by Debra Kayn
Blue barked.
“What male could turn down an offer like that?” A familiar husky voice spoke behind her.
She stiffened. Every nerve in her body sizzled, and the air in her lungs swelled.
Grayson stepped in front of her. “Hello, Shauna.”
Chapter Seventeen
In the two weeks of Grayson’s absence, he’d somehow become even sexier. His hair lay mussed, falling down on his forehead. The lines on his forehead were more prominent, and to make it worse, he stood in front of her with his hands deep in the front pockets of his jeans, unthreatening and approachable.
“I need to get back. The movie has probably started.” She tugged on Blue’s leash, but Grayson leaned down and swept up the pooch.
“You’ve seen the movie before.” He stroked the dog’s back, while seeming to gauge her reaction.
“That’s not the point. I came with John.” She pursed her lips.
She couldn’t yank the dog out of his arms. She wasn’t heartless. Not stomping away had everything to do with Blue’s position, not because Grayson had sought her out.
“I went on vacation.” Grayson stepped closer.
Shauna moved backward, bumped into the statue, and groaned. Rubbing the back of her head, she glared when Grayson chuckled.
“Are you sinking to a new low? You not only want to hurt my feelings, but like a little physical pain on me too?”
He shook his head before motioning with his chin for her to look up. She leaned back and tilted her head, and instant recognition came with the dawning realization there was no running away from Grayson Schyler. But it didn’t take a ten-foot gold statue of him to knock sense into her brain.
“You’re such an ass.” She crossed her arms.
“Yeah.” He lifted his shoulder and grinned. “Let’s go back to my place.”
She couldn’t keep going on this way, hot one minute, cold the next, and yet Grayson dangled her out of reach while plucking her heartstrings when the mood hit him. She’d had enough. Not willing to let him have control over her, she gently scooped Blue out of his arms and faced Grayson head on.
“I know this is hard to believe, but I’ve changed. I’m not hanging around Cottage Grove hoping for a little attention. I’m not naïve enough to believe for one minute you feel anything for me, except pity.” Her laugh came out harsh and pained even to her own ears. “I’m not a form of entertainment for you when you become bored with your private horde of women. So, if you’ll excuse me, I have a man waiting for his dog and his girlfriend and for my answer on whether I’m ready to take our relationship further.”
She took two steps, turned back around, and pointed to the doggy bag station behind him. “Oh, by the way, I think Blue left you a gift at the base of your golden statue. You might want to pick that up.”
She whirled around. Each step away from Grayson gave her more confidence. She held her head high and marched straight back toward the others, not stopping until she’d reached John. He scrambled to his feet and clutched her arms.
“What happened? Are you okay?”
She smiled. “I’m perfect. Let’s go home.”
It only took two seconds for him to read the need in her eyes, and he wrapped his arm around her waist and started walking.
“Hey!” Kate raised her head off Jackson’s lap. “Where are you going now?”
“Home.” She grinned. “I’m tired of my stagnant life, and I’m going to change directions. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
In less time than she imagined, John pulled up in front of the one-story ranch house and ushered her inside. She stood in the middle of the living room, waiting for him to come back after he secured Blue in the outdoor kennel. For a split second, she debated whether to slip out the front door, hop in her car, and drive away.
A door shut in the rear of the house, and before she could talk herself into following her instincts, John entered the room. She rubbed her arms, warming herself up. Usually summer nights in the low coastal mountains were rather muggy, but she couldn’t shake the chill.
“Did Blue protest having to go back in with the other dogs?” she asked.
“No. He was worn out.” He embraced her. “You’ve made me a happy man, deciding to come back here early. I hope I’m not misreading what you want to happen between us.”
“I really like you, John.” She slipped her arms over his shoulders and gazed into his eyes. “I’ve been unfair, and you’ve been more patient than I expected.”
“You’re worth it.”
She opened, and then closed her mouth. Was she? She’d failed her dad, her mother, and she couldn’t even satisfy Grayson to save her life.
“Did I say something wrong?” he asked.
Shauna sucked in a breath. “No.”
She’d gone over the reasons why getting involved with John was a good thing. Yet she couldn’t stop thinking about Grayson and apparently it would take drastic measures to make her forget how Grayson made her feel when he touched her.
She leaned in and kissed John. On the mouth. Slow, and lingering.
The warm pressure of his lips promised her a night to remember. In the war of emotions going on inside her soul, doing what was right, what felt good, what she needed, was winning.
She pressed her breasts against his chest. She enjoyed the way his body comforted her, and in startling surprise, the way he reacted helped her feel complete, real, desired.
He broke the kiss, and rested his chin on the top of her head, holding her to his chest. His heart raced against her cheek, and she closed her eyes. John brought out the good things in her, and she wanted to please him.
She rubbed his back, gaining confidence, exploring, until her hands rested on the top of his jeans, pulling him closer. He groaned, lifting her face and heating things up. His tongue brushed the inside of her lip and she jerked back with the speed of an activated mousetrap. Frozen in place, she dared not breathe, or he’d pounce.
Seconds ticked by without either of them moving.
“Aw, Shauna.” He reached for her, but she moved back, her hand automatically going to her throat.
“I-I’m sorry.” She swallowed past the horror of what she’d done.
He sighed and shook his head sadly. “Don’t be. I knew my feelings for you exceeded how you felt about me. I told myself to wait, to let you learn that we could be good together, but it’s not true, is it? There’ll never be an us.”
She blinked to clear her vision, and was surprised at how the tears wouldn’t stop. “I wanted it to be different. I tried. I really did, but … ”
He ran his hand through his hair. “But you love Grayson.”
She dropped her gaze to the carpet and nodded.
“He doesn’t deserve you.”
“I know.”
“I care about you. I only want what is best.”
“I know.”
“What happens if he never wises up and realizes how much you love him?”
She lifted her chin. “I don’t know.”
John hesitated, and then cleared his throat. “Will you be all right?”
“Eventually.” She attempted to smile, and failed.
“Okay.” He motioned toward the hallway. “I’ll leave you alone. If you need me, you know where I’ll be.”
She watched him walk away, her heart sinking to the pit of her stomach. “John?”
He stopped and turned. “Yeah?”
“Thank you.”
He smiled tenderly, nodded his acceptance, and walked out of sight.
Chapter Eighteen
Ella hustled into the office, closed the door, and planted herself in front of the exit. “Shauna, we’ll need the press kits from everybody in two weeks.”
Shauna frowned. “Okay.”
Her secretary’s flushed face and rapid breathing had nothing to do with the message. Shauna had already emailed the updated notices to Grayson, and he’d replied that he’d pass the message on.
“What’s with y
ou? Did Herbert Kendall come in again?” Shauna shut off her computer.
“No,” Ella said. “I haven’t seen him all week.”
Herbert’s habitual complaining about the city often flustered the even-tempered woman, until Shauna intervened on Ella’s behalf, promising to talk to the city council on his behalf. She removed her purse out of the bottom drawer of her desk, and then stepped around, ready to follow Ella out of the office.
“You can’t leave.” Ella widened her stance.
“Why not?”
“They’re spraying for bugs.” Ella crossed her arms.
“At six o’clock? I don’t think so.” Shauna shook her head and made to walk around Ella, but Ella grabbed her arms.
“Tell me what size advertisement you want in next week’s paper.” Ella’s brows rose. “Do we want to go with color or black and white?”
“Enough, Ella.” Shauna laughed and moved the stubborn woman aside. “I don’t know what’s going on with you, but I have somewhere I need to go. It’s already an hour past closing time. We’ve gone over everything we need to today, but I promise if you’re that confused we can go over it all again on Monday.”
“Fine.” Ella blew out her breath. “Just don’t fire me.”
“I think you need to go home, relax, and maybe go out for a few drinks. You seem stressed, and you know I’d never get rid of you.” Shauna smiled. “You work too hard and keep me focused. I’d be lost without you.”
With that said, she opened the door, turned left, and proceeded to the back of the building. Determined to make things right with her dad, she headed toward the street where she’d parked her car.
If she were lucky, her dad would still be in the garage working and she’d be able to have the conversation she should’ve had with him a long time ago. She’d been ignoring the fact her mom was back for the indefinite future and if she got this over with, she’d sleep better at night.
Her mom could go to hell for all she cared, but her dad had always been there for her. He’d scrimped for years to put her through college, even letting her live on campus when she knew he’d have to work longer hours to foot the bill. When her teen years became unbearable, no one was better at holding her while she cried and teaching her to stand up for herself.
He’d never left her and for that reason alone, she’d figure out how to make their father-daughter relationship work.
She rounded the corner and came to a complete stop. Every thought erased from her mind at the sight of Grayson leaning against her car. The hair stood up on her nape, and despite how much she tried to ignore the happiness bubbling inside of her, she couldn’t control the way her stomach flip flopped.
“What do you want?”
“You.”
She walked around the front of the car, keeping space between Grayson and herself. “I get it, Grayson. You want to make my life miserable the way I did to you. Fine. Whatever. Let me repay you back. I will not now, or ever, sleep with you. Now you can go on with your life and forget all about me, because that’s what I did. You’re not even a bleep on my radar. See how good it works.”
He moved over and held her door shut, not letting her climb in and drive away. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Bullshit.” He lowered his voice. “I can see it in your eyes.”
She blinked. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Whatever you think about me, I do care about you.” He stroked her arm. “Maybe too much, and that’s the problem.”
“Grayson … ” She sighed, her determination not to fall for his pretty words fading with each second. “I need to go do something. My problems have nothing to do with you. You’re just the unlucky person who stepped into my path today.”
“Talk to me.” He lifted her chin. “You used to trust me with what was going on in your life. I’d like to help.”
“So you say, but where were you when I needed you a few weeks ago? You talk big, but so far I haven’t seen that part of you who used to be friends with me. You’re hard and cold. I don’t even know you anymore.” She sniffed. Dammit, she was not going to cry.
“When did you come to me?”
“The night I went to your house and made an absolute fool out of myself. Later, I’d gone back to talk to you, to take you up on your offer, and you were gone. Now it’s too late. Everything has changed.”
“No, it hasn’t. I’ve been an ass, but I want to make it up to you.” He framed his hands around her face. “Go do what you have to do, and then I’ll come over to your house and we can talk. Just talk.”
She shook her head. “I’m not staying with my dad anymore.”
“Okay.” He frowned. “Come to my house. Please.”
She hesitated. Was she asking for disappointment again? When would she ever say enough is enough?
“Miss Marino!” Mrs. Bakkersten shuffled across the street and approached them, out of breath. “I’m so glad I found you, dear. Your dad’s been trying to get a hold of you.”
She reached out toward Grayson. “What’s wrong?”
“He’s been trying to call you for the last hour.” Mrs. Bakkersten tsked and shook her head. “He asked me to find you, and since everyone knows you’re living back at the hotel after your breakup with John, that was the first place I looked. I’m lucky to find you here.”
Grayson pulled her tight against his side. “Wait, you broke up with John?”
“Never mind that … ” She pressed her fingers into her temple. “Did something happen? Is my dad hurt?”
Visions of a lift malfunctioning and her dad pinned under a vehicle stole her breath.
Mrs. Bakkersten grabbed Shauna’s hand. “No, dear, but he said it was very important. He wants you to call his cell phone.”
She blew her breath out. He’s not hurt. He’s okay.
“Thank you.” Shauna leaned against Grayson’s side, letting him hold her against him.
“You’re welcome.” Mrs. Bakkersten glanced back and forth between Grayson and Shauna. “I expect better out of you this time, Mr. Schyler. Don’t you go breaking this young thing’s heart, or sleeping with all those other women you enjoy parading around everywhere. Shauna has always loved you, and doesn’t deserve the way you treat her.”
Grayson grinned and nodded. “Yes, ma’am. I’ll be careful.”
The older woman drilled him with one last condescending look and then harrumphed, pivoting on her two-inch heels and marching back across the street. Shauna shook her head.
“You’ve got some supporters in town.” Grayson chuckled.
Aware of how she was pressing her body against him, she stepped back and dug her phone out of her purse. She could’ve sworn she’d turned the phone on this morning, but the display wouldn’t light up. Dammit.
“Here. You can use mine.” Grayson held out his phone.
“Thanks.” She punched in the number and paced, while she waited for her dad to pick up.
“Hey, dad. It’s me.”
“Buddy, you need to come over right away. This has gone on long enough,” Tony said.
Her back stiffened. Not one who particularly enjoyed having someone order her around, she hesitated before telling him she was on her way over now.
“Your mom’s packing.” He cursed under his breath. “She says she doesn’t want to come between us anymore, and is leaving.”
“Dad … this doesn’t involve me.” She clamped her lips together briefly. “If she wants to leave, let her go. Besides, she’s left before and we were fine without her.”
The conversation died. Shauna waited, surprised to find her hands shaking. There were too many things going on in her life to worry about the feelings of a woman who’d given her own child no thought when she’d hightailed it out of town.
“Shauna.” Tony cleared his throat. “Do it for me. Come talk to your mother.”
“She’s not what I would call a mother, dad,” she said.
“I know you believe that but you don’t know
… just come over, please. I love her.” Tony hung up.
Shauna pulled the phone away from her ear, stared at it in shock, and then cocked her arm back to throw it when Grayson grabbed her hand, rescuing his phone. She glared at him.
“I would’ve bought you a new one.” She jerked her arm.
“That’s not the point.” He slid the phone in his back pocket.
“It never is with you.” She stomped away.
She wanted to hit something, or smash a window. Anger rolled up her back and she flung her arms out to the sides. “What is with people? They think they can manipulate and threaten whenever they want, and if it gets too tough … bam! They’re gone, leaving their shit behind and not giving another thought to anyone else.”
“I don’t — ”
“It’s sickening! I wish she’d leave. I don’t want her here. Everything was fine before she came back. Dad was happy. I was happy. We don’t need her.” She swung her foot out and kicked the hubcap on her car. Pain radiated up her toes to her ankle. “Dammit!”
She limped to the driver’s side door, flung it open, and threw in her purse. All the stress, confusion, and heartache she’d suffered through coiled into an angry ball in the pit of her stomach, and she rounded on Grayson.
“You’re no better than my mother.” She poked him in the chest, backing him toward the middle of the street. “You dangled me like … like one of your airheaded blonds who kiss your ass and don’t care that in the morning you’ll be gone. Well, guess what? I take back every second I wasted hoping and praying that you’d wake up and see how much I lo — ”
He moved forward, making her retreat, walking with that lazy long stride that had the ability to hypnotize her. His gaze was so intent, her breasts hardened and she forgot why she was wasting her time arguing. His hair lay over his forehead in a sexy I-don’t-give-a-damn way that tempted her to reach up and sweep it back. But she didn’t. She couldn’t get that close. Not the way her body sang when he was near.
The back of her thighs hit against the car, her breath barely coming through the constant throb of her body. “What are you doing?”
