Whirlwind (SAI Book 2) Read Free Page A

everything?”
    “Yep. I completely understand why Angelina didn’t want to let you go. Her voice really carried, and I heard…a lot. You may want to close your windows the next time you bring someone home.”
    “Why didn’t you say something? You could’ve given me a heads-up,” he replied.
    “I’ve spoken less than a dozen words to you over the last year. I wasn’t about to come over and have that be our first conversation. I figured you knew and didn’t care.”
    Agnes shushed them from the other side of the couch. “You two be quiet. I can’t hear anything.”
    “Turn up your hearing aid,” Sara called out.
    Grady sat back and wondered when his life had started to go down the toilet. Being notorious was never something he thought would happen. And, yet, here it was. The show finally caught his attention when all three ladies sighed and clapped their hands. “What just happened?”
    “The one she’s interested in confessed he’s falling for her. They just kissed for the first time,” Sara responded.
    “Don’t get too excited,” Gladys said. “She doesn’t end up with him. I checked out the website with all the spoilers, and she doesn’t choose him.”
    “Don’t tell us any more. I want to be surprised,” Sara responded.
    “You know this is a scripted show. None of this is real,” Grady whispered.
    “That kiss he just gave her was about as real as things get. Trust me…I know.”
    That was a fairly cryptic comment. He studied her for a moment and remembered what Dane had said about her having a lot on her plate. It was time to get to know his neighbor and see what she was all about. It seemed fair, since she’d been in the front row of the freak show that had been his life for the last several months. Plus, she smelled good. Grinning, he settled back and watched the show. If he’d been a betting man, he would have placed money on Sara not having an ounce of drama in her life. He moved his arm along the back of the couch and looked forward to spending time with the girl next door.
     

CHAPTER TWO
    Tuesday
     
    Sara sat at her table and worked on the latest drawing for her graphic novel. The heroine, Clara, was just about to foil the villain with a laser gun, and Sara was trying to get the facial expression correct. Glancing over at her initial drawings, she tried to determine where she had gone wrong. Clara appeared to be constipated, not confident.
    The doorbell echoed through the house, and she wondered if she could ignore it. A series of knocks followed, and she knew whoever it was wasn’t going to give up. Standing, she took one last glance at her drawing and shrugged. What am I missing?
    A deep voice called her name, and a familiar flash of panic ran through her system. Grabbing her phone, she checked the cameras. Everything was okay. It was only Grady. “Coming.” Breathe in, breathe out. Nothing has happened. Pressing her hand to her heart, she felt it beating wildly against her ribcage. “It’s all fine,” she muttered to herself.
    She disengaged the alarm system, pasted a smile on her face, and opened the door. “What brings you to my doorstep this morning?”
    “Donuts.” He held up a big pink box and smiled. “I figured if I started to grovel now, I might actually get somewhere by Christmas.”
    “I’ll take the donuts, but there’s no need to grovel. Why would you think that?”
    “Because my life has spilled onto your doorstep and your backyard for the last several months. I’m the very definition of a bad neighbor.”
    “Most of it has been entertaining. Except toward the end of your relationship. Hearing you and your girlfriend fight just made me sad.” She watched him rub his hand over his face, and her stomach did a slow flip-flop. She stared into a pair of ocean-blue eyes that made her think of lazy afternoons at the beach. Clearing her throat, she tried to come up with something snappy. “Well, thanks for the donuts.” Definitely not snappy. She was