Precious Embrace (Embrace Series) Read Online Free Page B

than any two people she’d ever known.
    Ali tipped the empty bottle up and set it on the small table next to the rocker. Lifting Micah as she stood, she leaned closer and kissed him. God how she loved him, it still amazed her how blessed she was with such a miracle. She never thought she could love someone like she loved Jamie, but that was one of the best things about motherhood, giving and receiving complete unconditional love. Funny how love drifted in and out of her life so easily in some cases, yet stood steadfast in others. Carl was gone forever, but here she was, holding the most precious gift he could have ever given her. She smiled. A fair trade indeed.

    As Ali stepped out of the shower the phone rang and she ran for it, stubbing her toe on the dresser when she reached it. “Ouch—Hello!”
    “Did I catch you at a bad time?” Johnny drawled.
    “Oh-oh-oh—no.” She sucked air through her teeth and tried to walk off the pain. “I stubbed my toe running for the phone.”
    “Sorry ‘bout that.”
    She heard the smile in his voice and chuckled. “I was going to call you today.”
    “Do you need help with Micah again? I hope he’s not still feeling under the weather.”
    “No, he’s fine. Maybe he just needed a break from me.” She rolled her eyes and snickered. “I thought I’d stop by and bring you a thank you, slash, house-warming present for helping me the other day.”
    “Really-aw, well that’s nice,” Johnny said. “I guess Micah let you sleep last night. You sound rested.”
    “He only woke me up once, but Jamie called early and woke me with the phone. I’m glad though, I miss him and it was a nice way to wake up. Anyway, do you need anything for your place? Anything for the kitchen, or bathroom?”
    “Well…I’m only missing one thing and you can’t bring me that.”
    “What? I’ll get it, no big deal.”
    Johnny laughed. “I need a bed. Sarah let me rent the place furnished, but she took the bedroom set.”
    “Oh—you’re right, I can’t bring you a bed.” Ali pulled her clothes out of her closet and laid them on the bed. “Hey, why did you call me?”
    “I wanted to ask if you and Micah would have another meal with me.”
    “A meal?”
    “Yeah…well, I didn’t want to limit myself. Breakfast, lunch, or dinner—even a snack or coffee at Starbucks.”
    “You’re funny,” Ali said. “How about I’ll bring the meal to you as my thank you.”
    “Hum…I don’t know. That kinda goes against my original plan for a meal. You see, in my plan, I provided the meal. How about…I’ll let you provide the meal this time if you promise to have another one with me, and let me provide it?”
    “You have some problem with a woman paying?”
    “No—no, darlin’, relax. I’m just trying to get a second date.”
    “This isn’t a date.” But what would she call it? “It’s a…thank you lunch.”
    “If you feel better believing that, then okay.”
    She heard the smile again. Her cheeks heated and she put her hand to her face as if he could see it.
    “Are you still there?” he asked.
    “Yeah, what do you want to eat?”
    “Surprise me. You’re bringing Micah with you, right?”
    “Are you using me to get close to my son?”
    “Ha, yeah.” He cursed quietly and said, “You’re on to me, sweetheart.”
    She threw her head back and laughed. “Aha! I knew it all along.”
    In his sweetest drawl, the one that melted her knees and her resolve to stay away from him, he said, “I’ll see you when you get here.”
    “-kay, see you in a while.” She dropped to the bed and fell back. What the hell are you doing, Al?

Chapter Four

    When Ali pulled into the driveway, a Rolling Stones’ song streamed out from the open front door. She grinned at him when he stepped out of the house.
    “Hey, beautiful.” He reached for the car seat, but she waved him off.
    “The food is in the passenger seat.” She nodded to the other side of the shiny black Lexus. Johnny jogged over