree was in the corner, beautiful and smelling piney, I tipped the guy and closed the door. With a smile on my face, I headed to the bedroom. I’d heard the shower turn off moments before, so I was hoping to catch him before he had a chance to cover up that fantastic body. I crept into the bedroom, and there he was. Sprawled out on the bed in his boxers. Hair standing on end, legs akimbo.