Chapter 7 #2
The meeting continued for another hour and Cal took notes as needed, gently planting seeds of ideas to nurture for subsequent meetings and decisions.
The last order of business was the reminder about the kick-off party.
Reed stood and addressed the group. “Do y’all remember when we did all this at the pub?
I love how much we’ve grown this event.” He tipped his head toward Cal.
“And how much we’ll grow again. This year’s kick-off party will be on the ferry,” he continued.
“We’ll set up everything at the dock, so the whole town can come out if they want.
The DJ has last year’s playlist and he’ll include any new hits from the bands in last year’s showcase.
Many thanks to Holly and Vince, they’ve created a video reel for us so we can relive the highlights. ”
By the time the president ended the meeting, Cal was caught in that strange limbo between exhausted and wired.
He exchanged a few words with several committee members as they left, promising Levi would attend the kick-off party, and suddenly realized he was once more alone with Grace.
The silence that surrounded them was weighted with a decade of thoughts and feelings left unsaid.
“Thank you for the support,” he said.
“You’re welcome.” Her lips parted, then closed. “Your ideas are solid,” she added.
This day was one surprise after another.
Grace stood, gathering her pen and notebook, but her hand slipped and the notebook skidded across the table. They both reached to catch it at the same time and their hands collided.
The contact sent a jolt through this system.
A spark that traveled up his arm and settled directly in his chest. She gasped, her lips parting as her gaze locked with his.
Cal didn’t pull away. Instead, his fingers brushed over her knuckles, her skin silky and warm.
Helpless to resist, his body responded with longing and a jarring flare of hope.
This was not why he was here.
“Grace,” he whispered.
“Please don’t,” she breathed, though she didn’t move.
He wouldn’t push her. Couldn’t live with himself if he did. Although every encounter emphasized how much he missed her, how much he wanted her in his life, forcing her to acknowledge what they’d lost would surely backfire.
Reluctantly, he eased away from her. “Grace, we should talk.”
“I’m sorry I shoved you away,” she blurted. “Back then.”
As if he might’ve forgotten the moment his world fell apart.
“You did what you had to do. So did I.” Maybe this was the common ground he’d been overlooking.
“In the years since you left school, some piece of me has been searching for a reason to come here,” Calvin said.
“Every damn day. Every milestone hit, I wanted to call you. Celebrate with you.”
“Cal, you don’t have to—”
“What?” He cut her off. “I’ve heard how much you don’t need from me.” He advanced, slowly, giving her time to escape this room and all the tension in the air. “I even believed it was true. Until now.”
“I-I’m fine.”
“Are you?” He reached out and caressed her cheek, his fingers finally moving that wayward curl. “Everything I’ve heard around town is how dedicated you are to the business and community.”
“It’s my home.” Her chin notched up, a challenge in her gaze.
“But who’s romancing you, Grace?” He was close enough to breathe her in, to catch the spice of cola on her breath. “Brookwell gossip says you’re perpetually single.”
“You shouldn’t believe everything you hear.”
As a defense, it was hardly convincing. “Shouldn’t I?” He let his knuckles stroke down the column of her throat.
“No one else is you,” she whispered, her eyes locked with his. Then her gaze dropped to his mouth. “Will you kiss me? Please, just once more.”
He cradled her head in his hand. “Once more won’t be enough,” he vowed.
She didn’t argue or beg. She simply pushed up on her toes and closed the distance. The contact, her lips on his, sent him reeling. His pulse thundered in his ears and despite the rush, a profound sense of rightness settled over him.
Grace was where he was meant to be. Then. Now. Always.
Her soft moan spurred him on and he deepened the kiss, holding her close until it seemed her heartbeat matched his. Her taste was sweeter for the absence and her hands roamed along his shoulders, clinging, filling his mind with memories of being with her.
He didn’t dare stop. What if she meant it and this was his last taste of her? His hands explored her curves, learning the feel of her all over again. What he wouldn’t give for a bed to appear out of thin air.
She eased back, her breath heaving and her gaze following the path of her fingers over the knitting of his sweater. Who knew that was sexy? “That was…” She licked her lips.
Incredible. Right. Addictive. Something they should spend hours on every damn day. He settled on, “Amazing.”
She nodded. “Thank you.”
No. The transactional implication was as effective as a bucket of ice water. “Don’t thank me for wanting you.”
That brought her eyes back to his and he saw the sheen of welling tears before she blinked them away.
“Talk to me, Grace. You used to trust me with all of you.” And it had hurt like hell when he couldn’t be what she needed.
“That was years ago.”
“And this is now,” he said. What would she make of this moment?
“You built a business, Calvin. Did all the things to create a new world for yourself.” Her hands rested over his racing heart. “It’s just not my world.”
“Maybe it could be.” The words slipped out. Pure need and hope. Denial of the point she was making.
He kissed her again. Not as a query, as an answer. She was the only answer for him. He kissed her as a reclaiming of what they’d shared once. And what he wanted to share again. The passion and friendship that was uniquely theirs.
She had to give them a second chance. How could he help her see that they weren’t done? He wasn’t over her. Not even close.
Her hands gripped his sweater, yanking him closer. Yes. Exactly where he wanted to be.
When he broke the kiss, he rested his forehead against hers. “Levi hired me to be here, but you’re the reason I agreed. This isn’t just a marketing contract, Grace. Not for me.”
Grace pressed her lips together and took a deliberate step away. “It has to be. I can’t do this, Cal. Two different worlds can’t magically line up. I-I can’t.”
“I disagree. Not trying would be a crime. We’re in different places, but we’re the same people. Give us another chance, Grace.” He caught her hand in both of his before she could race out of the room. “Let me take you to dinner.”
He could see the “yes” in her eyes. But that’s not what she said. “No, thank you. I can’t go into this knowing you’ll be leaving.” She turned and fled the room and all he saw was the one woman he wanted running from the truth.