Her head cocked to one side. "Then why are you here?"
"To pick up my mom."
Her brow furrowed as she asked, "Your mom is here?"
"Yeah. She was out with her sister and your mom and then twisted her ankle or something. They ended up back here. She asked me to pick her up here since I was out running another errand for her."
"Oh. I hope she's okay. I guess that explains why my mom asked me to
bring over the crutches that I had when I sprained my ankle last year."
A knocking noise behind us diverted our attention.
"Is that Micah?" Grace's voice was full of astonishment as she waved back at the grinning face staring through my car window.
"Unfortunately," I answered dryly. "I've got to take him home, too. Long story."
"Sidelining as a taxi service now?"
"Something like that."
Her eyes slanted at me while the sassy grin that curled her lips had me thinking of other places I'd like to see them, like around my cock. This girl was going to give me a heart attack the way thoughts of her made my heart race.
I rocked on my heels, and she played with the crutches in her hands. She cleared her throat. "Well, we should probably—"
"Have dinner with me." The words left my mouth before I could stop them. I blamed the underwear vision still fresh in my mind for making me forget my resolve to keep some distance between us.
"I am, remember? Friday?"
"I mean without an audience."
"You're incorrigible."
Seeing the twinkle in her eye, I pressed on. "Oh, big word. Pretty and smart!"
"Smart doesn't always mean making good decisions," she answered, her expression turning bleak.
Before I could question her cynical response or cajole an answer out of her, the front door opened.
"Jaxson, how nice to see you, dear!" Anne Hart's voice called from the front porch. "What a sweet and good son you are to help your mother out like this."
Grace rested a hand on her hip. "Hi, Mom. Nice to see you, too."
"Grace Hart"—Anne glared at her daughter—"Didn't I teach you any better than to leave your guest standing outside? Bring your friend on in here."
Grace's jaw dropped. "I didn't...he's not..."
I put my arm around her shoulders. "It's fine, Anne. We were discussing dinner plans." Mmph. One of my ribs smarted from a well-placed elbow, but I didn't move. I liked having her this close.
"On Friday. Dinner plans on Friday that you invited him to, Mom."
"Jax, honey, is that you?" My mom limped out the door followed by Aunt Julie. They stood next to Anne and studied Grace and me, making me feel like we were part of a line-up. "Why are you standing outside? You both come on in!"
"I can't stay. You're not the only one who needs a ride today." I pointed to my car.
"Oh?" Her face fell as she witnessed my other passenger, who picked that moment to hop out of my car to join us.
"Hey, Jax! What's taking so long? Is this your house, Miss Grace?" He stared pointedly at my arm which was still locked around Grace's shoulders. "She is your girlfriend, isn't she? I knew it! You two get all kissy-eyed when you look at each other."