21. Harley
Chapter Twenty-One
HARLEY
I didn't know what the hell was going on, but Diego was tense, and Grant was acting weird. As a result, I was anxious. Yoga class, which was my happy place where I was supposed to be able to relax, was freaking tense.
I could feel Diego's gaze boring into me between every posture. He’d practically glared at me when he came in. He always stood in the front. He was the model student now that he and Gemma were all in love and happy.
When Gemma came around to me where I was in my favorite place, way over to the side, I whispered, “What’s up with Diego?”
“I wouldn't worry about it,” she whispered. “Focus on yourself. Stretch up into my touch.” She put the palm of her hand lightly above my fingertips, and I stretched up. “Focus on your body and your breathing,” she said softly before moving along.
I tried to follow her advice, but when I glanced over at Grant, he looked worried.
A part of me wanted to skip dinner afterward, but it would be obvious because this was a staff night dinner.
When dinner was for the guests, some of us cut out and did our own thing.
But tonight, it would be noticed if I wasn’t there.
Plus, the only way I could maybe suss out what was up was to be there.
When I walked into the kitchen, Cat glanced back and forth between Grant and me, giving me a knowing smile. She was savoring the knowledge of her secret a little too much for my comfort. I ignored her and went to the table, sitting between Cammi and Skylar.
Skylar smiled at me. “Hey, hey,” I said. “How's it going?”
“Good,” Skylar offered.
I glanced at Cammi. “You?”
“Great. I love the website. I need a little help, though,” she replied.
“With what?”
“I have more orders than I expected.”
“Oh, online orders?” I prompted.
She nodded, her eyes wide. “I thought it would make it easier for my regular customers to be able to order online, but now lots of people are doing it.”
“Do you want more online orders?” I asked the obvious.
“Well, yes, but no.” She looked flustered.
“Okay, so we could make it so they have to sign up for an account. That's a tiny hurdle. Your regular customers will do that, but it’ll weed out others.”
“That would be perfect. I want regulars to be able to order ahead, but I’m still adjusting to having Misty Mountain and twins.”
Cammi had purchased a second café when the previous owners were leaving, and she was still adjusting to the added business.
Not to mention the busyness of twin babies.
I chatted casually with her and Skylar about this and that.
Diego came over. Once again, I felt his eyes on me.
He didn't say anything, so I decided to ignore it.
Skylar looked from Diego to me, her lips twitching. “What?” I asked.
‘Nothing,” she replied, her tone way too innocent.
“That’s not nothing,” I countered.
“It sure is,” she said forcefully.
I could take a hint and decided to leave it alone. Dinner was tense, at least for me. Undercurrents were flowing between Grant, Diego, me, Skylar, and even Tucker. Although Cat still had her secret knowledge, she seemed out of this little loop. I started to get worried.
Cat left after dinner, announcing she had play practice. She was borrowing Nora's truck, meaning Grant and I had the house to ourselves. I fully intended to investigate the tension earlier and took my usual direct approach.
“What the hell is going on?” I asked the minute he came in.
He’d waited a full half an hour after I had left the lodge to come to the staff house, which had me twisted up with impatience inside.
“What do you mean?” he countered as he hung up his jacket and left his shoes by the door.
“Something is up.” I stood from the couch, crossing my arms. “Just tell me.”
He was quiet for a minute, then took a quick breath. “I talked to Diego.”
“What?!” I yelped.
“All I told him was I had feelings for you. I didn't tell him anything had happened.”
“Oh my God. I can't believe you did that.”
“Harley, I had to say something. You know it'll come down on me if he finds out any other way.”
“Well, you didn't have to say anything!” I ground out between gritted teeth.
“Could you just listen? Sit down, please.”
“Fine.” I plunked on the couch, shimmying back into the corner of the sectional while he sat beside me.
“I do have feelings for you.”
“Well, if you had feelings for me, you should’ve told me, not my brother.”
“Would you listen to what I said?”
I tried to take a breath as my heart hammered in my chest. “You have feelings for me?” I repeated.
“Yeah.”
“Well, the sex is hot.” I tried to divert.
“You know that's not what I mean, and I don't think I'm alone.” As I tried to absorb his words, he pressed on, “I didn't expect this, but I don't want to screw this up.”
“Why didn't you talk to me before you talked to Diego?”
“Because I don't want this to blow up.”
“You don't want to blow this up so you talk to my brother about it?” I countered, my tone sharp.
“All I told him was I had feelings for you. I didn't tell him anything has happened.”
“He's not stupid,” I muttered.
Grant leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and running his hands through his hair. The sound of him taking a deep breath was audible. He lifted his head, his eyes meeting mine. The look there was earnest and intent.
My heart started pounding an echoing drumroll through my body, the crescendo building.
So much of what had passed between us since we finally gave in was more than I’d ever expected.
Grant wasn't alone. I swallowed, feeling cast adrift on a tide of emotion.
The rush of it was enough to sweep me away.
I took another shaky breath. All the while, he watched me quietly. It all felt like too much. Even though I was stubborn and never wanted to back down, I looked away first. I swallowed, my chest feeling tight. My throat was knotted with an unfamiliar emotion.
“Are you okay?” Grant asked.
I heard the rustle of movement, and then he was sitting beside me, sliding his arm around my shoulders.
I shifted, curling into the curve of his shoulder. Grant was everything I didn't want to need, much less want. He was strong, solid, and protective. I didn't need a man to protect me.
I hated how vulnerable I felt with him. Yet that was the tricky part. I hated it, yet I couldn't hide it. I couldn't deny that I trusted him down to my bones.
I would not cry. I would not. Grant, because I sensed he knew I needed not to be pushed, simply held me close with one arm curled around my shoulders.
I pressed my cheek against his chest, the sound of his steady heartbeat soothing me. I finally gathered the courage to lift my head and look him in the eyes again.
“Are you okay?” he repeated.
I nodded. “I'm still annoyed.” I mustered enough sass to say that.
His lips twitched at the corners. “I understand. You can be annoyed.”
“Of course, I can be annoyed. I am annoyed.”
“I should have talked to you about it before I said anything to Diego,” he said earnestly.
“You should have,” I agreed emphatically, lifting my chin.
He angled toward me, lifting a hand to smooth my hair away from my face, his thumb tracing along the edge of my jaw. That subtle touch was like the lick of a flame across the surface of my skin.
“How do I fix it?” he asked.
“Well, you can't unsay whatever you said to Diego. You can rest assured Diego isn't going to forget it.”
“I know. Do you want me to talk to him again? I will.”
“You already screwed it up,” I pointed out.
“Harley, I didn't screw it up.”
“It's okay,” I said softly.
He went quiet with his eyes studying mine.
I felt as if he was peeling away all of my defenses, the armor that had served me so well.
Speaking of my defenses, I should have been cranky, way crankier than I was about him talking to Diego.
Yet the second his lips brushed against mine, I forgot everything.