36. Harley
Chapter Thirty-Six
HARLEY
The following day, Daphne waved a hand airily in the direction of the table in the front of the kitchen. “Sit,” she ordered.
When I let out a sigh, Daphne narrowed her eyes. “Are you actually going to argue with me about this? You just had a car accident.”
I felt my cheeks heat as I rolled my eyes. “Fine,” I muttered under my breath.
Cat called after me, “We're going to pamper you and drive you insane.”
When I laughed, my sore shoulder twinged with pain. My own stubbornness and insistence had gotten me into this mess. The most annoying part was that I had started to come to terms with my heart condition. I’d just been in a rush to get back to Grant.
I sat down at the table in my preferred corner.
In my opinion, it offered the best view.
Although when it came to views at the lodge, that was splitting hairs.
To one side was the evergreen forest with a pretty stand of birch along the sloping hill.
In another month or so, the grassy field would be awash in pink from the fireweed that covered the open fields of Alaska, offering vista after vista of flowers.
Fireweed was the precursor to autumn here and offered more color than autumn did, which was mostly golds and coppers.
Kachemak Bay glittered in the distance, and beyond that, Mount Augustine stood quiet in the inlet, a tall, silent volcano rising out of the ocean. I kept telling myself that someday I would go out there. I was so curious, but that would be for another day.
I reflexively started to turn when I heard Cat say something and then winced. She wagged a finger at me. “See? You need to be careful with your shoulder.” She set the platter she held in her other hand down beside me.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“Take a bite and guess. It’s like a box of chocolates.”
“Except it’s not a box of chocolates,” I pointed out.
She grinned. “I know, but they all have different fillings.”
“Ooh, what are my options?”
“You’re just going to have to be surprised.”
“Thank God, I trust you and Daphne. I’m not the most adventurous eater.”
“You’re not?” Cat prompted.
“I’d call myself average. But it wouldn’t be for just anyone that I would try something if I didn’t know what was inside.” The rolls were fluffy with a shiny surface. “What makes them shiny?” I asked as I lifted one.
“It’s how I proved the dough,” Daphne called over.
“I don’t know what that means,” I said as I glanced up at Cat.
She grinned and circled her hand in the air, clearly impatient for me to try one. I took a bite.
Flavor broke across my tongue, savory with a hint of sweetness, cheese, and spinach. “Cheese and something sweet with spinach?”
Cat’s grin widened. “Can you guess the cheese?”
I took another bite to be sure. “Brie,” I announced.
She clapped her hands. “What else?”
“Spinach, and, I don't know, something sweet is in there.”
“Brown sugar. Sugar makes everything better,” Daphne offered.
I finished the roll and glanced at Cat. “You know we still haven’t had the card night.”
She shrugged. “I know. I got busy with the play. It’ll be over after the next two weekends, so let’s make it happen.”
A few minutes later, I felt Grant's presence before I saw him when a prickling sensation skittered up my spine and heat suffused me. Honestly, even though I had accepted my feelings for him, it was embarrassing to have a man affect me this easily and powerfully.
I glanced over my shoulder. He had paused by the counter and was saying something to Flynn, who must have come in with him.
Whether or not he sensed my eyes on him, he paused midsentence and glanced in my direction.
His lips kicked up at the corners before he looked back toward Flynn, cuffing him lightly on the shoulder and then crossing over to where I sat at the table.
Flynn's gaze followed him, pausing to meet mine.
He winked before turning to drop a kiss on Daphne's cheek.
Grant slipped into the chair beside me, immediately asking, “How do you feel?”
“I feel like I'm tired of people asking me how I feel,” I replied.
Unruffled, Grant shrugged. “Deal with it. That's what people do when they give a shit.”
What would have once annoyed me only elicited a giggle now. “How do you feel?” I glanced down at his thigh, although his jeans covered his injury.
“It's itchy,” he offered.
“That’s a good sign. It means it’s healing.”
I felt too good to fuss and simply leaned back in my chair, savoring the feel of his arm sliding across my shoulders.
“Am I allowed to kiss you in front of everybody?”
My cheeks were burning up, and I glanced over my shoulder. “Yes, but don't make a show.”
“I know you'll never be into PDA,” he murmured before he quickly leaned over and dusted a kiss on the side of my neck.
Goose bumps chased over my skin. My entire body felt fizzy and sparkly. Dear God, how in the world was I actually going to live with this man? Well, I already did live with him, so that was convenient.
Hours later, we were back at the staff house. It was just Grant and me.
“When does Cat’s play start?” I asked.
“You mean the actual performances?” Grant stretched his legs out, resting his feet on the coffee table. At my nod, he added, “I'm not sure, but I think next weekend. I should know this.”
“I don't,” I offered with a shrug.
“Honestly, I wouldn’t mind if this play went on for months.”
“Yeah?” I tucked my feet under my knees as I leaned back into the corner of the couch.
He glanced over, replying, “Hell yeah. It means we have the house to ourselves. Also…” He leaned over, snaking his long arm around my waist and tugging me close to his side. “You're not close enough.”
I burst out laughing. He shifted closer with his arm tightening around my waist and his lips maybe an inch from mine when he spoke. “So, what should we do with all this privacy?”
My belly felt light and fluttery, and my breath was short. “I don't know. You're injured.”
“So are you,” he pointed out.
We'd actually had a teasing argument about who was technically more injured last night.
I thought it was Grant because he had more stitches.
Whereas he thought it was me because I was in a car accident, which he said was more dramatic than a bear attack.
I felt pressed to rehash the debate again.
“I just want to point out I don't think a car accident is more dramatic than a bear attack.”
His breath gusted against my neck when he laughed softly just before he nipped the sensitive skin there. I shivered against him.
“Why do you say that?” He lifted his head, his eyes holding mine.
“Because car accidents are common. Getting attacked by a bear is definitely not,” I pointed out.
“I don't know if I would call it an attack,” he clarified. “She just swiped my leg.”
“Oh my God, what is it with you people in Alaska?”
“What do you mean?”
“You act like it's not a big deal, and you have stitches from a bear!”
“I'm fine. More people get injured in moose encounters every year in Alaska. I was probably in more danger when you chased that moose off.”
“Wow, you are such a man.”
“I am, in fact, a man,” he offered lightly. His gaze sobered. “I promise, I’m fine,” he whispered just before dipping his head and claiming my mouth in a bold, commanding kiss.
Grant’s kisses were my downfall. Ever since the first one, I'd fallen so hard. I was breathless by the time he lifted his head.
My heart was drumming rapidly, and I sucked in a breath. “We can’t do this right here,” I murmured.
“What do you mean? We have the house to ourselves.”
Before I could debate further, he lifted me carefully, setting me on my feet and undressing me as if he were unwrapping a present.
I was shivering with anticipation by the time he stood and kicked his jeans aside. Even though I'd seen it last night, I still gasped when I looked down at his thigh. Deep marks marred the surface. The stitches were tidy.
“Don't worry about it,” he said. I looked up at him. “You worry about you, and I'll worry about me. Now, where were we?”
Seconds later, he was sitting down, and I was straddling him. The position was the best option for both of us. My shoulder was sore, but I didn't have to worry about twisting or shifting too much.
When I felt the slow, delicious slide of him filling me, I got lost in his dark eyes.
“I love you,” he whispered.