When he finally, reluctantly, pulled away, they were both breathing hard.
“I’d better go inside before someone comes looking for me,” he said. But he didn’t move toward the door.
She ran her hands over his back, reveling in the muscles beneath her fingers. “I’m starting to think you like me.”
The corner of his mouth kicked up in a sexy half grin. “Maybe you and I can get together tomorrow night without the boys and discuss just how much.”
“If only. Leanne has a major literature project due this week and I promised my assistance. We could be working pretty late. I’d have to check my calendar to be sure, but Tuesday might work.”
“Not for me,” he said regretfully. “I have this thing I promised Vi I’d do. Trust me, I’d rather be with you.”
“Wednesday night is wide open. Hint, hint.”
He grinned. “Then it’s a date.”
I have a date with Grayson. Since she was a grown woman, she managed not to squeal with delight—until she was alone in her car. Wednesday couldn’t get here soon enough.
* * *
VI HAD THE boys in the tub by the time Grayson entered the house, so he headed to the kitchen for a cold glass of water. As if that will be enough to cool you down. After Hadley’s kisses, he could jump into an arctic lake and still have heat surging through his veins. He mentally replayed their brief but passionate embrace. The way she—
“Well, you look pretty pleased with yourself,” Vi commented from the doorway. “Your day went well?”
“Very. Oh, hey...any chance you can watch the boys for me for a few hours Wednesday night?” If not, he needed to make other arrangements.
“Sure.”
“And how did your day go?” he asked quickly, before she inquired about his plans. When he’d left for the ranch, Violet had been frantically cleaning. Not that her house was ever truly messy, but she’d seemed to have an excess of nervous energy. She was visibly calmer now. “The meeting with Jim was okay?” He’d encouraged her to take her ex as a client before he’d had the whole story. He hoped it hadn’t been too uncomfortable for her.
She nodded. “I’ve always loved the furniture he makes—I still have all three pieces he gave me—and it’s gratifying that he gets to do it full-time now. And we talked. About his divorce. About you being back. About life in general. It’s pointless to wonder ‘what if,’ but if things had been different...” Her smile was wistful. “I’d better check on the boys and make sure some of the water is still in the tub.”
“I’ll do that. Thanks for getting them started.”
“While you said goodbye to Hadley?” she asked knowingly. “What are the two of you planning to do Wednesday?”
“We, ah, haven’t decided yet.”
He’d been hoping that after their time at the ranch, the boys would fall asleep easily. But bath time seemed to have renewed their energy. Or maybe they were nervous about school tomorrow. He certainly was. The kids he’d gone to kindergarten with were the same people he graduated with; early impressions mattered. So far, the twins had taken relocating to Cupid’s Bow well, but that was easy within the confines of Vi’s cozy home. School, where they would be required to interact with other people every day, was the real test.
Even an hour after he tucked them in, they were still finding excuses to call him back.
“Gray?” Sam’s voice trailed through the house, easily heard over the baseball game Grayson was watching.
Well, sort of watching. It was on the television while he paced circles in the living room.
“I’ll go,” Vi said from behind him. “You’re as restless as they are tonight—maybe not the best person to lull them to sleep.”
He sighed. “It’s ridiculous to be this antsy about a first day of kindergarten, isn’t it?” But they would be the new kids, trying to figure out where the classroom was and what the rules were when the rest of the class already had months of practice.
She patted his shoulder. “Concern for your kids’ well-being is never ridiculous, but they’ll probably feel more confident if you’re not radiating low-level panic.”
Sam called out again, and Vi disappeared down the hallway. Grayson jabbed the remote toward the TV, and the ball game winked into blackness. He needed a better distraction.
He could definitely think of a more pleasant one. In his room, he closed the door and pulled out his phone. He was already scrolling through his contacts for Hadley’s number when he stopped himself. He’d spent most of the evening with her. Was he really so needy that he’d call her only a couple of hours after saying goodbye? Pitiful.
He’d reached for the phone without hesitation, the way he used to with Blaine, knowing he could contact his best friend at any time with good news to celebrate or concerns he needed to vent. Hadn’t Grayson learned his lesson? Best not to be too dependent on other people. He liked Hadley, but he could wait until Wednesday before he talked to her again.
He needed to wait, for his own peace of mind.
Meanwhile, he needed to channel his energy.
“Where are you off to?” Vi asked when he emerged with his truck keys.
“To do some illicit gardening.” Hadley had given him Mrs. Feller’s address. He had gardening supplies and two rosebushes in the truck, but he’d wanted to wait until it was late enough that no neighbors would be walking their dogs one last time or watching fireflies from their porches.
His aunt sighed, still conflicted about his late-night good deeds. “Happy planting. And don’t get caught.”
“That’s my motto.” Or it had been, once upon a time. But he was a different person now, surrounded by new friends and new opportunities. He was grateful for both but still wary. It was when you let your guard down that life was most likely to knock you on your ass.
* * *
STANDING IN SOMEONE else’s flower bed at eleven o’clock at night was an odd place to have an epiphany. But it had occurred to Grayson last night outside Mrs. Feller’s house that for all the strangers and acquaintances he was trying to help, he’d overlooked the person closest to him. Wasn’t it time he repay some small measure of Violet’s kindness? So he’d called Jim McKay first thing Monday morning to ask if they could meet for lunch.
“Sorry I’m so grubby,” Grayson said as he strolled up to the picnic table, a bag in one hand and a minicooler in the other. They’d agreed to meet at the park since it was close to the construction site. “I barely had time to stand in line at the deli before my lunch hour ends. Showering and changing were out of the question.”
“No problem,” Jim said. “I spend a lot of hours in my shop and am covered in head-to-toe sawdust more often than not. Besides, you offered me a free lunch. I’m not going to nitpick the circumstances.” As he accepted the wrapped sandwich Grayson handed over, he added, “Have to say, I was surprised to hear from you, though.”
“Because last time you saw me I was a young punk more likely to slam a door in someone’s face than share a cordial meal with him?”
“Something like that.” He studied Grayson. “Your aunt know you called me?”
“Hell, no. She’d see it as interfering in her life and kick my ass.”
Jim chuckled, but shook his head. “We both know the worst thing she would ever do to you is withhold baked goods for a day or two.”
Easy for you to say, pal. You’re not the one who has a Watermelon Festival meeting to attend tomorrow night. He still couldn’t believe Vi had talked him in to that. “Regardless, I didn’t tell Vi because this isn’t just about her. I have something I need to say.” He popped open his can of soda. Did carbonated caffeine count as liquid courage? It wasn’t easy to look another man in the eye and admit his shortcomings. “I wanted to apologize for being a crappy teenager, for breaking rules and shoplifting and sneering at everyone else in this town.”
Jim�
�s eyes widened. “So I was right? The church graffiti—was that you?”
He nodded. “I didn’t care then about how my actions would hurt Vi or her reputation if I got busted. I do now. I told her everything. But if my misdeeds are part of why you and Vi ended things—”
“You can’t shoulder the blame there, kid. Violet and I... For all that she has a heart the size of Texas, she can still put up some walls. And me? I’m a selfish SOB. I wanted her all to myself.” He sighed. “I cared more about you cutting in to our already limited time than about your problems. I should have made an effort.”
“No hard feelings.” Grayson squinted against the sun. “But Vi is impressed by people going out of their way to help others. So, if you’re ever interested in getting on her good side, I think the local animal shelter could use some volunteers. Or that teen mentorship initiative of hers...”
“Noted. It’s encouraging that you think I’d have a chance at getting on her good side.”
Vi had been more nervous about sitting down with Jim yesterday than Grayson was about the twins’ first week of school; people only got that flustered when they cared. And she was far too young and social to be his spinster aunt. “I want her to be happy,” he said simply. “Maybe someday you’ll be part of that.”
“Maybe.”
Grayson balled up his empty sandwich bag and stood, executing a perfect shot into the nearby wastebasket. “And it goes without saying that, should you ever hurt Vi, I work on a site where I have access to a backhoe and cement.”
Jim gave a bark of laughter. “You turned out all right, kid.”
“Thanks. I’m a work in progress.”
Chapter Ten
When you put good into the universe, the universe reciprocates. At least, that’s how Grayson felt when he entered the community-center meeting room Tuesday evening, because seated in the circle of committee members was his favorite librarian. He’d practiced restraint in not calling her last night to report on the boys’ successful first day of school, but now that they were in the same room together, he couldn’t deny how happy he was to see her.
A silver-haired woman in a bright pink sweater and yellow pants greeted him at the door. “Ah, you must be Mr. Cox. I’m Joan Denby, this year’s committee chair. We’re just waiting on one other person, and we’ll get started.”
All eyes had turned to him as soon as she said “mister,” and he found himself on the receiving end of appraising smiles and surprised glances. He was the only guy in the room.
Hadley bounced out of her chair. “Gray! I see you’ve met Joan. One of the wonderful things about working with her is she always brings peach preserve cookie bars or pear cake.” She led him to a table at the back of the room, where coffee and snacks were set up.
Grayson had a new theory about Cupid’s Bow. The flurry of activity that went in to their festivals must be a collective exercise program. Thank heavens he was working hard under the Texas sun every day, or he’d already be ten pounds heavier.
“What are you doing here?” Hadley whispered. “You’re the last person I expected to see on the Watermelon Festival committee.”
“Aunt Vi convinced me. Over my objections.” He grinned down at her. “I might have objected less if I’d known you were on the committee, too.”
She laughed softly, that musical sound he adored. “Nice to see you, too. I’ve spent the last two days wanting to kiss you again,” she admitted in a husky murmur.
His pulse quickened. “Any chance people won’t notice if we sneak out and neck in the hallway?”
“This is Cupid’s Bow. If we neck in the hallway, there will be pictures of it on the front page of the Chronicle tomorrow.”
“I hate this town,” he grumbled.
She elbowed him. “Liar.”
He thought of the boys’ excitement yesterday evening when they’d talked over each other to tell him about the awesome playground and the library that was “almost as good as Miss Hadley’s” and their teacher, Ms. Baker, who could do funny voices during story time. “Okay, it’s growing on me.” For a long time, he’d felt like Cupid’s Bow brought out the worst in him. Now he was ready to see what else it had to offer.
* * *
IT WAS DARK when the festival meeting ended, but not late. Most of the shops and restaurants around the town square were still open.
“Want to grab a bite?” Grayson asked as he and Hadley exited the community center.
Her expression was apologetic. “Leanne and I didn’t make as much progress last night as she’d hoped. I promised her I’d come over once the meeting was done. But you and I are still on for tomorrow, right?”
“Absolutely.”
As he walked her to her car, he asked, “What would you like to do tomorrow?” It suddenly occurred to him that while he had plenty of experience with women, he didn’t have much experience with dating. He’d taken plenty of ladies out to a nice dinner and then back to his trailer or, if he was on the road, back to his hotel room. He could just imagine Violet’s outraged reaction if he took Hadley into his room and put a sock on the door.
“Grayson?” She was frowning at him. “You okay? I feel like I lost you there for a second.”
He was lucky she looked concerned instead of angry. Asking her input and then promptly checking out of the conversation was a jerk move. “Sorry. I just realized that I...” He censored himself, not wanting to paint himself as a guy whose only romantic interactions had been meaningless sex.
She bit her lip. “Having second thoughts?”
Yes. He was officially taking her out on a date in Cupid’s Bow. Which meant, everyone would know. People would speculate on their relationship. And when it ended, he’d keep crossing paths with her, potentially for years to come. No pressure. “Just trying to think of a fun casual outing.” Had he stressed the word casual too much? He enjoyed their time together, but this wasn’t going anywhere serious. He had the boys, and she had Colorado. Potentially.
“Don’t overthink this,” she advised. She pulled a quarter out of her pocket. “Heads, we go bowling. Tails, we see a movie.”
He chuckled at her decision-making process—silly, but effective.
She flipped the coin in the air and caught it, slapping it down on her opposite wrist. “Ah, bowling it is.”
“That’s really what you want to do?”
“Dude, fate has spoken. Best not to challenge it.”
“Far be it from me to anger fate.”
When they got to her car, he leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. Aware of being on a public street, he straightened before the kiss turned heated, but he slid his hand over her cheek, savoring the moment and not wanting to break contact just yet.
“See you tomorrow.” Her voice was a touch breathless, but as she slid into the car, she resumed her normal tone. “I hope you aren’t a sore loser. I’m pretty good at bowling.”
“Only ‘pretty good’?” He gave her a look of mock-sympathy.
She started the car with a laugh. “Bring it on, Grayson.”
His truck was on the opposite side of the square, and as he made his way back toward it, his father’s old store caught his eye. Both Hadley and Violet said that Ned Garcia was a good man, and their opinions carried a lot of weight with Grayson. Before he could talk himself out of it, he cut across the sidewalk to the store and pushed open the glass door. The familiar smells of leather and feed were welcoming, giving him the same sense of ease he’d experienced on the Twisted R.
Ned Garcia himself was behind the counter. “Grayson!” He beamed at him. “I wasn’t sure you’d take me up on my offer to drop by.”
Neither was I. “Evening, Mr. Garcia. I happened to be in the area and thought I’d stop in.” If he’d known he would be coming here, he would have checked with Violet to see if she needed more dog food. He glanced around, trying to see the p
lace through the eyes of a rational adult, not a kid who’d been programmed to believe his future was stolen out from under him.
“Hasn’t changed much, has it?” Ned asked.
“Oh, I don’t know about that.” He idly turned a carousel of riding gloves. “I hear the place is under better ownership than ever.”
Ned came out from behind the counter. “Grayson, I love this store. It is like family to me, now that Elia and my boy are gone. But, I vow to you, I did not set out with the intention to take this place from your dad.”
“I believe you. He was...not a great father.” The truth poured out of him, and it was liberating. “He was erratic and neglectful, drunk more than he was sober. Not terrific qualities for a businessman.”
There was a moment of silence as they both remembered Bryant Cox, a deeply flawed man they’d nonetheless cared about.
Grayson cleared his throat. “Vi said you tried to get him to go to meetings, to get help. Thank you for that.”
“I’m just sorry I could not do more. But perhaps I can now. I’m pushing seventy, and much as I love the store, it’s time to cut back my hours. Spend a lazy morning or two fishing, take the occasional siesta. Any chance you might want a job? You could learn the ropes...maybe take my place one day.”
Work at Bryant’s store? “I don’t know what to say.”
“There’s not much in the way of staff. Nina Ruiz still puts in a few hours a week, but now that she’s got her real-estate license, she has less and less time for the store. And there’s a kid from the high school who comes in after class, real responsible sort, but he’ll be off to college in August. I could replace him with another teenager, but that’s not a long-term solution.”
Now that he was a parent, Grayson also needed solid long-term plans. He couldn’t see himself working construction for the next twenty years. There was a strong chance the construction foreman would hire him again once the church renovation was complete, but it was good to have other options.
The Cowboy's Texas Twins Page 12
