The Stand

by Lila Kane

  “Something wrong?” Nathan asked when the rest of the group stayed quiet.

  Kara unzipped her jacket and shrugged out of it. “Maddy had a visitor at Serendipity today.”

  Alarm flickered. “A real visitor?”

  “Yeah, a real one. I think,” she said with a glimmer of a smile. Then she cast a questioning look in Elliot’s direction. “I hope.”

  “We all saw him. He was real.” Elliot passed a bag over to Nathan. “Movies.”

  Maddy wandered into the living room and sat on one of the couches. “He asked for Grace, said he needed to tell her something.”

  He scratched his jaw and nodded. Lewis. He’d bet on it.

  “He asked about Riley, too,” Maddy said.

  “That’s all he did?” Nathan crossed his arms and remained standing.

  Kara joined Elliot on the opposite couch. Elliot raised his brows. “No, he got a little more physical than that.”

  Maddy blew out a breath. “You guys make it sound like he attacked me or something. He asked about Grace. When I didn’t tell him anything, he got a little more desperate and grabbed my arm. I don’t think he was trying to hurt me.”

  “He shouldn’t have grabbed you, then,” Nathan said.

  Kara nodded. “That’s what I said. Grace is dealing with the star. This is the last piece. We all have to be careful.”

  “I agree.”

  “Of course you do.” Maddy slid her shoes off and curled her legs beneath her on the couch. “Probably Elliot, too.”

  “Damn right.”

  “I thought so. But maybe it has nothing to do with the star. Or if it does, it’s something we need to figure out, not avoid.”

  “You sound like Grace,” Nathan told her.

  “Isn’t she usually the voice of reason?”

  “She’s right in the middle of this,” Kara said. “She might not be seeing things as clearly as she did when it was our turn.”

  “I’m not going to talk about Grace like this,” Maddy said. “I’m just saying, you guys get overly worried sometimes.”

  Nathan wanted to tell her it paid to be cautious. Wanted to remind her caution was needed after what she and Kara had already faced. But none of that needed to be said. He, Riley, and Elliot–even Kara, it seemed–were still going to remain on alert.

  ~ ~ ~

  Grace’s eyelids drooped. She was having trouble sleeping at night. Either worrying about the star or planning for the youth center. And now it was all catching up with her.

  Voices quieted from the entryway just off the kitchen and Grace heard footsteps. She expected Nathan, actually found herself wanting Nathan to come back, but Riley appeared instead.

  “Hi.”

  His mouth moved in a trace of a smile. “Hi.” He slid into the seat next to her, stretching his hands out on top of the table. “You look tired.”

  “Where is everyone else?”

  “They’re looking at the movies.”

  “Oh.”

  The seriousness in his expression had her wondering if he’d come in here for something more than just to check on her. Before he could say anything, Grace spoke again. “Do you remember my dad?”

  His eyes betrayed surprise. “I…remember a guy who used to hang out a lot just before you were born. But then there was another one just after. I couldn’t really be sure.”

  “Do you remember his name?”

  “Whose name?”

  “The guy who was there a lot before I was born.”

  He glanced toward the other room, to the sound of a few voices speaking at once, then rubbed his hands over his face. He looked nearly as tired as she felt. “I don’t know, Grace. I was only four or five. I think he lived with us for a while, or we lived with him.” His eyes met hers. “Maybe it started with a T? Or an L?”

  Grace straightened just slightly.

  “Thomas?” he continued, brow furrowing thoughtfully. “Lance? Grace, why are you asking–”

  “Lewis?”

  He paused, then stretched his hand out, as if appealing to her to change the subject. “Maybe. Look, Grace–”

  “I saw someone,” she told him. She folded her arms on the table and rested her head on them. When she spoke again, her voice came out muffled. “He came into the antique store before it closed. He said he was my father. I should have told you but I thought he’d just leave.”

  When he didn’t answer, she angled her head to look at him.

  “Was he tall?” Riley asked. “Sandy blonde hair?”

  “Yes.” Grace straightened all the way. “How did you know?”

  “Sounds exactly like the man Maddy described. He visited her at the bookstore today.”

  Grace started to stand, but Riley caught her arm. “Hold on. We need to talk about this.”

  “What did he say to Maddy? Why was he even there in the first place?” Grace shook her head. “This is bullshit–”

  “Grace.” He paused, waited for her to stop grumbling. “He went in there and asked her about you. Asked where he could find you because he said he needed to tell you something. And he was aggressive about it.”

  Her anger flared again. “What do you mean aggressive? What did he do?”

  “He grabbed her because she wasn’t telling him where you were.” When she stood and he saw the look on her face, he crossed his arms and said, “Believe me, I know exactly how you feel. But that doesn’t change the fact that he’s still here. That he could be dangerous.”

  “Don’t worry about him,” Grace said in a matter-of-fact tone. “I’ll take care of him.”

  Riley sighed and closed his eyes briefly. She saw a clear struggle for patience on his face. “Grace. That’s the exact opposite of what I want you to do.”

  “If he has something to do with finding the star, I need to talk to him, if he really is my father, maybe…I should just let him say what he needs to say. And if it’s neither, then I need to make sure he leaves. Make sure he doesn’t bother anyone anymore.”

  “It’s not your responsibility to do all that. And besides, it’s not safe–”

  “Who the hell’s responsibility is it, then?”

  “All of ours.”

  Grace frowned and started around him, but he wouldn’t move. “Riley.”

  “Stop it, Grace. Stop acting like you have to deal with this all on your own. Stop acting like no one else cares about what happens to you–”

  “I’m not acting like that. I know you care.”

  “Everyone cares, Grace. Everyone. Maddy and Kara are not going to let you deal with this on your own. Elliot’s your friend. He doesn’t want to see you hurt, he doesn’t want something to happen to you.”

  “Nothing is going to happen.”

  “Grace, why can’t you understand what I’m saying? I love you. You’re my family. And I’m tired of feeling guilty every time I try to help you. I just want you to know that you don’t have to deal with this on your own. That you can trust me. You can trust Nathan, too.”

  “Nathan has nothing to do with this.”

  “He has a lot more to do with this than you think.”

  “He already told me about his ex-wife,” Grace grumbled.

  “I think it means something.”

  “That’s your opinion.”

  Riley settled his hands on his hips, the muscle in his jaw working for several moments. “Fine, Grace. I can’t make you listen to me or understand how I feel. But I can make sure you’re not alone anymore. Whether you like it or not.”

  She didn’t respond.

  “And,” he added, already turning toward the other room, “this conversation isn’t over by a long shot.”

  Riley left her standing in the middle of the kitchen, feeling torn between anger at his words and desperation for him to return and comfort her. To make it all better with a hug and reassuring words. But she had always gotten along fine without those things.

  And yet…something inside told her she wasn’t going to make it through all of this
if she didn’t start trusting everyone else.

  Grace cast another look around the now lonely kitchen and made her way slowly to join everyone else in the living room.

  Chapter 16

  The movie ended. When Maddy looked over, Nathan put a finger to his lips and pointed at Grace. She had curled her legs up and leaned against the cushioned armrest of the couch with her eyes closed. Asleep.

  They left the family room quietly. Shadows flickered off the walls as they made their way to the kitchen. Pizza boxes still sat piled on the counter, but Nathan just pushed them aside and leaned back with his arms crossed.

  “Should I wake her up?” Kara asked. “I feel bad, but Elliot’s giving me a ride home and she didn’t bring her car.”

  “I can take her,” Nathan said. When Kara raised her brows, he continued, “She’s tired. We can let her sleep for a bit.”

  Riley nodded. “You’re right. She could use the extra rest. Grace knows who that man was at Serendipity today.”

  “What?” Kara said.

  “She said he came here before the antique store closed. He told her he’s her father.”

  “Oh my God.” Maddy pressed a hand to her mouth.

  “Hold on…” Kara said slowly. “Wouldn’t that make him your father too?”

  “This is probably something we should all talk about later,” Nathan suggested. He kept his voice neutral. “Grace can tell us exactly what she knows, and we can figure out what to do.”

  “Grace isn’t happy with me,” Riley murmured, gaze sliding to Maddy’s. “But she knows I don’t want her off by herself.”

  “We’ll help out.” Maddy reached for his hand.

  Kara nodded. “I won’t let her leave the guesthouse unless she’s coming somewhere with me or someone else is with her.”

  “Right,” Elliot said.

  Riley looked to Nathan again, question in his eyes. Nathan gave a brief nod. He had no plans to leave Grace alone.

  Elliot helped Kara with her jacket and Maddy joined them by the front door, voices low in conversation. Riley kept his place next to Nathan at the counter.

  “I was angry with her,” Riley told him.

  “I’ve been angry with her, too.”

  “She doesn’t understand how serious this is. She thinks she can just jump in and take it all on but I don’t know if she has any idea exactly what that means.”

  Nathan braced both hands on the counter behind him. “She likes dealing with things on her own.”

  “That’s her fallback.” Riley nodded. “Even before our mother left, Grace and I were pretty much on our own. She doesn’t like to rely on anyone else.”

  “She might not have a choice this time, not if she wants to find the star before the deadline.”

  Riley sighed, rubbing a hand across his eyes. “Good luck convincing her of that.”

  Nathan smiled. “I can be pretty persuasive. Head on home, I’ll make sure Grace gets where she needs to go.”

  Riley nodded. “Thanks.”

  He said goodnight to the rest of the group at the door and locked it behind them. He kept his footsteps soft as he entered the family room once more, settling down with a book at the base of Grace’s feet.

  The pages crinkled as he shuffled to his bookmark. Grace murmured something in her sleep, shifted her head against the cushion and went silent again. Several strands of her fine hair lay beneath her cheek on the armrest. Her hands had snuck tight against her chest, curled together as though she were trying to stay warm.

  Nathan set aside his book, stood and retrieved a blanket from a chest next to the couch. He spread it carefully over her and returned to his seat. Her eyelids fluttered. He wondered what she was dreaming, wondered what she was doing all day or night to make her so tired.

  He wished she’d wake up and he’d see trust in her eyes. That she’d believe, somehow, he could help her through this.

  Nathan shifted when she moved her legs, but he couldn’t get out of the way fast enough. They collided with his and her blue eyes opened slowly, giving him a look of confusion before they closed again.

  “Grace,” he said, catching her attention.

  Her lids flickered open again. “Hmm.”

  Nathan touched her leg through the blanket. “The movie’s over.”

  “But we just…started it.”

  “You slept through most of it.”

  To his amusement, she stretched her legs a little further, bumping his again and closed her eyes. “Where is everyone else?”

  “They already left.”

  She peeked at him through one slightly opened eye. “So how am I supposed to get home?”

  “I guess you’ll have to walk.”

  Both eyes popped open. His heart warmed when a slow smile curved her lips. “I don’t believe you.”

  “That I’d make you walk home?”

  She shifted some and propped herself up with her elbow. A crease still lingered on her cheek. “Maybe Riley, but not you.”

  “You told him about Lewis.” A shadow passed across her face and he gave her leg another squeeze. “It’s good you did.”

  “He went to Serendipity, Nathan.” Guilt coated her voice. “Riley said he grabbed Maddy, tried to get her to talk to him. I should have said something sooner.”

  “It’s not your fault.”

  “It is.”

  “Come here,” he said, shifting on the couch and reaching for her. She hesitated, but when he kept his hand out, she moved to his side of the couch to lean against his chest. “Relax for a minute.”

  “I should get home.”

  But she didn’t move, only flexed her hand against his chest. Her hair smelled like strawberries, and he drew in a deep breath. More words hovered on his lips, things he knew she didn’t want to hear.

  Then she looked up, jewel blue eyes fastening on his, and the words vanished. She twisted the same time as he did, their arms coming around each other, limbs tangling.

  Nathan’s fingers splayed on her back, holding her close as he slid his tongue between her lips. Her mouth parted for him, angling her head to deepen the kiss, giving as much as taking. He eased her back on the cushions, trying not to jostle her leg.

  “Nathan,” she whispered.

  He stopped. “Did I hurt you?”

  “No.” Her lashes lowered, and she shook her head. “This is just…”

  He prepared himself for her to pull back, to retreat. That’s what she’d been doing this whole time. But instead, she shook her head. “It’s been a long time.”

  He started to respond, but she reached up, locking her hands behind his neck to pull him to her. Her mouth fused to his, bringing forth a groan. It was torture holding back when he wanted all of her right now.

  But he forced himself to take his time.

  With careful hands, he pulled her lower on the cushions so he covered all of her. He ran his fingers along her sides, and then back up, smiling when her eyes dropped closed. She sighed, and the sound did more to arouse him than anything else up to this point.

  Her skin was like silk when he touched her stomach, and ran his hands higher until he reached the lacy bra underneath. Her breath caught. She arched toward him, saying his name again.

  “We can go upstairs,” he murmured, dropping his lips to her neck, breath warm against her skin.

  “No. My ankle. I should—should really go home.”

  Her eyes met his, a question in them. He forced his hands to still. “Please stop saying that. I want you here, with me, right now. If that’s not what you want, I’ll take you home.”

  Her gaze searched his. Her heart still beat hard against his chest, breathing heavy as though she’d run a race. “This is what I want.”

  “You sure?” he asked.

  “I’m sure.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Nathan went even slower this time, but even so Grace found she could barely keep up. She wanted to see all of him, to touch all of him, but he was ahead of her—always ahead, making her body q
uiver in response.

  He pulled off her shirt, making her fluff of hair tickle her bare shoulders when it came back down, and his eyes feasted on her.

  It really had been too long. So long, every part of her awakened with a new need each moment, making her realize how much she’d been holding back. How much she’d wanted herself in Nathan’s arms this whole time.

  But doubts threatened to creep up on her. What would happen after tonight? Would he leave? Would they just go on the way things had gone before and she’d feel lost all over again?

  Nathan pressed a kiss on her brow. “You’re worried.”

  “It’s a bad habit.”

  “Self-preservation, I think.” Before she could get defensive, he trailed a finger along her stomach and undid the button on her jeans. “I promise this means something to me.”

  Her throat dried. “You don’t, uh—that’s not—”

  God, how was she supposed to answer that? He actually cared for her. This wasn’t casual for him, and she had to respect that. To respect he’d waited long enough that there was more on her end than just physical attraction.

  Moved by sudden tenderness for him, she surged up, capturing his mouth with hers. She fumbled with the hem of his shirt, and he grabbed it, only breaking their kiss to pull it off and toss it on the ground.

  She shifted on the couch, wincing when her ankle bent against the cushions, but cut off his concern with another kiss.

  Her hands slid down his chest, to the button on his jeans, and opened it. She urged him against the cushions, taking the lead, even when he tried to grab her hands, to get her to relax.

  “No,” she murmured, “I need this.”

  She pulled off his pants and his boxers, and did the same with her jeans and underwear, ignoring the twinge in her ankle.

  “Grace,” Nathan said.

  Her lips curved, and she knelt over him, her breasts brushing his bare chest. He groaned, making her smile even more, and he reached up to rub her nipples with the pads of his thumbs. He swallowed. “You’re pretty good at this for an invalid.”

  She laughed and straddled him, making his eyes go wide. “I told you, it’s been a while.”