by Debra Kayn
Smooth, sweet, and fruity, the wine soothed her senses and she sat back in the chair. Grayson sat on the couch and propped his feet on the coffee table. There was something extremely sexy about a guy in white sport socks.
“I take it everyone jumped on board. Did any of them give you any trouble, or did they have concerns that I could go over with them?”
She took another sip and let the liquid slide down her throat. “No. I think it went better than we both imagined it would. They had concerns, rightfully so, but I was prepared and seemed to cover all the bases.”
“I knew you would do well.” He smiled. “When you have a goal, you’ve always done everything possible to achieve it.”
“Oh, Grayson, you should’ve been there. Everyone’s attitude toward me changed. For the first time since working there, I saw hope and a new energy flowing through them all. They love this town as much as I do, and I really feel like this is going to turn things around in Cottage Grove.”
He tilted his head and seemed to study her. “You love it here.”
She nodded. “I always have. Even when I was younger, and complained about how everyone was set in their ways and how nothing ever changes around here. I love the small town atmosphere. Being away on my own and going to college in a big city showed me how much I missed being able to run into the grocery store and learn about my neighbors all at the same time. A five-minute trip turns into a half hour when everyone talks to you. I thought I hated that part growing up. I couldn’t do anything without it getting back to my dad … or you, about what I’d done. Granted, most of the time I was up to trouble, but it was hard.”
The way Grayson watched her made her think she’d said something wrong. She drank another swallow of wine. He was making her nervous.
“You belong here,” he said.
His voice was a little soft, a little rough, and caressed every nerve in her body. She shivered. There was no way she would let him know he affected her in such a way.
“This is really good.” She licked her lips. “I mean, really good. I don’t think I’ve had anything quite like this. It’s almost got a light champagne feel to it.”
He continued to stare.
Her heartbeat sped up and her nipples peaked. “What? Why are you staring at me?”
“Come upstairs with me.”
She had no idea what she was supposed to say or do. In all her daydreams about the day Grayson had sex with her, she’d always willingly given herself to him. Oh sure, she wanted him in the worst way, but he only wanted one night and she’d dug herself into a hole.
There was the benefit she had to pull off, and she wasn’t done making everything up to him. She gulped. And John. She couldn’t forget about John.
Her hands started to shake, and she set her glass on the small table beside her chair. She looked everywhere but at him, mostly to stall. It would be so like her to blurt out, “Yes, yes, take me, I’m yours!”
He rose from the couch and kneeled in front of her chair. Cupping her face, he whispered, “I want you.”
She pressed her cheek into his touch, melting rapidly from her core outward. “But — ”
He kissed her, barely touching his mouth to hers. Her mouth trembled at the light brush of his lips. The soft, almost tender move aroused her in ways she couldn’t explain. She had wanted him for so long. She couldn’t wrap her thoughts around what was happening. Her breasts ached for his hands. Do it. Tell him yes.
“I-I can’t,” she whispered, against his lips.
“Yes. You can.” He rubbed his cheek against the side of her face.
She shook her head and pushed him back. The moment he moved, she stood up and moved away from him. “Oh God, I’m sorry. I want you … more than you’ll ever understand. But I can’t.”
“Why?”
She sighed and shook her head. “You’re going to think I’m crazy, but we’re working together on the benefit … and I’m sort of seeing someone.”
He scoffed. “I’m helping you, not working for you, and John’s a nobody. He’s someone you’re using to distract yourself from me. You’re not serious about him. Two dates doesn’t qualify as a relationship.”
She dropped her arms to her side. “John’s a nice man. He’s — ”
“So you’re telling me no?”
“I’m sorry.”
He turned his back to her and moved over to pick up his glass. He drank the remaining contents in one swallow. “Get out.”
She moved forward and laid her hand on his back. “Grayson?”
“I told you before, I don’t play childish games. Go home. Go back to where it’s safe. Go back to John.” His voice husky and deep with a passion she couldn’t ignore.
She blinked away the tears and nodded. “I’m sorry.”
When she reached the front door, a glass shattered in the other room, and she ran outside. She kept going until she reached her car and drove away. When she reached her house, she went upstairs and crawled into her bed, alone.
Chapter Thirteen
Grayson played to win — whether in the game of tennis or in life. And that included the women he wanted. He’d spent too many years growing up wanting what he couldn’t have to waste time chasing anyone. He didn’t care about the reasons for Shauna blowing him off, he was pissed.
“Damn her.” He marched over and picked the phone up. He punched in numbers he knew by heart and waited.
“’ello.” Bruce Coldwell’s gruff voice came on the line.
“Hey. It’s me. Is your cabin vacant?” He carried the phone with him as he took the stairs two at a time.
“Yeah, you need it?”
“I gotta get outta here.” Grayson pulled his carryall out of the closet. “I’ll have the jet take me up.”
“When?”
“An hour ago.” Grayson ended the call and immediately dialed Jenson, his pilot. “Gas up. We’re going on a trip.”
• • •
The next afternoon, after making the dumbest mistake of her life by running away from Grayson, Shauna walked through the front door of her house after work and found her dad embracing a woman she didn’t recognize. She dropped her purse and gasped. Karma was a mean bitch.
“Daddy!” She covered her eyes and turned around.
In all the years after her father’s divorce, not once had he brought a woman home. As far as she knew, he never even dated. He played poker with a few of the other men on a Saturday night once every few months, and stayed at the shop until the late hours every other day, but a sex life? No way.
“Buddy, come here.”
She puffed out her cheeks, blew the air out, and slowly turned around, afraid one of them wasn’t fully clothed, or God forbid, something worse. She took a few steps toward them, scanning them both in case any clothes were missing, her mind still reeling that her dad had a life outside of her and the shop.
“I’ve wanted to tell you since you came home, but I haven’t known what to say.” Tony gazed at the woman beside him and pulled her closer to him, whispering something in her ear.
Shauna looked at the woman, studying her. She appeared about her father’s age, maybe older, and had short black hair spackled with gray. Her eyes were filled with pain. Shauna glanced away.
“Dad?” She went the rest of the way, and kissed her dad’s cheek. “You know you can tell me anything.”
“I know.” He smoothed the hair off her face. “I love you so much.”
Fear squeezed her heart. She grabbed his hand. “Are you okay? You’re not sick?”
He smiled. “No. I’m better than I’ve been in a long time. I’m happy.”
“Dad, that’s wonderful.” She squeezed his fingers.
“Buddy?” Tony moved behind her and held on to her shoulders, turning her until she was in front of the woman. “I know it’s been a long time, but look hard.”
The woman’s chin quivered and her green eyes shone back brightly, as if holding back tears. Shauna frowned. The woman looked like �
� oh God. No. No. No.
There were wrinkles around her eyes, but the pencil thin eyebrows and the familiarity in the woman’s gaze stared back at her. She covered her mouth and shook her head in denial.
“Hi, honey.” Belinda Marino reached for her with a shaky hand.
Shauna jerked back before her mother could touch her, and turned toward her dad. “Don’t tell me you let her come back. She left us twelve years ago.”
“Shauna!” He grabbed her arm. “She’s your mother. I didn’t teach you to be rude.”
She pulled out of his grasp. “Is s-she staying here?”
Tony nodded. “Yes. She’s been staying at the hotel since you came home. She wanted you to get used to having her back before we told you we’re living together. If you want to blame someone, I’ll be the one responsible for not telling you sooner. I wanted you to get used to living here again before I sprang this on you.”
She blinked. Hard.
“Shauna, please … ” Tony whispered.
“No.” She backed up. “I gotta go. If she’s staying in this house, I can’t stay here.”
She turned and headed upstairs. This isn’t happening.
How dare her mother come here after what she did to the family. To her dad. To her. She wasn’t wanted. Belinda had torn them apart and taken Shauna’s whole childhood away when she’d left the house in the middle of the night. What kind of mother does that to their child?
She stuffed her work clothes in a suitcase and grabbed her makeup bag and a few pairs of shoes. Without stopping to think of where she was going or what she was going to do, she walked down the stairs.
“Don’t go, buddy. Let’s sleep on it. We’ll talk tomorrow.” Tony blocked the door.
She stood on tiptoe and kissed her dad’s cheek. “I can’t.”
“Where will you go?”
“Don’t worry.” She squared her shoulders. “I’ve been on my own for the last six years. I’ll find somewhere to stay.”
“I love you.” Tony stepped out of her way. “I love your mom too.”
Shauna never looked behind her, but opened the door and carried her things to the car. Numb and shocked, she slid into the driver’s seat and drove away.
For reasons Shauna had never learned, Belinda had disappeared from the house while Shauna had gone to school. No note, no goodbye, no kiss. She’d simply exited their lives without a scene.
Except she’d left behind a lot of damage. All these years, Shauna had thought the reason her dad worked long hours was to distract himself from the truth. Belinda never loved them, only herself. But that wasn’t true anymore. She’d obviously come back and made things right with Tony when Shauna was in college. Why hadn’t he told her?
Shauna turned into the entrance of the tennis center, automatically running to the one person who’d been there for her after her mom had abandoned her the first time.
Grayson had no idea how much his continual presence in her life meant to her. When she was younger, the one constant person in her life had been Grayson. Every day at three o’clock, she’d enter the center, take a lesson, and hang out there with the other kids, often talking to Grayson or watching him teach another class until it was dinnertime and she walked home to her dad.
She parked the car and knocked on the front door. Her head hurt, but the numbness over the shock of learning her mother was in Cottage Grove wouldn’t let her dwell on the pain. Please, open up.
She rapped on the door again.
Seconds ticked by and still Grayson hadn’t opened the door. She peered up at the windows. They were all dark.
Heaviness settled over her, and she swallowed the lump that rose in her chest and threatened to bring her to her knees. She walked back to her car. For the first time tonight, a tear wet her cheek. Then another one followed.
Chapter Fourteen
The rumble of a truck coming up the gravel road broke the silence in the Gifford forest. Grayson remained sitting in the rocker on the porch of Bruce’s cabin. Out here, away from society, the visitor could only be one person.
A few minutes later, Bruce Coldwell lumbered out of the pumped up four-wheeler and headed toward Grayson. Lean and tan, Bruce spent the majority of his time outdoors near water. The world champion bass fisherman led a life of luxury and owned homes on more waterways than he could count, including the quaint four-bedroom cabin Grayson sometimes borrowed to get away from it all.
This morning Bruce wore his sun-bleached hair loose around his shoulders, and by the looks of it, hadn’t shaved for a couple weeks. Grayson lifted his chin in greeting.
“You’re a sight for sore eyes.” Bruce held out his hand and shook Grayson’s. “I thought I’d drive up and see what’s going on.”
“’Bout an hour ago a doe walked to the edge of the water, drank, and went back into the woods.” Grayson folded his arms across his chest.
Bruce sat down on the empty chair. “Well, that’ll make the newspapers, I’m sure. Are you positive you didn’t see any bears or maybe a pack of wolves? That seems to create more of a buzz.”
“Nope.” Grayson sighed and set motion to his rocker.
He’d sat outside all night, trying to find the calm inside of him. Solitude always helped him gather his thoughts and focus his energy. He didn’t get to be a Wimbledon champion by losing his temper or letting the outside world faze him. Unfortunately, dealing with Shauna was harder than playing tennis, and he still hadn’t come up with a solution to his problem.
“Wanna talk about what’s going on with you? You haven’t come up here to get away from life for at least a year.” Bruce stretched his legs out and crossed his ankles before latching his hands together behind his head.
“Not really,” he said.
Grayson wanted to stand up and throw Bruce and the damn chair off the porch. There was nothing anyone could do to help him make any of this better. He would have to figure out how to climb out of the shithole he dug himself. The way his life was going, it probably wasn’t going to be any time soon if Shauna stuck around.
He hadn’t relaxed since Shauna strolled back into town and pretended not to have any feelings for him. Oh, she tried to fool him, but she couldn’t hide her true feelings from him. Every emotion played across her face, and he knew them all. She might’ve come back more mature and educated, but there was no denying the way her eyes still shone when she looked at him.
What he couldn't understand was why she’d turned him down. They were adults. Adults had sex. It didn’t have to change anything between them. Hell, he didn’t want it to change. He liked the single life, and not answering to anyone else. He’d worked damn hard to gain his freedom, and he wasn’t going to ruin it.
“Grayson … I’m your friend. If something is going on, I want to help you. You’d do the same thing for me, wouldn’t you?”
“Yeah, you know I would.” He ran his hands over his face. “My problem isn’t simple.”
“Hell, we’ve been through a lot together. It can’t be that bad.” Bruce turned. “Is it woman trouble?”
He nodded. “She’s a pain in my ass.”
“Yeah?” Bruce chuckled. “Aren’t they all?”
“I never have problems getting a woman in bed.” He snorted. “There are times I can’t keep them out. This one … she’s different.”
“Turned you down, huh?”
“Shot me in the chest before I could even talk her into it. All I could think about was getting the hell out of town.” He shook his head. “The damn thing is I shouldn’t even like her. I’ve known her forever. She’s a friend who helped me survive growing up in Cottage Grove. She kept me sane.” He snorted. “I swear she’s out to cause me nothing but misery. Do you know she has it in her head that she loves me? She’s more persistent than any opponent I’ve faced on the courts.”
“Jesus, Gray … ” Bruce slapped him on the shoulder. “Are you talking about that young chick that used to stalk you?”
“The one and the same, except she’s
not so young anymore.” He clenched his teeth and grunted. “We’ve got a history. Years ago, in the off-season, I used to go back to Cottage Grove and give lessons to the younger kids. She was one of them. She had a crush on me, but I just saw her as a cute kid. She was funnier than hell, and no matter what life threw at her, she never gave up. Hell, looking back, I wasn’t that much older than the kids I was teaching. I think I was around twenty-one years old. It seems like a lifetime ago.”
“And … ” Bruce sat forward.
“She grew up. Every time I came back from a tournament, I’d tell myself to ignore her and I made sure I was never alone with her.”
“Did you go your separate ways?”
“Hell no. She found me wherever I went, even going as far as to make sure the town knew about how much she loved me. I couldn’t hurt her. I felt sorry for her. It was just her dad and her. They barely scraped by after her mom ran away. She needed a friend, so I listened to her when she needed to talk. That’s all. I didn’t mean to encourage her or let her believe that I cared in any other way than as a friend.”
Bruce shrugged. “That sounds like you. You’re a good friend to others.”
“When she turned eighteen, everything changed.” He scratched his jaw. “She changed. Suddenly I realized that the little friend that pestered me and kept me in laughs had turned into someone who … she’s beautiful, you know.”
“How old is she now?”
“Twenty-four, maybe twenty-five.” He sighed.
Bruce clicked his tongue. “The age difference isn’t such a big obstacle now.”
“I shouldn’t feel this way about her.”
“Why not?” Bruce asked. “You’re both adults.”
“She might be older, but she’s still naive compared to me. I’ve been on my own my whole life. Even when my parents were alive, they weren’t with me. I raised myself, with my manager leading my way.” He stared out at the water. “I’m not someone who does the whole dating scene. I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“I know what she wants. She wants love, marriage, and forever. I don’t do any of those. I don’t believe in them.” He stood up and crossed to the porch railing. “Maybe it’s all about the chase. She’s the one woman who turned me down, and I hate losing.”
