by K. L. Jessop
“Hey, this is Ash. I’m obviously not available. Please leave a message and I’ll get back to you.”
“Asher, this is getting ridiculous. Can you please come home? We need you.” I cut the call and throw my phone down on Grayson’s desk. I’d spent the morning with Mom to make sure she was okay, and as soon as she realized why I was hanging around, she told me to stop worrying and go to Grayson. Once I’d entered Hot Tuna and found him in his office, I’d curled myself up on his lap and let him hold me like I’ve been craving. “I just don’t get it. Why has he gone MIA?”
“I hate to say it, Shortcake—and you know I’m not happy with what he’s doing—but maybe he just needs it. Your Mom copes by remaining silent. You cope by having me and bubbles. I have you. And Asher—”
“Has alcohol and hot girls. How is that coping?”
“It’s not. It’s denial. But in his head, that’s obviously the only way he knows how to keep going. He must believe that by behaving the way he is, he’s dealing with everything that has twisted him up.”
“So, we should all forgive him?” I ask as he strokes my hair, resting his chin on my head.
“No. That’s not what I’m saying because you have every right to feel like you do. But just try and understand that if he’s messed up—not just with your dad but everything he’s endured with being a SEAL—then he’s going to act way out of character. He needs help, Nora. He just has to get to that point where he admits he needs it.”
“Meanwhile he damages his organs with booze and catches STIs.”
“That’s one way of putting it.” He chuckles. “Just try not to stress yourself out over it. Jackson is keeping an eye on him. He’ll be home when he’s ready.”
“I just don’t want to lose him, Gray. He’s still my brother.”
“I know. He’ll be okay. In the meantime, I’ve got you.”
I tilt my head up to look at him and cup his jaw. “I don’t think I will ever get over the fact that even in my darkest of times, you shine a light on me that makes me feel so safe and secure.”
“I shine the light of love, baby.”
I grin. “That sounded so romantically cheesy. But I love it anyway.”
“And I love you.” He places a kiss on my lips, and I welcome his embrace as he holds me close, dancing his tongue with mine and causing me to fall even further for him.
But just as he deepens the kiss, we are rudely interrupted by a female clearing her throat.
“Is this a private party, or can anyone join in.”
I pull back, a little startled at the sound of Lacy’s voice. As I go to move off Grayson’s lap, he holds me in place, giving Lacy a clear message that we are together, and judging by the glare I’m getting, she’s not impressed.
“Lacy, didn’t your mother ever tell you to knock when a door is closed,” Grayson says a little irritated.
“Did yours ever tell you that dating little girls was wrong?”
I feel his body tense immediately, and just from that comment alone, she’s got my back up. But I keep quiet. I’m too exhausted to react, but if she continues to look at me with disgust like she is, then I can’t promise it will stay that way.
“What do you want, Lacy,” he growls.
“The dishwasher is broken.”
“Then get Ryan to sort it.”
Stepping into the office, she comes over to us, not fazed in the slightest that she is interrupting as she stands there, looking at us like she’s some kind of headmistress and we are about to be reprimanded. Resting her hands on the desk, she presses her breasts together, so her cleavage becomes more prominent. Her black shirt is so low cut that she’s practically popping out of it, and her ruby red lipstick does nothing for her complexion. I’m not one to judge another’s appearance, but Jesus this woman needs a good look in the mirror.
“Why would I ask him when you’re the manager?”
“Because when Ryan is working, he’s in charge. You’d usually get him to deal with it, so I don’t know why you’ve come to me now.”
Because she can’t bear the fact that I’m in here and she isn’t.
“Well, I thought you might want to take a look.”
“Well, I’m busy.”
“With… her?” she bites, looking at me with pure hatred.
I give her credit. Lacy has always tried to bring me down when we work together, be it with death glares, snide remarks, or general nastiness from her. I don’t know what her problem is other than the fact that I’m with the man that she wants as her own, but the look I’ve just received has rattled me too much to sit here in silence.
Knowing Grayson has my back, I let her have it. “Lacy, I don’t think either of us has to answer that, considering you can see that we’re together,” I say. “And before you ask—because I know you are dying to find out due to being too dumb to figure it out for yourself—yes, we’re fucking.”
Her back straightens, and she folds her arms in disgust. “Grayson, are you going to let her talk to a member of your staff like that?”
“On this occasion, yes,” he replies. “Now go find Ryan before I have to physically remove you from the building.”
“I wouldn’t advise that, Gray. She may like it,” I sass.
Her face is like thunder, and if it were at all possible for steam to come out of her ears then I reckon it would.
“You can’t fire me for doing my job.”
“I never said I could, but if you don’t leave now, you will have my boot up your ass. Jealousy is not a pretty look to wear, Lacy, and if your attitude toward Nora doesn’t change, I will have to rethink your position at my club,” he states, the authority in his voice making my skin prickle.
"Jealous? Why the fuck would I be jealous of a little thing in denim shorts?”
I leave Grayson’s lap and mirror her position on the desk, adrenaline running through my veins, which causes me to ball my fist and dig my nails into my palms to prevent myself from lashing out. "Because I’m the one that’s under Grayson at night and not you." I lean closer and whisper. “And you never will be. He doesn’t like cheap.”
She takes a step back, rage in her eyes, and her nostrils flare. I’m waiting for the hit, but as Grayson stands behind me, she retreats, glaring over my shoulder as she seethes. “She will ruin you.”
“She already has. Now get out.”
With a slam of the door, silence falls a beat before I turn to glance at Grayson. His face is calm and collected, and we burst out laughing.
“I think she got the message.”
Knowing that she is not the type of person to take shit lightly, I hop up on the desk, exhaling out the frustration I get whenever she’s around. “Somehow I don’t think that will be the end of that. She’ll try and get between us one way or another soon enough. And she won’t be the only one.”
He steps between my legs, gripping my chin to look up at him. “Let them try. I’m in deep, Shortcake. Nothing will change how I feel about you.”
His fingertips brush over the skin of my lower back and warmth spreads over me from his touch.
“I don’t deserve you, Grayson Bennett.”
Coming in close, he brushes his nose with mine and declares the words that I feel deep within my soul before placing a kiss on my lips.
“You deserve the world, Nora. And I’m going to make sure that you know just how much you mean to me because a life without you is no life worth living.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Nora
“Where are we going exactly?” I ask Grayson as we head toward his truck.
“Doesn’t the word surprise mean anything to you?”
“Well yes, but I’m still curious. I mean, you took the night off work on one of the busiest nights of the week and tell me to make myself look pretty because we are going out to create new memories. I’m bound to be a little inquisitive.”
Where I once lived for the ‘old times’ with Dad, Grayson has made a promise that from here on we create
new ones for the two of us. The excitement when he said that was something I’ve not felt in a long time, and it’s given me a purpose to get up each day and put a smile on my face. Mom is doing a lot better than she was. Mark has headed out to California to try and knock some sense into Asher, and me and Grayson have been better than ever.
“Oh, I knew you would be, but you’ll have to wait a little longer before you find out.” He helps me into the truck, and I buckle myself in as he comes around his side and jumps in.
Noticing a black scarf on the seat between us, I run my fingers over it before holding it up. “What’s this?”
I look at him to find him grinning, “That’s for you to put on just before we get there.”
I raise a brow. “Is this some kind of kink night?”
He laughs, reaching over to kiss me and taking the scarf from my hand. “No. Trust me. You’ll love it.”
Giving me a knowing look, he starts the truck, and we head out of the street.
It’s a cool evening, and the sun is setting beautifully, filling the sky with reds and vibrant orange.
“God, it’s beautiful tonight.”
“You sure are, baby,” he smiles. Reaching over, he turns on the radio, and before long Bruno Mars’s Count on Me filters out around us.
“I love this song.”
“You do?”
“Oh yeah.” I turn it up a little louder, the rhythm of the music making me want to dance. “It’s just so happy. Sing with me.” I sit up straighter, moving my upper body to the music and singing along to the words, pretending to hold a microphone as I look at Grayson telling him that he can count on me. The grin on his face is priceless, and the sparkle in his eyes is one I love seeing.
We’ve both come so far in our troubles and heartbreak, and I believe we are both turning a corner. Granted, I’ve still got a little while to go before my heart is at peace, but with him, it’s going to be so much easier.
“I love seeing you so happy.”
“I’m happy because I’m with you,” I singsong, raising my arms and rocking my hips from side to side as he drives. It’s not long until Grayson catches on and starts to sing along to the radio as I continue to move.
“You need to put the blindfold on now.”
“Oh yeah. Whatcha going to do to me?” I grin, wriggling my brows and causing him to laugh.
“You’ll see. Now put it on.”
“Do I need to be scared? Because I feel a little afraid,” I joke, with nothing but excitement inside.
“Nothing to be scared about, little lady. Now cover those pretty eyes up.”
I do as he asks but continue to dance the night away in his truck. When we stop, I get told to stay put and he leaves me alone. With the radio now off, I sit in silence, not wanting to peek. I jump when the door opens, and he’s quick to reassure me that it’s him before helping me out.
“You ready?”
“I’m suddenly nervous,” I breathe. “Do I need to be?”
He kisses me on the hand and whispers, “Nothing to be nervous about. I’ve got you, I promise.”
Taking my hands, he guides me to our destination, and as we walk through some doors, Grayson makes small talk with whoever has just walked by. I try to work out my surroundings, but it’s too difficult. There is a low vibrating hum all around, but I can’t make out what it is.
When we come to a stop, I’m told to stay in place. My heart pounds in my chest and I’m grinning like an idiot in anticipation of what I’m about to experience.
“Okay, you ready?”
“I think so.”
“All right.”
Standing behind me, he unties the blindfold, and the second I register where I am, my breath catches.
We are at the Aquarium.
The room is dark and lanterns with soft lighting are dotted around the floor giving it a romantic feel, while fish in all shapes and sizes along with turtles swim around on the opposite side of the large glass wall.
As I take it all in, I register the fact that it’s after closing and that the Aquarium isn’t even open to the public.
“Grayson…”
He comes to stand in front of me, taking my hands in his.
“How…”
“It’s just the two of us, baby. For as long as we want tonight, we can stay here, lay back and watch the sea life glide by with no interruptions.”
I’m speechless, the lump in the back of my throat burning. My eyes give the place a once over just to make sure it isn’t a dream before I look back at him. “Just us?”
“Just me and my Shortcake.”
“But how… How did you even pull this off?”
“Because I could and because I love you.” He takes my face in his hands. “I told you, you deserve the world, Nora, and I meant it. You’ve been so lost at times since your dad, and that’s completely understandable, but I wanted to do something that would just make you breathe. Make you forget all the pain your beautiful heart is fighting against for a while. And what better way to do that than to bring you to the place you love the most. Under the sea.”
Just when I don’t think I can love him any harder, he proves me wrong, be it with a touch, a gesture, or just a look of security. How can one man have the power to make me feel like I’m worth everything and more in the simplest of ways?
Reaching up on my tiptoes, I place my hand on his jaw. “Grayson Bennett, have I ever told you just how much I love you?”
“You don’t need to. I can feel it.” He presses his lips to mine, pulling me closer so we are body to body. “You are everything to me, Nora. My best friend. My soulmate. The love of my life. I want to grow old with you.”
“You’re already old,” I whisper, grinning.
He chuckles. “My girl is getting her sass back. I love that.”
“I love you.”
He kisses me again with a passion that makes my knees buckle. I wrap my arms around his waist and hold on to him like I never want to let go.
“Come on,” he steps back. “We have food, drink, and soon enough, I want to dance under the sea with you.”
I raise a brow. “You? Dance? You are so bad at that.”
“Then we will sway.”
He goes over to a picnic blanket on the floor that I hadn’t noticed and takes out two glasses and a bottle of champagne. Wanting to be closer, I walk over to the turtles and place my hand on the cool glass. The urge to get in there with them is immense. I’ve not been diving since I’ve been home, and for the first time, it makes me realize how much I love everything about oceanology and how I’ve missed it.
“God, I miss ocean life. With everything that’s happened since I’ve been home, my love for it seems to have been put on the back burner. I need to get that back.”
“Are you thinking of going back to college sooner than you planned?” He asks surprisingly.
I shrug, not having thought that far ahead. “Maybe. If I can.”
He comes over and hands me a glass of champagne.
“I took the year out to be with Pop because I missed him so much when he first had his stroke. Studies kicked my ass while I was on campus, and I just wanted to be around him more. Taking the year out once I got my degree somehow seemed right. I’d get that time back with Dad that I missed out on and help him get stronger in the meantime. It just all ended a lot faster than we all intended.”
I swallow the sadness that has gripped my chest, not wanting to go to that dark part of my life tonight. Dad always told me to follow my dreams, and I have done that, but as much as I want to head back to college and continue with my studies to further my career in oceanology, the thought of leaving Mom tugs at my heart. And then there is Grayson. Although Wesleyan College is only a short drive away, I can’t bear the thought of not being close to him when I need it.
“Well, whatever you decide, you know he’ll be up there watching and being proud of you, Nora. As will I.”
“I know.” I smile. “I will miss you if I go back.
I know that campus isn’t that far but the thought of not waking beside you...”
He tucks my hair behind my ear, his voice low. “No one says you have to go back. You only went there to escape your brother. Why not go back and study but stay at home? That way you can be with me and your mom. I know you’re worried about her.”
“Am I that transparent?”
He smiles. “No, baby. I just know you well, that’s all. I know what you’re thinking.”
To put it to the test, I think about him naked and all the naughty things I want to do to him. “What am I thinking now?” I grin.
He studies me for a moment before a wicked grin spreads across his lips. “A smile like that can only suggest your thoughts have just got filthy.”
“Wow, you do know me well.”
“Told you.”
I circle my arm around his waist, my hand trailing down toward his ass for a little squeeze. The glow of the large tank illuminates his eyes that I forever drown in, but as I reach his ass, my hands are greeted with something hard in his back pocket.
“What’s that?”
“That is my next surprise.” Taking my champagne glass from me, he puts both glasses down on the bench. With a cheeky grin, he takes out what is in his pocket and presents a small black box. “So, I got you a little something. As soon as I saw it, I didn’t think twice.”
Placing the velvet box in my hand, I open the lid, and my breath is stolen. Lying on the black cushion is a long, elegant silver chain with an anchor on one end and a turtle at the other. When connected, the end that holds the turtle loops through the shank of the anchor. It’s breath-taking, and as I run my fingers over it, I have no control over my emotions because I already know the meaning behind it.
