Page 71 of Grump and Grumpier
“A walk would be good.” Taking a stroll around the block is another one of those normal, everyday things that I don’t picture these high-powered, busy men ever doing.
We make arrangements on the time, then I go take a shower and hope that warm water and peppermint body wash will somehow bring me clarity.
When Derek and Jansen arrive, I’m wearing my new coffee t-shirt, which draws prolonged looks from both of them.
“Nice shirt,” Derek says, and I give him a knowing smile.
Derek makes small talk with Marissa, Stella, and Jessie, and Jansen even joins in a couple of times, crouching down to see Jessie eye-to-eye when he speaks to her.
Jessie seems to love both of the men, and we get a clue about the reason when she asks, “Did you bring any snacks?”
Stella shakes her head at her daughter. “Jessie, that’s not an appropriate question.”
“But they get good snacks, Mommy.”
Though Stella only let her have one that first late night, Jessie was allowed to have a couple of the sweet treats that were left over from the road trip the next day, and she hasn’t forgotten.
“We don’t have any tonight, but next time we come, we’ll be sure to bring some,” Derek says. “Which were your favorite?”
“The pink animal cookies!” She does one of her ballerina spins to show her enthusiasm, and all of us are smiling, even Jansen.
As we’re about to head out, Jansen stops me at the door. “Do you have a jacket? It’s cool out tonight.”
I grab one from my closet and return, and then we’re on our way.
As we approach the sidewalk, Derek says, “I saw that there’s a park nearby. Want to walk there?”
I shrug my shoulders. “Sure.”
The men are in their casual Friday clothing, which means jeans for both of them, a long-sleeve pullover for Jansen, and a t-shirt and zippered hoodie for Derek. Their bodies make me ache, but it’s their faces that interest me most. They’re gorgeous as always, but not as vibrant as they usually are. Their eyes hold hurt and regret.
“I hope you didn’t already have any of those books,” Derek says.
“I didn’t. Thanks.” It’s so odd to be out walking in public with them, when we only used to see each other either at the office or at Derek’s house.
“That’s good,” he says. “What are you reading lately?”
“I …haven’t been reading much lately.” This remark earns me two concerned looks from either side of me that I pretend not to notice.
“Are you going to ask us whatwe’rereading?” Jansen asks as we reach the corner.
Laughing, I say, “Financial reports, I’m sure.”
He arches a brow, and gives me a hint of a grin that does funny things inside my chest. “Actually, we’ve been reading a romance about two foolish men who meet the love of their life but somehow manage to fuck it all up.”
CHAPTER 55
JANSEN
“Sounds like a frustrating story.” Ana’s eyes are wide. Is she surprised to hear how we view things?
“Yeah, these two idiots in the book went from love at first sight with this spectacular woman, to barely being on speaking terms,” Derek says.
“Love …at first sight?”
Maybe I shouldn’t be surprised that this word is a shock to her, but couldn’t she see it and feel it when we were together?
I draw in a deep breath and hope I can do the story justice. “She was the smartest, boldest woman they’d ever met, who also happened to have the hottest body they’d ever seen. But after one mind-blowing encounter, she walked out of their lives, and they knew they had to do whatever was needed to be able to see her every day.”