Chapter 9
NINE
Grace knew something was different as soon as she saw Owen. There was an intensity to his dark gaze that she hadn’t felt before.
She and Angela wandered along the street, going from store to store. She’d been thrilled when Angela had contacted her about coming down the mountain to finish up her Christmas shopping. Grace had good friends in town, but Angela was different. There was a depth to her, and an experience in her expression that Grace understood. Maybe simply because they’d both lived in cities before moving to small towns. She didn’t know what it was, but she really enjoyed hanging with her. And she enjoyed helping her spend money.
“I don’t need something for everyone in the sanctuary, but I do have several people I want to buy for. What do you think Black needs?”
That one took her back. “I don’t think I know him well enough to tell you what to get him.”
She didn’t tell Angela that she’d already used the single idea she’d had.
Angela gave her a look, then quirked a brow over her shoulder. Owen was standing on the street outside the store, leaning against the lamppost. He wore his black hat, and it was tipped down right now, like he was looking at his phone. As Grace watched, he lifted his head and looked directly at her, as if he’d felt her staring. Their eyes held for a long moment before she forced herself to look away.
Owen Black was a temptation to her, and she needed to figure out how to shut it off. He had no interest in getting to know her. “I’m just not sure, Angela. He keeps it pretty businesslike between us.”
“But you want more?” Angela asked.
Grace winced. “I would love more, but I already made a pass at him and he very definitively turned me down.”
Angela seemed to ponder that for a minute, before she sighed. “I don’t know him well, but Owen Black has a sense of responsibility stronger than most of the male population I know. He was sent down here with a very vague plan, and he’s managed to build a life for all of the men on the mountain. That sense of responsibility is to a fault, though. He hasn’t given himself permission to be happy because he’s working so hard, and he’s lost sight of that. I will say, though, he smiles more than he used to.”
“He doesn’t laugh very much though,” Grace murmured. She cocked her head. “Actually, I’ve never seen him laugh.”
“No, I haven’t either,” Angela agreed.
They wandered down the next aisle as Grace thought about her words. She could definitely see that sense of responsibility in him.
“Plus,” Angela said, “the men on the mountain are not normal men. They’ve come from a horrendous situation, and he feels it’s his job to protect them.”
“From me,” she asked incredulously.
Angela nodded slowly. “From everyone.”
“What kind of situation,” she asked.
Angela tilted her head, obviously debating her answer. “It’s up to them to tell you that. I can’t. Just know that it was bad and that they’re all recovering. Even Owen. So it might take him a little longer to open up.”
Grace nodded, taking in her words. “Okay. I can be patient.”
Angela winked at her. “I have a feeling he’ll be worth it.”
Grace glanced at the front window. There was a shine on the glass, but she could feel him looking at her. That look made her jittery inside. He may not want to date her, but she knew that when a man looked at a woman a certain way, the attraction was there. “You may be right,” she said eventually. “Let’s go get a coffee.”
Black straightened as the women left the store. Angela was a beautiful woman in her own right, but Grace took all of his attention. Even when he glanced away from her, he could feel her warmth and energy as she stopped in front of him, bundled in her bright coat.
“We’re going to get a coffee, if you’d like to join us,” she said, then her mouth tightened, like she expected him to tell her no.
“I’d like a coffee,” he said, and motioned for the women to precede him down the street.
Grace and Angela fell into step with each other as Grace led them to The Bean Scene, across from the courthouse on the square. The place had fantastic coffee, but every time he’d been in here, it had been packed. Today was no different. There were twenty-three people in the small shop. It was Christmas Eve eve, and obviously the crowds were out doing last-minute shopping.
“Tell me what you want and you guys grab that table,” he said, motioning toward the corner. They each related what they wanted, and he moved to the line. From his peripheral, he watched Grace wade through the crowd, responding to greetings from every direction. The townspeople loved her.
When he returned with their orders, he realized how tiny the table was accommodating three people. Owen sat down, his knees brushing against Grace’s. A shiver raced through him at that innocuous touch, and he shifted a little to give her space, but not completely away. He liked the feel of her warmth against his own. He rested his hat on his opposite knee, to be polite.
“I feel like you’ve been sitting on a treasure, Black,” Angela said, and he glanced at her sharply. She wore a small, sly smile, and he knew she didn’t mean the town or the coffee shop.
“It is stunning, isn’t it,” he said, lifting his cup to his lips.
“Indeed,” she agreed.
“And you arrived at the perfect time,” Grace said, her eyes flicking between them as if she sensed they weren’t talking about the town. “Whisper Hollow is the most beautiful in the wintertime. February/ March time it gets slushy and muddy, but then it brings on a fabulous spring. We have a vendor fair around Easter to die for. And there’s so much to do in the summer.”
Angela grinned. “You sound like you work for the chamber of Congress.”
Grace laughed, her eyes shining. “Sorry.”
“Did she tell you she wants to be mayor?” Owen said.
Angela’s eyes widened. “No way! That’s incredible!”
Grace actually blushed a little, and Owen stared because she was so stinking cute. She shrugged a little. “What can I say? I love this little town. And I see some things that can be changed to make things better for the community.”
Angela looked between the two of them. “You’re both planning communities. Huh… You have a lot in common.”
Owen had never thought about it that way, but he supposed they did. Before he could think better of it, he lifted a brow at Grace. “Maybe we can get together sometime and talk about our communities.”
Grace blinked, shocked, then her cheeks went pink again. “I would love that,” she said softly. “You tell me when.”
Owen wanted to reach across the table and pull her in for a kiss, but that would probably be too much for this sedate coffee shop. He stared at her for a long moment, watching her irises dilate and her heartbeat pick up beneath the thin skin of her neck. Then a pink flush rolled up that skin and into her face. Her body was responding to him, and he hadn’t even done anything other than look at her and invite her to a vague meeting.
Owen dropped his gaze to give himself a chance to get his own body under control, because her response had spiked his. It was like now that he’d given himself permission to engage, his libido was taking over. Blood pounded in his ears, and his jeans had become uncomfortable.
It was ridiculous. He was thirty-four years old, and he’d never responded to a woman this way. And certainly not in public!
Turning, he looked out the window, but that made his knees brush against hers again. He shifted his chair back an inch and mumbled a sorry when he bumped the person behind him. That reminded him how many people were in here, and a hot flush rolled over him. He suddenly needed to get out. It was too much, and his emotions were putting him on edge. His heart raced.
He pushed up from the chair. “Excuse me,” he growled, and wove his way out of the shop. He knew people were probably watching him, but he didn’t care.
Once on the street, away from the crowd, he was better. He drew in great gulps of cold air. And he cursed himself for having that reaction. For having any reaction. He was usually pretty good in crowds. Better than he’d ever been. It wasn’t a normal day, though. His anxiety about Grace had fed other uncertainties.
Owen knew he was a man’s man, but freaking out like that pissed him off. It made him feel weak. If it had been one of his men, he wouldn’t have thought twice about the incident. They all had triggers. Up on the mountain, it was easy to get away. Hell, up on the mountain they didn’t have nearly the same amount of triggers, even.
He felt Grace leave the coffee shop, and he grimaced as he looked up. He wasn’t embarrassed, per se, but he was cautious about her response.
“I have something for you,” she said when she stopped in front of him. “I debated whether to even give it to you.”
So, she wasn’t going to mention his freak out. He wasn’t sure if he was appreciative or not. Was she not acknowledging it because she didn’t want to deal with it? Or was she trying to be considerate?
Grace had kind eyes, but he could see worry in them now as she held out a small gift wrapped in red with a silver bow. Surprise rolled through him. “You didn’t need to get me anything,” he said, his voice more gruff than normal. “I didn’t get you anything.”
She shrugged lightly, her smile broadening. “It makes me happy to give.”
He stared at that smile for a long time before he slid a finger under the tape on the end and ripped the paper off. She held her hand out for it as he opened the box. He didn’t understand what it was, at first, until he drew the length of beaded leather out of the box. “Is this a hat band?”
She nodded. “The black hat is very cool, but it needs just a little decoration.”
The beaded strap was beautiful. It had a bit of a native American, maybe Cherokee? flavor, but with more sedate colors, browns and tans and black, with a touch of deep blue. It was stunning, and he was struck speechless.
“I’ve never been given anything like this. It’s beautiful.”
Owen immediately removed his hat and wrapped the band around the crown. She showed him how to tie the leather thongs, then she tucked a tiny pin through the leather to keep it in place, one on each side. He held the hat out at the length of his arm and grinned. “It looks like it belongs there,” he said, and plopped the hat back on his head.
Grace grinned and nodded her head knowingly. “I thought it would.”
“Thank you, Grace.”
Before he even thought about his actions, he leaned down to press a kiss to her cheek. Grace drew in a breath and turned her head toward him, as if looking for more. The tension between them snapped with possibility. Owen drew back, staring into her eyes, and he could feel what she wanted. What they both wanted. Leaning in, he pressed a kiss to her plump lips.
It was meant to be a quick kiss, but that’s not what happened. As soon as his lips touched hers, he knew there was no way he could stop there. And then she cupped the back of his neck, holding him to her, and he knew she felt the same way.
Owen lost himself in Grace’s taste and her peppery ginger scent. The world around him faded away as he kissed her, the bustling street and busy coffee shop disappearing into a soft blur. Even though she was a lot smaller than him, her warmth seemed to envelop him. And he didn’t need his enhanced senses to feel her heartbeat quickening in tandem with his own. It was electrifying, thrilling, and utterly unexpected.
When they finally pulled apart, both breathless, Owen searched her eyes for any sign of hesitation. Instead, he found excitement. And appreciation. “Wow,” she whispered, her cheeks flushed.
“Yeah, wow,” he replied, still reeling from the kiss. He hadn’t meant for it to become so intense, but she drew him in, igniting a fire he hadn’t felt in years. Or maybe even ever.
“Maybe I should get back to Angela,” she suggested, glancing toward the entrance of the coffee shop. “Are you okay?” she asked softly, concern lacing her voice.
“Yeah, just… a lot happening,” he admitted, running a hand over his jaw. “It’s been a while since I felt anything like that.”
“Me too,” she confessed, a shy smile creeping onto her face. “It’s nice to feel something real, isn’t it?”
“Absolutely.” He took a moment to appreciate the vulnerability in her words. “I’m sorry I walked out earlier. I’m usually better in crowds.”
Grace waved a dismissive hand. “You don’t have to explain. I get it. This place can be overwhelming. Anyway, I just wanted to check on you, and maybe distract you from whatever you were feeling.”
His throat tightened. She had realized what he’d been dealing with, and she’d tried to give him something else to think about. “Thank you, Grace.”
“No problem,” she said. “Maybe if we didn’t have a third wheel…” She gave him a saucy wink before she turned and went back into the coffee shop.
Owen watched the way her ass moved in her jeans and knew he was in deep trouble.
Angela pretended to fan herself when Grace walked back into The Bean Scene, and Grace winced. She knew her cheeks had to be brilliant pink. There were a lot of people in here that knew her, and she would definitely be the prime piece of gossip at the bistro tonight. “Stop it,” she gasped, but Angela just laughed.
“Girl, you almost match your coat,” Angela said as she sank back down into the chair she’d vacated.
“In my defense,” she told her new friend, “the man can kiss.”
Angela’s eyes widened, and she wiggled her brows suggestively. “I bet he can do other things, too.”
Grace had to cover her face with her hands for a minute. “You’re terrible,” she gasped. She didn’t tell her she’d already been imagining those other things. A lot. She’d been panting over Owen Black for months.
Angela only gave her a suggestive look, sipping at her iced coffee.
“I felt bad when he left like that,” Grace said, glancing back out the window. Owen had moved down the street a little, and was sitting on a bench, scrolling through his phone. His shoulders still seemed tense, though. As she watched, he took off his hat and looked at the band, then plopped it back on his head.
“Well, you did the right thing,” Angela said, her tone changing. “When they have panic attacks or flashbacks, it’s best to leave them alone for a few minutes before you approach them. And sometimes they need a distraction. I’ve distracted Aiden with a kiss before. And more,” she said, grinning.
“I dated a guy in New York that had been in the military,” Grace said, the situation just occurring to her. “He didn’t really see combat, he said, but he still had issues with crowds. We couldn’t ride the subway, because of it.”
Angela nodded. “It’s one of the more common things the guys come home with. They’ve learned to be fearful of crowds, because it hides suicide bombers. They’ve literally been trained to avoid crowds like this.” She glanced around the shop pointedly. It was mid-afternoon, and people packed every table, taking a break from their shopping. “That training is hard to forget.”
Grace nodded, her mind on Owen’s face when he’d pushed up out of the chair. She’d wanted to reach out and grab him, make sure he was all right, but she’d forced her hands to stay in her lap. She’d given him exactly three minutes before she went to check on him.
And that was probably wrong, because Angela was technically here to see her. She shouldn’t have left her. “I’m sorry I just left you here…”
Angela waved a hand. “Believe me, I totally understand. If it had been Aiden, I would have done exactly the same thing.”
“But we’re not…” Grace grimaced, trying to explain, but Angela shook her head.
“It doesn’t matter what you are to each other. You saw a veteran that was having an issue and you went to check on him. I appreciate that. All the men on the mountain are vets, and while we try to prepare them for dealing with people and towns, there might be another issue pop up like this.” Angela leaned back in her chair, her expression turning serious. “It’s a different world for them, even in a setting like this. They’re trying to adapt, but a tiny trigger can pull them back to a place they’re fighting hard to leave behind.”
Grace sighed, her thoughts still lingering on Owen. “I just hope I didn’t overstep. I want to help, but I also don’t want to push him.”
“You did fine,” Angela reassured her, a soft smile returning to her lips. “Just being there for him is a huge step. It shows you care, and that means a lot.”
Grace looked out the window again, watching as Owen read from his phone, lost in thought. “I really like him, Angela. I’ve never felt a pull to another person like that.”
Angela’s expression softened. “I think he really likes you, too, Grace.”
She sighed, letting the little spark of excitement and wonder settle in. “I appreciate you saying that.”
She sipped at her drink and leaned down to dig into her purse. She drew out the second present she’d wrapped earlier. “I may not see you till after Christmas, so I thought I would give you this now.”
Angela’s eyes lit with excitement, then dimmed. “I didn’t get you anything,” she said, frowning.
Grace shook her head. “Like I told Owen, I love the giving part of Christmas.”
Angela tore the paper from the box and lifted the lid, gasping when she saw what was inside. “Oh, my gosh! It’s the pin I loved in the artist’s store!”
She drew out the black and gray horse’s head, with the trailing, beaded mane. “This person must have amazing eyesight.”
Grace laughed. “Well, I’ll admit, sometimes I do use magnifiers.”
Angela gawked at her. “Wait, you made this?”
Grace nodded, and she loved the stunned look on Angela’s face.
“This is amazing,” she breathed, and moved to pin the horse to her dark coat. “Thank you so much! Oh, I love it!”
“That looks really nice there,” Grace said, nodding, and laughed when Angela leaned over the table to give her a tight hug.
Angela rested her fingers on the piece even when she sat back in her chair, and she seemed to be thinking about something. She looked up and caught Grace’s gaze. “I know this is probably a crazy question, but do you have plans for Christmas?”
“Well, we usually head to my mom and dad’s house early and congregate there. We watch the littles open packages and usually end up watching a ball game or something.”
Angela nodded. “Well, if you’re interested, we’re planning a big dinner. Most of the men will be there, as well as Jordyn. She’s the only other woman up on the mountain right now, and I think she would love you. We have an amazing kitchen crew who will be doing up something special…”
Grace cocked her head, considering. It would have been nice if Owen had been the one inviting her. “Don’t the men go home for Christmas?”
Angela gave her a thoughtful look. “They have the option to go, but most of them will stay on the mountain. The men are… a little disconnected from their former lives. And just so you know, they may react to your being there with… apprehension. They’re a tight-knit crew, and even I feel left out sometimes.”
“You’re building the invite up so well,” Grace laughed.
Angela winced and looked out the window. Then she glanced around the coffee shop. No one was bothering them. Everyone seemed to be lost in their own little bubbles of conversation, so Grace was curious why Angela was behaving the way she was.
Angela finally caught her gaze again. “You are welcome to join us, but just be prepared to have an open mind. The group is…” she shook her head. “The men are all incredible,” she said firmly. “But there may be some subtext you don’t understand.”
“Okay…”
Why was she being so weird about this? “Maybe I should wait for another day.”
Angela shook her head. “No, I think it’s the perfect time to join us,” and she gave Grace a soft smile.
By the time they left the coffee shop, Grace was a confused mess. She really enjoyed Angela, but did she want to get involved with drama on the mountain?
As soon as she looked back at Owen, she knew the answer was yes. “I’ll join you for dinner,” she said, and Angela grinned.
“Fantastic!”