Free On Steady Ground (The Walker Brother's Series) by Jennifer Anderson

You can’t tell me you never noticed how much he was always staring at you in high school. I noticed it more of course when we were dating.”
    Shaking my head, “You’re crazy. He never stared at me, he had just as many girls chasing him as you did. He wouldn’t have had time to stare at me.”
    “You know my brother. He is picky, but you captured his interest and it seems you have held it just as you have caused me to hold mine all these years.”
    Looking into his mug of coffee, I bent down to sniff it.
    “What are you doing Lizzy?” He asked laughing in confusion.
    “Just wondering how much liquor you put in your cup.”
    “I haven’t been drinking.” Now even more amused with me.
    Gazing at each other, the silence became uncomfortable and I would have given anything at that moment for a diversion.
    “Kiss me Lizzy. Not because I made the first move, but because you want to.”
    How absurd has this man become? Always so forward. “I’m not kissing you Grant. You just had another woman leave. I refuse to be second. I played second fiddle far to long in my marriage.” Looking down onto the floor, he looked injured. I didn’t mean to insult him. “I’m sorry Grant, that was harsh. I had no right to be so judgmental. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
    “Don’t worry about it. I know how bad it looks, it doesn’t give you a very good glimpse of the man I am now.”
    Smiling at him, “I’m still sorry.”
    “So what do you have planned for the day?” Switching topics before he caused even more damage.
    “Nothing much. I was just going to go window shopping and then head home.”
    “Wait a second, how did you get here?”
    “Cab.” I knew what was coming next.
    “I’ll give you a ride home, but first lets go do that window shopping you talked about.”
    “On no. Really that’s okay. I don’t want to put you out and I think your girlfriend is planning on coming back.”
    “I insist. It’ll be nice to get out for a walk. It’s not very often that I have friends over for visits.”
    I couldn’t refuse him, and I liked the fact that he called me a friend. I seem to be running low on those lately. When I married Craig I eventually lost contact with all of my friends, another of the tools he used in secluding me from the outside world. “Okay, lets go then. I didn’t wear any walking shoes, I didn’t plan on going very far.”
    “That’s okay, there is a park nearby that we can go sit down and relax in. Looks like a beautiful day.”
    Window shopping along the way, I didn’t dare say I liked one thing or another because I knew he would march in and buy it for me. Reaching the park, we sat down together on the nearest bench watching the little kids play on the merry-go-round.
    “Why didn’t you and Craig have children? If you don’t mind me asking.”
    “He wanted them, I fought it. I guess I knew in my heart that I didn’t need any more strings holding us together.”
    “So do you want children?”
    “Oh yeah definitely. With the right guy. How about you?” I asked wondering if the notorious Grant could ever be settled down enough for babies.
    “Yes, someday maybe.”
    Reaching over and squeezing his leg, “You’ll find the right girl Grant. The one that you want more than one night. That person that when they leave, two seconds later you are already missing them. The same person that when you’re holding them close, it’s not close enough. The person that gives you butterflies in your stomach every time they look in your direction.” Looking at him, he was staring at me intensely. “I’m sorry, my mouth runs away with me.” I hated to admit to myself when I thought of those things, I thought of Ian.
    “No, that’s perfect Lizzy. Who ever you decide on is the luckiest guy in the world. Craig was an idiot.”
    “Thanks Grant. That’s sweet.”
    “One problem, now you’ve made me want you more.”
    Shaking my head, “I don’t know what to say, when you say those