Chapter 25
GRACE
BAD PERSON
“Here you are, Miss Chapman.” I reach out to grab my mimosa from Stacy.
“Oh my gosh. Thank you so much. You’re the best. And please, just call me Grace.” Stacy smiles and heads over to Sutton in the back of the cabin.
I look to the seat next to me to find Tommy watching me, grinning with amusement.
“Having fun?”
I take a sip and press the button to recline the plush, fancy leather seat back. “I know the carbon footprint is horrible for these planes, but am I a bad person for knowing I can never fly coach again?”
“Oh, you’re totally cancelled already,” he says, grinning wider and popping his dimples.
“No way. That fast?” I clasp a hand to my heart in mock despair.
“Yep. As soon as you let Stacy take your bag. Cancelled,” he says, shrugging and crossing his legs. “Don’t worry. I still like you though.”
I blow a kiss at him. “Good. Now I want to get some work done. I’ve got a long list of charities that I want to vet.”
He chuckles and rolls his eyes. “Suit yourself, but don’t blame it on your boss. I’m pretty sure he told you to enjoy the trip.”
I set my mimosa down and grab my laptop out, going through the presentation slides from before.
I know TJ said no and it might have stung at first, but like I told him, that’s workplace TJ and Grace, not romantic Tommy and Rainbow.
I wouldn’t be any good at this if I gave up the first time someone told me no.
I look over to find him watching me with those heart melting baby blues. He gives me a soft smile, crinkling the corner of his eyes. I know people say men age like fine wine and right now, I could sip on him all day.
“OK. If I’m going to work, you need to stop that. I can’t focus when you do that.”
His soft smile morphs into a smug grin. “Do what?”
I raise my eyebrows. “Look at me like that. Get your notebook or watch a movie or something.”
He nods before his eyes drift down to my screen, seeing my old slides. I immediately see the worry in his eyes.
“Hey. I’m sorry about saying no. You sure we’re good?” his deep voice carries just a hint of concern beneath the surface.
I reach over and hold his hand. “You already apologized and I told you that you didn’t even need to do that. Please do not worry about it. Seriously, we’re good.”
His grip tightens on mine and he lifts my hand, placing a soft kiss on the back.
“So-” I start, but cut myself off when I see his eyes lift to something behind us. I turn to see Sutton coming up from the back of the cabin. Tommy quickly lets my hand fall and sits up in his seat.
Sutton strides past us and stops to sit in the seats facing us.
His eyes drift between us with a knowing grin before he turns to Tommy.
I know he let it slip to Stacy that we’re together, but did he let something slip to Sutton?
Or maybe Sutton has just functioning eyeballs and can see that there’s a connection between us.
Either way, I totally get it if he wants to tell his best friend.
I mean Josie basically knows. I just don’t want it getting back to Tanner or my family until we really know what this is.
I know we’re taking it seriously and it’s more than just wanting to jump each other’s bones, but I could see how someone else would think it’s me just trying to sleep with my boss or the hot, famous musician.
Deep down, I know it’s something that could be serious if we want it to be.
I look over my laptop, watching him and Sutton talk about the restaurant and the plan for the night. The only thought that runs through my mind is that I wish he’d grab my hand again.
When the elevator door opens, I step right into the kitchen of the penthouse. God only knows how many stories up we are in this building in downtown Seattle, right on the edge of the Puget Sound.
Tommy rests his hand on the small of my back, ushering me into the sprawling space.
I spin around on the toes of my Doc Martens, taking in the open floor plan. Floor to ceiling windows on every side of the apartment showcase views of Mount Rainier, the water, and the Seattle skyline and Space Needle.
“This place is crazy. I can’t imagine what something like this costs.” I look back at Tommy, still standing just outside the elevator.
He smirks and shrugs, flaring his eyebrows up.
“No, don’t tell me. You own this place too?”
He steps into the open kitchen with me, rubbing the back of his neck. "Sort of.”
“What do you mean sort of?”
He grimaces. “I mean I technically pay rent, but I pay it to myself. Or I guess I pay it to the holding company I own that owns the building. At least that’s how Jake explained it.”
“Got it. So total normal people stuff,” I say with a laugh before dropping my bags.
Looking into the sprawling apartment, it’s hard to choose where to start.
The views in every direction are stunning.
The floors are gorgeous, colorful terrazzo.
In the living area, there’s a large, slate fireplace.
What finally catches my eye though are the trio of large swings facing the fireplace.
I walk over to them, running my hands along the thick hemp ropes holding up the wooden planks.
I sit down on the buffalo plaid cushion of the middle one and find Tommy watching me with amusement.
“Why do you have swings in your living room?” I ask, kicking off of the floor, swinging myself up into the air.
“I always wanted a treehouse and a swing set as a kid.” He steps toward me and grabs the ropes, stopping the swing in front of him. “A treehouse didn’t seem practical as a grown man in the city, but the swings seemed like a cool idea. I’m glad you like them.”
“They’re cool,” I say, leaping out of the swing and finally heading into the dining area with its wall of windows looking out over the Cascade Mountains to the east and south.
Even after growing up in the Tetons in Wyoming and the Wasatch Mountains in Utah, the view of Mount Rainier is absolutely breathtaking.
I feel like a kid, pressing my face to the window, drawn to the scenery.
When someone says million dollar views, this is what comes to mind.
I can’t even imagine what a place like this costs, much less the whole building.
Then again, that seems to be a recurring theme with Tommy.
The jet, the beautiful houses in Bend and Jackson.
I can’t imagine what any of that costs. My mind drifts back to the way he tensed at my offhanded comment before.
‘Giving eight figures a year is unheard of unless you’re a billionaire or something. ’
Holy shit. Maybe this is a billion dollar view. If that’s true though, I’m starting to realize why he enjoys his privacy and anonymity so much. Still, that’s an incredible thing to keep hidden for so long.
“What are you looking at?” Tommy’s low voice grabs my attention. I turn to see him, leaning against the window, looking like an absolute meal.
“Right now,” I reach over, running my finger down his arm, over his toned biceps and the veins in his forearms, looping it into one of his leather bracelets, “just you.”
He steps closer to me, dropping his hand and cupping my ass. “You can look at me whenever you want.” He gives my ass a light slap, making my thighs clench. “Now go on, check the place out. Make yourself at home. You can throw your stuff in the guest suite if you want.”
“What if I want to stay in your room?” I flick my eyebrows at him, leaning into his warmth.
He lets out a low, satisfied hum, practically a growl. “You don’t even have to ask.”
He pulls me in closer and I love the way his strong hands feel on me. I’ve been craving this contact with him, but both of us have constantly been busy. My body buzzes with excitement and I nuzzle into his neck.
“You can show me now,” I breathe the words against his neck.
He lifts me into his arms and I wrap my legs around him, giggling when he starts to walk toward what I assume is his room. My body molds to his. And for once, I don’t feel lanky or awkward or too tall. Instead, I feel like he was built for me.
He nips at my ear, sending a jolt of electricity through me. My hips buck, grinding on his hard length I can feel through my leggings. I run my hands under his shirt, pulling it up to his chest so I can feel the toned lines and warmth of his abs.
“I can’t wait to—” he rasps against my neck, stopping in the middle of the living room. I feel his body go rigid, but he grips me even tighter.
“Fuck,” he says through gritted teeth.
I laugh, planting a kiss to his stubbled cheek. “Well yeah, I was hoping that’s what you wanted.”
“Hey, guys,” a familiar voice says from behind me. “I see you made it back from the airport.”
My head jerks to look over my shoulder to see a tall, imposing man with inky dark hair and a beard standing at the elevator door. It takes me a second, but I realize I know his voice and face from our calls.
“Jake,” Tommy says gruffly, slowly lowering me back to my feet. “I thought you weren’t coming over until later.”
Jake’s grin grows wider and he lets out a short laugh. “Missed you too, TJ.” He turns to face me and his smile softens. “Nice to finally meet you in person, Grace.”
“Hello there!” I wave awkwardly at him, definitely feeling a blush creeping over my cheeks.
Tommy pulls his shirt back down to his waist and steps to his brother. Jake brings him into a hug, patting him on the back.
“Next time, please call or give me a heads up.”
They might not be biological brothers, but the bond between them is so obvious.
With their hug and the deep sighs of relief coming from both of them, it’s impossible not to see how close they are.
The other thing that’s impossible to ignore is that Jake is freaking huge.
Tommy is six-two and my brothers are six-three and six-four.
Looking at the way his little brother towers over him, it’s almost comical when Tommy has to wriggle out of the hug and fix his ruffled hair.