Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
GRAY
L ast night was one that I don’t plan to relive anytime soon.
I know that she needed time alone, and I respect it. But Christ, the agony on her face broke my goddamn heart.
And I stayed away all night as she wanted.
I won’t anymore.
With a big, pink box of donuts in my hands, I walk to the front door of Stella’s house and ring the bell.
“Hey,” Drew says when he opens the door. He bites into an apple but eyes the box in my hands. “You must be here for Stella.”
“I am. Want a donut?” I open the lid, and Drew grins.
“Who in their right mind would pass up a donut?” He reaches in and comes out with three. “Stella’s still in bed. Thanks for these, much better than an apple.”
He walks away, and I close the door behind me, walking through the living room, only to come face-to-face with Haley.
“Are those donuts ?” she asks with hope in her gorgeous blue eyes.
“Take one,” I offer, and she grabs a chocolate glazed. When she bites in, she sighs.
“I’m going to have to run an extra mile today, and I don’t even care. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
I climb the stairs, two at a time, and almost run right into Erin.
It seems the whole house is awake, aside from the one woman I want to see.
“Take a donut,” I invite Erin, who grins widely.
“Well, this is a fun surprise. You even have a maple.” She bites into the fresh donut and waves it at me as she turns to head down the stairs. “Have a good day.”
“You, too.”
I knock lightly on Stella’s door and then quietly open it, surprised to find not just Stella still asleep, but also Olivia, soundlessly putting on her shoes.
“Hey,” she says with a whisper. “I have to get to work. Thought I’d let her sleep.”
She pats me on the shoulder, snatches a donut out of the box, and then hurries out of the room.
There are two empty pizza boxes discarded on the floor. On the bed, right in the middle, is an ice cream carton, open and on its side, with a little puddle of melted ice cream to top it off.
Did a frat party happen in here?
I set the box on the side table and sit on the side of the bed near Stella’s hip.
“Damn it, Liv, I’m sleeping.”
I grin and brush a blond lock of hair off her smooth cheek. “It looks like you had quite a party.”
She cracks open an eye and looks up at me, her mouth tipping up in a sleepy smile.
“G’morning,” she murmurs.
“Good morning, sweetheart. How are you feeling?”
“Groggy,” she says and turns onto her back with a sigh. “Did Liv leave?”
“She was just heading out when I got here. I brought donuts, by the way. I think there are about six left after the rest of the household descended, so you’ll want to grab your share.”
“That’s sweet.” She reaches for my hand and presses it to her cheek. “You brought me food. And you had food delivered yesterday, too.”
“From the looks of it, you and Olivia enjoyed it.”
Stella laughs and licks her lips. “We ate our weight in all the junk food. It always helps.” Her face sobers. “I owe you an apology.”
“No, you don’t.”
“I do.” She sits up and pushes her hair away from her face, grabbing my hand again to clutch it in hers. “I’m not sorry that I couldn’t be with you last night. But I do apologize for the dramatic display you had to witness when you showed up here. I had a really shitty afternoon at work. There is a client, a superrich, super influential client that I’ve been working for since last winter. Almost a year of work. And yesterday was my big reveal for her.”
Stella closes her eyes, and I tighten my grip on her hand in reassurance.
“It didn’t go well,” she says and then laughs. “That’s the understatement of the year. Actually, I monumentally failed. She hates it. So much so that I have to start over.”
“From scratch ?”
“Well, no. Thankfully, she agreed to keep the structure as-is because I don’t know how long it would take me to find a construction crew for this. But I’ll be returning almost all the furnishings and starting over on the décor. It was just a huge blow to my confidence. I think it’s some of my best work, and I don’t think the client could have hated it more. And she didn’t deliver the news…gently. Not that I need to be coddled or have smoke blown up my ass if I don’t do a job right. I’m old enough and smart enough to know that not every design will hit the mark. But, damn, it really sucked.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Me, too. So, now, I have all kinds of research to do, calls to make, and things to handle. My sulking time is officially over. It’s back to real life.”
“I have a request,” I say, leaning into her and pressing my lips to hers.
“What’s that?” she asks.
“Next time, just say, “Shit day. Need Liv.” And I’ll know that you’re okay but just need some girl time.”
“I was embarrassed,” she says simply. “It’s not that I prefer Liv. It’s that I know she’s going to love me no matter what. And you and I are still new. I didn’t want to admit to you that I fucked up on something so important.”
“Did you think I’d judge you? Or that I’d decide I didn’t want you just because you had an off day at work?”
“No, that sounds ridiculous,” she mutters. “We’re new, like I said. And at that moment, Olivia knew what I needed to feel better.”
“Now, I know, as well. Pizza and ice cream.”
She laughs and then nods. “You’re not wrong. Thanks for being so nice to me.”
“Oh, I wanted to spank your ass when you told me to leave yesterday.”
She quirks an eyebrow, and her eyes fill with interest. “Is that so?”
“Mm.”
She licks her lips. “I don’t think I would hate that.”
Is there any wonder why I’m so crazy about her ?
“Shall we try for dinner again tonight?” I ask her.
“Absolutely. I’ll be there.”
“Good. I hate to go, but I have to get to the office.”
“It’s okay. I need to get a move on myself.” She checks the time and then dives for the donut box. “Oh, my God, these are my favorite.”
“How convenient.” After she takes a bite, I kiss her sugar-coated lips and then stand to leave before I change my mind and tumble her into that ice-cream-covered bed for the day. “I should be home by about six.”
“Perfect,” she says with her mouth full. “Have a nice day, dear.”
I shake my head. Now that things are set to rights again, I leave to get my day started.
“Okay, be honest,” Stella says as she carries our plates to the sink. “Did you really cook that yourself?”
“With my own hands,” I lie easily, amused when she narrows her eyes at me, clearly suspicious. “Why? You think I can’t?”
“I didn’t say that.” She rinses the dishes and then sets them in the dishwasher. “I’m just looking around the kitchen, and it doesn’t look nearly as messy as it should for chicken cordon bleu with scalloped potatoes and roasted carrots. I mean, where’s the pan you roasted the carrots in?”
“Maybe I’m excellent at cleaning as I go—which is the only right way to cook. My mother taught me that.”
Stella purses her lips and stares at me through narrowed eyes. “I don’t buy it.”
I can’t help it; I laugh as I cross to her and kiss the crown of her head, breathing her in.
“You caught me. I ordered it on my way home and plated it up before you got here.”
“Well, it was damn good. What should we do now? Want to watch a movie?”
“Actually, I have to take you somewhere.”
“Oh. Okay, where?”
“It’s kind of lame,” I warn her, feeling more than a little silly.
“Now I’m dying to know.”
“Well, Willie’s grandma, Betty, plans a once-a-month ice cream social for everyone in the building. It’s tonight. And if I don’t at least show my face there for five minutes, I’ll never hear the end of it.”
“Ice cream is never lame,” she says, pointing her perfectly manicured finger at my chest.
“Betty even provides whipped cream and cherries.”
“Even less lame, then. Let’s go.”
We start the dishwasher and then leave the condo, heading to the lobby on the first floor. When we’re in the elevator, I glance down at her.
“I feel you looking at me.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You have an elevator fetish.”
“I didn’t,” I reply as we reach the first floor. “Until I met you.”
We step out, and I’m not surprised to find that most of the other tenants have already been here and left.
“There you are,” Betty says, shaking the business end of an ice cream scoop my way. “I thought you’d forgotten.”
“I value my life too much for that,” I reply. “And I’d like you to meet Stella.”
“Finally,” Betty says with a smile as she walks over to join us. “Willie talked about you all last week. You’re as pretty as he said you were.”
“Thanks,” Stella says with a smile. “It’s nice to meet you. Gray said you do this every month?”
“It’s the best way for me to keep an eye on my neighbors,” Betty says, covering the side of her mouth like it’s some big secret. “Why, just last month, I learned that the Davidsons from the third floor are getting a divorce. I would never have gotten that information otherwise.”
“Grams is the Mrs. Kravitz of the neighborhood,” Willie says as he joins us. “You know, like from Bewitched .”
“I can’t believe you’ve seen that show,” I say to him.
“I watch Nick at Nite . I’ve also seen all of the Friends episodes. You know, the really old stuff.”
“I’m going to wound you,” I reply calmly, making the young man laugh. “What did you get on your English essay?”
“I got a B,” he says with a shrug. “You weren’t here to check my grammar.”
“That’s a load of bull, and you know it,” I reply. “I edited that piece over email while I was at my mother’s hospital bedside.”
Willie snorts, Betty winks at Stella, and Stella hides her laugh behind a fake cough.
“How is your sweet mom?” Betty asks as she starts packing up the ice cream.
“Wait, can I still get a scoop?” Stella asks.
“Oh, of course. Here.” Betty dishes up two scoops of ice cream for Stella and me, and between bites, I help Willie get things cleaned up and folded to put away in a nearby closet until next month.
“So, I did the right thing as soon as Willie told me about you. I googled you,” Betty informs Stella without any sense of apology in her tone. “Because Grayson is very important to us. I want to know who he’s dating.”
“Understandable,” Stella says with a nod as she licks her spoon. “What did you find out? Did you find that sex vid I did in college?”
We all stop and whip our heads around to stare at Stella in shock.
Stella tips her head back and laughs her ass off.
“Oh, the looks on your faces. It’s just priceless.” She snorts and then scoops up another bite of ice cream. “I’m kidding.”
“No, nothing as scandalous as that,” Betty says with a chuckle. “I did discover that you’re an interior designer.”
“That part is true,” Stella confirms.
“Well, that’s just wonderful. I like to think of myself as an artistic person, as well. You will have to come over to our place soon to see what I’ve done with it.”
“That sounds fun,” Stella replies, her voice sincere. “I always love to see how people style their living spaces. Like how Gray… hasn’t. ”
“I’m hardly home,” I remind her.
“That’s no excuse,” she replies mildly. “Your home is your sanctuary. And even if it’s simple and clean, it should be inviting and comfortable.”
“Maybe you could give me some pointers.”
Stella’s smile spreads. “Anytime.”
“I have homework,” Willie announces. “So, I have to get upstairs. See you later.”
“And I have a program to watch,” Betty adds. “Come on, you two. You can escort us up.”
Stella and I grin at each other but do as we’re told, joining Betty and Willie in the elevator up to our floor. We say our goodbyes at their door, but I stop Stella before we move on to my condo.
“Are you up for a walk?”
“Like, outside?” she asks.
“Yes. Outside.”
“Sure. I just need a jacket.” She keys in the code to my door, which has me raising a brow. “I’ve only watched you open this door a million times by now.”
“Or, you know, four.”
She grins and walks into my place, tosses the remnants of her ice cream, and grabs her coat.
“It’s raining. Should I take an umbrella?” I ask.
Stella scoffs and shakes her head. “This is Seattle. Only the move-ins from down south use umbrellas.”
“I just wanted to offer in case you were worried about messing up your hair or something.”
“Nah.” She hooks her arm through mine as we return to the elevator. “It’ll dry. I haven’t taken a walk around the city in far too long.”
The doors open, and seeing that we’re alone, I wait for them to close again and then pin her to the corner of the car, then cup her face in my hands and kiss the ever-loving fuck out of her.
She hitches her leg up around my hip and gives back as good as she gets. If she were wearing a skirt, I’d be inside her by now.
But there’s not enough time to get her naked before we make it to the street level.
Stella moans against my mouth and leans in to press her breasts against my chest as if she’s trying to ease an ache.
“Soon,” I whisper against her lips as I feel the elevator begin to slow. “Very soon.”
Just before the doors open, I step back from her and take her hand. Stella wipes her finger down the side of her mouth, and we walk through the lobby and out the front doors into the cool Seattle evening.
“I can smell the rain,” she says after taking a long, deep breath. “There’s nothing like it anywhere else.”
“You must be used to the rain after living here your whole life.”
“I suppose,” she agrees. “It’s never really bothered me, honestly. I mean, sure, by the time spring comes around, I’m ready for some sunshine, but I don’t mind the dark days. Does northern Idaho get much sun?”
“No,” I reply. “Well, that’s not true. We get our share in the summer and early fall, but we also get a lot of rain and even some snow in the winter.”
“Snow doesn’t happen often here. And when it does, it sends the city into a state of emergency. But I love traveling to other places with snow in the winter. Do you ski?”
I smile, remembering the conversation I had last week with my mom.
“No. I tried when I was a kid and absolutely hated it.”
“I kind of hate it, too,” she says with excitement. “My cousins? They love it. All of them. We have family friends who live in Montana. We used to go there to ski a lot when I was a kid. Hated it. But I loved watching it snow. Or even going outside to feel it and drink it in—figuratively, of course. And I love hot chocolate and all the wintery things. Just don’t ask me to put on a pair of sticks and throw myself down a hill.”
“You’re my kind of girl,” I reply and loop my arm around her neck, tugging her in for a kiss. “I couldn’t agree more.”
“So, we make a pact, right here and now,” she says solemnly. “For as long as we’re together, there will be no skiing.”
“That’s a promise I can keep.” I kiss her again and then guide her to the intersection, where we stop and wait for the light to change.
“Where are we going, anyway?” she asks.
“Anywhere we want,” I reply. “I don’t have an agenda.”
“Have you been to Kobe Terrace, a little hidden park here in downtown Seattle?”
“I can’t say that I have.”
“It’s only a few blocks this way. It’s not quite dark yet, so there shouldn’t be any trouble.”
“What kind of trouble?”
“Oh, you know…serial killers. Pirates. Aliens.”
She grins when I laugh and leads me a few blocks east, almost to the interstate. Sure enough, we run into a beautiful little park filled with sculptures and benches tucked within a random neighborhood.
“Told you,” she says with a grin.
“And not even one alien in sight.”
“That we know of,” she corrects me and sits on a bench.
“I have a question.”
She pats the seat next to her, and I take it, then reach for her hand. I can’t seem to stop touching her every chance I get.
“Did you ever really make a sex video?”
Stella snorts and shakes her head. “No. Absolutely, not. But my aunt Natalie takes beautiful boudoir photos, and we’ve played around with that. My mom was a Playboy Playmate back in the day.”
“No way.”
“Way. When my dad found out after meeting her years later, he wasn’t pleased. But it’s not like she could go back and change it. He’s chilled out now. Anyway, to answer your question, no porn exists that features yours truly.”
“But you have sexy pictures.”
She bats her eyelashes. “And if you’re very good, I’ll show them to you.”
“I plan to be on my best behavior.”
“Even when we have dinner with my parents tomorrow night?”
“Especially then.”