Free My Kind of Girl by Candace Shaw Page A

the
same thing?”
    He leaned over the table once more and
grabbed her hands that began to tremble in his “Not when what I
want wants me, too.”
    “ You sure are full of
yourself.”
    “ Some may think so, but I’m
simply going off of that delectable kiss we shared the other day.
Plus, the way you looked at me when I was digging the hole for the
maple earlier. I could feel your eyes burning on my
back.”
    “ The sun was out,” Traci
answered matter-of-factly.
    Sean laughed at her cute back and
forth banter. He may shake her nerves for he could sense when she
was flustered with him, but she wasn’t one of those women who he
could run over and say anything to.
    “ Yeah, it was.” He rubbed
his thumbs on her palms. “Made you all hot and sweaty.”
    “ Well, it certainly wasn’t
you.” She grabbed her glass and drank what was left of her melted
ice.
    “ Not yet. Then again …
maybe so. I saw you squirm a tad when I asked you to landscape my
yard. That desk didn’t hide much. It was all over your beautiful
face.”
    “ Perhaps you’re over
analyzing things.”
    “ Perhaps we should
leave.”
    “ I came with my
girl.”
    “ She looks happy to me on
the dance floor with my boy.”
    “ Is that why he’s here? To
keep Caitlyn occupied?”
    “ Maybe I just want you all
to myself.”
    Her eyes glazed over and her succulent
lips parted. He noticed her squirm in her seat, and he had an
inkling she would leave with him.
    “ What’s up, Sean?” a female
voice said. He looked up and laid his eyes on Zaria; he wasn’t
happy at all about the interruption. He was ready to hear Traci’s
answer, not chit chat with Garrett’s crush.
    “ Hey. This is Traci Reed.
Traci, this is Zaria Richardson, Justin’s cousin and the event
planner here at the restaurant.”
    The ladies shook hands and Zaria
proceeded to sit down. Apparently she’d missed the memo where he
didn’t want her to stay. He was ready to leave with
Traci.
    “ So, Sean, will you be at
the meeting tomorrow at Raven’s home to discuss your parents’
wedding anniversary dinner? You missed the last one, and its less
than six weeks away.”
    “ Yeah, I’ll be there, but
Cannon updated me on the information. Sorry I missed it, but I had
another appointment.” Which was true. It was the same day as his
first meeting with Traci. “Your man is on the dance floor getting
his groove thang on,” he said, nodding in Garrett’s
direction
    Zaria smacked her lips and pushed her
long hair that was in a high ponytail back over her left shoulder.
“Not interested in anything that little man has to
offer.”
    “ He’s right at 6 feet.
Aren’t you that tall as well?”
    “ When I’m in heels which is
all the time. A man needs to be at least your height to ride this
ride and have a personality. Anyway, everything is on schedule for
your parents’ party. Justin has put together a wonderful menu and
is bringing samples tomorrow.”
    “ So I heard this will be
your last big event before you move to St. Simons Island, Georgia
to start an event planning company with Reagan.”
    “ Yes. I can’t believe it’s
finally happening,” she said as her face beamed with delight.
“We’ve always teased about doing it, so when she made up her mind
that she was serious, I couldn’t say no. She’s worked for another
event planning company on St. Simons’ for the past year and she’s
familiar with the clientele.”
    “ How does Justin feel about
you leaving Lillian’s?”
    His eyes diverted to the dance floor
for a moment, and he noticed Garrett looking in their direction.
Sean hoped his friend wouldn’t make it back over, but the way
Caitlyn was dancing on him it was doubtful he’d leave the floor
anytime soon.
    “ I can’t work for him
forever. I need to have my own business and Justin understands.
Besides, Reagan is his baby sister and he wants what’s best for
both of us.”
    He nodded his head. “I’m happy for
you. That’s a major step, but you’re