Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Grayson sat at his usual table in the tasting room, a half-finished turkey club and a big glass of iced tea in front of him.
It was a welcome relief to be home after the whirlwind weekend, filled with festival crowds, loud music, and nonstop talking.
He was officially “peopled” out. This morning felt like bliss when he returned to his quiet office, chatting with Maverick over a cup of coffee for a few minutes before the two of them separated to handle their own tasks.
He’d planned to eat lunch alone in his office, but Jace had shown up, intent on dragging him out.
Grayson hadn’t put up much of a fight, since one of Mila’s turkey clubs sounded a hell of a lot better than the peanut butter and jelly sandwich he’d slapped together before walking to the winery.
Mondays were slow days at the tasting room, so apart from the soft music playing overhead and the low hum of conversation from the three small groups of locals who’d come more for Mila’s delicious lunch than the wine, it was equally peaceful here.
“So?” Jace asked. “You got back late last night. I didn’t get a chance to ask. How did the festival go? Sheriff Anderson hasn’t shown up to arrest you, so I’m assuming you didn’t kill Lark. Which is a good thing, because my GoFundMe didn’t raise quite enough to cover your bail.”
Grayson huffed out a laugh. “Lark is in one piece.”
Jace was clearly unsatisfied with that response. “Come on, dude. My weekend was boring as shit. I figured I’d get one hell of a good grumpfest story from you about how much Lark drove you crazy.”
“Sounds like you were banking on enjoying my pain,” Grayson remarked, amused.
He and Jace were the babies of the family, sons six and seven, so in addition to being brothers, they’d been each other’s primary playmates growing up.
He figured the two of them had driven their Matchbox cars approximately five million miles around the farm, shot hundreds of paper targets and empty cans with their BB guns, and stolen dozens of their mother’s homemade cookies together when she wasn’t looking.
Jace didn’t bother denying it. “Absolutely. Nothing I like more than watching you get worked up over being forced out into the real world.”
“I’m not that antisocial,” Grayson grumbled.
Jace rolled his eyes in response. “Just give me the goods. Stop holding out. Because you look like you got run over by a tractor.”
Grayson scoffed. “That’s because I worked all fucking weekend.”
“Mm-hmm.” Jace lifted his soda. Grayson’s tone must have convinced him he was about to get his show. “And?”
Grayson glanced at the time on his phone and then at the door, looking for Lark.
Ordinarily, he didn’t have a clue who was scheduled to work the tasting room, nor did he really care.
This morning, however, he couldn’t stop himself from opening the work schedule on his computer, curious to know when he’d see Lark again.
Remi hadn’t made her come in to help with cabin cleaning, so he’d been surprised and a little annoyed to discover Nora had scheduled her for today.
He would have expected his cousin to at least give her a couple days off following the festival.
He intended to have a word with her about it, even though he was delighted he didn’t have to wait long to see Lark again.
He also wasn’t sure what the hell he would say when he did see her. Until yesterday afternoon, everything had felt easy. Shockingly easy.
Working with Lark had been effortless in a way he’d never expected. She was funny and sharp and somehow always three steps ahead of whatever disaster was about to hit them. They’d fallen into a pace together that was so natural, it unsettled him.
Then they’d shared that kiss…and holy fuck.
As if it wasn’t enough that fate had shocked the hell out of him by revealing a Lark who not only didn’t annoy him but was also fun to be around, discovering that she was the one was something he still hadn’t fully wrapped his head around.
He’d been flying high yesterday morning, hoping to slowly start his pursuit of her.
He still wasn’t sure why she’d broken off their kiss, why she’d jumped out of bed like it was on fire.
Part of him wondered if she was still hung up on her ex.
Or if she’d been concerned about hooking up with someone who was essentially her boss.
Either of those reasons, he could work with.
Because the Storms didn’t just share a legend, they also shared a legendary stubbornness when it came to winning the hearts of their women.
Kasi had certainly put Levi through his paces when he finally opened his eyes and saw her. And the same was true for Theo and Maverick, who’d had to help Gretchen and Ella, respectively, overcome serious issues from their pasts.
In his mind, he’d imagined an easier path with Lark. Until yesterday afternoon, when everything changed.
One minute, they were having fun, even flirting, and the next, it felt as if a steel door had slammed shut between them.
She’d gone quiet, withdrawn. After that, every smile felt forced, and her laughter was just a little too loud and…off.
When he finally cornered her as they were packing up at the end of the festival and asked what was wrong, she’d merely shrugged, claiming she was tired from the busy weekend.
He knew bullshit when he heard it, but he also didn’t know her well enough yet to push.
That realization irritated the shit out of him, because he really wanted the right to push.
Grayson raked a hand through his hair, aware he was about to disappoint his brother. “It was a good weekend. Lark was amazing.”
Jace blinked. Once. Twice. Then his brows furrowed. He didn’t reply immediately, obviously waiting for Grayson to yell, “Psych!”
When Grayson didn’t add anything more, Jace’s frown grew more pronounced. “Lark? Was amazing?”
Grayson nodded. “Yeah.”
Jace leaned back and crossed his arms. “Huh.”
He chuckled. “I know. I was surprised too.”
Jace shook his head. “I’m not surprised she was amazing, because she is. She’s a great worker, something everyone around here, with the exception of you, can see.”
“I see it,” Grayson corrected. “I just think she could stand to be a little more punctual. Besides, I seem to recall you voicing some opposition before we hired her.”
Jace grimaced. “I did. But I shouldn’t have.”
Grayson felt compelled to mention that some of Jace’s concerns had been valid. His brother had warned them about Lark’s inability to focus, always bouncing out of town for concerts or shows. “Nora still feeling bad for yelling at her?”
Jace shrugged. “She is, but last night at Sunday dinner—you missed a good one by the way, Mom made pulled pork—Dad suggested she not apologize or take back the unspoken threat that she could be fired. He seems to be in the same camp you are. That Lark needs to be held accountable so she learns responsibility.”
Grayson was surprised Dad had chimed in with an opinion at all. Typically, he trusted them to do their jobs in the way they saw fit.
“For all Lark’s faults when it comes to getting to work on time, she’s still one of our best employees,” Grayson pointed out. Which he shouldn’t have, because it only piqued his brother’s interest.
“I’m surprised you’re admitting out loud that you were wrong about her,” Jace teased. “Bet that hurt coming out.”
Grayson ignored the jest. “I misjudged her.”
Badly. He’d thought she was chaos wrapped in denim and sarcasm.
Okay, she was still those things.
But beneath it all was also someone observant and intelligent, someone who cared far more deeply than she let people see.
That night in the hotel together, they’d lain in the dark, sharing bits and pieces of themselves through their family stories. It meant something to him, made him believe they were on the cusp of building something.
Then…it simply vanished. They’d spent a brutally quiet, long-ass ride back to Gracemont as Lark leaned against the headrest and closed her eyes, pretending to be asleep. For four fucking hours. And he would bet the bank she never truly slept a wink of the journey.
Jace’s smirk faded as he studied Grayson’s face. “You like her.”
Grayson took a drink of his tea, debating just how much he wanted to tell his brother. If it was anyone other than Lark, he’d go for full disclosure, but up until a few weeks ago, she’d been dating one of Jace’s best friends.
“Yeah. I like her,” he said, trying—and failing—to temper his tone.
Jace tilted his head. “She’s dating Tommy,” he said, as if testing the waters, trying to feel Grayson out.
His brother’s comment chafed, poking the jealous beast. “They broke up three weeks ago.”
“I know that, but Tommy wants her back.”
It was on the tip of Grayson’s tongue to say, “Tough.” Instead, he reiterated what Lark had said. “She says it’s over for good.”
Jace snorted. “She’s said that before…several times. She always takes him back.”
Grayson’s hand tightened around his glass. “This time is different.”
Jace’s brows lifted in surprise. Probably because jealousy wasn’t in Grayson’s nature. Or at least, it hadn’t been.
“Grayson.”
He stroked his beard, once again debating how much to say. In the end, he couldn’t keep this secret from his brother. Because he wanted to tell someone; wanted to admit that when he and Lark touched, the whole damn world had tilted.
He’d spent twenty-nine years feeling like something inside of him was missing, until she stepped into his embrace. Grayson had nearly dropped to his knees as every instinct screamed, “Mine!”
Grayson stared down at his tea for a beat too long before muttering, “She’s the one.”
Jace went still.
No, more than that. He went white.
“What?” his brother whispered.
“When we touched—”
Jace scowled, suddenly, strangely furious. “What do you mean, when you touched?”
Grayson frowned at the sharpness in his tone. “There was this drunk asshole at the festival.”
Jace’s anger turned to the unknown stranger. “What the hell did he do?”
“He grabbed Lark’s arm, tried to drag her out from behind the table.”