Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
Reese
G riffin is tossing his duffel in the truck bed when I step onto the porch, cradling the small amber bottle.
“Hey,” I call, holding it up. “You forgot your vitamins.”
He turns, the early morning sun catching the edge of his jaw, making him look like something carved from light and shadow. “Thanks, darlin’.”
I cross the gravel, leaning against the tailgate like I’m just enjoying the breeze and not fighting the sudden knot in my stomach.
He grabs the bottle and studies me. “You good?”
“Of course.” I shrug. “Just be careful driving, okay?”
Griffin doesn’t move for a beat. Then he rests his arms on the side of the truck, watching me with that look that sees too much. “Come here.”
“I’m fine,” I say again, softer this time. “Really. You don’t have to?—”
“Reese.” His voice drops, gentle but firm. “Come here.”
I step into the space between us, and his hands find my hips like they always do now—easy, familiar, reverent.
“I know this thing with Lauren’s bothering you,” he says. “I get it.”
“She was supposed to have a driver.”
“I know.”
“And now you’re going up there and staying over and?—”
“I’m not staying.” His jaw tightens. “I’m driving her back, but I’m not staying.”
I shake my head, my fingers playing with the button on his shirt. “That’s too much driving for one day. Stay in Portland and come back in the morning. I don’t want a night away from you, but I want you safe.” I force a small smile. “And keep reminding Lauren that you belong to me.”
His hands slide to my face, tilting my chin so I can’t look away. “Forever. I didn’t dream before you, and now all I can think about is putting a ring on your finger.”
If he only knew how much I think about it, too. Silly, considering I just ran away from one marriage. But it’s different with Griffin. Everything is. He makes it easy to believe that love will save the day.
He leans in, pressing a kiss to my forehead, then my cheek. “You are everything I never knew existed. No one could take me from you.”
Gazing into his blue eyes, I see the truth reflecting at me. He means every word. I have nothing to worry about. “I’m sorry. I know I’m being stupid.”
“You’re not.” His voice is raw as his lips brush my ear. “You’re mine. And late tonight?—”
“Tomorrow,” I cut in, shooting him a defiant glare.
“Tomorrow,” he concedes, “I’m crawling into bed beside you and I’m taking you raw, no questions asked. I want you swollen with me, belleza. I want it all.”
Heat rushes through me so fast I almost collapse. I’m sure he’s not serious, just looking to get a rise out of me.
But when I meet his gaze, I realize he is—and my whole body aches to tell Lauren to forget the stupid fundraiser and drag Griffin to the bed right now.
I come this close to telling him, too, but realize he’ll never make it to Portland if I do.
“Hot damn, Griffin.” The words scrape out on a shaky breath as I fan myself.
A cocky grin stretches over his face. He loves getting to me. “Say the word and I’ll marry you tomorrow.”
“What?”
“We’ll drive into town, get the paperwork. Or hell, I’ll fly us to Vegas. You and me, white dress and everything.”
I laugh, blinking back tears. “You’re crazy.”
“I’m yours.”
Damn right he is.
I rise on tiptoe, grab the collar of his flannel, and kiss him long and slow. “Get out of here,” I murmur against his lips, “before I don’t let you leave.”
Piper’s voice floats from the porch. “Hello? Can I hang out with my sister before the fundraiser, or are you two going to make me a damn auntie before the day is out?”
Griffin chuckles, brushing one last kiss to my mouth. “I’ll see you tonight.”
He climbs into the truck, window rolled down, arm resting casually as he shoots me one last look, like I’m the whole damn sky.
And I try to hold on to that feeling—his words, his kiss, the way he sees me—because in the end, that’s all that matters.
I watch his truck disappear down the long gravel drive before stepping back onto the porch. Piper’s lounging on the swing, one leg tucked beneath her, sipping from a mug like she owns the morning.
I wrap an arm around her shoulders. “Come on. You’re having a glass of wine with me.”
She watches the sunlight sifting through the trees. “Before you get knocked up?”
I snort. “He’s joking.”
“I’m sure he’s not.”
I bump her with my hip. “We’ll see. But right now, I’m all about some wine and cheese. Full tapas spread.”
In the kitchen, I slice some cheddar and that specialty fig-topped cheese I picked up at the market last week. A little brie. Crackers. A bottle of red.
It’s overkill for two women in flannel pajama pants, but I don’t care.
I pour us both a glass and lean on the counter, twirling the tip of the knife on the cutting board. “Am I crazy to believe him?”
Piper doesn’t hesitate. “I’ve known Griffin for over a year. That man is devoted to you. Like, turn-his-truck-around-if-you-called kind of devoted.”
I duck my chin, cheeks heating. “You really think so?”
She gestures toward my phone. “Want me to call him and test the theory?”
Deep down, I know she’s right, and damn, it’s such a tempting idea.
“It’s not him I don’t trust. It’s Lauren. This whole thing—her suddenly needing a ride when she has a driver? It just feels off.”
Piper shrugs. “Do we really trust most women?”
I exhale a brittle laugh. “They’re just friends. I don’t think they ever slept together, but I know she hoped for more. You don’t think she’ll try anything, do you?”
My sister shakes her head as she snags a hunk of cheese. “That’s a one-sided deal. Trust me.”
I slide a glass toward her. “What about you? What do you want from life and love and all that bullshit?”
Piper stares into the wine like it holds answers. “I don’t know. It doesn’t matter.”
“Of course it matters,” I press. “Piper, what do you want? You can’t want to keep doing this long-term, right?”
“No,” she says quietly. “I was planning to leave.”
I perk up at her words. “Really?”
She nods.
“Does that handsome fireman Colton have anything to do with that decision?”
She looks away, blinking fast, her hand swiping at the corner of one eye. “Not anymore.”
I step closer, heart sinking. “Piper, what’s going on?”
“Colton and I never dated. Not once. But he’s been my friend since I arrived in Tangled Vines. He looked out for me, and I appreciated that. And honestly? He needed a friend, too—his marriage had been on the rocks for months.”
Piper, please don’t tell me you got involved in such a sticky situation.
My mind drifts to the nights in the bar over the last couple of weeks. I never saw Piper and Colton doing anything together, but they were absolutely smitten with one another. That was obvious to everyone.
She catches my expression. “Stop looking at me like that. I never did a damn thing with the man, beyond a kiss on the cheek. I’m no homewrecker. Hell, I convinced him to try therapy, see if he could save the marriage for his kid’s sake.”
“Guess it worked?”
She rolls her eyes. “Not even close. If anything, it convinced them that the marriage was dead. So they separated a few months ago.”
“I’m still waiting to hear the bad part.”
Piper sighs, her whole body sagging. “After the separation, things got… flirty, as you know. Nothing happened, but it felt like maybe it could.” Her eyes dart away, and she swallows hard before forcing the words out.
“I told Colton I was thinking of leaving the ranch, and he was on board. And then his ex called. She’d just found out she was pregnant. ”
Talk about tragic timing. I’m not sure what to say.
“What are they going to do?”
“Have the baby,” she states, her shoulders curling in. “Colton is overwhelmed but trying to be a stand-up guy. Trying to be supportive. What else can he do?”
“That’s a lot to digest.”
“It is, but I can’t stick around and watch him play happy family, especially when I know how miserable they both were. I thought Colton and I might be something. I thought maybe… it doesn’t matter. I just need to disappear for a while. Leave Tangled Vines.”
“What?” I sputter my wine at her disclosure. “Look, I know it’s hard, this Colton situation, but who knows what might happen? Besides, to be selfish, I came out here to be with you. I need you.”
She gives me a sad smile. “You’re going to be busy with your future husband and your gaggle of children. I think you’ll survive.”
“I’m not letting you run away.”
She lifts her glass. “Then let me drown my sorrows, would you?”
I raise mine. “Fine. Pity party for Piper it is.”
She glances down as my phone buzzes next to her, a frown marring her features. “What the hell does Vander want?”
With a heated sigh, I grab the phone, clicking it off. “He’s been calling nonstop.”
“I thought Griffin told him to back off.”
“They had it out about a week ago,” I say, sitting down with my wine. “Vander keeps saying I need to come back to New York. I need to handle things properly. And if I don’t, he will.”
The lines cut into my sister’s face. “Properly? What the hell does that mean?”
A chill ripples over me, and I hug myself to ward it off. “Honestly? I hope it’s just a bunch of male bravado, a show of alpha dominance. But I don’t know.”
Her eyes narrow. “Is there something you’re not telling me? You know I’ve never liked the bastard.”
She has reason to worry. Vander’s family is renowned along the East Coast, but like all powerful houses, they have a dark side. One that is pitch black and bottomless.
A memory I’ve spent years trying to forget flashes behind my eyes—a business competitor of the Hale family, dragged from their home with bruises on his face and blood in his teeth.
I’d caught his gaze as they tossed him into the back of a town car.
One eye swollen shut, but the other locked on mine.
Three words, mouthed to me before he disappeared from view.
Get out now.
Vander and his cronies chuckled as the car pulled away, lighting cigars like it was a celebration.
When Vander saw me frozen there, his lips curled. “Now you know what happens to people who cross me.”
“Reese?” Piper’s voice cuts through the memory. “You okay?”
For a beat, I consider telling her. But she’s already nursing a broken heart. She doesn’t need this shadow on her shoulders, too.
I blink, nod. “Yeah. Just a bit tired.”
Piper grabs a cracker, popping it in her mouth. “Vander is likely blowing smoke up your ass. Acting all big and bad. He won’t actually do anything.”
“Probably.” I swirl the wine, staring out at the forest beyond.
Here I’m safe, far from Vander’s clutches. That knowledge brings me peace.
“Wish you could come with me tonight.” But I can tell from my sister’s face that isn’t happening.
“I love you, Reese, but I attend enough bullshit festivities. I need some space. Just for a few days.” Piper grasps my hand, giving it a squeeze. “But you tell me if Vander doesn’t knock it off, okay?”
“It’ll be fine.”
Honestly, I’m not so sure.
Ever since Griffin’s blow-up with Vander, my ex has turned more belligerent by the day—sharp, commanding voicemails, texts dripping with barely veiled threats. Nothing explicit, of course. He’s too careful to leave a trail.
I know I have to speak to Vander and hope we can reach some kind of agreement. But deep down, I know better.
I’m now a person who’s crossed him.