“Greyson—”
“Sage, I’ve let you into my world. I’ve let you into my bed. I’ve shown you what I’m about and who I am, and I’ve even cooked for you. And you don’t trust me enough to show me where you live?”
“I’m just ashamed of it, I guess. It’s stupid, and I’m sorry. But it doesn’t mean I don’t like you.”
“Good for me. But if this is going to be something and work out, I need us to put everything out on the table.”
“Fine, come over anytime you like. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.” I got up and found my clothes in the chair across the room. He seemed upset, and I was not feeling good about how things had gone. When it was just sex, it was easy, even though I was still new to it, I knew what was expected. Relationships were a whole different ball of wax and something I didn’t really know if I was headed for with him or not. I liked to think he wanted more than sex, but a part of me was afraid that if I let him see too much, he wouldn’t like me.
“Here,” he said, getting up out of bed to walk over to his dresser. “This fell out of your bra when you passed out. I found it on the floor near the couch.”
My eyes widened when I saw the small carnelian stone.
“I guess I shouldn’t ask why there was a rock in your bra either. I’m guessing it wasn’t there by accident.” He held it out to me.
“It’s a carnelian.” My shoulders slumped as I let out a breath. “It’s kind of like a lucky charm.”
“I see. Well, at least you got lucky.”
I didn’t even know what to say to that. The stone was a passion stone, and while I didn’t feel like explaining my unusual habits, I didn’t want things to get any worse. “Will you drive me back to my car?”
“Yeah,” he said, walking to the closet. “I’ll meet you downstairs.”
I found my clothes from the night before and put them back on. I knew if I was going to have anything with him, I was going to have to take him to my home and explain a few things. I just needed to talk to Lissa and make sure that things were headed in the right direction first.
21
Greyson
I hadn’t expected another week to pass before seeing Sage, but I really wasn’t sure if I should drop by unannounced with what happened between us the last time we’d been together. She was obviously not sure she wanted me to be a part of her life, and for all I knew, I was just a guy to fit her fantasy for losing her virginity.
As soon as I thought it, I told myself that it was ridiculous. There was obviously something special between us. There was no way that she had just finally gotten sick of being a virgin and chose me to be the lucky man.
I stepped away from my boat and looked down the side, making sure that all of the boards were flush. Then I took out the new sander, hoping that I’d gotten just the right grit.
As soon as I heard footsteps, I felt my pulse race, but it was just Christian, who walked in like he owned the place. “How’s my best buddy? Making progress?”
“Yeah, just got the sides finished. I just have to make sure I don’t rip it up with this bad boy.” I patted the sander.
“Nah, that’s a good one. Looks like you got it all worked out. You’re a natural.”
“Thanks. Although I couldn’t have done it without your help.” He had done so much to help me along and had done one entire side of the hull while telling me about the girls he’d fucked. “I can’t say I won’t need your help again.”
“Anytime.” He walked into the room and around the boat, which was now hull-side up, taking most of my work space. “As a matter of fact, I was thinking we make a good team. Your designs are pretty nice, and let’s face it. This boat is going to be a beauty.
I let out a chuckle. “If I don’t sink it. I still have to get it in the water.” With my luck, the thing was going to sink like a rock. I had done everything to specifications and was continuing to do so, but that didn’t mean I didn’t have my doubts.
Christian patted the boat’s side. “It’s going to sail. I have no doubt, and you don’t either if you’re continuing the work. What I wanted to propose was maybe a business opportunity. I mean, you’ve got a great design, and you should make a nice living off this.”
I didn’t have to do anything for money, but it wouldn’t hurt to pad my pockets fatter in case something happened. “What do you propose?” I couldn’t believe the words had come out of my mouth. Part of me was pleading with myself to tell him a definitive no. There were so many other things I could do with my time. Why did I want another opportunity? Because I was a glutton for punishment?
“A boat company, for starts,” he said from around the other side. “Then, who knows? We’ll take over the world. There’s always a market for this around here. We’d take commissions. Not many can do it themselves, but they want the craftsmanship to show off. I’ve got a few skills of my own for interior work, and I just know we’d be able to take this to the stratosphere.”
“It’s an idea, but I’d have to look at the bigger picture.” I didn’t do anything unless I knew just what I was getting into. As much as I loved Eric, I wanted to live off my retirement, not have to go back to the office. “I didn’t retire at twenty-nine being a lousy businessman.”
Christian walked around the back of the boat. “I believe that, which is why I know you’re the perfect partner.” I started to ask him how I knew he was, but I held my tongue. I’d hear him out. “Let me draw up a business plan, and you can take a look.”
“That sounds fair. I tell you what. You draw up the plan, present your idea, and I’ll think about.”
Christian’s face lit up. “Awesome! I know it’s going to be amazing. I’ve wanted to do something away from my parents’ thumbs for some time now, and I feel this is the right industry.”
I was too busy thinking about Sage to show much enthusiasm. I let out a sigh. “Sounds good.”
Christian looked at me with concern. “Are you okay?” He walked over to the minifridge and took out a beer. “You look like you have a lot on your mind.”
“Sorry, it’s not you. It’s Sage. I’m not sure what’s going on with us. I might have fucked it all up. Maybe I’m being too sensitive.” I felt like a wuss, sitting around and feeling sorry for myself. Things had gone south, but that was only because of her insecurities.
“Yeah, I heard you hit that.” I gave him a hard look, and he held his hands up in defense of his words. “Lissa let it out the other night when you two disappeared.” He gave me a devilish grin. “So, what was that like? I want details, man. Did you really pop her cherry?”
I had indeed. I’d busted it wide open, but it wasn’t for him to know, and it meant something more to me than just being a notch on my bedpost. “I’m not telling you. I actually like her enough to respect her.” I had a lot of admiration for her too. She was quite a woman. A lady compared to most women I’d met, who had their hands in my pockets.
What he asked next surprised me. “You love her?”
I looked up and met his eyes. “I don’t know. I mean, I know I could. But I’m just not sure she’s going to open up to me. She doesn’t want me too close, it seems. Maybe she’s got issues. I don’t know. I don’t really know her, you know?”
“That sounds like Sage,” he said, shaking his head. “Not many do know her, other than Lissa. I think that’s why it never worked out with her and other guys.”
“I just don’t know why she doesn’t trust me enough to get to know her. She obviously trusted me to an extent more than anyone else, but then she got weird.”
“Weird. That’s what everyone says about her.” He gave a little chuckle. “She’s a good girl. I’m sure it will work out if that’s what you like.” He turned up his beer. “Have you talked to her?”
“I texted her a few times. She was short and seemed like she had a lot going on with work.” She had said something about inspections, but I wasn’t sure what that meant.
“Dude, call her. Girls want to hear your voice.”
I wasn’t sure that was true. “Then why doesn’t she call?”
“You’re used to those city girls being on your jock. This is a small-town girl. She’s not going to pursue you, man. You’ve got to put in the work.”
“Like you do for Lissa?” The man couldn’t even be faithful to her when she was so obviously head over heels for him and eager to put up with his bullshit.
He gave me a pointed look. “Hey, don’t be a dick. Lissa and I are different. We’re probably going to end up together one day, but neither of us wants to rush it. I’m not ready to settle down, and she’s not ready to put up with my shit full time. We’d break up as soon as we got together. This works for us, but we’re not talking about me and Lissa. We’re talking about you and Sage. Dude, go over there. Knock on the door, and when she opens it, kiss her. She’ll pull you into her world. Keep putting it to her. Fuck, what’s not to like? You’re a goddamned millionaire, aren’t you?”
I wasn’t going to confirm or deny that with Christian. He didn’t need to know that I had a million, much less multiple millions. “I don’t want to push myself in. I want to be invited in.”
I needed it to be different with Sage. I had come out here to do two things, find someone to share my life with and build a boat. I stepped back and looked at the hull. Had I made more progress on the boat than I had with her?
Christian turned up the last of his beer. “My point is, you won’t get inside at all if you don’t go and knock on the fucking door.” He put his bottle on the workbench. “I was going to ask if you could keep an eye on my house. Mom is sending me on a business trip to Florida to see one of our store’s dealers.”
“Business trip? Nice.” I waited to let him tell me about it, still not really into the conversation with what to do about Sage in the back of my mind.
“Yeah, and the best part, because my mother lied about me being engaged, I get to bring Lissa along. It might be a good time to keep an eye on Sage. Especially with that asshole Montauk still snooping around.”
“Yeah, I’ll call her. Why would your mother lie about you being engaged?” I had met his mother, and I wasn’t sure why I was shocked to hear she’d pull something like that.
“Because she’s always so busy trying to keep up with everyone else that she doesn’t think anyone will ever call her on her bullshit. If anything, it’s going to assure I get laid, and I won’t even have to go out and find a woman. And anything that makes Lissa happy and gets her off my ass is a win/win.”
“Do you think Maddox goes to her house or calls her?” I wondered if he had been around in the past week. Maybe she didn’t hate him as much as she let on. She surely didn’t act mean to him, although she didn’t seem too impressed by him either.
“Lissa said he drives by quite regularly, and he comes into the bar looking for her. It creeps Lissa out, and she’s worried about him crossing the line one day, but Sage is bad for seeing the good in people. I think she just doesn’t want to admit that she went out with a loser.”
I was going to have to do something about him. I couldn’t have him around her house. “Yeah, I’ll keep an eye out on your place.”
“Thanks. I’m going to go ahead and go home and pack. I’ll get that business proposal made up and get it to you when I get back home. I’m flexible, and if you think of something else you’d like to do, we can talk.”
“Thanks, man. I look forward to seeing it.” I wasn’t sure I really wanted to go into business. Although the café had done well, it was already enough responsibility, and with three locations around the city and two more set to open in the months ahead, plus my place as an advisor for DeVant, I was already working more than I wanted to during my retirement.
As soon as he left, I picked up the phone and called Sage. I held my breath, hoping she’d answer, but the phone rang several times and went to voicemail. I hung up, not sure what to think.
22
Sage
As it turned out, the glaze for my geode wall art had given me fits, but finally, I had the last coat on the wall, and it was drying nicely. I couldn’t believe I finally had it done, and it actually looked exactly like what I had envisioned, which was a rare thing for me as an artist.
I walked across the room and turned around to give it a final look. Then I looked around the room, which was more cohesive than before the mural. “What do you think, Jasper? Will it do?”
I glanced over to the cat like he was going to answer, and he slowly blinked and looked away before licking his paw.
“You’re not much help.” I stood back, taking in my surroundings and wondering if I had finally done it. For years, I’d tried to get my living space to a place of peaceful relaxation that would completely change the past for me in my childhood home. I had wanted to erase all memory of the place and build my own stone fortress. A place where I was surrounded by positive energy and Earth’s natural beauty. “I love it.”
As I went to the kitchen to pour another drink, I heard a car pull up in the drive. It sounded like Lissa’s, but with the increasing annoyance by Maddox, who had taken to driving by at least once a day that I was aware of, I had to be sure. I walked to the door to unlock it.
“I see you’re finally locking doors,” she said as I stepped aside to let her in. “Smart move. I’m still afraid that weirdo is going to come in here and get you.”
I shut the door and made sure to lock it. “I’m not afraid of Maddox, but I don’t want him coming here.”
She gave me a look that was just short of telling me I was nuts. “He’s still driving by?” She dropped her handbag on the side table and then walked around to sit on the couch.
I didn’t know if I should tell her or not, with the way she worried, and she had already offered to have Christian take care of him. “He doesn’t stop. He’s just trying to see if I’m seeing anyone.” I went around to join her on the opposite end, my cold drink still in hand. “Do you want anything?”
She pulled her large water bottle from her bag and shook her head. “He’s a lunatic. And now apparently, he’s throwing money around town. I’d like to know where he got that. I don’t know if he still works at the rental car place.”
“Maybe his grandmother gave him some money.” She had always claimed he was the apple of her eye. “Are you even going to comment on my wall? It’s finally done.”
She gave it a look. “Wow, that’s pretty amazing, Sage. It looks like a real polished geode.”
“Thank goodness. That’s what I was going for.”
She narrowed her eyes and then snapped her fingers like she’d just had the most brilliant idea. “You should sell these.”
“I doubt many people around here would want me to do their walls.” My style wasn’t like many of the other locals, who would rather hang dead fish on the walls.
“No, but you do this on boards. You have access to a ton of scrap at the lumberyard, and Christian could put some in his stores. You should do a tabletop.”
“I have done one for my sacred space.”
“Oh, I see. Well, that explains why I haven’t seen it.” She rolled her eyes. “It’s not like I have the clearance to enter your divine sanctuary.”
“I let you go in there when it was done. You just didn’t notice my artwork because you were preoccupied with Christian drama. Besides, it’s just my bedroom. It’s not like we’d hang out there anyway.”
“Well, God forbid my cooties disrupt the good energy of your room.”
She had taken it personally since I explained about negative energies and how they could affect certain rooms of your home. “I never said that your energy was bad. And I’m not sure I’m cut out to be a businesswoman. I like doing my art for me and no one else. Once you start doing that, it becomes a job.”
“I know. You’ve protested that a hundred times. But it would be better than working at Woodchuck’s your entire life.” She reached out with her foot and kicked mine as if to make a point.
“It’s a good job.”
“Well, what I really want to know is, what are you going to do when Greyson wants to take you to your bed? I bet his cootie energy will be approved.” I gave her a pointed look. “I’m just fucking with you. But seriously, what are you going to do when Greyson comes over and wants to go to your bed?”
“I probably won’t have to worry about that. I doubt he’ll be around. Things got weird. He asked to come over, and I had him bring me to his place instead. Then later when he brought it up, I was so stupid and told him that I didn’t want to show him my place because it wasn’t anything special.”
“I love your house. It’s small, but it’s always felt like my second home. Even when your dad lived here.”
“The man’s master suite is more than half of his upstairs. I could fit my house in it.”
“He lives alone, so I’m sure he can spread out. So what if it’s a bigger house? He likes you. Don’t make this about money and what he has and what you don’t. Unless he does that. He doesn’t do that, does he?”
“No, but lesson learned. He was upset because he trusts me with his place and who he is, and he just wanted to get to know me.”
She angled toward me. “So, let him. You are not your mother. Sure, you have some of her strange quirks, but you’re a beautiful, smart, and strong woman.”
“I may have already kind of made it like he thought he was too good for me. But not intentionally.”
Her nose scrunched up like something stunk. “Damn, that’s bad.”
“It’s not the worst. And don’t laugh because while I know you’re going to think it’s funny, it wasn’t. It was humiliating.”
“Oh no. You didn’t wear a rock, did you?”
I took a deep breath, remembering the look on his face. “I had put it in my bra, and apparently, it fell out when I passed out on the couch. He found it on the floor. I felt like a complete goof.”
Caught Up In Love Page 13