Chapter 14
Love is a friendship set to music.
—Joseph Campbell
With his hand on her back, Grayson guided Emma through the kitchen to the mudroom, where they donned their coats. He looped her scarf around her neck and drew her in close to him for a kiss. “Bonus time.”
“I was thinking the same thing.”
“I’ve never loved my aunt Molly more than I do right now.”
“I was in full-on girl crush with her before she offered to keep Simone.”
“She is pretty damned awesome.” He opened the door and gestured for her to go ahead of him into the icy night.
When they were in the SUV, he said, “So we’re going to Will’s?”
As she did every time she got in his vehicle, she immediately turned on the seat warmer. “I thought so. Where else would we go?”
Grayson answered her saucy question with a grin. “I can’t think of a single other place we might go.” He reached across the center console for her hand. “How do you feel about a brief visit with Will, Cameron, Lucy and the others?”
“I feel like that might be rude.”
“So?”
Emma laughed at the impatient way he said that. “They’ll talk about us if we do that.”
“Um, newsflash, sweetheart, they’re already talking about us.”
“Does that bother you?”
“Not even kinda. Let them talk.” He glanced over at her. “Does it bother you?”
“No, not really. It’s been a long time since I’ve been involved in anything worth talking about.”
“The teasing is all in good fun in my family. I hope you know that.”
“I do. Of course I do.”
“I won’t let it get out of hand. Don’t worry.”
“I’m not worried.” What she thought but didn’t say was that there wouldn’t be much for them to talk about after tonight.
They pulled into Will and Cameron’s driveway, which was full of trucks and SUVs. The cabin was lit up, and smoke curled from the chimney into the darkness. Above them, the night sky was full of more stars than Emma had ever seen before.
“It’s so beautiful here,” she said wistfully.
“Even when it’s freezing?”
“Even then.”
He put his arm around her shoulders as they walked to the door, escorted by Will’s excited yellow Labs, Trevor and Tanner. “So yes to a brief visit?”
“Brief but not rude.”
Dropping his hand from her shoulder, he gave her ass a squeeze that let her know exactly what was on his mind. “I can work with that.”
Even though the air around them was frigid, heat zinged through her bloodstream at the thought of more time alone with him later.
Grayson walked right into his cousin’s home, where everyone turned to greet them.
Emma felt like the proverbial moose in the headlights with all eyes on her and Grayson.
Cameron and Lucy came over to hug her.
“There you are!” Cam said. “I wondered if you’d gotten the message to come over.”
Emma gave Grayson a grateful smile when he helped her out of her coat. “Molly told us.”
“Where ya been all day?” Lucy asked, glancing from her to him and then back to her again.
“Grayson took us for a sleigh ride, and we hung out with Lucas for a while. Then we had pizza at Kingdom Pizza and went back to the Abbotts’. They offered to keep Simone if I wanted to go out, and here I am. That’s my whole day accounted for.”
“Sounds like fun.”
“It was.”
Lucy gave her a measuring look, letting her know there was much more she wanted to say, but she’d never do that in front of a crowd. “Come get a drink.”
Emma followed Lucy and Cameron to the kitchen, suspecting she was in for a grilling about Grayson and what would happen next for them. If only she had the answer to that question.
Grayson wanted to take her by the hand and get the hell out of there.
He wanted to go to his new apartment and lose himself in her for hours until the time came when he had to let her go—for now, anyway.
Tomorrow was going to suck, but tonight…
Tonight he would be able to hold her and kiss her and make love to her.
“What’s up with you?” his cousin Wade asked.
“Nothing. Why?”
“You’re tense.”
“Am I?”
“Uh-huh. Something tells me it has everything to do with a gorgeous blonde who’s going back to her real life tomorrow. Am I warm?”
“You’re warm,” he said with a sigh.
“She’s really nice, and her daughter is a cutie.”
“I agree.”
“What’re you going to do about her?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“Might be time to make a plan, unless you want her to get away.”
The thought of that made him feel panicky and overheated.
He tugged at the neck of his sweater. During the time he’d spent with Emma and Simone today, he’d done a pretty good job of forgetting about the situation with his father, but that, too, weighed heavily on him tonight. “What would you do if you were me?”
Wade laughed. “I’m the last one you should ask for romance advice.”
“Why’s that?”
“The only woman I’ve ever felt something for is married to someone else. What do I know about how to deal with things like this?”
“Who is she?” Gray asked, intrigued by the rare glimpse at Wade’s private life.
“No one you know.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It is what it is,” Wade said with bravado that sounded forced. “Have you told her how you feel about her?”
“Only that I want to see her again.”
“Might be worth putting it all on the table if you’re determined to make it work.”
“Too soon.”
“Is it?”
“For her, it probably is. She’s reserved and cautious.”
“Makes sense. She has a lot on the line with a daughter to think about.”
Before Grayson could reply, Ella plopped down on the sofa next to him. “I was over at the apartment today and took most of my stuff. I left things like sheets, towels and pans that I don’t need. If you don’t want them, let me know, and I’ll donate them.”
“Sounds good, thanks.”
“You’re taking over the apartment at the Abernathy place?” Wade asked.
“That’s the plan.” Or it was the plan as recently as two days ago, Grayson thought. Now he didn’t know anything for sure except he wanted more with Emma. With that in mind, he caught her eye in the kitchen and tipped his head toward the front door.
Her face turned bright red before she shook her head to say not yet.
Amused and aroused by her, he turned his attention back to his cousins, both of whom were watching him intently. “What?”
“Got some plans, cousin?” Ella asked, her eyes dancing with amusement.
“Maybe.”
“Good for you,” she said. “I love Emma. She’s so sweet, and that daughter of hers is a trip.”
“Couldn’t agree more. They’re both great.”
“What’re you going to do about it?”
“Hell if I know. I thought I had my shit all figured out, and then wham.”
“Can I say one thing?” Wade asked, his expression more intense than Grayson had ever seen it.
“Sure.”
“No matter what happens, don’t have regrets,” Wade said. “Regrets are tough to live with.”
His cousin seemed to speak from experience.
Ella’s eyes softened with compassion. “Wade…”
“That’s all I want to say about it. Don’t have regrets, Gray.”
“I hear you. Thank you.”
Colton came over to the sofa. “Gray, come help me take Will’s dogs out.”
“Will’s dogs were just out.”
“They need to go out again.”
“Subtle,” Ella said under her breath.
“If I don’t come back, you’ll look for me, won’t you?” Grayson asked her.
Ella giggled. “I will. I promise.”
Grayson got up, grabbed his coat off a pile on a chair near the door and followed Colton out the door, the dogs bolting out ahead of them. “Whatever you want to say to me, say it fast. It’s colder than Jack Frost’s balls out here.”
“What’s up with you and Emma?”
“I’m sure you already know.”
“I want to hear it from you.”
“I like her. We’ve had fun together this week.”
“That’s all? Fun?”
“What’re you getting at, Colton?”
“She means everything to Lucy. It would hurt her if Emma got hurt, and if Lucy’s hurt, I hurt. You follow?”
“Um, I think so…”
“Don’t hurt her, Gray. She’s special, and so is Simone.”
“You think I don’t already know that? I get it.”
“What happens after they go home?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“Figure it out.”
“No pressure,” he muttered.
“Lucy is worried. If she worries, I worry. You got me?”
“I hear you. I don’t want Lucy to worry or Emma to be hurt any more than you do. Give me a little credit, will you? And give me some time. We have things to work out, but it’s not going to happen overnight.”
“Fair enough.”
“Can we go in now?”
“Yeah, sure.”
“Gray.”
He turned back to his cousin. “Yeah?”
“If you think it’s not going to happen, let her down easy, will you?”
“Of course I will. And for what it’s worth, I’m not trying to figure a way out. I’m trying to figure out how I can have more. Much more.”
Before Colton could reply, Grayson went back inside where Emma was staring at the door, seemingly waiting for him to come back.
“What’s Colton saying to him?” Emma asked her sister.
“I have no idea.”
“No idea at all?”
“Maybe the slightest idea. I’m worried about you. He’s picked up on that.”
“There’s nothing to worry about.”
“No?”
“No. We had a really nice week, but it is what it is.” The hopelessness of it all weighed on her.
“That’s it? You’re just giving up before you even try?”
“What would you have me do? I can’t exactly split my time between here and New York the way you do.
I have a child who goes to school and dance and soccer and has friends.
I have a job with benefits that I need. I have a tribe in the city that makes it possible for Simone to do everything she wants to do.
Dad is there, and he helps me a lot. Grayson just moved back here and is planning to set up a business.
How in the world do you see this working out? ”
Lucy wilted under the strength of Emma’s argument. “I want it to work. I like the way you sparkle when you’re with him.”
“I like it, too. And I like him—a whole lot.”
“But?”
“No buts.”
“What’s she saying?” Cameron asked Lucy when she joined them after playing hostess.
“That it’s hopeless.”
“No, it isn’t,” Cameron said emphatically. “You and I know better.”
“In her case, it might be.”
“I don’t believe that,” Cameron said. “If two people are meant to be together, it works out. Somehow.”
“Only in the movies,” Emma said with a smile for her friend.
“In real life, too,” Cameron insisted. “We’re surrounded by examples of that right here in this room.
Me and Will, Lucy and Colton, Ella and Gavin.
Not to mention Charley and Tyler and Hunter and Megan.
Every one of those couples overcame tremendous odds to make it work, because it was meant to be. ”
Emma wished she believed in fairy tales the way Cameron did, but life had taught her to be more practical.
Grayson came in from outside and caught her gaze. Did he seem annoyed, or was that her imagination? The look he gave her left no doubt that he wanted to leave. Now.
“We’re going to go,” Emma said, hugging her sister and then Cameron. “I’ll see you girls again soon, I hope.” Life in New York had been a whole lot less fun since they moved north. “Lu, Simone was hoping to see you before we leave in the morning.”
“I’ll come by early,” Lucy said.
“Emma,” Cameron said, “I know you think I’m full of crap—”
Emma laughed. “I never said that!”
“I know you. I know what you’re thinking. Cameron has her head in the clouds. But I really believe everything I said. If you have genuine feelings for him, and vice versa, somehow you’ll figure it out.”
“That’d be very nice,” Emma said, hugging Cameron again.
“She’s placating me, isn’t she?” Cameron asked Lucy.
“I’d say you’re correct.”
“I heard you both. I love you both. And I’ll talk to you soon.” She walked over to where Grayson held her coat.
“Leaving so soon?” Will asked when he came to see them off.
“Emma and Simone have to get to Burlington in the morning,” Grayson said.
Colton hugged Emma. “It was great having you and Simone with us this week.”
“We loved every minute of it.”
“Come see us again soon.”
“I’m sure Simone will be dragging me up here for another skiing lesson before too long.”
“I’m happy to give her another lesson any time she wants,” Colton said.
Will shook hands with Grayson. “Drive carefully.”
“Will do. Thanks for the beer.”
“Any time.”
Emma and Grayson ran out into the tundra, where the air was so cold, it hurt to breathe. He stayed with her until she was safely in the SUV and then ran around to his side and started the engine.
She immediately turned on the heated seat. “I’m going to miss your bun warmer.”
“Is that right?” he said with a low chuckle.
She snuggled into the seat. “Mmm.”
“I’m going to miss your warm buns.”
Emma laughed.
“Is the bun warmer the only thing you’re going to miss?” he asked.
“No. You know I’m going to miss much more than that.”
He gave her a small smile that let her know she wasn’t the only one wrestling with their impossible dilemma. “You want to go back to Molly’s?”
“What’re my options?”
“We could go to my place for a little while.”
At the thought of more time alone with him, her heart beat faster and her entire body felt warm despite the frigid temperatures.
She knew what she ought to do—call it a night and go home before they could make things worse.
But honestly, how could it be any worse than her leaving here tomorrow and not seeing him again for a long time? “We can go to your place.”
“Are you sure?”
“No,” she said with a laugh. “I’m not sure of anything other than I want to spend more time with you.”
He ran his finger over her cheek, and she felt his touch everywhere. “I want that, too.” His hand dropped from her face to shift the SUV into reverse. As soon as they were on the road back to town, he took hold of her hand, and he didn’t let go until they were parked in his driveway.
Before he shut off the engine, he leaned across the center console to kiss her. His hand sank into her hair, drawing her closer to him as the kiss went from sweet and tender to hot and bothered with one stroke of his tongue against hers.
She curled her hand around his neck and leaned in closer as their tongues engaged in a fierce duel.
He broke the kiss on a gasp. “Inside. Hurry.”