by Allie Able
“He's in jail. The last time he hit me, I thought I was going to die. I called 911. I knew that, even if I didn't die that time, it would only be a matter of time before he went too far again and killed me. I had to get out. He was charged with aggravated assault. He's serving two years in prison.”
Hearing that he is locked away, only gives me a small amount of satisfaction. I know he can't harm her, but hearing the hell she lived through, makes me feel violent. I pull her closer to me and kiss her forehead. I pull back just enough so that I can look into her eyes again.
“I am so proud of you, Summer. You are incredibly strong and brave.”
Her eyes drop to my chest and she shakes her head in denial. I put my hand under her chin, to lift her head. “Look at me, sweetheart,” I order gently. Once she is looking back up at me, I continue. “A lot of people wouldn't have had the courage to ever leave, but you did. I promise you that I will spend my last breath making sure you never have to experience anything like that again. I will never hurt you and I will do everything I can to make sure no harm ever comes to you, again. Do you understand?”
Another tear falls down her check and she nods her head in response.
I lean forward and gently lay my lips against hers. “Thank you for sharing that with me,” I whisper against her lips.
I kiss her deep, but softly. I try to pour every emotion I have for her, into this kiss. After a few minutes, I pull back from her lips and adjust us, so that her head is laying on my chest, again. I run my hand through her silky hair and down her back, coming to rest on her hip.
“Goodnight, beautiful,” I whisper.
I can feel her smile against my chest, as she burrows closer to me. “Goodnight, Grant,” she whispers in response.
It's not long before I hear her breathing even out, indicating she is sleeping.
I lay awake a long time holding Summer and wondering how someone could ever hurt her. I promised her that nothing would ever hurt her again and I meant it. I need to look into Ryan Thompson because I have a feeling, him being in prison is just going to piss him off. We need to be prepared if he does come looking for her.
I bury my face in Summer's hair and breathe in her sweet scent one more time, before finally drifting off to sleep.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Summer
I HEAR A KNOCKING SOUND, followed by my doorbell ringing, and I'm jolted awake. I hear a groan from behind me and I'm pulled back into a warm chest. I let out a girlish giggle and I hear Grant's deep chuckle.
“Just ignore them and maybe they will go away,” he whispers, as his big hand starts moving down my stomach.
I quickly grab his hand and stop his progress. “Both of our cars are parked in the driveway, they know I'm here. That would be rude,” I respond, but really I want nothing more than to lay here and enjoy my morning with him.
Grant rolls me over so that I'm facing him and gives me a quick kiss on my lips. “Good morning,” he whispers, his voice still thick from sleep.
“Good morning,” I respond, as I run my fingers through his hair. The doorbell rings again, reminding me of why I'm awake in the first place.
“Go answer the door and I will get the coffee started,” Grant says, as his hand gives my butt a gentle slap.
I get up and quickly make my way towards my dresser, putting on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. When I turn around, I see that Grant is still watching me from the bed. I put my hand on my hip and cock my head to the side, “I thought you were going to start the coffee.” He chuckles and rolls out of the bed. “Someone is bossy in the mornings.” He smirks, as he stands up and faces me, putting his naked body on display.
I feel my cheeks heat up as I look down at his growing erection. Grant laughs, as I turn and walk out of my bedroom, towards my front door. I look through the peephole and see my Aunt Lila, standing on my porch.
“Shit. Shit. Shit,” I whisper to myself.
I can only hope that Grant is getting dressed, because it seems as though he is about to meet my Aunt.
“Hey, Aunt Lila,” I say, as I open the door and smile at her.
My aunt looks a lot like my mom. She is a few years older, but at 63 years old, she is still beautiful. Her hair is mostly gray, but it's cut into a stylish bob that suits her well. She doesn't have the eccentric taste in clothing like my mom had, she prefers a more laid back style. She is wearing a pair of white linen pants and a green shirt, that brings out the color of her eyes. If someone didn't know better, they would probably think she was my mother. I hadn't realized how much I missed her until I see her standing here. I lean in and give her a hug.
“Hey, sweet girl. I was wondering if you were going to answer the door,” she says, as she hugs me back.
“Sorry about that. What are you doing here?” I ask. I kiss her cheek and step back so she can come inside.
“I came down to spend a few days visiting Korean and thought I would stop in and see my favorite niece,” she responds.
“I'm your only niece,” I laugh.
We walk towards the kitchen and I see Grant standing shirtless in front of the coffee pot. I hear my Aunt make a startled sound behind me. I should have warned her someone was here, but somehow I forgot about the beautiful man in my kitchen.
“Summer, did you know that there is a half naked man in your kitchen,” Aunt Lila says, sounding a weird mix between shocked and happy.
Grant turns around and smiles at her, showing off his dimples and I swear she blushes, just like I do every time he gives me that look.
“Oh, good Lord,” she mumbles.
Grant makes his way, around the island, and greet her. “Grant, this is my Aunt Lila. Aunt Lila, this is Grant Hamilton.”
Aunt Lila takes his hand and shakes it. “It's nice to meet you ma'am,” Grant says.
“It's nice to meet you too, Grant, but what are you doing in my nieces house shirtless at 8:30 am, on a Sunday morning?”
I want the ground to swallow me up now. I look at Grant and if I'm not mistaken he actually looks bashful at her question.
“Grant is the contractor that is doing the renovations on my house,” I say quickly, before Grant has a chance to answer.
Aunt Lila looks at me with her eyebrows raised and Grant is looking at me with confusion. The coffee pot beeps and I'm couldn't be more grateful for the interruption.
“Do you want a cup of coffee?” I ask Aunt Lila, holding the pot up.
She shakes her head glancing between me and Grant, “No, dear. I need to be going. Korean and I have breakfast plans, but I wanted to come and ask if you would like to join us for dinner tonight? I'm leaving tomorrow.”
“Of course, I would love to. I close the bakery at 5:00 pm on Sundays,” I respond, as I pour both me and Grant a cup of coffee.
“Grant, we would love for you to join us,” she says.
Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Grant looking at me. “Thank you, Ma'am, but I have plans,” he says, looking back at my Aunt.
What plans does he have, I wonder? Does he have a date? I feel an irrational sense of jealousy. I know we haven't discussed our relationship, or whatever it is we are doing, but he slept with me last night! Surely he isn't taking someone else out tonight. I scowl down at my coffee. I'm so lost in thought, I forget that Aunt Lila is still standing in my kitchen, until she walks up to me and gives me another hug.
“I will see you tonight,” she says, as she kisses my cheek.
“Let me walk you out,” I say, setting down my coffee.
She waves me off. “I know my way out. It was nice to meet you Grant,” she says, giving him a wink.
“It was nice to meet you too,” he responds, before walking over to where I'm standing and picking up his coffee.
I watch Aunt Lila as walks out of the kitchen and a few seconds later I hear my front door open and close. I still stand in silence drinking my coffee, having no clue what to say to Grant. The silence is so heavy and awkward, I finally can't take it anymore.
“So, that was my Aunt Lila,” I mumble.
I hear Grant sigh and I look over at him. “Summer, come here,” he says, as he sets his coffee down.
I hesitate for a second, before putting my coffee cup down and walking over to him. He wraps me in a hug and kisses the top of my head. He chest in so warm and he smells so good. I wrap my arms around him and hug him back. He pulls back enough, so that he can look down at me.
“Why did you just introduce me to your aunt as the contractor?” he asks, looking into my eyes. He looks so serious and his eyes hold a little sadness. I feel like an asshole.
I shake my head, not knowing what to say. “I panicked. My aunt has become like a parent to me, since I lost mine. I have never introduced a man to her, besides Ryan, and she hated him,” I explain. “We haven't exactly talked about whatever this is either,” I add, quietly.
He stares down at me with such intensity, that I have to look away. He brings his hand up to my face and lifts my chin. “Summer, after last night, how can you doubt what we are doing here?”
I ignore that and say what has been bothering me since Aunt Lila invited him to dinner, “What are your plans tonight Grant? I know that I have no right to ask, but I can't sleep with someone who is dating other people. I guess I should have said that last night,” I whisper.
He stares down at me for a long moment, before finally shaking his head. “I go to my parents house almost every Sunday. By the way you were acting, I didn't think you wanted me at dinner with your Aunt. Have I given you any indication that I don't want to be with you Summer? There are no other women and there won't be any in the future, because what I have with you, I don't want with anyone else. You are all I think about, sweetheart.”
I nod my head in acknowledge and I'm a little embarrassed that I automatically thought he was going on a date. “I'm sorry. I just didn't know what to say. I'm new at this,” I whisper.
He tucks my hair behind my ear before bending down and laying a soft kiss, on my lips, “I'm new to this too, Summer. We will just have to learn as we go.”
I keep forgetting that. It's so strange to me that this man has never been in a real relationship. “How are you still single?” I ask in confusion.
He chuckles at my question, before pulling me into another hug. “I don't know, Summer. I have never had any interest in a relationship.” He pulls back so he can look into my eyes. “Until I met you.”
I think I just turned into a puddle of goo, on my kitchen floor. I lift up onto my tiptoes and push my hands into his hair, pulling him down to me, so that I can kiss him.
“What are you doing Wednesday night?” I ask, as I move my lips away from his mouth.
“I don't think I have any plans. Why, are you asking me on a date, Summer Foster?” he asks, teasingly.
I blush and nod my head, “I want to cook dinner for you like I promised.”
He smiles and kisses the tip of my nose. “Have I told you how damn cute you are when you blush?”
I feel my cheeks heat more and I bury my face in his chest. I can feel his deep laughter and it makes me smile.
He lifts my chin, so that I'm looking at him again. “I would love for you to cook for me, sweetheart, but your kitchen remodel is going to start this week. How about you come over to my house and we cook together?” he asks.
“I forgot that ya'll are starting on the kitchen this week. That sounds like a plan,” I agree.
“Good,” he says as he bends his head and takes my mouth in another kiss. “I have to go soon, so you can get ready for work, but there is something I have been wanting to do, since the first time I saw you in this kitchen.”
He backs me up, until I'm against the counter and he grabs my hips and lifts me, like I weigh nothing at all. His lips meet mine and I spread my legs, so he can fit between them. I can feel his hardness through his sweatpants and I can't resist the urge to press against him. He groans into my mouth and fists one of his hands in my hair, tilting my head to the side, so that he can take the kiss deeper. His other hand moves up my stomach, under my shirt, until he reaches my bare breasts. He pinches my nipples, until they are aching, tight buds. After one more swipe of his tongue, in my mouth, he pulls back and takes my t-shirt off.
“I know I have said this before, but you are so damn beautiful, Summer. I don't think I will ever get enough of you,” he says. He bends his head to lick and suck at my heavy breast. His hand slides down my belly and into my shorts, where his fingers move easily through my wetness. “Are you sore from last night, sweetheart?” he asks, against my chest.
I want to lie and tell him I'm not, because I want him so bad, but I also know it will hurt. “A little bit,” I admit on a moan, as one of his thick fingers sinks inside me.
“Is that okay?” he asks, looking up at me, gauging my reaction.
“God, yes,” I respond. My head falls back and I start rolling my hips trying to get closer to him.
He chuckles and removes his hand. My eyes fly open to look at him. He grasp the side of my shorts and I lift my hips helping him get them off. He spreads my legs wider, so that I am completely open to him, as he sinks to his knees in front of me. He looks up at me, with such intensity, and I'm lost in his blue eyes.
“Watch me, beautiful,” he demands softly, before leaning in and licking up my center.
It only takes a few minutes, of his talented mouth on me, before I'm grinding my hips into his face and screaming his name. Not once do I take my eyes off of him.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Grant
THE FIRST THING I DO, when I pull out of Summer's driveway, is call my buddy Connor. He served in the military with me for about six years, before he was honorably discharged. He moved back home to Tennessee and opened up a private investigation firm. Connor is the perfect person to call when you need to find out information on someone. He answers on the fourth ring still sounding asleep.
“What's up Grant. You know it's only 10:00 in the morning here, right?”
“Late night, man?” I laugh.
“Something like that,” I hear him shifting like he is getting out of bed, “How you been?”
“I'm great. I'm home for good this time, taking over my dad's business, so he can retire. How have you been? Business good?”
“Never been better.” I hear him cover the phone and mumble something to someone.
“Sorry to bother you so early, but I've got a favor.”
He sounds all business when he replies, “Hold on. Let me get to my home office.” I only have to wait a few seconds before he is back. “What's going on?”
“I've started dating a woman, Summer Foster. She moved here from Tennessee a few months ago. Her ex-husband is currently in jail, for aggravated assault, and I just want to make sure she stays safe.”
“What's the ex's name?” he asks.
“Ryan Thompson.”
I hear him whistle through his teeth. “You got yourself hooked to the ex-wife of one the richest families in Tennessee. That shit was all over the news around here, when he got locked up.”
“Really?” I ask in disbelief.
“Yeah, man. That shit was crazy. That sick fuck should have gotten more time, but mommy and daddy knew the judge and the prosecutor. He probably won't even serve half the time he got.”
“Fuck. Can you look into it for me?”
“No problem, man,” he replies.
After a few minutes of catching up. we say our goodbyes and he promises to call me soon with an update.
I drive the rest of the way home in a daze. I knew from what Summer told me last night, that this situation was bad, I just didn't know how bad it truly was. No wonder Summer came to Cape Isle, she probably wanted to disappear where no one knew her.
* * *
“So, are you going to bring Summer to meet us anytime soon?” my mom asks, as she sits down in the rocking chair beside me.
I smile and look over at her. “Mom, we talked about this last week. I d
on't want ya'll scaring her off.”
She gives me a stern look and I laugh.
“I just started seeing her. It's too early for a meet the parents dinner. I promise I will bring her soon, just give us a few weeks.”
“I just want to meet the woman who seems to have stolen my son's heart,” she says, reaching over to pat my hand.
“Mom, you and dad have already met Summer, at her bakery,” I say, exasperated at where this conversation is going. This is what I hate about small town's. Everyone knows everything, there are no secrets. Not that I want Summer to be a secret, but I promised her to take things slow and meeting my parents, after only a few weeks of dating, is certainly not taking it slow.
She nods her head. “Yes, I have met Summer, the owner of Sprinkles, but only briefly. She seems very sweet. However, I have not met the Summer, who is dating my son.”
I sigh and shake my head. “I will talk to Summer and we will make plans to have dinner with you and dad in a couple of weeks.”
My mom claps her hands together, looking downright giddy, and I scowl at her. “I can invite your brother and sister too,” she exclaims, cheerfully.
“Mom,” I groan. I know this conversation is going no where fast, so I change the subject. “Where is dad?”
She waves her hand in the general direction of the house. “He's tinkering with the new lights in the guest bathroom. He is bored out of his mind, sitting around this house everyday, and it's about to drive me crazy.”
“I'll go help him,” I say, getting up from my chair, “It didn't take long for him to start driving you nuts. He has only been home for two weeks.”
“Hmm, it feels like it has been longer,” she mumbles to herself.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Summer
I'M NERVOUS, AS I PULL into Grant's driveway Wednesday night. The outside of his house is cute, if not a little dated, but it looks like it has been kept in good shape over the years. The lawn is manicured, but he doesn't have any decorations or flowers growing. It is a quintessential bachelor pad.
