Chapter Seven #2
“What are you doing here? Bernie’s up at the main house if you’re looking for him,” she said, convinced she could just push away the attraction between them like she would the rest of dinner when she was full.
“I came to check on you. We take guest safety very seriously around Get Lost,” Gray said, unfolding from his casual-looking position against the railing.
Hmm. She wondered if that was all it was for him.
Every instinct she possessed—not that she was well versed in the area of romantic relationships—suggested it was more.
For both of them. “I noticed. I’ve received VIP treatment from your entire family, so don’t worry, I’ll leave an excellent Yelp review.
” Charlie tried to project the same casual air that Grayson did, leaning against one of the porch posts.
Grayson’s deep laughter sent a soft shiver over her skin. How could a sound be alluring?
“You’re very funny, Charlie.” He took a step closer.
Her breath hitched. “Thanks. It’s not always intentional.”
Another step. “You sure about that? You seem like the kind of woman who is very careful about what she chooses to do.”
She smiled, impressed by his read on her. “That might be true in most cases. But not with humor. Sometimes what I say is funny, and other times, it just insults or upsets whomever I’m talking to.”
They were standing too close; it made her feel wobbly in a way that had nothing to do with her ankle. Why did he have to look so good? Smile in a way that made her insides feel like they were buzzing?
“What are you doing here, Grayson?”
His gaze met hers and held. Sucked her in. “How long do you think you’ll stay with Bernie?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Bernie said you’re from California. We don’t have palm trees, but there are way fewer people so you can enjoy what we do offer.” He paused, seeming to think about what he’d said. “What Smile offers, I mean. And even Mackinaw.”
She couldn’t help but smile. “So far, my ankle notwithstanding, I’m enjoying it.
You’re a very … curious person.” Was he like that with everyone?
It was nice to have a conversation that didn’t make her feel like he was looking for something deeper or more TMZ-worthy.
He was just a guy who loved his family, his lodge, and her uncle.
Grayson didn’t move but it felt like they’d somehow shifted nearer to each other. “I haven’t been. Not for a long time. About anyone. Until now.”
Charlie let out a pent-up breath. “We probably shouldn’t be too curious about each other.
I’m here to connect with Bernie and get to know him.
I needed a break from LA, but I’m going back.
You’re close to my uncle. Curious can lead to complicated faster than you can imagine.
” She should know. And the quickening rate of her pulse had complicated written all over it.
To him, she was no one she’d been before.
Not the daughter of a music legend or an aging actress.
Not a person who’d lost their dream job before they even started it because of a viral video that was currently the source of cringeworthy memes.
She was just a woman. Just Charlie. Why did that feel so freeing?
Grayson smiled in a way that made his eyes go darker. “You’re not wrong. And yet,” he paused, letting the air thicken with the tension of their stares. “Here we are. Have lunch with me tomorrow. I promise it won’t be Costco hot dogs.”
She laughed, relieved the sound didn’t come out as a nervous cackle. “Actually, I’m helping out your sister with a camp. One of your staff canceled.”
Maybe she swayed or maybe he moved but they were just about touching now. Magnets unable to resist each other.
His brows drew together. “Oh. You don’t have to do that.”
“I want to. I love working with kids. I—” Thankfully she stopped herself from saying that was the worst part of all of this. “Really. I’m going to be here a while and I don’t do well with idle time. Unless you don’t want my help.”
Their fingers brushed and a jolt of electricity whipped through her system, like it was shocking her back to life. A one different than the one she’d been living.
Birds whistled and sang above them. The breeze wafted over them, bringing the scent of fresh air, trees, and the water. Everything inside of Charlie felt loose and, for the first time in weeks, a little hopeful.
“I think it’s great that you’re helping Jilly. It’s really kind of you. Reminds me of when Bernie came that first summer I took over.”
“Oh, yeah?” She wanted to know more.
He nodded. “Yeah. Rain check on lunch?”
She’d come here to get away from who she was and what had happened.
Why not let herself have this time to figure out what she really wanted?
Maybe this unexpected detour didn’t have to be as soul crushing as it’d felt at the start.
What would she tell a patient? It’s okay to not know and plan every step, to not be able to see what’s at the end.
It’s okay to see what unfolds naturally.
To be someone else. After all, she’d done everything by the book in LA.
Lined up all the boxes, checked every one of them off.
And still ended up in Nowhere, Michigan, living in a cabin with a family member she barely knew.
She’d had a plan, a path, in California.
It’d imploded. It was up to her how she stacked the rubble back up around herself.
“How about dinner, tonight, instead?” Charlie asked.
Surprise widened his eyes and the smile that widened on his lips launched a flurry of excited activity behind her breastbone.
“That sounds perfect,” he said. “I’ll pick you up at eight.”
“I thought I’d feed you.” Home-field advantage and all that.
Grayson shook his head, linked their fingers for just a whisper of a second. Too fast to be sure it was real. Too fast to send sparks skittering along her skin the way they did.
“Nope. You’re saving my sister and my business tomorrow and you nearly broke your ankle today. Dinner is on me.”
Charlie laughed. “You know, when I left LA, I didn’t figure on finding such dramatic people out here in the middle of nowhere.”
Something soft and almost secretive came into his gaze. “That’s the great thing about being here. You never know exactly what you’ll find.”