In It to Win It

by Morgan Kearns

  His stomach lurched.

  Nate cleared his throat and Grayson realized that he was still staring at the door where Jane had disappeared. What an idiot!

  “What’d you do this week?” Nate asked, still in his interrogation mode.

  Grayson gave Nate the short version, the very short version of events. He’d leave most of the story for Jane to tell.

  Nate narrowed his eyes. “Did you make her cry?”

  “Maybe.” Grayson could hear the irritation in his voice and willed his blood to cool.

  Nate cracked his knuckles, glaring at Grayson. Grayson glared right back. Nate’s macho-man shit was getting old. Fast.

  Grayson was just about to insist that Nate lose the attitude or get the hell out when Jane said his name. Grayson didn’t take his eyes from Nate’s. The two of them locked in some kind of tractor-beam stare-down.

  Jane’s hand slipped around his waist, leaning into him but Grayson refused to break the challenge in Nate’s stare. Nate cried uncle first when Roxie called his name. He blinked and looked up at her, repentant.

  Grayson bent to kiss Jane on the top of the head, her hair soft tickling his lips, and whispered, “Call off your guard dog.”

  She giggled a little. But before he could get offended she leaned up on her toes and kissed his cheek. “Nate. Roxie,” Jane said, “a lot has happened this week. I don’t know exactly where to begin to tell you about it. And maybe I shouldn’t tell you about it at all, except that you both should know that Grayson and I … I mean, me and Grayson … We…” She shook her head, rubbing at her forehead with her fingertips.

  “Is it that hard to tell them you love me?” Grayson snapped, insulted. His short, clipped words had more to do with Nate than with Jane. He was just about to apologize when Jane went up on her toes again. This time her lips met his. He hadn’t expected a kiss at all, and certainly hadn’t expected the long, leisurely caress of her mouth. When she drew back she smiled, her eyes were soft with desire.

  Without breaking their gaze, Jane told their audience, “I love him. I am crazy in love with Grayson Pierce.”

  Roxie gasped then squealed and clapped her hands together once. “That is so awesome!”

  “Jane?” Nate asked.

  “It’s okay, Nate. I don’t need a bodyguard, at least not against Grayson. I appreciate your concern. You’re a great friend. The big brother I never had. I need you to cut Grayson a break. Because I love him.”

  “What about him?” Nate jerked his head in Grayson’s direction. “He love you back?”

  Grayson wasn’t normally a wear-your-feelings-on-your-sleeve kinda guy, but it seemed like the moment to lay his cards on the table. He kissed Jane on the forehead. “I have loved Jane since I figured out what true love was. Maybe even before that. It just took me too damned long to convince her of it. She won’t ever wonder again.”

  Nate stood, crossing the room to stand directly in front of Grayson and Jane. He looked from Jane to Grayson and nodded, then stuck out his hand. “I’m glad.”

  Grayson gripped his hand, squeezing a little harder than necessary. Nate grinned and his grasp tightened. He yanked, pulling Grayson closer, and whispered, “You’re whipped, man.” His eyes darted to Roxie and he grinned. “Welcome to the club.”

  ONCE NATE WAS CONVINCED THAT GRAYSON wasn’t out to break Jane’s heart, he went outside to get the camera and tripod from the back of his 4-Runner. He got everything set up. “Okay, let’s do this.”

  Jane settled in a recliner and Grayson took another. She asked. He answered. That was how things went for about the next twenty minutes. Nate unclipped the camera and glanced at Jane.

  “What do you want for b-roll?” Nate asked, camera on his shoulder.

  “What do you want us to show everybody?” she asked Grayson.

  Grayson shrugged. “Believe it or not this is my first real interview. I’ve never allowed a reporter in my home. What kinds of things do you usually show?”

  She looked from the cozy room with its masculine appeal and immensely decorated tree to the beams across the ceiling to the stairs where the railing was covered in garland.

  “We could make every woman drool by showing where you sleep,” she said with a laugh.

  He laughed and lifted his shoulder again. “Whatever.”

  Nate headed toward the stairs. Grayson took Jane’s hand and they followed him. She hadn’t even realized her hands were cold until his warm one encased hers. “You know,” he whispered into her ear, “there’s never been another woman in that bed.”

  His words surprised her and the emotion must have shown on her face. He kissed the top of her head as they started up the stairs. “There will never be another. You’re it for me, Janie.”

  She smiled up at him. She stopped on a step and put her hand on his chest, making him stop one step down. They were nearly eye-to-eye and she kissed the tip of his nose. “You’re it for me too, Grayson.”

  He wrapped his arms around her and rested his forehead against her breasts. She listened to him breathe and the thumping of her own heart for what seemed like an eternity. It must have seemed like forever to Nate too, because he cleared his throat from the top of the stairs.

  “I hate to interrupt.” He cleared his throat again. “I doubt you’d be real happy about me just poking around your house. You wanna show me what you two lovebirds want to put on TV?”

  The tour of the upstairs was quick and didn’t include the room where Gracie was sawing logs. They trudged down the stairs where Roxie was seated in a recliner. She stood and came over. “Did you guys get everything you needed? It’s started snowing and, if we’re gonna make it home, we’d better get on the road.”

  By the look on his face, Nate was giving Jane the final say. She’d wanted to get more footage; maybe Grayson with the horses or riding his ATV or just … she didn’t know. There was no doubt she could make the story with what they had, but she wanted more.

  “We’re gonna have to stay a little longer,” Nate told Roxie. “It’ll be okay. We’ve got four-wheel-drive.”

  “You’re welcome to stay here,” Jane said, feeling a bit guilty for Nate’s decision. As soon as the words were out of her mouth she realized two things: Nate could read her like a book and she’d just invited people to stay in a home where she didn’t pay the mortgage.

  Before she could retract the invitation Grayson put his hand on the small of her back and said, “Stay. The roads are going to be hell. It’s only supposed to get worse in the next few hours and it’s supposed to clear out by tomorrow afternoon. You can leave then.”

  Roxie needed convincing. “I don’t know. We don’t want to impose.”

  “You’re not,” Jane said. “You can use the room where Gracie’s sleeping. It’s not like I’ve been using it anyway.” She felt her cheeks blush.

  Nate chuckled, not missing a thing. He stepped next to Roxie and put his arm around her waist. It was obvious that Roxie didn’t want to stay and even more obvious that Nate could read her easier than he could read Jane.

  “We appreciate the offer,” Nate said, “but we’re gonna head out anyway. We’ve been away from home for long enough. Gracie doesn’t sleep well when she’s not in her own bed and it’s taking its toll.”

  “I guess I can understand that,” Jane said, both bummed and relieved. She’d just gotten Grayson to herself and she wasn’t ready to share him yet. “Can I keep the camera to get some more for the story?”

  “You’ll be back on Monday?”

  “Yep.”

  Nate tipped his head and shrugged an enormous shoulder. “I guess that would be okay. I’ll pick you up Monday morning.”

  It only took a few minutes for Nate and Roxie to gather everything they’d come with—sans the camera. Grayson stood at Jane’s back, his body heat warming her. They waved from the porch until they couldn’t see the vehicle anymore. He turned Jane in his arms and took her face between his hands, kissing her soundly.

  He pulled back so t
hat they could breathe and ushered her inside. “I have to admit that I’m not upset they left.”

  “Me either. The invitation just kind of flew out of my mouth before my brain could stop it. Are you mad that I extended your hospitality without asking first?”

  “Not at all. My home is your home. In fact I have something for you.” He reached into his pocket.

  “Another surprise?” She laughed softly.

  “I hope it’s something you’ll use … a lot.” He held up a key in front of her eyes and for a moment she couldn’t breathe. “I wanted to make this more romantic.”

  She felt tears sting her eyes and blinked. “This is perfectly romantic.”

  “Are you okay having a key to my place on your key ring?”

  “As long as you’re okay with tampons under your bathroom sink.”

  Her comment stunned him, she could tell. His lip quirked like he wanted to laugh but the mortification in his eyes made her wonder if he was going to snatch the key back and push her out into the coming snowstorm.

  “Um, I guess that comes with the territory.”

  “Yep. Are you okay with feminine products in your house?”

  He smiled then. “As long as you don’t expect me to buy them.”

  THE NEXT MORNING SUNSHINE STREAKED through the slits in the blinds. Jane wondered how much snow had come down last night and how hard it was going to be to get off Grayson’s property. His roads weren’t paved, just hard packed dirt and a layer of cinders. Now they would be covered with snow and mud.

  She knew the moment he awoke because his fingers started to move ever so slowly, teasingly over her skin. They moved up and down her arm. His lips kissed the nape of her neck and goose bumps spread over her body.

  He chuckled softly. “Good morning.”

  “Morning,” she sighed, rolling onto her back.

  His tortuous strokes then moved to her stomach, making a trail up around her nipple before his hand closed and kneaded her breast.

  “I’ve been thinking,” he said as his palm moved up to cradle her face.

  “You didn’t hurt yourself, did you?” She giggled when he jabbed a finger into her side.

  He kissed her, gentle at first then more determined, like he was branding her. “I can’t live without you,” he said breathlessly.

  “Well, it’s a good thing you don’t have to.” She was a little breathless herself. “I’m not going anywhere. Er … I guess I am. But I’m just going home. My heart is yours.”

  “That’s the problem. Not your heart, your leaving. I hate the idea of you leaving, even if it is only to go back to your job.”

  “I’m not quitting my job,” she said adamantly.

  He popped himself up on an elbow and looked down at her, his fingers continuing their unconscious movements. “I’m not asking you to. What I’m proposing—” He grinned when she scowled. “—is that I come with you. Would you mind having my toothbrush on your bathroom counter?”

  Wow! She’d never imagined having this conversation. As much as she disliked the idea of leaving Grayson’s sanctuary, she hadn’t wanted to play the part of needy girlfriend and ask him to drop his life and follow her just so that he can hold the couch down while she went about doing her thing.

  “Jane?” She could hear the doubt in his voice and hated that she’d made even a moment of uncertainty creep into his mind.

  “I’m okay.” Tipping her head, she kissed him. “I can’t think of a better place for your toothbrush.”

  “Phew.” He made a dramatic point of sweeping his hand over his forehead.

  She laughed. “As much as I’d love to make love this morning, I have to pack and get ready. I’m not even sure I can get my car out of your driveway.”

  “I’ve got a tow chain and a winch. We can get it out.”

  She looked at him skeptically.

  “Worst case scenario, we leave it here,” he announced like it was the most obvious answer to the problem.

  Jane didn’t like that idea. At all. She needed her car. Her brows furrowed and she clamped her top teeth down on her bottom lip.

  His right brow arched and he smirked. His hand smoothed her hair back from her forehead and he leaned down to kiss it. “Worst case scenario, we’ll leave your car here … and you can drive the Jeep. I’ll take the truck. You’ll have a set of wheels to escape if you need some time away from me.”

  “It’s not that I anticipate needing time away from you. I’ll need a way to get to work and—”

  “Didn’t Nate volunteer to pick you up?”

  She frowned and narrowed her eyes at him. “That’s not an everyday occurrence. He just needs to pick his camera up from me Monday morning. Since I’ll have … Ugh!” She yanked the sheets back and instantly regretted the action when cold air doused her naked body. Since she’d already started the whole dramatic exit thing … well, hell.

  “Why are we even having this conversation?” she snapped. “I want my car … because it’s my car.” She stomped across the room, making sure that her feet made noise as they slapped against the hard wood floor. She wasn’t really mad and she was acting like a child. In fact, she was a little embarrassed by her actions.

  When he whistled and started in with the catcalls she laughed and turned her head to blow him a kiss.

  Yes, she was definitely going to enjoy living with him.

  17

  ULTIMATELY IT’D TAKEN SOME WORK—AND the use of the tow chain—but Jane’s car made the trip north. As much as she’d enjoyed her time with Grayson on his remote ranch, she was happy to be home and sleeping in her own bed. What made it even better was that she was no longer sleeping in that bed alone.

  And now she didn’t have to do anything alone, unless she wanted to.

  She poured two glasses of orange juice and popped a couple of pieces of wheat bread into the toaster.

  She’d never been one for drinking coffee. She loved the smell, but for whatever reason never developed a taste for it. Turned out that was another thing she and Grayson had in common.

  Feeling him before she heard him, she shivered when he stepped even closer and pressed his lips to the back of her neck. “Good morning.”

  “Morning. Hungry?”

  He nibbled at her earlobe. “Very.”

  His arm moved around her waist and held her against him. Which was good since her knees weren’t strong enough to hold her up. She sighed and leaned against him. She wanted to shuck the clothes that she’d put on and peel Grayson’s clothes off.

  “I can’t,” she moaned, hating the words.

  “I know,” he said with a chuckle. “I just love that I made you second guess your decision to go to work today.”

  She turned in his arms and glared up into his brown eyes that were twinkling like a meteor shower. Not a single bit of him was repentant. Grayson looked good, delicious in his gray sweater and jeans that hugged every delectable inch of his hard body.

  “Well, aren’t you cocky?”

  “Nope. I know I’m that good.” Before she could get a snappy comeback off her tongue, Grayson laughed and wrapped her in a tight hug. He kissed the top of her head. “I’ve been wondering—” She tracked his eyes as they purposefully glanced around her home. “—are you a Grinch?”

  “No.” Even as she said the words, she couldn’t dispute the fact that it did appear that she was.

  “Have you bought even one gift?”

  “Yes,” she snapped, then admitted the truth, “no. I guess I really should get on that.”

  “Give me a list.”

  “What?” She felt her brows pull together and her mouth drop open.

  “Give me a list. You have to work. I don’t. Let me get your parents something. Who else is on your Christmas list?”

  “Just Molly.”

  “Okay. What were you thinking for your parents?”

  She shrugged. There were more reasons than just lack of time; she had no idea what to get for her parents. They were financially secure and
went out to buy anything and everything they ever wanted. That and no gift was ever good enough for her mother. Hell, Jane wasn’t good enough for her mother. It sucked forever being a disappointment.

  “I have no idea,” Jane told him, sounding defeated.

  “Okay.” He kissed her forehead. “I’ll come up with something. What about Molly?”

  “She’s so easy-going, she’d be happy with a bag of M&M’s.”

  He nodded. “Got it.”

  She reached into her pocket and searched with her fingers for the key she’d put there earlier. “If you’re going to go out today, you should probably have a way to lock up and get back in.”

  “You’re right. I probably should.” His eyes sparkled, anticipating where her thoughts were going.

  She pulled out the key. “Use it in good health.”

  “I will. And I don’t plan of giving it back.”

  “That’s okay,” she said with a giggle, “I can just change the locks.”

  He grabbed her upper arms, his hands holding her like a vise. His lips crashed to hers and made her regret teasing him. He was too good at teasing her right back. His tongue moved across her lips and she opened to allow him to deepen the kiss.

  A knock on the front door made her groan. She didn’t want to leave Grayson, but was looking forward to editing his interview today. It’d been a long time since she’d been so excited to bring a story to her viewers.

  Grayson released his hold on her and strode toward the door. She grabbed a piece of toast and buttered it. Deep voices rumbled from the living room, coming closer. What had started out as a lazy morning was now rushed. She took a bite and chewed, washing it down with a swig of juice.

  Bite. Chew. Swallow. Drink.

  “Do you want a piece of toast?” she asked Nate when the two men came into the kitchen.

  Nate leaned a hip against the table and shook his head. “I’m good, thanks. You ready?”

  “Yeah, I just need to grab my jacket and laptop.” She guzzled the last of her juice and dabbed at her mouth with a dishcloth. She crossed the kitchen and squeezed between the two men. “Give me two seconds.”