Free Time for Grace by Kate Welsh

different from any woman he’d ever met. “Not a bad plan,” he conceded with a grin, “but all teasing aside, you have to admit there’s no way you can get there and back without being gone a whole weekend if not longer.”
    She looked uncertain but then she nodded. “You’re right. I really don’t want to leave Grace for that long right now and I can’t keep wearing your sister’s clothes. One of the older girls even remarked that Mrs. Castor has a skirt just like the one I’m wearing. I’d have to make sure my friend and the building’s rental agent would be able to meet me at the apartment so I can turn over the key and she can sign the lease. She’s even agreed to drive Scott’s car out during the Christmas holidays. She’s a history teacher and she’s always wanted to see Philadelphia. It would make the move here so much easier. I know you don’t want my thanks but I am grateful.”
    He let out a purposely dramatic sigh. “Fine, be grateful. Just agree. I’ll pick you up at seven Saturday unless your friend can’t arrange the time.”
    Sarah nodded. “So, are you ready to help with the artwork of all these budding geniuses?” she asked and handed him a fistfull of pushpins.
    It was all so uncomplicated until their hands touched. Kip sucked a shocked breath when what felt like a bolt of electricity shot through him.
    This isn’t good, he thought.
    And worse was the surprised gasp from Sarah that told him she’d felt the spark of attraction, too.
    Really not good, he added.
    Sarah looked away, her hands trembling as she reached for the pile of pictures on her desk. She glanced back up at him, a blush coloring her cheeks. “I…um…I thought I’d hang them sort of mixed up, paying no attention to the age of the artist.”
    “Okay, let’s get this done so you can go see Grace and I can get to the gym for B-ball practice,” he grumbled, trying to get hold of feelings he wasn’t used to dealing with.
    Sarah eyes widened. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t even think about why you were here in the middle of the day. You must be one of the busiest people I know and here I am wasting your time.”
    He glanced at his watch. “Yeah, I guess I’d really better go. You never know what teenagers will get into if you aren’t watching them.”
    Sarah busied herself with the pictures but sounded confused and unsure of herself. “I’m sure that’s true. You’re welcome to stop by some other afternoon and see your nieces’ and nephews’ artwork. One of them is very talented.”
    “Right,” he said backing out of the room. The second he cleared the door he turned toward the gym and rushed away. It wasn’t until he was nearly to the gym doors that he realized he was still holding the pushpins that had started all the trouble.
    Kip felt like a fool for the way he’d actually run away. Sarah probably thought he’d slipped a cog! He may have even hurt her feelings.
    But he’d had to get out of there. Nothing like that had ever happened to him before. He’d realized from the first that Sarah was special and he was attracted to her. But he hadn’t been prepared for the depth of that attraction until that innocent touch turned into something so much more.
    He enjoyed the company of women but rarely felt attraction to any them. All the years of lukewarm feelings had lulled him into thinking he was safe from the temptation of desire. He knew he’d better give Sarah Bates a wide berth.
    Except he’d just promised to spend hours in a plane with her and help her gather her things from her apartment.
    No, not good at all.

Chapter Seven
    E arly Saturday morning Sarah heard a quiet knock on her door. She knew it had to be Kip. “Coming,” she shouted and finished tying the laces of her running shoes. “Calm down,” she ordered her pounding pulse. She wished she’d never agreed to this. How was she going to survive hours sitting next to him in a cockpit?
    Sarah had no doubt that she’d made a fool of