Down by the River Read Online Free

stairs, Ashleigh moved closer to Mr. Teague, plastering herself against him and arching one of her legs around him suggestively.
    Frozen in place and horrified to be witnessing this intimate situation, Grace didn’t know what to do. Should she clear her throat and speak out? Or slip back up the stairs?
    She studied the Realtor through the door more closely. Certainly no young boy Ashleigh’s age, but more a man Grace’s own age or older, with salt and pepper hair and a roguish touch of a beard and mustache forming on his face. When he smiled, dimples flashed in his cheeks. Obviously a good-looking man, and from the way he acted—smug and relaxed—Grace thought she recognized the type, an aging playboy, still pursuing and charming the young girls. She frowned at the thought. Of course—to be fair—Grace could see Ashleigh Anne Layton was certainly contributing to the situation. The word slut came to mind, although Grace chastised herself for thinking it. Perhaps the girl was only flirting, seeing if she could gain the interest of an older man like Jack Teague.
    Grace’s eyes narrowed. He shouldn’t be encouraging Ashleigh, regardless of the situation. She was practically a minor compared to him. Seeing Jack’s hand reach around now to settle on Ashleigh’s bottom, Grace found she’d seen quite enough.
    She cleared her throat loudly, and saw Mr. Teague’s eyes lift to hers in surprise. Ashleigh—with her back turned to Grace—didn’t hear the sound, but Jack Teague did. To Grace’s further shock, the man didn’t immediately pull back from the girl. Instead, he shrugged with casual ease, winking at Grace and then letting his eyes rove over her with interest while Ashleigh continued to writhe against him. Unbelievable! Apparently, the man felt more or less indifferent to the girl’s attentions. Grace found that even more disgusting somehow—that he could give Grace the once-over while this young girl still crawled around on him.
    Grace scowled at him in annoyance and, amazingly, saw a charming smile spread over his face, which he directed straight at her. With nonchalance, he eased himself away from Ashleigh, patting her bottom fondly as he did so. He spoke to the girl, and she looked over her shoulder to see Grace.
    â€œWhoops!” she said, giggling and starting to straighten her skirt.
    Grace noticed Ashleigh didn’t look either repentant or embarrassed, but instead looked positively smug.
    â€œYou run on back to the office,” Jack Teague told her. “Roger’s been covering for you on the phones, and he has an appointment. You need to get back.”
    â€œOkay.” She eyed him flirtatiously. “Will you be back soon? I guess Roger will leave to meet his appointment. I’ll be all by my lonesome over there.”
    Grace felt like making the same gagging gesture she’d seen Morgan make a little earlier. She suppressed a grin—remembering the little girl’s gesture—and noticed Jack watched her do it. He smiled at her lazily as he sent Ashleigh on her way.
    â€œSorry I’m late.” He let himself into the house and then stopped to lean casually against the newel post at the bottom of the stairs. Looking up to where she still stood rooted in place on the stairway, he let his eyes drift slowly up her legs, over her body, and finally to her face. Grace felt herself blush. How dare he assess her, the insufferable man! And after what she’d just witnessed, too.
    Grace set her lips and started down the stairs. She’d make this meeting as brief as she could with Mr. Jack Teague, the Realtor. Spending any more time than absolutely necessary with this man did not sit high on her agenda today. It was all she could do to keep from telling him exactly what she thought of him. Especially when he obviously thought so well of himself!
    Honestly! If she hadn’t wanted to ask a few more questions about