by Brynne Asher
Crew shrugs. “We might all play for the same team, but still, we don’t. I’m surprised Asa’s gotten as much out of them as he has.”
I look to Crew and shake my head. “Asa has too many friends.”
“Contacts,” Crew corrects me, suppressing a smile. “Pretty sure I’m his only friend.”
“Friend,” I huff. “I guess he and I both have that in common then.”
I take a sip of my beer. I rarely drink, just enough to be social and not have people ask why I don’t. I don’t hate it—just hate the way it makes me feel. I had my benders when I was younger, but now I prefer to stay in control. Not that I judge, I don’t. Especially when I look across the room and see Maya throw her head back, laughing with no inhibitions. I don’t think it’s the wine. She’s becoming more relaxed with everyone around her.
The past couple days have been good. I’ve learned from Asa’s FBI contact that MacLachlan has stayed put in Buffalo, which is a relief. Maya made me dinner last night in her little house, and damn if it wasn’t delicious. And hell if I didn’t eat butternut squash and zucchini since I lost the bet. The squash was fine, the zucchini was less than fine, but I ate it anyway because I’m learning the longer I’m around Maya Augustine, I’ll do practically anything to make her happy. That’s not me, and it’s really not me when it comes to food. She’s thrown me off my game. Not that I’ve had a game in years—I haven’t. Still, I can’t believe I’m eating vegetables just to make her happy.
Even though she knew MacLachlan was back in Buffalo and she’d be fine on her own, I was back in her bed last night without question. I did nothing more than kiss her until she was breathless after we talked, and I gave her shit about making me eat vegetables, but it was all worth it.
I held her in my arms as she slept. I did my best to doze—there was no way I wanted to risk my fucking dreams coming back. But hours after we went to bed, I succumbed to it before her alarm woke me this morning. After two nights of the best sleep I’ve had in a long time, it feels good. Not only that, but sleeping next to Maya is by far the best thing I’ve ever experienced, and I haven’t even had her yet. I don’t know why I keep holding back, but I do.
Maybe it’s because I know I’m only the second man she’s ever kissed, let alone the second for everything else. Maybe it’s because she doesn’t really know me—my work, the shit that happened with my family. Maybe I think I’ll fuck things up even though I’m trying hard not to.
I’m sure it’s a little of all that. All I know is every moment I spend with her, I want her. More than I’ve ever wanted anything. Falling into a dreamless sleep with her last night just makes me more obsessed.
I contemplate all this as I watch her. She’s standing with Addy, Bev, and another woman with pink hair who I don’t know. We’ve been here for two and a half hours—the food is good, the people are friendly, and it’s been fine. It’s been the first time I’ve done something normal in a long time. Things like this have never been my normal.
“You seem good,” Crew says. I turn to him and raise a brow and he amends his comment. “Okay, you seem better. Maya still working on your shoulder?”
“Yeah, and I’ve been going at it strong. It almost feels back to normal.”
“You sleeping?” he asks.
I shrug, and tell him the truth but not why. “Better.”
“You ready for her family and the MacLachlans?” he continues his interrogation.
I nod and look back to her. “I’ve thought it through, every scenario we could run into. So yeah, I’m ready.”
“Sorry! Sorry we’re late.”
I look over and another one of Addy’s employees, Clara, comes rushing in, her big pregnant stomach leading the way. She’s followed by three boys, and bringing up the rear is a man who doesn’t look like he’s feeling so hot.
“Okay,” Clara announces loudly, talking to the room at large, before motioning to the three children who have since scattered around the large brick room. “I’m sorry, so sorry for them and the ruckus they’ll no doubt cause. Our sitter didn’t show. I tried to call our parents, and if you can believe, their social lives are busier than ours. Or they’re liars—really, it’s a toss-up. But I made everyone get out of the house to come. I’m a ticking time bomb—I could pop at any minute, but I’m not missing this, come hell or high water. Anyway, I texted Addy, she insisted we bring the kids, but we’re even later since Jack is moving slow because he’s trying to pass kidney stones.”
“Really?” Her husband grimaces, though I’m not sure if it’s from the kidney stones or her public announcement of his current situation. “Is it necessary to tell everyone?”
“We’re all friends.” Clara waves him off and goes to the makeshift bar at the side of the room and tags a bottle of sparkling water out of the ice bucket. Turning back to us, she waves a hand in front of herself as she goes on. “I mean, all you have to do is pee through a strainer. I, on the other hand, will be on display for a room full of people while squeezing out your fourth baby. So, I’m sorry, but since I’m about fifteen months pregnant and look like a petite hippo, I’ve lost my filter.”
Her husband shakes his head, and winces as he follows her to the bar and pours himself a scotch, asking his wife in a way I doubt he’s looking for an answer, “Have you ever had a filter?”
“You’re supposed to be drinking water,” she announces.
“I need this and maybe three more, then I’ll drink water.”
“Nick, don’t touch that,” Clara snaps her fingers and moves across the room to the youngest boy.
When I turn to Crew, he’s grinning at the show going on, so I ask, “You ready for all that?”
Without losing his grin, he looks over at me and raises a brow, but doesn’t say a word.
“Really?” I ask.
He nods, raising his bottle to his lips and leaves it at that.
I shouldn’t be surprised. Doing what we’ve done is surreal at times, so much that when it ends, it’s an adjustment to realize the rest of the world has continued their lives, going on as normal without taking a hiatus from life like we did.
Crew sets his beer down and heads to one of the boys to help wrangle them. The Ordinary is centuries old. Surely, they can’t do that much damage, but I’ve heard about Clara’s kids.
Looking back at Maya, her dark blond hair that I’ve come to love has fallen around her face as she talks to one of the boys.
Staying where I am, my eyes wander to the right to see more people who work for Addy. Morris, Evan, and Van are in deep conversation about who knows what, and Van has his arm around a woman I’ve never seen. There’s a fire burning in the massive stone fireplace that’s so big, I could almost walk into it. We’re surrounded by exposed brick that’s centuries old, and in the corner stands a practically-perfect lit and decorated tree. It’s so different than the one I cut down for Maya’s little house, it’s laughable.
Crew has wrestled Clara’s oldest into a headlock, but the kid doesn’t seem to mind since he’s laughing his ass off. The third is shoveling sweets into his mouth at the buffet.
I’ve visited my sisters a couple times for the holidays early on after I left home. But for the most part, I’ve avoided shit like this for fifteen years. Even before that, the holidays weren’t great.
The noise of the room starts to blend as I stand off to the side, taking it all in. Co-workers, friends, spouses, lovers—together to celebrate the season. Together, not only because that’s what people do, but more importantly, they’re right where they want to be.
I don’t know how long I stand here, soaking it in, but the longer I do, the more foreign it seems.
Is this me?
Or
more importantly, could this be me?
Crew never had a problem. He didn’t even hesitate—as soon as he found what he wanted, he was all in.
Just when the noise from the room becomes a distant hum in my head the way it does when I get lost in it all, I feel a pull. My eyes go directly to her.
Standing in the middle of the group with a boy tugging on her arm, she tips her head, sending me a curious look through the crowd. She doesn’t break my gaze, even as the kid pulls and yanks on her. Her expression softens the longer I hold her gaze.
Fuck, I wish she could really see me.
Because I really see her. I know it all—that asshole she was hiding from, her pain-in-the-ass mother, her distant father, and the brother she loves more than anything. Even with the shit swirling around her, she’s simple.
She’s Maya.
Two months ago, I never would’ve thought this, but after Maya Augustine walked into my life, I’d give anything to be simple.
No, right now, I’d give everything to be transparent.
Maya tips her head to the other side and I can tell she’s trying to shake the kid off her arm, when a voice breaks our trance.
“Clara, babe, we’ve gotta go.”
I look to the entrance of the Ordinary from Addy’s house where Clara’s husband, Jack, is stepping into the room holding a cell phone between his thumb and index finger since it’s dripping with water.
“What did you do?” Clara asks, her eyes going big at her husband.
He scowls, holding out the cell farther in front of him. “I was in the bathroom, but when am I not in the bathroom with all the water you’re forcing me to drink? I thought I felt … something pass, so I had to use the flashlight on my phone to look. Then I dropped it in the toilet.”
To describe Clara’s face as twisted would be an understatement. Holding her lower back, she shakes her head vehemently, exclaiming, “Why didn’t you use your strainer?”
Jack rolls his eyes, shaking his head. “I’m not bringing my pee strainer to a Christmas party.”
Now Clara’s face really contorts, but not directed at her husband. Holding her back with one hand and her belly in the other, she winces before looking down. “Are you kidding me?” she complains.
Bev rushes to her. “What’s wrong?”
“Clara?” her husband calls to her, still holding his toilet drenched phone out to the side.
“My water broke,” she groans, and everyone in the room starts to move. She looks at the ceiling and shakes her head before she sighs, saying to no one in particular, “Nothing is easy. I just wanted to go to a party.”
“Come on, boys,” Jack calls for his kids, his face suddenly lit up. “This is good. I’m pretty sure I just passed my stone, but now I don’t have a phone, damn it. I’ll use Clara’s.”
Jack goes to his wife, probably trying to help her out, but she waves him off and starts for the door, groaning, “I can’t believe we have to bring the boys.”
“No, don’t bring the boys,” Addy shakes her head quickly. I notice Crew frown, but she dismisses him and smiles big, excited for her friend. “They can stay here with us. Now go—go have a baby! But call as soon as you can. On your phone, not Jack’s. Yuck.”
Maya has shaken off the kid who goes to say goodbye to his parents. She doesn’t wait, she comes straight for me, and when she gets to my side, I lean in and whisper, “You want to get out of here before we get stuck babysitting?”
Pressing her front into me, I feel her squeeze my bicep, trying to suppress a smirk. “I was just thinking the same thing.”
I grab her hand as I look down at her happy, open face. I’ve been ready to leave for an hour. “Let’s go.”
We say quick goodbyes to everyone, Crew appearing resigned to the fact they’re stuck babysitting. When we walk out the door, he has a kid sitting on each foot and wrapped around his legs, with another on his back. He shakes his head as we leave, probably wondering how to keep them from tearing the house down.
It’s cold and the wind is becoming bitter. I hurry Maya to my SUV, opening the door for her on the passenger side. I make the short drive to her little house on the vineyard property, it’s close but too far to walk in the cold, especially in her tight black dress, not to mention her heels. I’ve done my best not to stare at her all night, although my best wasn’t very good.
My resolve is starting to break, so I focus on our trip tomorrow, wondering what that will bring.
Chapter 16 – I Want You
Grady –
Maya unlocks the door and turns to look up at me. She threads her fingers through mine, giving me a small, almost shy smile, as she turns to walk into her house. I need no encouragement. I’d gladly follow her anywhere.
After sleeping with her the last couple nights, she’ll have to kick me out if she doesn’t want me. My obsession has reached a new level. I’m not sure what to think about this, so I’m choosing to ignore it.
Because really, I don’t give a fuck.
I want her.
She makes her way straight to her bedroom, and as much as I want to follow, I let her be. After a couple minutes, she calls, “Can I get you anything?”
“I’m good.” I open her fridge and grab a bottle of water. When I turn back, she’s standing in her doorway. Tonight, she’s wearing a pair of loose short shorts with another tank so small and thin, I have to force myself to focus on her light blue eyes, however, I can’t suppress my slow smile that creeps across my face. “You look comfortable.”
She bites her lip again, damn it, and that makes me lose my smile instantly, wanting nothing more than those lips on mine. And eventually, around my cock.
“Are you,” she pauses, “staying?”
I don’t say anything, and set my water on the counter before I go to her. After closing the distance, I reach for her hip, pulling her to me, and do exactly what I wanted. When my lips touch hers, I don’t waste a second before tasting her. Backing her into the door jamb, I deepen my kiss, pulling her bottom lip between mine. She arches, pressing her tits into my chest.
Shit, my resolve practically evaporates into thin air.
I pull away, seeing nothing but her flushed face, her eyes telling me she wants me when I point out, “Spent my morning doing Gentle Yoga while sitting in a chair, and the only reason I did it was so I could watch you move and stretch. After that, you electrocuted me again, and I drank coffee while the old ladies knitted, asking me every question under the sun. While you finished your work, I ate a low sodium lunch with nothing for dessert but Jell-O. If you think I’m leaving you now, you’re crazy.”
She smiles and it lights up her whole face. Sliding her hands up my arms, she ignores my rant about my new volunteer position and changes the subject. “Thank you for coming with me tonight. I really like everyone here, they’re different than anyone I’ve ever known. Did you have fun?”
Looking down at her eager face, I try to remember the last time I’ve done anything for fun, but don’t share that. “Not as much fun as I had watching you lead yoga, but yeah, I guess I had fun. Though, their Christmas tree sucks compared to yours.”
“Ours,” she corrects me, grinning and pushing me away to walk into her bedroom before she goes on sarcastically. “I agree. I think our tree rivals Rockefeller Center’s. It doesn’t remind me of Charlie Brown’s whatsoever.”
I follow as I start to unbutton my shirt while watching her put a knee to the bed, tagging a bottle off the bedside table on her way. She shifts and turns to sit, popping open the bottle and spreading lotion on her hands and arms. Dropping my shirt to the floor, I go to the button on my pants, wasting no time to get to her.
&
nbsp; “If you say so.” I step out of my pants and watch her watching me.
When I flip the covers back, she crawls to the other side, and repeats what she’s said countless times over the last couple days. “I’ll pay you back for the airfare—both your ticket and mine. I really thought we could drive, but you’re saving me from missing another day of work.”
I shake my head, because if she has trouble making her rent, she’ll never be able to pay me back. “I told you it’s no big deal.”
“We’ll see,” she says, as I pull her into my arms. I dip my head into her neck to kiss her as she wraps herself around me, whispering, “Grady?”
“Hmm?”
Her hand comes to my head, fingering through my hair as I let my tongue slide down her collarbone. “I’m nervous about tomorrow. I mean, I want to see my brother and spend time with him, see that he’s okay, but I can’t stress enough how unpleasant my mother is to be around.”
I roll so I’m on top of her, but support most of my weight on my forearm above her head. “I’ve dealt with some really scary people in my day. I’m pretty sure I can handle your mom.”
“My mom is best friends with Weston’s mom. My dad is okay, but he’s distant and wrapped up in the world he’s created. Not to mention, Weston will be close. After the last week, that worries me.”
“Baby.” I lean down to kiss her softly before finishing. “This is why I’m coming with you. I don’t want you there by yourself, but you’ll be fine with me. I think I’ve already proven it with the Gentle Yoga, but I won’t leave you on your own until he’s taken down.”
“Speaking of.” She pauses and bites that damn lip again. “How come you won’t leave my side at the Ranch, but when I’m working in the tasting room, you don’t seem to care?”
I look down at her and sigh. I might as well tell her. Maybe it’ll make her feel better. “You know Crew owns the property next door and runs his business there, right?”
