Read Sticks and Stones for Free Online Page B

her foot to the left. “Argh!”
              “Okay, slowly
move it to the right now,” Rick urged.
              “But it hurts!”
she whined.
              “I know,
sweetheart, but I want to make sure you don’t have a break.” She gritted her
teeth and moved her foot.  “Good! No break, but one helluva sprain. We gotta
get you to a doctor.”
              She pulled her
leg from his grasp. “We?”
              He placed his
sweaty palms on his thighs. “Yeah. You can’t drive with a swollen ankle so I’ll
take you.”
              “Hey, just
because you’re good looking and can dance doesn’t mean I’m getting into a car
with you,” she glared.
              “Ricochet! Can
I have your autograph?” a business man interrupted.
              “Sure,” he
replied, keeping his eyes locked on Grace. He held out his hand to the man who
handed him a notepad and pen.
              Grace tried to
stare defiantly at him but instead was taken with the way his hair hung loosely
around his face and his sexy deep dimples.
              “What do you
think your chances are next time around?” the man asked, giddily.
              Rick handed the
notepad and pen back to the man and grinned. “I’d say they’re pretty good for
the Stanley Cup and other things.”
              “Thanks
Ricochet!” the man chirped, walking away.
              Grace folded
her arms over her chest. “Just who are you?”
              “What? You’re not a hockey
fan?” he replied, amused.
    *        *        *
              “I said no ,
Janice. End of discussion!” Ben Weinberg yelled.
              Janice’s hazel
eyes narrowed. She crossed her arms over her chest. “I want an office on
Michigan Avenue! I’m a better interior designer than Grace Ryan!”
              Ben ran a hand
through his black hair, clenching his jaw. “Grace is one of the most successful
designers in Chicago. She’s built a reputation for herself and since she joined
forces with Blake O’Shea, her business has skyrocketed.”
              When Janice
continued to glare, Ben placed his hand on her shoulder. “You wouldn’t be able
to compete. Why not try your hand in the suburbs instead? I’m sure we can find
you a nice spot to set up shop.”
              Janice smiled,
but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Sure, darling, whatever you say.”
     
    *        *        *
     
              Ben slid into
his BMW, but instead of driving to work he stopped at the park where he and
Grace would often have picnic lunches.
              The park was
relatively quiet, save for a few mothers with toddlers playing in the
sandboxes.
              He wandered to
the bench where he and Grace would rest after a long walk on the hiking trail.
              When had it
gone wrong with her? Everything had been perfect, hadn’t it?
              He rested his
elbows on his knees and ran a hand through his hair. “My God! What have I done?”
he gasped.
     
    *        *        *
     
              Janice moved
her long auburn hair over her shoulder and mumbled as she flipped pages in her
Grimoire. “How dare he think I won’t be as successful as Grace!”
              Taking Ben from
her was like taking candy from a baby. Now she’d have Grace’s business too,
with the help of the Bohemian witch. She stared blankly at the pages and
chuckled low when she found the spell she’d been looking for.
              She frowned
when she realized she didn’t have all the necessary supplies to complete the
spell. She quickly jotted down the items and left, leaving the office door
unlocked in her haste.
     
    *        *        *
              While Ben sat
on the bench, memories flooded his brain. Grace leaving for the seminar, Janice
calling