Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
Grayson
“I can’t believe a freaking trash panda stole my camera!” Hutch says as he sips his drink.
“Dude, let it go,” Drew interjects as he pulls a book off the shelf and reads the back. We’re all at the soft opening of the bookstore.
To say I’m impressed is an understatement. Around fifty people are milling around. There are two authors signing books in the back of the store. A caterer and two staff walk around with appetizers and there’s a small bar set up by the front desk that’s serving beer and wine. Everyone attending has received a bag full of books and bookish items.
If this is her soft launch, I can’t wait to see what she does for her official grand opening day.
“I’m going to get to the bottom of it. I just need to figure out a new plan,” Hutch grumbles as he looks over at the book Drew is holding. His eyes widen and I lean down a little to see what he’s looking at. A shirtless alien man who looks way more ripped than even Hutch or Kasen. I mean, Brayden, Drew, and I are fit, but even I have to admit Hutch and Kasen are next-level gym rats. Hutch might have a slight limp from his football-ending injury, but he’s made up for it by being able to lift small cars or at least I would assume he can. I can never keep up with him at the gym.
“Alien why choose romance?” Cam asks as she takes the book from him.
“I didn’t know that was a thing. Clearly, I need to read more,” Drew quips as he looks around the shelves. “What else is in here?”
Cam takes Drew’s hand. “Come on, let’s go get these books signed,” she says as she pulls two books out from her tote bag.
Hutch steps closer to me after they leave. “So, how are things going?” He motions to Roxy who is talking to her brother. I’ve been introduced to her entire family tonight. They are all very nice and normal. She introduced me as her good friend. Which was what we had planned on doing, but I admit it made me wish that she considered me her real boyfriend. I could see her younger sister, Isla, eyeing me up as if she knew something more was going on between us. I played up how impressive Roxy is because I know that she comes from a family of overachievers and doesn’t think she is one as she’s alluded to previously. However, it is clear she is, because only an overachiever could pull off a party like this for their soft business opening.
“Fine,” I say as I drink my beer to avoid giving any more detail.
“Fine? Bro, I see the way you are staring at her. That is not how you look at a fake girlfriend. That’s how you look at the woman you want to bear your children.”
I glare at him. “We have an arrangement. That’s all. Nothing more,” I mutter.
“Oh, I think there’s more. Maybe you just don’t know it yet,” he says with a smirk. “OK, I’m off to find another.” He raises his empty bottle and heads in the direction of Jocelyn and the bar. I’m half-curious if he’s into her, but I have my own romantic issues to deal with.
I pretend to be interested in a book, to avoid looking at Roxy. If Hutch can see through my bullshit pretending, then so can everyone else, and I don’t need five hundred questions right now as I’m attempting to figure out what is happening between Roxy and me.
“I didn’t peg you as a BDSM erotica reader.” Roxy’s voice interrupts my thoughts. Shit. I look down, actually reading the back cover and then grimace as I place the book back on the shelf.
“Hey, no judgment. That’s a bestseller,” Roxy teases.
“It’s going well,” I say as I try to change the subject.
She follows my gaze as we both look around the store. “It is. Thanks for being here.”
I look back at her. “Of course. I wouldn’t have missed it.”
She glances over at her family who are all talking to one another.
“Your family seems nice,” I state as I nod in their direction.
Blushing slightly, she looks back at the bookshelf. “They are,” she responds but I feel like there’s more to that answer.
“Your parents look proud of you,” I add because it’s true and I feel like she needs her self-confidence built up a little.
She rolls her eyes. “I set the bar pretty low, so I suppose anything I do above a mediocre college degree and an asshole boyfriend is pretty fucking impressive.”
I want to take her hands in my face and tell her that she is one of the most impressive people I know, but I can’t. Instead, I ball my hands into fists to fight the itch to touch her.
“Don’t do that,” I growl in a low voice.
Her eyes fly up to look at mine. “Do what?”
“Undersell yourself. Look around you. You did all of this.” I put my hands on her shoulders and turn her to look at the party in the bookstore she created.
“I know,” she breathes in a quiet voice. “I should…go mingle.” She pulls away from me. It takes all my self-control not to go grab her by the arm and haul her ass up to my apartment and show her how impressive, beautiful, and smart I think she is.
I walk over to the bar and grab another beer. I’m about to go find Bray and Carly when I see Margie and Cornelia walk into the party. I frown wondering if they misread the invitation because they are dressed like they are going on the Titanic. Margie is wearing a literal fur shawl over a purple dress complete with a strand of pearls. She has a matching purple hat on her head. Cornelia is wearing a green dress with a knitted shawl and a gold locket necklace. Her hair is in a fancy bun on her head.
I walk over to them. “Good evening, ladies,” I say.
Cornelia waves me off. “We’re meeting gentlemen callers here. Roxy said we could bring plus-ones. Have you seen men in suits with ties matching our dresses?”
I frown in complete confusion. “I’m sorry. What?”
“We swiped right on some dates,” Margie explains.
I nearly spit out my drink. Somehow, I swallow before asking, “On a dating app?”
“No, on a slot machine,” she says with a pointed look.
I hold up a hand in defense. “Sorry. I’m just surprised. I didn’t know you all were looking to date.”
Cornelia sighs and pats my arm. “Dear boy, we’re old, not dead.” She smiles. “Look, there they are.” She points to two older gentlemen who are in the book section labeled “Billionaire Romance.”
“Well, have fun,” I say as Cornelia kisses my cheek and Margie pats my arm. I watch them walk over and wonder how I’ve had trouble wanting to date again but these two widows are ready to mingle. Shaking my head, I turn back to watch the only woman I’ve considered making mine since Lydia and I broke up.
She’s talking with some people that I don’t know. Taking a seat on a chair, I watch her as I drink my beer. The crowd is slowly exiting as the evening is coming to an end. After talking with their dates and getting their books signed, Cornelia and Margie and their gentlemen callers leave. And then Carly and Bray followed by Cam and Drew.
“How’s it going?” Al’s voice comes from next to me as he sits down in the chair on the other side of a small table.
“It’s going,” I reply.
He leans back. “She did good.” I glance over as he looks around. I can see a mix of pride and sadness on his face. It has to be hard being here tonight. I can only imagine this store holds so many memories for him.
“She did do good.” I pause. “I think Edith would like it.”
“She would. She loved a good romance story,” Al says with a faraway smile.
“What’s that like?” I ask.
He looks over at me. “What is what like, kid?”
“Being part of a good romance story,” I state because he was. Everyone who knew them saw it. They were the real deal.
He gives me a sad smile and leans over. “It was the best. You know, you shouldn’t give up on it. The best love stories come knocking when you least expect it. And sometimes, they come from the most unusual places.”
We both glance at Roxy. “That they do,” I agree as I feel myself itching to touch her for the second time tonight.
“You shouldn’t let that one get away, Grayson. She’s a once-in-a-lifetime woman. Trust this old man, he knows.” He chuckles as he points to himself.
“You know what, Al? You’re right,” I state.
“I know.” He looks at his watch. “Well, it’s past this old man’s bedtime.” He stands and tips his head at me, giving me a salute as he walks over to Roxy and kisses her cheek before leaving. The signing authors are packing up their things to leave and Roxy’s family is saying their goodbyes. Roxy is ever the professional, helping the authors, then the caterer and bartender.
I lean against a wall as I watch everyone pack up. Eventually, it’s just Roxy, Jocelyn, and myself.
“You ladies need anything?” I ask as I push off the wall.
“Nah,” Jocelyn says as she shuts down the computer, not bothering to look up at me.
“Go ahead home, Joc. I got it from here. I’ll see you tomorrow,” Roxy says, her eyes meeting mine.
“Oh, uh, OK. We did great tonight, by the way,” Jocelyn says.
“Oh?”
“Yep,” she says as she grabs a bag from under the desk. “See you tomorrow. Good night, Gray.”
“Good night, Joc,” I reply. She looks between us, and out of the corner of my eye, I see her roll her eyes.
When it’s just Roxy and I, she steps forward. Then I step forward. We meet in the middle of the store.
“You’re amazing, you know that,” I whisper as my hand comes up to cup her jaw.
She leans her head against my hand. “Say that again.”
“You. Are. Amazing,” I punctuate each word as I press my lips to hers.
I pull back after a moment because I know what I want. It’s crazy. I don’t know if it’ll make things better or worse, but at this moment, I don’t care.
I take her hand in mine and pull her toward the door.
She laughs. “Where are we going?”
“Keys,” I state.
She grabs them from under the desk and turns off the lights before locking the door. She follows me to my apartment. I open the door and she steps inside. I watch her dress swish as she walks, and fuck me, I need her in a way that I’ve never needed a woman.
I walk toward her, caging her against a wall and putting a hand on either side of her head. I run my nose along the long line of her neck and then her jaw. Her breath hitches.
“If you don’t want this, leave now,” I say as I pull one hand away, letting her have an out because if she stays, I want her, all of her.
“I want this,” she whispers in a barely audible voice.
I smirk. “Thank fucking God!” I growl as I bend down and hoist her over my shoulder, carrying her into my bedroom.