Chapter Five Grace
Chapter Five
Grace
I sit there beneath the tree, my breath finally steadying, trying to make sense of everything that just happened. My heart is still racing, but now it’s not just from the heat of the moment—it’s from the realization of what we’ve done and what it could mean. I glance at Logan, his expression unreadable as he stares out into the forest, clearly lost in his own thoughts.
I can’t be alone with him right now, and I definitely can’t be alone with my thoughts. If I do, I’m afraid I’ll start to unravel, and I can’t afford that. Not here, not now.
I smooth down my dress, trying to tidy myself up, trying to restore some sense of normalcy. “We should get back,” I say, my voice coming out more composed than I feel. “Dinner will be starting soon.”
“It’s a bit early still.”
“Dinner’s at four. By the time we get back and shower…” I trail off. I do not need to imagine Logan in the shower, all hard muscles and cute, floppy blond hair.
I watch as Logan nods, but there’s a tension in his shoulders that wasn’t there before. He doesn’t say anything, just stands up and offers me a hand. I take it, feeling the warmth of his grip, the roughness of his skin against mine. It’s a reminder of everything that just happened, but I quickly let go as soon as I’m on my feet.
The walk back to the resort is quiet, almost too quiet. The awkwardness between us hangs in the air like a thick fog, and every step feels heavier than the last. I can’t stop replaying what happened in my mind, the way he kissed me, the way I kissed him back with such desperation, like I couldn’t get enough of him. Now, all I want is some distance, some space to breathe.
***
When we reach the resort an hour later, I pause outside the main entrance, forcing a smile. “I’m going to clean up before dinner,” I say, hoping my voice sounds casual enough.
“Sure, I’m going to check out the pool ,” Logan replies, though his tone is flat, distracted. He’s not looking at me, his gaze fixed somewhere in the distance. I nod and quickly head inside, making my way to my suite as fast as I can without it looking like I’m running away.
Once inside, I close the door behind me and lean against it, letting out a long, shaky breath. My reflection in the mirror catches my eye, and I wince at the sight of my tousled hair, the slight flush still on my cheeks. I run my fingers through my hair, trying to smooth it out, then splash some cold water on my face, hoping it will cool the fire still burning beneath my skin.
I can’t believe I let things get so out of hand. What started as a simple, stupid plan to avoid some family pressure has turned into something so much more complicated, and I’m not sure how to navigate it. The way Logan looked at me, the way he touched me—I’ve never felt anything like it. I can’t let myself get carried away by that. I need to stay focused, keep things under control.
Once I’m as presentable as I’m going to get, I head down to the dining area. It’s still early, but I figure it’s better than staying in my room, where my thoughts would have too much room to wander.
As I approach the open-air restaurant, I spot Joseph and Emily at a table near the edge of the terrace, their heads close together as they talk to someone. I slow down, curiosity piqued, until I see who it is.
Samantha.
My heart sinks into my stomach. I recognize her from my brother’s social media posts. Logan’s ex, the one who, from everything I’ve heard, is trouble with a capital T. She’s perched on a chair opposite Joseph and Emily, her long, dark hair cascading over one shoulder, her perfectly manicured fingers wrapped around a glass of wine. She looks every bit as polished and put-together as I’ve always imagined her to be—like she stepped out of a magazine, with that effortless grace and poise that’s impossible to fake.
Emily spots me first, her face lighting up with a smile. “Grace! Come join us!”
I force a smile and approach the table, every step feeling like I’m walking into a minefield. Samantha’s eyes flick to me, her gaze sharp, assessing. I feel an involuntary shiver run down my spine, but I keep my expression neutral.
“Grace, this is Samantha,” Joseph says, gesturing between us. “Samantha, this is my sister, Grace.”
“I’ve heard of you,” Samantha says smoothly, her smile polite but not warm. “It’s nice to finally meet you in person.”
“Nice to meet you too,” I reply, though my voice is strained, too tight. I slide into the empty chair beside Emily, trying not to feel the way Samantha’s presence seems to suck all the air out of the room.
Joseph leans back in his chair, clearly relaxed, oblivious to the tension I’m feeling. “Samantha’s just in town for a few days, thought she’d drop by and catch up.”
“Of course,” I say, forcing another smile. All I can think about is Logan—how he’ll react when he sees her, what this means for whatever it is that’s happening between us. If there was ever a time I didn’t want to be alone with my thoughts, it’s now.