Chapter 8
eight
CIAR
Ciar cursed himself through the rest of the flight, ignoring the quiet conversations and Daniel and Dagr’s snoring. Jonathan made sure to video the two men, asleep and sitting side by side.
He sent it to the family’s group chat, which he normally would have enjoyed getting one over on Daniel, but he had been too deep in misery for mirth of any kind.
Once they’d landed, he tried to enjoy the Colorado countryside through the windows of the SUV, but even that was spoiled when Gray chose to ride in the second vehicle. The one he wasn’t in.
They’d reached the cabin, which didn’t meet his expectations. To him, cabin spoke of rustic accommodation and outdoor adventures.
The Griffiths’ “cabin” was a sprawling wonder, secluded and surrounded by giant spruce, fir, and pine trees, and who knew what else. He wasn’t a dendrologist after all—a term he’d learned from Blair.
For all the home’s seclusion, there were well-tended roads leading into the town of Telluride. The girls said it was one of the poshest towns in Colorado. As long as they had steak and vodka, he didn’t care much about any other details.
The cabin itself had ten bedrooms sprawling over one open level that still had stairs to climb here and there. Dagr said the architect wanted some of the natural landscape to dictate the floor plan.
Ciar tracked Gray, who was studiously ignoring his presence, to discover which bedroom she chose so that he could secretly get one near her.
He didn’t know why he told her that feelings don’t matter. He had her back in his arms, her tongue sliding so perfectly against his own, and he went brain dead.
Did he like speaking about his feelings? Not particularly. Until he’d begun to verbally kick his ass over the idiotic statement, he hadn’t realized that he’d never spoken to a woman about feelings. He’d never had any to speak about, honestly.
He did have them for Gray. “You’re an idiot,” he murmured as he slipped into his chosen room after Gray went into hers. He dropped his bags quickly and made his way back to the enormous kitchen and bar area so she would be none the wiser about who her next-door neighbor was.
Blair was there with an excited Bébhinn, who was describing how stunning Dagr’s rooms were. The grandness of American homes never ceased to amaze him. Even simple, working-class family homes had quadruple the garden area for kids to play and for get-togethers.
When Bébhinn turned to speak with Daniel, who was getting everyone drinks, Blair glared at him and signed, “Stop being a dumbass.”
He didn’t know if it was because of her deafness, but Blair saw more than most. Combine that with her big brain, and people weren’t able to get away with shit.
“I’m trying,” he grimaced. He didn’t sign, so no one would notice. She was highly adept at reading lips.
“Unsuccessfully,” was her response.
“Help me then.” Even mouthing the words sounded whiny.
“I’ll give you one thing, Ciar. Gray has mooned over you for years.” After that explosive intel, she turned back to Daniel and placed her drink order.
Ciar felt heat rip through his body and a shuddering thump in the vicinity of his heart. He hadn’t known. She never gave him more or less attention than the other guys.
If what Blair said was true, and she would never lie, he felt something akin to hope for the first time since his dinner with Daria.
Gray, Mags, Dagr, and Jonathan joined the group, and he couldn’t take his eyes off Gray. She wore a simple white button-up tucked into slim, straight-legged jeans, with simple sandals. He’d always thought her style was beautiful and classic.
She glanced his way and quickly moved on. He decided then that he wouldn’t give her space. She could like it, love it, or hate it, but he was going to be her new shadow.
Implementing his newest plan, Ciar casually moved, finding a place to lean against the bar behind Gray’s back. He watched her shoulders stiffen as Daniel handed him a drink, and Ciar let his arm graze her own as he reached.
“Thank you again for the invite, Dagr. This place is incredible.” Ciar took a sip of his vodka and was pleasantly surprised.
Dagr noticed and said, “I’m happy to have you. What do you think of the Aspen Vodka, then?”
“It’s no Absolut, but consider me impressed.” While everyone discussed their plans for the rest of the day, which included scouting around the property and ending with a cookout and relaxing in a hot tub, Ciar moved closer to Gray’s back.
He leaned in so he could speak quietly in her ear. “I’m sorry for being an idiot on the plane. I lied.” Her head swiveled enough for her to see his face before quickly turning to the front again.
“Feelings are important. The truth is, I’ve never had feelings before,” he hesitated, “you. Consider this your warning. I’m not giving up.”
Where no one could see, he slid his knuckles down her spine. He didn’t care whether their friends knew he was into Gray or not, but he wanted her ready. She needed to admit to her feelings too.