by Tawna Fenske
“For sure.”
They plodded through the park with Stevie galloping along merrily. If only her dog could look less enthusiastic, maybe she could use him as an excuse to stop. “Gotta tie my shoelace.”
Kayla stopped, running in place as she surveyed Willa’s shoes. “Both look fine to me.”
“That’s my polite way of saying you’re killing me.” Willa slumped onto a park bench as Stevie came over to lick her face. “I give up. No more running.”
Kayla laughed and dropped onto the bench beside her. She peeled off one of the fancy, plump-looking armbands she wore and offered it to Willa. “It’s a hydro-sleeve. Drink. I brought one for each of us.”
“Of course you did.” Willa gulped deeply, grateful for her friend even if she was a pain in the ass. “Thanks.”
“No problem.” Kayla took a sip from her own. “So game night, huh?”
“Yep.”
“We’ve always said it’s a good chance to assess someone’s character,” Kayla reminded her. “Whether they cheat or take things too seriously or make up their own rules. What do you think we’ll find out about Grady?”
“No idea.” Her breath was returning. “He took mini golf pretty seriously, but that’s different.”
“Yeah, it is.” Kayla grinned. “I like the part where you kicked his balls.”
Why had she told her friends anything at all? They never let her live things down, especially not when it came to Grady. “Is Aislin bringing anyone?”
“Maybe her sister.” Kayla made a face. “That’s if she doesn’t implode from the force of her own bitchiness. Bronwyn, not Aislin, obviously.”
“Obviously.” Willa chugged some more water. “So you and Tony, huh?”
“I like him.” Kayla grinned. “I don’t know if it’s going anywhere, but I’m having fun. If it doesn’t work out, I have a hunch we’ll be best friends forever. In the meantime, we’re having a good time getting to know each other.”
So that’s how normal people did it. They spent time together, just enjoying each other’s company instead of assessing every possible risk involved in committing. What would that even be like? To date without fear of attachment and disappointment and the whole thing ending in a big, fiery ball of regret.
“You should try it sometime,” Kayla murmured, reading Willa’s thoughts. “It’s fun.”
A lump formed in Willa’s throat, and she chugged some more water to force it back. “Come on.” She stood up on shaky legs and handed the armband back to Kayla. “We should get moving.”
Sympathy flashed in Kayla’s eyes, but she got to her feet anyway. “And she’s off and running again.” She laughed as she trailed behind, then passed Willa with a smile. “You know, someday you’ll find a reason to quit running away from anything that smacks of emotional investment.”
Willa gritted her teeth and focused on slamming one sneaker in front of the other, over and over against the pavement. “Don’t count on it.”
But possibly, her heart already did.
…
Willa came home to find Grady in her kitchen, cracking eggs into a bowl. Barrow and Earmuff sat worshipfully at his feet, waiting for dropped scraps.
“Hey there.” Willa mopped her forehead with the back of her arm and hoped she didn’t look as awful as she felt. “Sorry I didn’t leave a note. I didn’t think you’d be up for a while.”
Grady grinned, looking better than any man had a right to with bedhead and rumpled boxers. “I’m not very good at sleeping in when it’s an unfamiliar bed,” he said. “Want scrambled eggs?”
“I’d love some.” She brushed past him to fill Stevie’s food and water bowls, not sure how to conduct herself in this scene of domestic bliss. Should she hug him or kiss him or squeeze his butt?
She settled for patting his arm as she got the glass down and filled it with tap water. “Want me to make toast?”
“That’d be great,” he said. “I didn’t know where bread was, and I wasn’t sure you’d be okay with me digging through your cupboards. Eggs seemed safe enough, since they’re right in the fridge door.”
The thought that he was so conscious of her privacy filled her with a strange mix of fondness and guilt. Of course he should feel fine about searching for bread when he’d spent the night in her bed.
But yeah, deep down, she was glad he knew to give her space. She rummaged through the freezer until she came up with a loaf of her favorite rosemary bread. “One slice or two?”
“Two, please.” He glanced over in fascination. “You can freeze bread?”
“Of course,” she said. “I do it every time there’s a sale on this rosemary bread I love. I can never get through a whole loaf fast enough.”
“Huh.” Looking thoughtful, he whisked the eggs with a fork. “I’ll have to remember that. It’ll keep me from wasting so much bread.”
Willa said nothing, even though her skin itched at the thought of anyone throwing away food like that. Maybe this was her good deed for the day, her chance to have an impact on Grady’s chaotic life.
“Do you like your eggs a little gooey or drier?” he asked.
“Gooey, please,” she said. “Want to throw in some cheese?”
“Hell yes.”
Willa grinned, enjoying their easy chatter more than she cared to admit. She located a small block of cheddar and gave it a few strokes with the cheese grater before handing it off to him on a napkin. Then she buttered the toast and piled it on a plate while he dished up eggs and carried them to the table.
“There’s sugar in that bowl right there and creamer in the fridge,” she said as she nudged a mug of coffee toward him. “Thanks for breakfast.”
“Thank you.” He bit into his toast and smiled.
The scruff on his jaw made him look rugged and unkempt, like a sexy pirate. Something about the contrast of those stormy gray eyes and dark hair made her insides turn as squishy as the eggs.
“You’re sexy in the morning,” he said.
“I’m sweaty,” she countered, hoping she didn’t stink. “I’m not usually, but I got the urge to run today.”
“Not enough exercise last night?” The naughty twinkle in his eyes told her he was more than willing to help her burn off more energy, and she shivered with anticipation.
“I have zero complaints about last night,” she said. “I just felt like going for a run. Kayla lives a couple of streets over, and I have an open invitation to join her anytime.”
“Ah, Kayla.” He smiled and stirred some sugar into his coffee. “I’m probably not supposed to say so, but Tony’s really into her.”
“It’s mutual,” Willa said. “Did you know they’re coming together tomorrow?”
Grady laughed. “My buddies don’t generally share details about simultaneous orgasms, but I’m glad.”
Willa rolled her eyes and tried to pretend she wasn’t amused by the juvenile humor. “Very funny. I’m talking about tomorrow. You know?”
The space between his brows creased in confusion. “What’s tomorrow?”
“Game night.” Willa’s grip tightened around her coffee mug. “Remember? I invited you a couple of weeks ago. You plugged it into your phone?”
“Ohhh.” He lifted his mug and took a swig. “That’s tomorrow?”
“It is.” It took everything she had to keep the shrillness from her voice. It wasn’t like he was a husband who’d forgotten to pick up their kid at grade school.
Not like your dad. He’s nothing like your dad.
“Shit, I’m sorry, Willa,” he said. “I’ve got other plans.”
Disappointment swirled in her gut alongside the eggs, and the mix was sour and leaden. “Something must have come up?”
“Yeah, this safety training thing out at the airfield. It’s mandatory if I want to keep jumping this season.”
“Oh.” She tried not to let dismay show on her face. “On a weekend evening?”
“They had a bunch of others, but that’s the one I picked.” He chewed a bite of toast. “Base commander’s gonna ground me if I don’t get this done.”
“Of course. I understand.”
She was trying to, anyway. “So yeah, Kayla and Tony will definitely be at game night.” She said it mildly, doing her best to pretend it didn’t bother her that Tony had made time for it when Grady hadn’t. “So will Aislin and her sister.”
“Shit, sorry.” He really did look sorry as he raked a hand through his hair. “I signed up for this particular session because my brother Jake—he’s one of the other smokejumpers in the family? He’ll be there, too. We don’t see each other much, since we can’t ever work the same fires.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s sorta like in the military,” he explained. “Hart Valley Air Center doesn’t let siblings go out on the same jumps, because they never want a situation where parents lose two kids in one fell swoop.”
Willa nodded, willing herself not to panic. There it was, another reminder of how dangerous Grady’s job could be.
He must have read the worry on her face because his expression softened. “It’s just a precaution,” he said. “We don’t lose people often.”
Willa nodded and nibbled the edge of her lip. “Understandable.”
He laced his fingers through hers. “What time does game night start?”
“Seven,” she said. “Everyone brings snacks and something to drink, and people sleep over if they’re not okay to drive.”
“I’ll be there,” he said. “I might be a little late, but I can do it. The training should be over by eight, so if I skip grabbing a beer afterward with Jake—”
“You don’t have to do that, Grady.”
“I want to,” he said. “I feel bad about forgetting. I don’t want to flake.”
There, he was trying. So what if he forgot and double-booked himself? He was making it right, and wasn’t that better than her dad had ever done?
Ignoring the pinch in her gut, she pasted on a happy smile. “That sounds fine,” she said. “We’ll hold off on busting out the really good games until you get here.”
“I can’t wait.” He leaned over and kissed her, just the faintest brush of his lips on her cheekbone.
But the effect was electric, and everything in her screamed, It’ll all be fine.
Willa shivered, and it took her a second to realize why. Those were her mother’s words, the thing she used to say when money got tight and her parents were fighting and Mommy would disappear for a few days. Or her dad would. Sometimes those stretches of time blurred together in her memory.
It’ll all be fine.
How many times had Denise Frank said those words to her daughter, over and over again until Willa believed them?
And then one day, it wasn’t fine.
Shivering again, Willa turned away to grab more coffee.
Chapter Fifteen
“You want to grab a beer?” Grady’s brother Jake stood tossing his car keys from one hand to the other, glancing out at the star-filled horizon. “It’s still warm enough. They’ve got that new outdoor patio at the brewery.”
Glancing at his watch, Grady shook his head. “I would, but it’s game night at Willa’s place. Rain check?”
He already felt like a huge asshole for blowing off Willa so soon after his declaration in the shower. What the hell had made him think he could be worthy of an actual relationship?
Jake flashed a knowing smirk. “You’re giving up beers with your favorite brother for game night? It better be something good, like Naked Twister or Strip Battleship.”
The thought of Willa sprawled on a Twister board wearing nothing but a smile was enough to send Grady’s libido surging, but he held it together. “Doubtful, but I’ve never been before. It could be one big orgy.”
“Dude.” Jake laughed. “I need to meet this girl.”
“Woman,” Grady corrected without thinking. “And it’s definitely not a sex party. She’s been doing this game night thing for years.”
“Huh.” Jake looked thoughtful. “Seems like a big deal, then, if she’s inviting you.”
Yeah, Grady had thought the same thing. It’s why he felt like a jerk for forgetting, and why he was hustling to get out of there.
But hell, he hadn’t seen Jake in ages. One more casualty of the job. “Did you hit the last family barbecue?”
“Yeah, we missed you,” Jake said. “But we got to talk about you behind your back. Sounds like Willa was a huge hit.”
“Everyone loved her.”
Jake quirked an eyebrow. “Sounds like you’re entering L-word territory yourself.”
“Fuck off,” he said automatically.
But part of him clung to that idea. Was it so far outside the realm of reality to think he could get there? That Willa could get there with him?
“You’re late.” Jake’s words—and his punch in the arm—was enough to bring Grady crashing back to reality. “Get out of here. Go see your woman.”
“Yeah.” Grady dug his keys out of his pocket. “Good seeing you, man.”
“You too.”
He turned and marched toward his truck, light with the thought of seeing Willa in the very near future. But the distant future loomed a little darker. What would that look like for him? Was he kidding himself thinking he had anything to offer her in the long-term?
He did his best not to think about it on the drive to her place. It was after eight. Hopefully he hadn’t missed too much of game night. He’d been looking forward to it and still couldn’t figure out how he’d screwed it up on his calendar.
By the time he pulled up to her house, it was eight thirty. The lights were blazing, and several cars lined the driveway. Stevie gave a startled “oof” when Grady rang the bell. Footsteps thudded through the house, and then the door flew open to reveal Willa looking flushed and lovely and not at all frosty.
That was a good sign.
“Grady.” Her smile was warm, like she was surprised to see him. “I wasn’t sure you were coming.”
“Sorry I’m late.” He held out the bottle of wine and she took it, studying the label. “It’s a good one,” he offered. “White Rose Estate makes phenomenal Pinot Noir.”
She handed it back, and he braced for her argument. It was too expensive or not right for the crowd. “Thank you,” she said instead. “Would you mind taking it into the living room while I find a corkscrew and some glasses?”
“Sure thing.”
Pause. Just the briefest one. Then she stood on tiptoe to plant the softest, sweetest kiss on him. “I’m glad you made it.”
“Damn,” he breathed, conscious of his heart twisting itself into knots. “Me too.”
She turned and hustled in the opposite direction before Grady could reach for her again. Did this count as a date? Now that he’d made his declaration about wanting more than two, he wasn’t sure anymore. He also wasn’t sure she’d want that, considering he’d managed to screw up the timing of this one.
With Stevie trotting beside him, Grady headed for the living room. Loud voices and laughter led the way, and Brandi Carlile drifted from the stereo. Bodies sprawled around the coffee table, some cross-legged on the floor and others on the couch hunched forward over the game board. They all looked up as he ambled into the room.
“Yo, Grady!” Tony broke into a wide grin and reached up to clap his hand. “Thought you weren’t going to make it.”
Kayla was cozied up next to him, and the sight of the two of them together left Grady wistful. Would Willa feel like snuggling, or were they playing it cool? He had no idea where her head was at.
He nodded hello to Aislin, who was seated next to an icy-looking blonde who assessed him coo
lly. “White Rose Estate,” she said, studying the bottle. “What year?”
Grady turned it around so she could see the label. “2014.”
“The Vista Hills Vineyard or the Anderson?”
“Vista Hills,” he said, grateful he’d gone with the one that ran sixty-five dollars a bottle instead of ninety-five. He had a hunch Willa would be more impressed by saving than by spending, though he had no intention of telling her the price of the wine.
“The Anderson’s fabulous, but I prefer the 2015,” the blonde said.
Oh-kay…
“I’m Grady,” he offered. “Willa’s…friend.”
That got him a couple of snickers from the other people at the table, but the icy blonde just nodded. “I’m Bronwyn. Aislin’s sister.”
“We were just finishing up Pictionary,” Kayla said, flipping her dark hair over one shoulder. “Pull up a chair and join us.”
“Willa’s sitting over there.” Aislin pointed to a pile of throw pillows lying on the floor on the opposite side of the table, so Grady headed there and found a spot for himself in the pillow nest.
The table was littered with pieces of paper with pencil-scratch drawings, and Grady picked one up and frowned at it. “Who drew the penis with the hatchet coming at it?”
“Willa.” Tony grimaced. “That’s her rendition of a hot-air balloon.”
Yikes.
“She has many talents, but artistry isn’t one,” Kayla offered.
He sensed her behind him before he heard her voice and recognized her touch the instant she brushed past. “Sorry the glasses don’t match,” she said, settling down beside him and putting a tray on the table. “At least I found a corkscrew.”
“That’s all we really need,” Tony pointed out. “We can chug straight from the bottle—just pass it around the circle.”
That got a laugh from everyone but Aislin’s sister, Bronwyn. “It’s an expensive wine, so I don’t suggest that.”
Everyone shifted uncomfortably. “Dude,” Tony said, looking like he was annoying Bronwyn further by addressing her that way. “Kidding.”
Bronwyn folded her arms over her chest and leveled a look at Tony. “Can I help it if I appreciate the finer things in life?”
