Unveiling Fate (Unveiling Series, Book 4)

by Jeannine Allison

  Between being a new mother, trying to stay sober, and just generally getting my life together, I knew this was no time for a new relationship.

  Still, the heart never really cared about all that other stuff. It didn’t care whether you were in a healthy place. It didn’t ask if you were ready for it. It didn’t sit and wait until you felt in control. It didn’t even matter if the other person returned your feelings.

  No. The heart bulldozed its way through your life, forcing you to feel its desperate beats.

  And I felt it.

  After Grayson and I spent the afternoon wearing Andy out, we settled on the couch to watch TV. I was going to let Andy sleep in his car seat, but Grayson picked him up and laid him against his chest, slowly rubbing his back as he drifted off to sleep, before I could say anything.

  “I’ll be right back,” he whispered, still cradling my son in his arms. When he came back he was carrying a plate that held two cupcakes. He set it on the table and sat on the edge of the couch.

  “Red velvet?”

  He nodded. “They’re my favorite. Not cake, just cupcakes. It’s the strangest thing. My mom has perfected her recipe. She leaves one for me on every holiday I’m not with them.”

  I scooted forward until my butt was on the edge too. “Are you glad you went today?”

  “Yeah.” His voice held conviction but his body said something different. “I’ve wasted so much time. The reason I pulled away from them, the reason I pulled away from everyone… it should have taught me how precious time is, and I’ve just been throwing it away.”

  “But you’re trying now,” I said softly, repeating my sentiments from earlier.

  “Because of you.” Grayson turned to look at me. He shook his head, and I watched his gaze fall to my lips. “You’re completely changing my life, and I don’t think you have a clue.”

  Tears pricked my eyes. I’d never felt like I changed someone’s life before, at least not for the better. I’d always felt like a burden, dragging people down instead of lifting them up.

  “I wish you saw yourself like I do.”

  “Me too,” I admitted.

  “You will. One day, I promise you will.”

  When the weight of his stare felt like a physical boulder on my sternum, I leaned forward and grabbed the cupcake, slowly peeling the paper back and taking a bite. We ate in silence, our stares constantly connecting and our smiles growing wider each time.

  Once we finished he said, “Do you want to take a walk? We still have about thirty minutes of daylight, and there’s a park close by.”

  He didn’t need to convince me. I reached for the remote and shut off the TV. With a grin, I nodded and stood up. He followed, and when I reached for Andy he held him a little closer.

  “I’ve got him.”

  “Okay. I’m gonna go to the bathroom before we leave.”

  Grayson nodded. “I’ll meet you by the front door.”

  A few minutes later I found them waiting for me. Andy was bundled up but still asleep. I slipped my boots on and grabbed my jacket. Next thing I knew Grayson was beside me, taking the jacket from my hands and moving behind me to help me into it.

  His hands lingered on my shoulders, and even through the thick material he managed to elicit a shudder.

  I let out a controlled breath when he opened the front door and wheeled Andy out. Stepping out, I stood by the stroller while he locked up.

  We were silent as we slowly walked down the sidewalk. Grayson was pushing Andy and I had my hands shoved in my pockets. It wasn’t completely dark yet, but the sunset provided enough of a backdrop for most of the houses’ Christmas lights to be on.

  I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect Christmas.

  Until we stepped into the park.

  “Wow,” I whispered. Grayson looked over at me and smiled.

  “Yeah. I love coming here any time of year, but in December it feels sort of… magical.”

  I grinned. “Did Grayson Mable just admit to believing in magic?”

  He shook his head and laughed. I wanted to say more, but I was too enchanted by the sight before me. There were wreaths attached to every light post, and white lights scattered amongst the trees. In the center stood a tan gazebo adorned with red and green lights.

  Without a word, Grayson placed his hand on the small of my back and led us to it. Andy woke up on our trek over, so we had to stop to calm him down. Once he was pacified, I put him back down. He hugged his blanket and stared up at the sky.

  We got to the gazebo and Grayson lifted the stroller up the three stairs, setting it in the center. I started walking in a circle, running my hand along the cool wood of the banister. “I know I was making fun of you, but you’re right. It’s kind of magical.” I turned around and smiled at him, leaning against the railing with my hands tucked behind my back. My gaze lifted, and I found a mistletoe hanging above him.

  “I didn’t know people actually put these up.” I laughed. Leaning over Andy, I whispered, “I heard it’s bad luck not to kiss under one.” He giggled as I picked him up and smacked kisses all over his face. Once I was done, I set him back in his stroller and grabbed his lion from the back pocket. My son was still laughing as he repeatedly pushed the stuffed animal to his lips, almost like he was trying to kiss the lion the way I’d kissed him.

  “That so?” Grayson asked. My head snapped up. He wore an expression I couldn’t quite decipher.

  “Huh?”

  He chuckled, but it sounded choked. “Is it bad luck not to kiss under one?”

  “Oh.” I swallowed. “I have no clue. Probably not.”

  “Hmmm…” He stepped toward me and ran a hand along his jaw. “We probably shouldn’t risk it.”

  “Oh?” I repeated dumbly. His body crowded mine and I looked up at the mistletoe. I couldn’t concentrate with him this close.

  “Ellie?” he whispered. My eyes moved back to his, and this time his expression was completely clear. It was filled with affection and desire. My breathing picked up as I waited for him to continue. “Can I kiss you?”

  I could do nothing except nod—he’d stolen all the brain cells that were responsible for anything else. Grayson’s hands cupped my face, his thumbs reverently running over my cheeks. Then his eyes closed and he pulled me closer. Mine stayed wide and unblinking.

  Is this really happening?

  Only when our lips met did my eyes fall shut. The kiss was gentle. No tongues, no heated need. And I could have cried with how perfect it was.

  All the first kisses from my past were born of loneliness and despair, and all they led to was momentary pleasure that anyone could have given. The who didn’t matter. Nothing did, other than the need to forget.

  Right now I knew exactly who was kissing me. And Grayson knew exactly who he was kissing. He knew what I’d been through, and what I needed. He knew I wanted to feel special first, and desired second.

  Grayson pulled back slightly only to press another kiss against my mouth. Then he tilted his head and ran his tongue along the seam of my lips. I tentatively opened, and when our tongues tangled, I had to grab on to his waist to keep from falling.

  A few seconds later he pulled back. My eyes slowly opened as his touch fell away. Grayson’s jawline was hard and his hands were curled into fists at his sides.

  “We should get back. It’ll be dark soon.” The words were low and deep. He sounded like a man who was being tortured. I shivered, but it had nothing to do with the cold.

  Grayson grabbed Andy’s stroller and lifted it down the steps before aiming it in the direction of his house. I slowly followed behind. We continued that way all the way to his house. After we stepped inside and hung up our coats and scarves, he pointed to the kitchen.

  “I’m going to make us dinner.”

  Okay, so we aren’t going to talk about the kiss then?

  The prospect freaked me out. What had it meant to him? Did it not mean the same as it did to me?

  A part of me wondered if I’d im
agined the whole thing. Then I felt my lips tingle, and knew I hadn’t.

  I’d just moved to take Andy into the living room to play when Grayson called out.

  “Ellie?” Trying to keep my face neutral, I turned and faced him, and any doubts I had disappeared at the look on his face. “That was the best Christmas present anyone’s ever given me.”

  TONIGHT WE WERE FINALLY having our first date.

  It’d been almost three weeks since we’d kissed on Christmas, so this was three weeks overdue, but between my work schedule and the fact that Andy had gotten sick at the start of the new year, there hadn’t been time.

  I had just finished putting the chicken in the oven when the doorbell rang. Barefoot, I padded to the front door and immediately pulled it open to reveal a smiling Ellie holding Andy’s car seat. Stepping forward, I grabbed it from her and kissed her on the cheek.

  Damien and Naomi were going out to dinner, so they’d offered to drop Ellie off on the way. I told him I had no problem picking her up, but I was guessing I’d lost that right in his eyes. If this was his way to make me feel shitty for what happened a couple months ago… it worked. Not that he needed to try or remind me. It made me sick to my stomach every time I thought about it.

  “Hi,” she said.

  My gaze ran over her. She had on a simple light purple dress that hugged the curves of her breasts perfectly and stopped just above her knees. There was a bite to the January air, so she was also wearing a black coat. Nude flats covered her fidgeting feet.

  “Hey,” I finally replied, realizing she’d struck me mute. Opening the door a little wider, I stepped aside. As she crossed the threshold, I watched Damien pull away. Naomi had a wide grin on her face. Once I shut and locked the door, I stared down at Andy. He was sleeping with my lion. That never failed to put a smile on my face.

  Looking up, I found Ellie smiling down at her son as well. When she caught me, she blushed and pushed a piece of hair behind her ear. “So what’s the plan? And why did you want me to bring Andy?”

  “I thought we could have dinner here.” Ellie’s head tilted toward the kitchen, like she’d just smelled the food. “I’m cooking baked chicken, mashed potatoes, and asparagus.”

  She looked back at me. “That sounds amazing.”

  “And as far as Andy goes… I’ll obviously want alone time with you. To take you out, just the two of us. But this is the beginning, and I need you to know, right now, at the very start, that it’s about both of you. You’re both important to me, and this isn’t something casual. It seemed appropriate that he be here.”

  In the blink of an eye, Ellie was in front of me, standing on her tiptoes to give me a kiss on the corner of my mouth, just outside my lips. I swallowed roughly when she pulled back. She seemed just as nervous.

  A timer in the kitchen beeped, startling us both. “Why don’t you sit in the family room while I check on dinner?” I’d already started moving toward the couch. I set the car seat on the ground and turned to find Ellie hovering behind the couch. “I’ll be right back.”

  “Okay,” she said.

  My long strides brought me to the kitchen quickly. The chicken still had thirty minutes, and I wasn’t going to start the other two until the meat was almost done, that way everything would be hot. The timer was for the apple crisp. It had been on the top shelf of the oven for forty minutes and would need to cool. I grabbed a mitt before sliding the dessert out and setting it on the stove. After sprinkling some cinnamon on top, I made sure my shirt was clean and walked back out.

  Andy was where I’d left him, but Ellie had moved in front of a cabinet in the corner. Her fingers were ghosting over the pieces of my favorite black-and-white-marble chess set. It was a gift from my father when I graduated from the police academy. I only kept it out for show. My dad and I played with a different one—the banged-up frosted board that was propped up a few feet away, the black bag next to it housing its pieces.

  “Have you ever played?” I found myself asking.

  She jumped back and her hazel eyes met mine. “Sorry… I…”

  Gently smiling, I stepped forward, keeping my voice low. “You don’t have to apologize.” She swallowed roughly and nodded. I repeated my question. “Do you play?”

  “No. I don’t even know the rules.”

  “I could teach you.”

  “Isn’t it a game for super smart people? That seems to be the stigma around it.” Ellie smiled, not bitter or self-reproaching, just… accepting.

  I walked by her and carefully picked up the frosted board along with the bag of pieces next to it, before bringing it to the coffee table. Slowly unzipping the bag, my gaze flew to hers. She was standing in the same spot, a small frown on her lips. I only looked down when I began setting it up.

  “Would you prefer to sit on the couch or the ottoman?” I asked, nodding toward the rectangular footstool across the room.

  “Uhhh… what are we doing?”

  “I’m going to teach you how to play,” I said, not taking my eyes off the board. “While I personally don’t buy into the idea that certain people should do certain things. If you believe smart people play chess, then you should know how to play.” I lifted my head and found her eyes following the movements of my hands. “Because, Ellie”—I paused, waiting for her gaze to meet mine—“You. Are. Smart.”

  “The ottoman’s fine,” she said softly. I watched her pull it over and take a seat.

  “First we’ll go over the pieces. Chess is a game of strategy. It takes practice and patience to learn.”

  She nodded, her lip caught between her teeth and her brows dipped in serious concentration. My lips raised infinitesimally. I didn’t want her to think I was making fun of her, but she was too cute for her own good sometimes.

  Gesturing to the front row of eight, I began speaking. “These pieces are pawns. They can only move forward, one space at a time, except in the beginning when they can move two spaces. The pawn can only capture an enemy piece when it’s one square diagonally in front of it. It can be to the right or left.”

  “Okay. Got it.”

  “One more thing.” I held up a finger and her eyes met mine. “The pawn has one more ability. If it reaches any square on the back row of the opponent’s side, it gets upgraded. You can choose whether it becomes a queen, rook, bishop, or knight.”

  Ellie sat up straighter. “That’s pretty cool.”

  I nodded before explaining the rest of the pieces. Ten minutes later as her gaze flitted over the board, I asked, “Does all that make sense?”

  “I think so.” She toyed with her king. “So this guy is kind of useless? And the queen is the most powerful piece?”

  “Technically speaking, yes. But I’ve never seen it that way. I don’t think about it in terms of power. People are so focused on the pieces they perceive to be the most important, and they don’t pay attention to the pawns. Not until it’s too late. Not until the pawns are close enough to becoming more.”

  Ellie’s eyes were locked on mine. I picked up a pawn. “People disregard this. They forget about it. But it’s just their own perception of what power is and who has it. The pawn can always become more, Ellie.” My words were soft by the end. Her eyes grew wet with an emotion I couldn’t quite catch. I wanted to ask her what it meant, but she cleared her throat and looked down at the board.

  “Okay, so who goes first?”

  I nodded to her. “You can.”

  She was hesitant. Her fingers hovered over the pawns like she wasn’t sure which one to pick. I tried to restrain my grin, I really did, but it was pointless. After she made her move, she looked up and startled when she found me staring at her. Without taking my eyes off her, I moved one of my pawns forward.

  “This game will be practice. I’ll talk you through it, explain which moves would be best and why.”

  Ellie nodded and leaned closer, hovering over the board, eager to learn. And I was so confused why anyone would give up on her. Maybe her parents expected her to be p
erfect straight out of the womb, but I always appreciated attitude over skill. A person’s skill could be elevated and built on. But a poor attitude was harder—if not impossible—to change.

  Ellie’s attitude was great. She got confused a few times, but she didn’t stop asking questions and every time she bit her lip with indecision or furrowed her brows in concentration, I wanted to shove the chessboard out of the way. I imagined grabbing her by the cheeks and pulling her to me, smashing my lips against hers. I’d never felt so hormonal before.

  Thankfully the timer went off before I did exactly what I’d been thinking about. Ellie offered to put the game away while I finished with dinner. I smiled when I heard the sounds of Andy waking up and Ellie quietly singing to him. Then I turned around and stared at the table, which had three placemats and a high chair. I’d even gotten a small bowl of flowers for the center.

  This was something I’d never thought I’d have. I may have only been twenty-five, turning twenty-six in just over a month, but I’d resigned myself to a life of loneliness. It didn’t seem possible that I would meet someone I’d risk my carefully constructed life for. But for Ellie, I’d risk everything.

  It was like a punch to the gut, realizing how much I wanted this. Because it could just as easily be taken away. But for once, I was more excited than I was afraid.

  Taking a deep breath, I shook my head and went back to finishing dinner. Ellie came in a few minutes later. “I figured I’d just hold—”

  I looked up from setting the dishes on the table. “You got him a high chair?” she asked.

  Shrugging, I walked closer to them and took Andy from her arms before settling him in. “Yeah.” I came back and pulled out Ellie’s chair for her, but she was still frozen.

  “Thank you,” she whispered after she took a seat. I could tell the sentiment was for a lot more than pulling out her chair, or buying a high chair.

  I should have been the one thanking her. She was turning my world of gray bright with colors. Andy was filling my house of silence with infectious laughter. They were both bringing joy to a life of pain.