“God, yes.” Her muscles gripped me tighter, and she threw her head back, offering her throat.
Through the fog of lust in my brain, the idea intruded. Every minute we continued like this was an opportunity for Jamie to find us.
Fuck. Responsibility sucks. And she feels and tastes so good. I pressed against her harder and faster.
But you don’t want to hurt her again. That did not feel good in the least.
I extended my arm that was against the counter and brought the other hand lower, under her ass to support her, working my mouth away. “We have to stop, Grace.”
“Mmm?” She continued kissing my neck, which was driving me crazy, so much so I thought I may rip her countertop off. “Why the hell would we want to do that?”
I closed my eyes. Thoughts of various things I’d like to do with her and to her made it increasingly hard to focus. “Oh, God. I’m not sure.”
But she stopped, laying against my chest. “You’re right.” She blew out air. Releasing her feet and dropping to the ground. “Oh, my God, what was I thinking?”
I held her against me. “You were thinking the same thing I was thinking. How good it would feel.”
“Yes, but he’s my brother. I should be the one stopping it.” She frowned. “Should it concern me you were the one stopping it?”
I chuckled. “I think you can feel how turned on I am.”
She moved back, leaning against the counter and dropping her head. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have started that.” She pulled her tank back into place.
I snatched her shirt and my sweater from the floor. “Do not apologize for that.” I dove in, trapping her against the counter again, throwing our clothes behind her and nibbled on her earlobe. “You gave me all sorts of things to fantasize about when I get back to the hotel.” I nuzzled her. She smelled good. Like what it would smell like if a light breeze was blowing and we were crushing wildflowers under are sweaty bodies in a damned meadow. I was seconds away from abandoning my show of willpower and carrying her off to the bedroom.
“You have to leave?”
“I think I should. Don’t you?”
Say no. I’m begging you.
Her gaze darted around the kitchen before coming to rest on my face. “Probably. But I don’t want you to leave.”
“I don’t want to leave either.”
She closed her eyes, then spun and took my sweater off the counter, handing it to me with a sigh.
I stretched it on over my head, watching her the whole time. I took her hand and kissed it. Then I moved toward the door, while still holding on to her. She stopped abruptly. “Zane?” When I turned I was surprised to see how pained her expression looked.
I pushed her hair back behind her shoulder. “What?”
“I probably shouldn’t even ask you for this. You did so much already.”
Don’t you know I’d do anything for you right now? I thought about saying it out loud, but I didn’t want to freak her out by pressing her too far too fast.
“I…uh…I’m feeling kind of…raw right now. I haven’t talked about that night in a long time. Could you maybe lay with me on the couch for maybe…fifteen minutes? I just…. Would you hold me?”
I pulled her into my arms for a moment. Then led her to the couch and lay on my side, scootching back as far as I could. She mimicked my position, curling her hands under her face. I lifted onto my elbow and ran my fingers along her hair, again tucking it behind her shoulder. I leaned to put my cheek next to hers. I wanted to tell her I loved her, but I didn’t want her to respond when she was feeling vulnerable right now and it may paint her words. Still, the words kept ringing through my mind. She relaxed, but didn’t close her eyes.
“Grace?”
“You have to go, don’t you?” She started to get up, and I gathered her in tighter.
“No. But I think we might have a problem.”
She rolled onto her back and studied me. “What?”
I again played with her hair, then kissed her softly on the corner of her lips before pulling back, my gaze raking her face. “I think I’m falling in love with you.”
She lifted her palm to my cheek, peering at me with a concentrated look. She kissed me gently at first then slowly, deeply. We continued for some time, a controlled tease of mouth and tongue, sucking and nibbling on each other’s lips. My arm began to cramp, so I tried to shift my weight without jostling her.
“Lay on me.”
I tilted my head. “Do you think we should tempt fate that much?”
“I want to feel your weight on me. Then just five more minutes and you can go.”
I shifted to cover her and renewed our kissing, keeping myself under control. It was totally new to me and fucking awesome. I didn’t move against her body, though I wanted to. And it wasn’t any five minutes either. I think it went on for at least twenty minutes, and still it was too short. We both knew when it was time to quit. She had one hand resting languidly on the back of my neck, the other held up to trace my lips with a finger. “I should let you go.”
I fell back against the couch and she rolled, getting to her feet.
At the door I asked, “When can I see you again?”
“Do you have to leave town?”
“Not yet.”
She smiled. “Tomorrow I only work a half day. Noon ’til four. I could make dinner for us?”
I patted the outsides of her arms. “Not after working all afternoon. How about some Arris’?”
She cocked a hip. “I thought you said it wasn’t as good as your St. Louis pizza?”
I kissed her. “I did. But you like it, so we’re having it.” I drew her in. “Will you sleep all right?”
“Yes. I’m pretty tired now. Thank you for staying.”
I separated from her enough to look down into her face. “I don’t know if you noticed, but it wasn’t like you had to beg me, beautiful.”
I had a weird feeling on the way to the hotel. I think people call it contentment and peace.
CHAPTER NINE
Zane
I texted her before I even took Whitney to breakfast. I imagined Grace in her kitchen, in her robe, stirring pancake mix, and it filled me with warmth.
GOOD MORNING, BEAUTIFUL! HOW ARE YOU THIS MORNING?
DID YOU SLEEP WELL? HAVING A GOOD START TO YOUR DAY?
I got her response within seconds.
SLEPT LIKE A ROCK, THANKS TO YOU. <3
I smiled, and put my phone down, then picked it up and looked at it again. She didn’t say anything about how her morning was going.
Ehh. I’m probably reading too much into it.
After breakfast with Whitney, I gave her a kiss goodbye and watched her drive off, grateful for our time together, but missing her already.
I checked my phone. No messages from Grace. Not that I expected any, but… I shook my head at my own foolishness and decided to text her.
HOW’S JAMIE DOING TODAY?
I went back to my room, dug a spiral out of my suitcase and worked on a song idea. After about an hour, though, the room was making me crazy, so I went down and hung out in the wide open lobby, which worked for a while. The fountains provided the right kind of white noise to enhance my creativity. But she hadn’t answered and it was like a pebble in a tennis shoe, irritating the heck out of me.
IS EVERYTHING OKAY?
This time I got a reply right away.
SORRY. WE HAD A RATHER ROCKY MORNING HERE. LEXI, MY REGULAR SITTER, FELL AND BROKE HER ARM AND I HAVEN’T FOUND ANYONE ELSE. I MAY HAVE TO RESORT TO PAYTON, GOD HELP US. AND, ON TOP OF THAT, JAMIE’S IN MOURNING OVER WHITNEY BEING GONE.
I smiled. I could hear her voice in the words.
WELL, I’M NO LEXI, AND I’M CERTAINLY NOT ON THE WHITNEY LEVEL, BUT I THINK I COULD BE BETTER THAN PAYTON. I’D LOVE TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH JAMIE TODAY.
There was a slight delay this time.
I DON’T THINK I CAN ASK YOU TO DO THAT.
I sent my reply.
YOU DIDN’T ASK, I VOLUNTEERED. AND I’M SERIOUS, I’M LOSING MY MIND HERE AND WOULD REALLY LOVE TO DO SOME COLORING.
After a brief pause, I could see she was typing.
PAYTON’S ACTUALLY ON A BUSINESS TRIP (ONE HAS THOSE WHEN ONE’S A RECEPTIONIST? I THINK SHE HAS A GUY AT HER PLACE.) SO, I’M KIND OF DESPERATE….
I closed the spiral and got to my feet.
ON MY WAY.
She answered the door in a sexy outfit that was part suit, part dress. A solid blue/gray number with a flap like a suit coat, buttoning on the side with two large buttons. Her hair was swept up today with a few wispy curls falling around her face.
“Whoa.” I took her hands, spreading them out wide so I could check out the attire. I whistled. “There are many facets to the woman who is Grace Clayton Prescott.”
She blinked. “Did I tell you my full name at some point?”
“I think it was mentioned. Plus I did some stalking of you before I came to good ol’ J.C.” I gave her a kiss. “Something special going on at the shop today?”
“Actually, I’m giving a talk at the Chamber of Commerce about being a small business owner. I’m kind of nervous, to tell you the truth. I don’t like being in front of people.”
“Unless it’s with a handsome hunk of a rock star like me, right?”
“Right. I hope there’s one in the audience.”
I chuckled. “You’ll be great.”
“Hey, Jamie.” I called over her shoulder. “Is it time for Giant Fish Dude yet?”
He wagged his head. “Oh, Zaner. It’s Big Fish Man, not Giant Fish Dude.”
“Oh, yeah.” I winked at Grace. She passed me a two-page, stapled instruction sheet. I glanced at it. “You are coming back, tonight, right?”
“Yes, I’m coming back. If you have any questions, my phone number’s on the bottom.”
I skimmed through the material. “I texted you this morning, remember?”
“Oh. Yeah. You’re right.”
“And, I’m not sure if I’ll need the social security information listed in Addendum C.” I smirked.
She put a hand on her hip. “Are we going to have to talk on the fire escape again?”
“Zaner!”
“What? I didn’t do anything.” I said to Jamie. Then I looked at her. “I’ll take good care of him. I promise.” I lowered my voice. “One pack limit to the cigarettes, only clear alcohol, and a maximum of two prostitutes at a time.”
“You’re going to go on the fire escape,” Jamie warned.
I frowned, turning to him. He was shaking a finger at me.
I twisted back to face Grace.
“Did I ever tell you he has exceptional hearing?”
“No. But it’s probably listed in the manifesto.”
She grinned, coming closer. “You think you’re so cute.”
“I am, aren’t I? I dressed to kill today in my white T-shirt and jeans.”
She stuck a finger in my waistband between us, where Jamie couldn’t see. “Don’t underestimate the power of a tight pair of jeans and a snug T.”
“Mmm.” I kissed her, rubbing her arms. “Hey, Jamie, I’m walking your sister to the door real quick.”
Her eyes sparked.
“You just want to kiss her some more.”
I raised my brows and she pulled me into the hall. “How does he know so much?”
“It’s a mystery, even to me. Now. You better give me a kiss to remember you by, not like those weak ones inside.”
I held her hand up, and indicated I wanted her to spin under it, then I took her into a deep dip and laid one on her. When I separated from her, she kept her eyes shut for a moment. “That’ll do,” she said in a squeaky voice. She strutted her sweet suit-wearing ass down the stairs, knowing full well I was watching, then backed through the door while fanning herself.
That girl is a menace. She gets me revved then walks away. Well, she won’t walk away tonight, I guarantee it.
When I went to twist the doorknob and let myself back in, the pitter-patter of little feet running to the couch caught my ear. I threw the door open and, strangely enough, Jamie was bouncing on the couch as if he just jumped on it. He quickly righted himself.
“Jamie, were you listening in on our conversation?”
He scratched his head. “Big Fish Man is in the Amazon today.”
I squinted at him. “Uh-huh.”
The kid’s WAY smarter than I give him credit for.
I decided to let it ride for the moment and joined him on the couch.
About two o’clock he was climbing the walls. It was a good chance it had something to do with the three ice cream sandwiches he conned me out of. He was very convincing. If he could have remembered case law, he would have made a damn good lawyer. As it was, car salesman seemed to be his career path.
“Why don’t we go on a little walk? It’s nice out today.”
“Can we go fishing, too?”
“Uhh…let me text Grace and see if she’s okay with it.” Thirty minutes later, when Grace hadn’t texted back I figured she was in her presentation and turned the ringer off. “Does Grace take you fishing?”
He nodded vigorously.
I knew zip about fishing, but how hard could it be? “Well, she’s probably fine with it, so let’s go.”
The fact I managed to hook myself—resulting in a scratch and a ripped shirt—before we even left the house, should have been a red flag. But Jamie was so excited, I couldn’t let him down. I grabbed another T out of the back of my car where, thankfully, I had my second duffle bag. Jamie told me he knew his way to the park, but…not so much. Luckily an older gentleman steered us in the right direction and we soon had hooks in the water.
“Zane, can I ask you a question?”
“Sh-sure. It must be serious. You didn’t call me Zaner.”
He nodded solemnly. “How do you kiss a girl?”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. This is a conversation you should have with your sister.”
He wrinkled his forehead. “What does she know about kissing girls?”
Kid had a point.
“Grace likes it when you kiss her.”
My gaze darted to him. “She does? Did she…uh…tell you that, buddy?”
“Nope. I can tell.”
“Mmm. I see.” I was pussyfooting around this one for sure. “Well, first off—and this is very important—you have to know the girl wants to kiss you.”
He bobbed his head. “How do you know if she wants to kiss you?”
I wouldn’t delve into the subtle nuances of body language with a seven-year-old, or however old he was. “Well…it’s always good to ask. Just, you know, say something like, ‘I’d like to kiss you. Would you be okay with that?’”
“Okay.”
I thought I was off the hook, like the fish in the pond who didn’t seem interested in our Cheetos bait.
“So, if she said yes, how do you do it?”
“Uhh….” My palms began to sweat. “Well, I guess it’s best to do it soft and gentle.”
He smiled. “I can do that.”
“Good. Who are you planning on kissing, by the way?”
“Somebody pretty.”
Never hurts. I was fairly sure he was talking about Whitney, because earlier he asked what her favorite flower was. I was going to need to warn both her and Grace about this.
I felt pressure on my rod. I looked out over the water. My bobber was gone.
“Zaner. You’ve got a bite.”
I’d never fished before, so I admit, I was pretty excited. “What do I do?”
“You set the hook.”
“How do I do that?”
“Like this.” He did a quick jerk on his rod, and I followed suit.
“Now what?”
He made a motion. “Reel him in. Reel him in.”
I cranked on the handle, and Jamie jumped around near the water’s edge.
“That’s it. Keep going. You got it. Now, go slow, and put the tip o
f your rod down. Good. Good. Now lift it.”
When I raised the rod, the most beautiful little fish was on the end. It was blue on top and the blue kind of melted into green. The middle was plain, but the bottom was gold. “Is it a rainbow trout?”
He shook his head with a somber expression. “Sunfish.”
“Cool.” I considered him. “You’re a smart kid.”
“I know.”
And modest, too. I grinned at him. “Now what?”
“Now you take him off the hook.”
“Oh, okay.” I didn’t want to seem like too much of an idiot, so I acted like I knew what I was doing. I grabbed the line and let the end of the pole rest on the ground. I tried to grab the fish, but he was flopping around. “Oh. Lively little sucker, isn’t he?” Jamie looked at me with one eye squinted and the same side of his mouth screwed up as if he’d lost all confidence in me. I forced a chuckle and tried again, going in slowly. The damn thing writhed again when I got close, and his fins were sharp. I snatched my hand back, biting down on the expletive tickling my tongue.
“That’s not how Gracie does it.”
Thanks for telling me now, kid.
I frowned, determined to get this fish off on my own. Maybe if I attacked from the head to tail. This time not only did the fin get me, the hook did, too. I shook my hand. “Oww, oww, oww.”
“That’s not how Gracie does it,” he said again in a singsong voice.
I cocked a hip, staring at him.
“Do you want me to tell you how she does it?”
“That would be nice.”
“She loops the line over the rod and pulls the fish all the way to the top.”
I held the fish on the opposite side of my rod and circled it with the line. “Like this?”
“Yep. Then bring it all the way up to the rod.”
I followed his instructions, wondering how this would work, and if he even had it right. The next thing I knew, the fish was off the hook and floundering across the grass.
“Uh-oh.”
ROCKED BY GRACE (LOVE AND CHAOS SERIES Book 1) Page 13
