The Redhead Revealed (Redhead #2)(4)
Author: Alice Clayton

“Yes, I remember you started taking yoga around that time…something about keeping yourself limber.” Michael winked mischievously, and I hit him on the head.

“Michael! Jeez! I can’t believe you remember all that. That was like, twelve years ago.” I laughed, spearing a broccoli and nibbling as I thought about how long ago it really was. Hanging out with Michael now felt like we were back at my old college apartment. He’d bring his laundry over, and we’d watch movies until we both fell asleep on the couch.

“Grace, I remember everything,” he said softly, smiling at me.

“Really? I bet you don’t remember the first time we met,” I challenged, pointing at him with my broccoli stalk.

“I’ll bet you the last egg roll I do and you don’t,” he countered, face serious.

“It’s a bet, sucker. Now if you don’t mind, I’m going to go ahead and mix up my soy sauce-hot mustard concoction so it’s ready for my victory egg roll.” I reached over him for the bag of condiments. He grabbed my hand.

“Why don’t we wait on that, since I’m totally going to win this bet,” he said, moving my hand back to my side.

“Hmmph, whatever. Okay, when we first met: Freshman year, first day of class. We were in Professor Miller’s Acting 1, lower level of the theater, Room 301. We got paired up for scene work. I was wearing khaki shorts, Keds, and a Sigma Nu T-shirt. You were wearing a black ball cap, a Ministry T-shirt, jeans, and your Vans. I remember because at first I thought your shirt said ‘Minister.’ I thought, ‘Well, that sucks. I can’t very well bang a man of the cloth.’” I blushed, remembering that I really had been attracted to him from the start. “So there,” I finished, sticking my tongue out and blowing a raspberry.

He smiled, and I reached across him again to take my egg roll. He stopped me once more.

“Hey, man, I won! Give me my egg roll, you ass. Don’t be a sore loser,” I whined.

“That isn’t the first time we met,” he said, grinning big.

“What? The f**k it isn’t. I remember it like it was yesterday, O’Connell.” I fought him for the roll. He continued to hold my hands back, laughing now.

“The first time we met was the week prior to class starting. I was at registration, and you were in line in front of me. I heard you telling the registration clerk you wanted to switch your Acting 1 class to a different section so you could take some astronomy class. When you left the line, you tripped over the rope and fell down.”

I felt my face grow red at the memory. “Shit, that’s right! I totally fell flat on my face, and some guy had to help me get all my shit together. I was so embarrassed because my birth control pills fell out of my purse, and he handed them back to me with a huge smirk.” I laughed, blushing again. I’d hightailed it right out of there after that, convinced my entire college career would be marred by the incident. But I’d forgotten about it until now.

“And you saw that? How mortifying!” I laughed.

“I was the guy who handed you your pills, you dork! And then I made sure the clerk switched me into your acting class,” he said, wearing that same smirk I remembered from registration. “And you were not wearing a Sigma Nu T-shirt that first day in class, it was an SAE shirt. And they weren’t khaki shorts, they were cut-off jean shorts,” he finished quietly.

We looked at each other for a moment, lost in that particular memory.

“Take the f**king egg roll,” I finally said. “You totally won.”

He smirked and took it, stuffing half into his mouth with one bite. He offered the rest to me. “We can share it. I can’t believe you remember the Ministry shirt.” He laughed.

“Ya know, Holly was in that class too, but we didn’t meet until after when we all decided to grab a beer. I can’t remember what she was wearing that day,” I said thoughtfully, crunching down on my half of the egg roll.

“Neither can I, Grace,” Michael said softly, eyes on me.

My eyes locked on his.

I chewed my egg roll.

He scratched his nose.

Mrs. Kobritz’s yappy dog barked upstairs.

Our eyes stayed locked.

My cell rang. And rang. And rang.

Our eyes stayed locked.

Answer your phone, Grace.

My phone? Shit, my phone!

I broke away, grabbing for my phone, and got it right before it went to voicemail.

“Hello? Hello?” I shouted unnecessarily into the phone. Michael chuckled and leaned back into the couch.

“Gracie? Hey, I was just about to leave you a raunchy message,” I heard my Brit say.

“Well, do you want me to hang up so you can leave it?” I asked, a little out of breath. I pushed myself off the couch and went into the bedroom, out of earshot.

“Nah, I’d rather tell you what I wish I was doing to you—that way I can hear you react.” I could hear his voice change into Johnny Bite Down mode. I could never resist him when he nibbled on that lower lip—swoon-worthy for sure.

“You want me to react, huh?” I asked, wheeling about and wondering how I could get Michael out before Jack got me off. I was about to head back into the family room when Michael showed up in my doorway, leaning against the frame.

“I’m going to take off, Grace. I’ll see you tomorrow,” he mouthed, kindly keeping his voice down. I waved goodbye and followed him to the door, still listening to Jack.

“Yes, love, I’m dying for a reaction from you to my talented sexy ways, as I work my magic through your fingers,” Jack continued in a low voice.

My body responded, as it always did when I heard his voice get like that. Fuck, he could get me hot in 2.3 seconds. Three thousand miles couldn’t make a dent in his sex vibe. When he wanted a reaction from me, he got one—even across the Continental Divide.

“You’re dying, are you?” I laughed as I opened the door for Michael.

He stopped and looked back at me as if he was going to say something, but then lifted his hand in goodbye. I waved back, smiling, and he disappeared down the hall.

“But first, Crazy, I have some great news,” he said as I locked the door, leaning back against it. I looked at the Chinese takeout everywhere and sighed. What a mess I’d made.

“You okay, sweet girl?” he asked, forcing me to focus.

“I’m good. I just miss you is all,” I whispered, feeling a lump in my throat. Suddenly I missed him so much I literally ached.