Read Online Love Beyond the Curve (BookStrand Publishing Romance) by Kate Patrick - Free Book Online
Authors: Kate Patrick
Tags: Romance
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very familiar with his kitchen, opened a cabinet and took out two bowls to make her version of Brownie Delights. She placed a brownie in each bowl and topped it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. She grabbed a couple of spoons out of a drawer and headed into the den. “Yeah, I told him I had to come over here and kick your ass in a serious game of gin. Here, eat this to charge yourself up. It’s going to be a long night. I know about a million card games I am guaranteed to win, so get started with the sugar rush.”
Reed took the dessert from her and scooped up a big bite. He closed his eyes and savored the rich chocolate flavor.
He opened his eyes and gave Charlotte what appeared to be a look of sheer bliss. “This is sinfully good. Hamilton, one thing is for sure, you know your way around the kitchen.”
Charlotte nodded and held her arms open and looked down at her poochy stomach and said flatly, “Obviously.”
“Charlotte, you know that’s not what I meant.” He nailed her with a stern look, letting her know he didn’t like what she had said about herself.
“I know, Reed. It’s just a reflex reaction to say something like that, because you think that is what other people have flashing through their thoughts. Let’s not talk about me. How are you feeling tonight? Did Candace come over?” Charlotte asked him the question in an effort to change the subject as she took another bite of her brownie.
“No, she went to a party that we were supposed to attend tonight. It was a big deal at the Country Club. Black Tie. Thank God I messed up my leg and didn’t have to go.” He gave a look of thanks heavenward, seemingly glad to have missed the event, even under the circumstances.
“But she did? Without you?” Charlotte placed her empty bowl on the coffee table and proceeded to stretch out on the sofa, folding her hands across her middle. She was barefooted and wearing red plaid drawstring pants with a black T-shirt that fit her rather snugly, meeting Reed’s approval. She had her long hair up in a Pebbles-style ponytail, from which loose tendrils hung around her entire head. She was gorgeous.
“Yes, she went with her parents. I’m sure she’ll find plenty of suitable admirers to dance with her,” he said, setting his dish on the floor beside his chair.
Charlotte hopped up and took her dish and his to the kitchen, returning with two tall glasses of milk. She handed one to Reed and then sat back down on the sofa.
“How did you know I was wishing for a glass of milk?” He downed several gulps of the cold liquid, smiling at her when he finished.
“Who doesn’t want a glass of milk after brownies?” She polished off her own glass and resumed her position on the comfy sofa.
“Right. Why aren’t you out dancing with someone tonight?” Reed pushed back his chair to fully recline. He seemed to be settling down to ask a lot of questions about her.
“What? And have to get dressed and miss an evening eating brownies with my crippled friend? No way.” She laughed heartily, winking at him.
“I’m glad you came over. I actually felt kind of jealous when you said you had to get rid of your guy friend.” Reed confessed his feelings as he looked down at his propped leg.
“Have you ever seen anyone at my place? Where do you think I would have found him? I work mostly with other women, and all of my patients are under the age of sixteen, usually twelve. You are hilarious, Jackson.” She threw a pillow at his head.
He blocked it with his arm and yelled at her in defense. “Hey! What was that for? I was jealous.”
Charlotte stood up and said with her hands on her hips, “I can take this kind of shit from a lot of guys, even Matt and Octopus Man, but not from you. I somehow thought you were different and we were really becoming good friends. Your skinny, beautiful girlfriend is out tonight, so the coast is clear to make a play for the fat neighbor. Well, to hell with that, and to hell with you,
Reed took the dessert from her and scooped up a big bite. He closed his eyes and savored the rich chocolate flavor.
He opened his eyes and gave Charlotte what appeared to be a look of sheer bliss. “This is sinfully good. Hamilton, one thing is for sure, you know your way around the kitchen.”
Charlotte nodded and held her arms open and looked down at her poochy stomach and said flatly, “Obviously.”
“Charlotte, you know that’s not what I meant.” He nailed her with a stern look, letting her know he didn’t like what she had said about herself.
“I know, Reed. It’s just a reflex reaction to say something like that, because you think that is what other people have flashing through their thoughts. Let’s not talk about me. How are you feeling tonight? Did Candace come over?” Charlotte asked him the question in an effort to change the subject as she took another bite of her brownie.
“No, she went to a party that we were supposed to attend tonight. It was a big deal at the Country Club. Black Tie. Thank God I messed up my leg and didn’t have to go.” He gave a look of thanks heavenward, seemingly glad to have missed the event, even under the circumstances.
“But she did? Without you?” Charlotte placed her empty bowl on the coffee table and proceeded to stretch out on the sofa, folding her hands across her middle. She was barefooted and wearing red plaid drawstring pants with a black T-shirt that fit her rather snugly, meeting Reed’s approval. She had her long hair up in a Pebbles-style ponytail, from which loose tendrils hung around her entire head. She was gorgeous.
“Yes, she went with her parents. I’m sure she’ll find plenty of suitable admirers to dance with her,” he said, setting his dish on the floor beside his chair.
Charlotte hopped up and took her dish and his to the kitchen, returning with two tall glasses of milk. She handed one to Reed and then sat back down on the sofa.
“How did you know I was wishing for a glass of milk?” He downed several gulps of the cold liquid, smiling at her when he finished.
“Who doesn’t want a glass of milk after brownies?” She polished off her own glass and resumed her position on the comfy sofa.
“Right. Why aren’t you out dancing with someone tonight?” Reed pushed back his chair to fully recline. He seemed to be settling down to ask a lot of questions about her.
“What? And have to get dressed and miss an evening eating brownies with my crippled friend? No way.” She laughed heartily, winking at him.
“I’m glad you came over. I actually felt kind of jealous when you said you had to get rid of your guy friend.” Reed confessed his feelings as he looked down at his propped leg.
“Have you ever seen anyone at my place? Where do you think I would have found him? I work mostly with other women, and all of my patients are under the age of sixteen, usually twelve. You are hilarious, Jackson.” She threw a pillow at his head.
He blocked it with his arm and yelled at her in defense. “Hey! What was that for? I was jealous.”
Charlotte stood up and said with her hands on her hips, “I can take this kind of shit from a lot of guys, even Matt and Octopus Man, but not from you. I somehow thought you were different and we were really becoming good friends. Your skinny, beautiful girlfriend is out tonight, so the coast is clear to make a play for the fat neighbor. Well, to hell with that, and to hell with you,
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