Free Worth Waiting For by Kelly Jamieson

afternoon.”
    “I know, but I’m always preaching at my patients to use sunscreen and then I go and forget it myself.” She shook her head. “Oh, well.”
    Just then, her cell phone rang and she dug around in her purse to find it. She peered at the screen. “Matthew.”
    Shit. Griff’s gut cramped.
    She answered the phone. “Hi! I’m…um just on my way back from the Farmers Market. Yeah.” She listened. “Tonight’s not going to work. An old friend is in town and we’re going to get together.” She closed her eyes and leaned her head back in her seat as she talked. “I’m sorry. No, no. Yeah, I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
    She ended the call and sat back, eyes still closed. He knew she was having a guilt attack.
    “I’m sorry, Ainslie.”
    She opened her eyes and filled her lungs. “Don’t apologize. Remember what I said earlier. I only do things because I choose to do them. I’ll deal with the consequences.”
    He nodded. His own cell phone was in his pocket and safely turned off.
    They carried all the food they’d bought into her kitchen. Ainslie found a vase and filled it with water for the flowers. “They’re beautiful.” She adjusted one bloom. “Thank you.”
    He slid his arms around her from behind and hugged her. He pressed his face to her hair, now silky soft and smelling like sunshine from being outside all afternoon. “Thank you .”
    “For what?” She leaned back against him.
    “For letting me stay. For letting me get to know you. Again.”
    “Oh.” She was silent. “I could use a glass of wine.”
    “Coming right up.”
     

CHAPTER 8
     
    Despite the guilt that chewed away inside at her, Ainslie hadn’t felt this exuberant or delighted for a long, long time. When she was with Griff, everything was brighter, sharper. The sky had been such an intense, bright blue stretched out above them, the sights and sounds of the Farmers Market crisp and clean. The flowers he’d bought her were so fresh and fragrant, with such bright, sunny faces, it made her ache.
    And with one simple comment, he’d made her realize that she was in control. She’d thought Griff was the one manipulating things, coaxing her, influencing her to do things she knew she shouldn’t be doing. The truth was, she was the only one in control of herself. She chose to kiss Griff, to sleep with him last night, to let him stay today, because she wanted to. Sure, he had some mysterious way of making her want things, but she was the one who ultimately made the decision.
    It almost made her feel relieved. She’d been inclined to blame him for many things, but perhaps that had been wrong. In fact, if she looked back at their whole relationship, there were probably many things for which she could take responsibility.
    It was something she wanted to think about, to study from different angles and see where her thoughts took her. But not right now. Not when Griff was holding her against him, all big and hard and surprisingly admiring. It made her feel startlingly good about herself.
    If only she’d had the same self-confidence and attitude when she and Griff had first started dating, things might have been totally different.
    But then, her entire life would be different, and she wouldn’t change the way her life had gone for anything because it had made her who she was.
    She turned in his arms, rose up on her tiptoes and threw her arms around his neck, kissing him hard on the mouth.
    “Whoa,” he said when she lifted her mouth from his. “What was that for?”
    She smiled up at him. “I just felt like it.”
    “Okay. Fine by me.” He bent his head and their mouths met, shifting to adjust their fit, and their kisses were wet, deep and hot. He licked her mouth, then slid inside to stroke her tongue and the kiss went wilder, making her ache with need.
    She pressed her body against his, trying to get closer, but she couldn’t get close enough. Then she felt his hands lifting her by her ass and setting her on the