Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
T heo clicked mindlessly, searching for something to watch on TV, even though he wasn’t actually interested in viewing anything.
He’d mainly turned on the television hoping for a mindless escape, but he could see now that wasn’t going to happen.
He had too much on his mind to concentrate on anything that wasn’t Gretchen Banks.
A week had passed since that kiss in the barn, and he’d spent every moment since then reliving it.
Because it had been one hell of a kiss. He hadn’t lied when he told Gretchen he’d longed to do that since the day they’d met, but he hadn’t intended to lay one on her quite so soon… or quite so passionately.
He’d been telling himself since her arrival in September that he needed to approach Gretchen slowly, build a friendship with her first, let her get to know him better, and make sure she felt more comfortable in her position and her life here in Gracemont before letting his Storm side out.
So fucking much for that.
When she rushed into his arms, he felt her trembling, afraid of the thunder, and his protective, possessive nature took over. The kiss had solidified what he already knew. Gretchen was his. There wasn’t a doubt in his mind.
The problem was, she was carrying around some heavy secrets, things she still wasn’t ready to share with him.
He’d kicked his own ass for seven days straight, hating himself for scaring her so badly. Theo had known from the beginning that she had triggers, the flinching when he moved too fast or laughed too loud. He should have proceeded with caution, but that kiss…
He’d lost his head and touched her in a way that frightened her.
He couldn’t do that again. Wouldn’t.
While he’d managed to calm her down before her panic attack became full-blown, the fear in her eyes had absolutely gutted him.
Theo had continued to spend time with her at work and he hadn’t canceled the driving lessons, but he’d forced himself to return to “friend mode,” keeping an appropriate distance and eschewing all talk about his feelings.
He hated every single second of it.
Theo glanced up when he heard the front screen door open.
“Hey.” Levi walked into the house, peering through the double doors that connected the living room to the foyer. He was carrying a bushel of apples. “Did a fair amount of picking in the orchard today. Thought I’d share the bounty.”
Theo nodded his thanks, then listened as his brother carried the apples down the hall and into the kitchen before returning a minute later.
“Everyone still planning to go to the costume party at Whiskey Abbey’s tonight?” Levi dropped down next to him on the couch, propping his feet up on the coffee table next to Theo’s.
“Yeah. Jace and Sam spent the better part of the afternoon discussing their costumes. They’re coming as the Blues Brothers.”
Levi chuckled. “Kasi put together a couple’s costume for us too. She’s been working on it for days, determined to win a prize.”
“What are you coming as, or is it a surprise?”
“No surprise.” Levi ran a hand through his long hair. Ordinarily, he pinned it up, but today, it was hanging loose over his shoulders. “You’re looking at the Han Solo half of a Star Wars power couple.”
“Is Princess Leia sporting New Hope buns or Return of the Jedi braids?”
“Buns,” Levi replied, grinning widely.
“Sounds great.” Theo’s reply must’ve lacked the right level of enthusiasm, because Levi’s eyes narrowed with concern.
“You okay?”
Theo started to nod but wound up shaking his head instead.
He hadn’t told anyone about the kiss. Hell, he hadn’t come right out and told any of his brothers that Gretchen was the one, though he hadn’t exactly been hiding it.
He’d caught more than a few curious glances from Sam and Jace at the brewery whenever he and Gretchen were together.
Probably because Theo was constantly coming up with excuses to see her at the office, and he invited her to join them in all their after-hours shenanigans, and whenever she was in the vicinity, he was stuck to her side like she’d bathed in super glue.
“What’s going on?” Levi asked.
“It’s Gretchen,” he said miserably, confused when his big brother chuckled.
“You figured it out, huh?”
He narrowed his eyes. “Figured what out?”
“That’s she’s the one.”
Theo snorted. “Shit. I figured that out the day we met.”
Levi leaned back against the couch cushions, clearly settling in for a long story.
Before Theo could launch into it, Sam, Jace, and Maverick walked into the living room.
Sam, astute as always, homed in on Theo’s stressed-out expression—and Levi’s too-pleased one—and connected the dots quickly. “Is he finally ready to tell us about Gretchen?”
Levi nodded. “You got here just in time.”
“Am I that transparent?” Theo asked, even though he knew in this case, he was.
“Jesus. You all but hung a sign around her neck that said Property of Theo Storm the first week she was here,” Jace joked.
Then Maverick chimed in. “I reached out to shake her hand when you introduced us, and I swear to God you growled under your breath.”
Theo didn’t think he’d made a noise, though there was certainly a chance he had. Maverick had a reputation as a ladies’ man around town, and while he’d never been the jealous sort, Theo’s vision had gone a bit red at the idea of Maverick working his charm on Gretchen.
“You’re with her every damn day,” Jace added. “Even the weekends. She eats dinner here at least once or twice a week, something no other employee has ever done.”
Sam joined the fray. “You’re a happy-go-lucky guy, Theo. You always have been, but I’ve never seen you smile as much as you have this past month or so.”
Theo threw up his hands. “You’re right! About all of it. I’m crazy about her.”
Jace sank down on the recliner closest to Theo’s end of the couch, while Sam grabbed the one near Levi.
Maverick remained by the door, leaning casually against the jamb.
Probably because, unlike his other brothers, Maverick was the only one who put zero stock in Dad’s belief in love at first sight.
For some reason, talking about love and romance and happily ever after made his brother uncomfortable.
“When did you know she was the one?” Jace leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
“She stopped by the brewhouse a few days before she started work.”
Sam and Jace nodded, aware of that fact, since they’d been there.
“Gretchen came into my office, and we chatted for a few minutes. She started to leave, but I convinced her to join me for a drink at the brewery. I walked around my desk and said I was looking forward to working with her. I held out my hand, and she put hers in mine and…”
“Fireworks?” Levi asked.
“The planet tilted on its goddamn axis. I can’t believe I managed to remain standing,” he admitted.
“Love at first touch,” Jace breathed. “It happened to you just like it did Levi.”
Theo nodded in affirmation. “I’ve never felt anything that powerful.”
“So why the long face?” Sam asked.
“Let me guess,” Maverick said. “Gretchen doesn’t feel the same way.”
Theo sighed heavily—because that was the million-dollar question, wasn’t it? “I’m not sure how she feels.”
“She probably feels like you’re her boss and starting a relationship would be stupid.” Leave it to Maverick to speak the hard truths.
“She did mention that, yes.”
“Wait.” Jace raised one hand. “Why would she say that? Did you come out and tell her how you feel?”
Theo grimaced. “I knew I needed to approach Gretchen differently than the way Levi did Kasi. She and Levi had known each other their whole lives, so when he went all caveman and started beating his chest, she didn’t feel threatened.”
Levi rubbed his beard. “She might not have felt threatened, but that doesn’t mean she wasn’t also freaking out at my abrupt about-face, suddenly claiming she was mine and always would be. It took some convincing to get her to understand my feelings were sincere.”
Theo knew that, knew Kasi had been resistant at first, but Levi still had an advantage because, on top of Kasi knowing him well, she’d also harbored a crush on him since she was in high school.
“I get that, but up until five weeks ago, Gretchen didn’t know me from Adam, so I started at square one.
Because of that, I was attempting to practice patience. Become her friend first.”
Sam frowned. “Can’t help but notice the past tense. What did you do?”
“We were in the barn a week ago, the day of that nasty thunderstorm. The thunder frightened her, so I hugged her. One thing led to another, and…” He raised one shoulder.
Maverick filled in the blanks. “You kissed her.”
“For a good twenty minutes. I swear to God, I’d still be there now if I didn’t need to eat and sleep and work.”
“Wow,” Jace said. “That good?”
“It was perfect. Heaven on Earth.”
“And when it ended, she realized her mistake.” Maverick was batting a thousand today.
“She did. Pointed out it couldn’t happen again, and the boss thing?—”
“Remove the boss thing,” Levi interjected.
“What?” Theo asked.
Levi raked his fingers through his hair again. “Take that problem off the table. Make Nora her direct supervisor.”
Theo liked that idea. And he was sure if he explained the situation to his cousin, she’d be more than happy to assume that role.
It wasn’t like it required much extra work, because Gretchen had proven herself to be a competent employee, perfectly capable of working autonomously. Not much managing required at all.
Gretchen was looking at this connection between them differently than him, thinking that if things went south, she’d lose her job. Theo, however, knew that wasn’t going to happen because she was it for him. Lock, stock, and barrel.
“That’s a good idea. I’ll call Nora, but…” Theo grimaced.
“What else did you do?” Sam asked.
“I counteracted her arguments by telling her she was mine.”
All four of his brothers groaned in unison.
Jace shook his head. “Premature chest-beating, bro.”