Chapter 19
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Roxy
After assuring everyone that I was fine and then agreeing to stay for lunch, we finally made our way back home. Even with falling into the water, it was a fun weekend. The only glaring issue…it is beyond clear that something changed between Gray and me, and I have no idea how I feel about that.
Gray dropped me off yesterday, gave me a gentle kiss, and then left. What does that mean? Are we still faking this thing? I had so many questions but I couldn’t find the right words. Am I ready to date again? I don’t know. And Gray seemed against dating too. Has that changed? I know we need to talk but it seems too overwhelming with everything else going on.
I stare at the gift bags for my soft opening before picking one up to examine it. I can’t believe it’s on Monday.
We’ll have some limited hours for the next three weeks and then we’ll have a grand opening. In the meantime, our online store is going to be fully operable this week and our in-store book clubs will begin in two weeks. I wanted a phased-in approach so I could adjust things without being overwhelmed.
Placing the bag back in the pile, I decide to get myself a coffee. I walk over to the coffee shop and find Cam refilling the coffee machine.
“Hey,” she says warmly.
“Hey,” I reply as I lean against the counter.
“Everything OK?” she asks with a frown.
“It’s fine. I…” I trail off as I watch Hutch dressed in hunting gear walk to the park.
Cam leans forward and watches him.
“What the hell is he doing?” I ask.
Cam laughs. “He’s trying to scope out the flower situation.”
“They’re already out there,” I point out as I motion to the bench.
“I know. He thinks he can, like, set up a motion camera or something. I don’t know. I heard him yapping about it to Gray this morning,” she says with a shrug. “Personally”—she leans in conspiratorially—“I prefer to leave it as a mystery.”
“Me too. I think. Speaking of mysteries, has anyone heard from Kasen yet?” I ask.
“Not yet, but Al keeps assuring us he’s fine,” she says with a shrug.
“Are there always so many mysteries here?” I ask as I consider what to order.
“Just the flower one. Kasen is just…well, he’s Kasen. You’ll get it when you finally meet him,” she says.
“Caramel latte today,” I order.
She gets to making my coffee. And I turn to see Gray leaving the building. He’s dressed in a suit, and damn, he looks good. The memory of his hands on my body makes a fire begin in my core.
I watch him as he approaches Margie who is walking down the street. He takes her arm, walks back to the door, and opens it for her. Fuck. He’s a good guy. Damn it. Why does he have to be so good? It was easier when I didn’t like him or was ambivalent in some sort of mutual-satisfaction, fake-relationship bliss, but now…well, I like the guy, a lot.
“What are you…oh,” Cam says as she looks over at Gray.
I blush as I see realization dawn on her face.
“So, you like Gray,” she states with a smirk and goes back to making my latte.
I bite my lip because we agreed not to share our fake relationship but we never talked about sharing crushes on each other. Not that he has a crush on me, that’d be ridiculous. Although, we did kiss and then make out. Why does this have to be so damn confusing?
“What?” Cam says, interrupting my thoughts.
I shake my head. “Nothing. Uh, yeah, I guess I do like Gray. He’s a good guy.”
She frowns. “OK, like you like like him? Or you just like him?”
I roll my eyes. “I guess I really like him.”
“Hmmmm. Interesting,” Cam says as she finishes making my drink.
“What’s interesting about that?” I ask.
“Well, Drew said you guys weren’t compatible and I said you’d make the perfect couple,” she says.
I frown. “Why did he think that?”
Shrugging, she hands me my drink. “Who knows? I think it was because he pegged you as wanting a happily ever after and he knows Gray is anti-dating at the moment, so not exactly stellar relationship-match material.”
“Why does Gray not want to date? Is it really just because of his last breakup?” I question.
She shrugs. “He was dating this woman when he moved in and they broke up. He took it pretty hard. He thought she would stick with him while he worked on pursuing his dream. I guess that’s why,” Cam explains.
For the first time since I’ve met Grayson Porter, I really consider the fact that this man had an entire existence before I arrived in his life. I also start to think about the fact that I don’t really know that much about him. Whenever we talk about pertinent things we need to know, it’s always basic information or random life stories. Aside from knowing his parents live not far from here and his younger sister lives on the other side of the city, he just says he isn’t close with his family and his upbringing was…what did he call it? Ah, yes, unremarkable .
“Did you ever meet her?” I ask because I suddenly have a million questions.
“Yeah, a few times. She came to happy hour like a couple of times but didn’t seem to really gel with anyone. And then I saw her in passing once or twice and a few times they came by here to get coffee.” She leans over the counter and lowers her voice. “Between you and me, if you aren’t a cop, a doctor, or nurse, or someone who has to work a graveyard shift and you ask for black coffee no sugar, no cream, I’m silently judging you.”
I chuckle. “Noted. Glad to hear I’m not being judged for my lattes.”
“Hell no, latte orderers are the best,” Cam replies with a wink.
The door opens and we both startle. I turn to find Hutch holding the door open for Jocelyn. Their size difference is almost comical. Jocelyn literally walks beneath his outstretched arm. I’m half-tempted to start calling him Tarzan.
“How’s your stakeout coming along?” Cam asks with a raised eyebrow.
Hutch sighs. “If work didn’t get in my way, I could commit to more surveillance. I’m hoping that I can capture the culprit with my motion sensor camera.”
“Culprit? Seriously?” I state with a roll of my eyes.
“Culprit, secret flower person, whatever. I need to know,” he says emphatically.
“The guardian of Hearts Lane Park,” I correct because that’s what the notes always say. He shrugs.
Jocelyn nods and looks up at him. “I agree. The mystery is killing me.”
A moment later, the door opens again, and Carly and Brayden walk inside.
“Where’s your mini me?” Cam asks Carly.
“She has a field trip today. I wanted to chaperone, but my students have this big test coming up, and I needed to help them prepare. This single parenting is for the dogs,” she grumbles.
Brayden wraps his arm around her shoulders and squeezes it. “You’re doing great,” he assures her before dropping his arm. “Two cappuccinos,” he says to Cam.
Cam laughs. “Bray, if I don’t know your usual orders by now, then I’m like the worst friend in the history of friends. Large cappuccinos, sugar-free vanilla syrup, three shots of espresso, and almond milk.”
Hutch gives her a hard look and she rolls her eyes. “Small dirty chai tea latte with regular milk and two shots of espresso.”
Hutch grins. “And that’s why I love you.”
Cam’s second eye roll is followed by a smile. I can’t blame her. It’s hard to stay mad at Hutch. He gives off giant teddy bear vibes.
“Hey, Roxy,” Hutch greets me as he stands between Jocelyn and me. Carly and Brayden discuss some show they are both binging after greeting each of us. How those two aren’t dating is beyond me.
I turn to look out the café’s window. Gray is there and opens the door.
Our gazes meet and we stare at each other for a long several seconds. It’s like the entire world around us disappears. A small part of me concocts a half dozen plausible romance novel moments that could occur right now. Gray could walk straight toward me and take my face in his hands and kiss me. He could remember that I love the double-chocolate muffins here and buy me one and then break a piece off and slowly feed it to me while looking at my mouth with need in his eyes. He could ask for extra whipped cream on a latte and then dip his fingers in it while staring at me and slowly suck the cream off them. Damn…that would be hot.
“You OK, Roxy? You look flushed,” Hutch asks as his giant hand flies up to check my forehead.
“I’m good. Just got a little overheated. Must be too much caffeine,” I say, the words coming out too quickly as I look away from Gray’s intense stare.
Carly looks at me with a raised eyebrow and I look down as I reach into my pocket and grab my phone to pay for my coffee. Cam is also giving me a suspicious look as I press my phone to the scanner.
“OK, well, I’ll see you all later. I hope you’ll be at the soft opening,” I say to my neighbors.
The door opens again and Drew walks inside.
“Wow, building meeting or have we just synced up all our period cravings,” he teases.
Gray, Brayden, and Hutch groan, and Drew laughs. “Chillax, bros, I’m teasing. My usual, Cam,” he says.
“Later,” I call out again as I brush past both Gray and Drew in a hurry to get away from all the scrutiny. The more I get to know everyone, the harder it is to pretend to be in a relationship with Gray, that is if we are still pretending.
“Roxy!” I hear Gray’s voice call out as I unlock the store’s door.
I turn to see him jog across the street. I watch his hair sway and his muscles bunch with each stride. Why did he have to end up being so perfect? It was easier when I was annoyed by him. It was easier before I started falling for him. But now, I wonder if this could actually work. Do we have a real shot at a happily ever after? Maybe.
I’m contemplating that thought as Gray slows and walks the last few steps toward me.
“Inside,” he growls as he pushes the door open all the way and I walk backward as he steps forward, looking more like a lion on the prowl than a man coming to talk to his pseudo-girlfriend.
I swallow hard as he corners me behind some shelves away from the window of the store. When my back hits books, he takes the coffee from my hand and sets it down before placing his hands on either side of my face.
His lips press firmly against mine and I sink against his hard frame as my arms come up around his neck, pulling him closer. Holy fuck! It’s like he read my damn mind.
Our kiss turns frantic, a desperation I’ve never known claws at me. His tongue explores me as if he’s marking me with it, claiming my mouth as only his. One hand trails down my neck and settles on my waist, his thumb slowly caressing the underside of my breast through the fabric of my shirt and bra.
But just as abruptly as he started, he pulls back. We’re silent other than our ragged breathing as we both stare wildly at one another.
I lick my lips which are still wet from our kiss.
His hand that’s still on my jaw moves so his thumb swipes along my lower lip. I suck it into my mouth, and he groans.
“What are you doing to me, wifey?” he murmurs, his eyes searching mine.
I swallow hard before answering. “I’m…I don’t know…I’d like to ask you the same thing.”
His lips twitch and then form a smirk. “We’re fucked. Aren’t we?”
“Probably,” I agree, still breathless.
His hands drop away. “I need to go. I’ll see you at your opening.”
“Soft opening,” I clarify.
His hand comes back up and cups my jaw, his thumb stroking affectionately over my cheek. “It’ll be great.” He pauses and looks around us. “I’m proud of you. You’ve done an amazing job here. I’ll admit, I was skeptical, but I was so very wrong about you, Roxbury Benedict.”
He leans forward and places a gentle kiss on my lips, barely touching them. When he pulls away, his eyes stay glued to mine.
“You’re a successful businesswoman. Don’t let anyone tell you differently, ever,” he says sternly.
I nod because words fail me. His hand falls back to his side and he takes my coffee, holding it out for me. I pick it up and watch as he leaves the store.
Holy shit! I just lived a book boyfriend scene in real life.