Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
“I hope you don’t mind about the whole ghost debacle,” Grace said while running a brush through her hair as she stared in the mirror above the dresser.
“Did anyone else know it was you?” He should have said something to ease her concerns.
He knew what she was and what she did, but announcing it to everyone at the hotel hadn’t been his plan.
She was beautiful and stunning. He’d planned on questions about them as a couple, just not for her to give a performance of her career choice.
She laid the brush on the dresser and turned to look at him. The smile she’d worn since he returned had slipped. The shine in her eyes dimmed. “Would it bother you if they had?”
“No,” he said and shook his head. He was being ridiculous. He knew it, and so did she. He’d brought her here, knowing full well, the possible ramifications.
“No,” he repeated with more conviction. “It’s what you do.”
“It’s a part of me, Sam. If that’s a problem…”
“It’s not.” He closed the distance between them and cupped her cheek.
His gaze softened, caressing her face before he let it travel down to her plump lips.
The need to kiss her was overwhelming and yet, instead, he met her gaze again, wanting her to not only see and hear the sincerity in his words, but to know that he meant them.
“I know you’re a medium. That wasn’t what I meant when I said it’s what you do. I meant that you help people. That’s what you do. Just like you being here with me. That’s who you are, and that’s what I like about you.”
“Good.” She smiled brightly. “Because I like you too, but I won’t change. This is me, for better or worse. I’ll always be the oddball in the room, dealing with spirits and pissing off someone’s ex.”
“I wouldn’t change a thing.” He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers in a soft kiss, ruining the lip gloss she’d recently swiped on her lips.
The floral scent of her shampoo teased his nose.
Her beauty was unmatched, and her lip gloss tasted of his favorite fruit, delicate strawberries picked in the afternoon sun.
It was true. He wouldn’t change a thing about her.
The grumble in her stomach was the only thing that had him breaking the kiss.
The reminder that she needed substance, they both did if they were going to get through the rest of the week.
“You didn’t tell me where we’re going. Do I look okay?” She turned and fixed her lipstick in the mirror. Her jeans cupped her in all the right places. Her top was flirty and very Grace-like. She was the epitome of the girl next door, if the girl next door was sassy and delectable.
“You look perfect. Let’s get you fed,” he said leading her to the door with his hand on the small of her back.
The small restaurant wasn’t what Grace expected.
It was quaint and full of life. Bull horns hung from the wall along with autographed pictures of old western movie stars.
A jukebox was in the corner; the music was soft and light.
There was nothing five stars about the place, and yet, the ambiance made her feel welcome.
Their table was near the windows, giving her the perfect view of downtown.
Couples strolled by walking hand in hand.
A family with kids, skipping and playing in front of them, walked by as they window shopped.
The cars on the street were mainly dusty pickup trucks, and most of the men wore cowboy hats with tans that her sisters would pay big money to achieve. Everything about this place was real.
“This makes sense,” she said glancing down at her open menu.
“What does?”
“You, here, your job. You want everyone to have what these people have. I can relate, and I admire that.”
Sam glanced around, as if he were trying to see the magic that Grace could feel. But it wasn’t something you could see, it was a feeling that was as unique as Sam.
“I’ve missed the place, not all the people in it, but the town. It has a certain charm.”
“We should visit again; you know, when you aren’t marrying your brother off to that tramp.”
Sam smiled. This was the first time she’d seen him relax since they had landed. “We should.”
They ordered, and Grace ate the best barbecue of her life.
She dug into the slathered ribs as if her momma hadn’t taught her any manners.
The messy sauce held just the right amount of spice and twang, and the meat had been smoked to perfection.
If she could bottle up the restaurant and take it home with her, she’d be a queen in Florida.
She’d used five wet wipes on her hands and mouth before they left to stroll down Main Street.
A hat store sat on one of the corners, and she headed straight for it, yanking open the door. She grabbed the first black cowboy hat she came across and stuck it on her head before turning a smile at Sam. “Do you like this one?”
“Very cute,” he said, leaning in to kiss her, only pausing to tilt the hat back on her head. He pressed his lips to hers. “Every cowgirl should have one.”
“These aren’t very convenient for kissing,” she mumbled. “I’ll need to practice so I don’t knock you out with the brim.”
“I’ll be your guinea pig,” he said pulling her body flush with his. The heat from his touch awakened her in all the right places as he lowered his lips to hers, only stopping when the bell above the door dinged again, announcing the arrival of more customers.
“You’re hired.” She teased and moved from his hold, trying on other hats until she found just the right one.
Sam picked up a hat and shoved it on his head. “I’ll have you know, I take my job very seriously.”
Grace smiled. “I would hope so.” She smacked his ass as she headed for a rack of chaps. “I think I might need some of these too.”
“I could see you in a pair of those.” Sam wiggled his brows.
She shifted the clothes around looking for a pair in her size. “So what other best man duties are you required to attend?”
“The bachelor party, the rehearsal dinner, pictures, and the wedding.”
Grace pulled out a pair of black chaps that matched the hat and glanced over her shoulder with a conspiratorial smile. “I think I’ll need a lasso and whip to round out the look.”
“I should be so lucky.”
Lucky, he’d be getting, if she had her way.
A few heated kisses wouldn’t be enough to please her appetite, not after the way he’d wet it.
They were in the gray zone, between friends and lovers.
Hell, she’d settle for a one night stand.
The pull had shifted after the first kiss.
No way would she be leaving the great state of Texas without taking this cowboy for a test ride.
Grace laid her purchases on the counter and bumped Sam’s hip as he stood next to her.
“I think a little luck could be arranged, before our trip is over.”