Chapter14
Cindy put a cape over her grandmother and snapped it into place. “Let’s see… I had a migraine last night, but I feel better today.”
“Thank God for the new meds, huh?”
“You said it. I’ve got a new roommate named Jace, and he’s… well… I like him a lot.”
Adele’s eyes went wide with surprise. “He must be very special. You never like them a lot.”
“I know, and he is. Special, that is.” Cindy turned the chair so she could wash Adele’s hair.
When her grandmother was seated upright again, she said, “Tell me everything about this man you like.”
“Some of it might upset you.”
Adele waved a hand dismissively. “Once upon a time, I was absolutely thrilled to see my daughter marry a dashing young military officer. Look how that turned out. I’m much less concerned with things like appearances and credentials these days.”
“Jace did time in prison.” She filled her in on the details and mentioned the two sons being raised by Seamus and Carolina O’Grady.
“You know… I remember thinking about their father when the boys’ mother died and wondering whether he’d resurface at some point.”
“He’s determined not to upset their lives any more than they’ve already been. For now, they’re explaining him as a friend of Seamus’s.”
“I give him credit for doing what’s best for the boys rather than what’s best for himself.”
“I do, too.”
“Says a lot about his character.”
“I agree.”
“Is he sexy?”
“Gram!”
“Well, is he? And don’t get all flustered and act like that doesn’t matter when we both know it does.”
“He’s very good-looking in a bad-boy kind of way, with sleeve tattoos and muscles on top of muscles.”
“He sounds yummy,” Adele said.
Cindy giggled madly at the face her grandmother made.
“Your grandfather was a bad boy back in the day.”
“He was not!”
“Oh yes, he was, too. All the girls wanted him, and he led them on a merry chase.”
“I cannot picture that if I try my very hardest.” Her grandfather was a sweet, gentle, old man with a heart of gold.
She pointed to her purse. “Grab my phone.”
Cindy got it for her.
While her grandmother found what she was looking for, Cindy gave her a trim that would rid her of any semblance of a mullet.
“Look.” Adele held up her phone to show Cindy a photo of young Russ leaning against a car, arms crossed over a bare, muscular chest, hair messed up and his jaw sprinkled with whiskers. “Total hottie, right?”