by Lara Norman
“As long as you aren’t holed up in the apartment never getting out there and having fun, then I’m happy for you.”
They both heard the key in the door as Hudson unlocked it and came in. They stood simultaneously, and Grant looked away while Reagan greeted Hudson. Eventually, he sauntered over and stuck his hand out, accepting the other man’s shake and then stepping back.
“It’s good to see you, Grant.”
Grant watched Hudson set his briefcase down and drop his keys and wallet on the hall table. “You, too.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “You teaching a summer class?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact.”
Grant could only nod, and Reagan stepped in before it could get awkward—more awkward.
“Hudson, why don’t you get changed and we’ll meet you in the kitchen?”
He took her hint and went down the hall while Grant and Reagan went into the kitchen. She started pulling things out of the fridge to make it easier for Hudson once he got in there. Grant sat at the table and watched his sister move around with easy familiarity.
“I should be asking you if you’re happy, but the answer is pretty obvious.”
Reagan shot him a huge smile. “I really am, I promise. I’ve gotten better at my job so that everything isn’t a hassle, and the hours during the summer are full time so I’m earning more. I’m putting money aside and I feel like an adult.” She giggled.
“Classes start back up in August?” He watched her move efficiently around the kitchen.
“Yeah, at the end of the month.”
“Hi, you two.” Hudson came into the kitchen in shorts and a t-shirt, and Grant could see that he didn’t look as much his age when he dressed down. The last time he saw him in June he was wearing slacks and polos everywhere.
“Hi.” Reagan stood on her toes to kiss his cheek. “I think I remembered everything.”
He surveyed what she’d set out. “You did good.”
“Aren’t you used to having summers off?” Grant asked as Hudson got out a few pans and got started on what looked like pork chops.
“Yeah, it’s been different, that’s for sure.” Hudson began slicing onions. “But I want to uphold a certain reputation and I kind of screwed it up.”
Reagan spoke up at Grant’s raised brow. “They were a little surprised when he told them we were in a relationship. Technically, it’s allowed because he isn’t my teacher, but they don’t like it.”
“So I volunteered for this position when I heard that there was a need.”
The skillet hissed when Hudson pushed the onions off the cutting board and into the melted butter. Grant’s mouth watered at the smell. He didn’t speak while Hudson seasoned the pork chops and stirred the onions. He added a handful of mushrooms and gave everything a stir before turning back to face Grant.
“Reagan says you were swamped at work.”
The small talk was killing him, but Grant answered politely. “Yeah, two of our guys were out with food poisoning. I had to work open to close, and it seemed as if everybody in town needed work done.”
Hudson pulled another beer out of the fridge for Grant. “I couldn’t do what you do.”
He couldn’t even hide the fact that he was positive that Hudson didn’t know how to change his own oil or anything else that required getting his hands dirty. “Well, clearly I couldn’t do what you do.” He smirked, and Hudson smirked right back. “It’s very hard work, but it pays the bills.”
Hudson turned back to the stove so Reagan stepped in and asked how Josh and Brent were doing. She finally got an animated response out of her brother when he showed her the most recent tattoo Brent gave him. He flipped his arm over and pointed to the fresh ink on his forearm.
“He got a new machine and he wanted to practice before he used it on his paying customers. Josh got one, too.”
Reagan looked over the beautiful lion with piercing green eyes. Brent was very talented. “It’s so lifelike.”
“It is.”
“I love it,” Reagan declared.
“Anytime you’re ready,” he teased. She had long ago decreed she was never getting a single tattoo. She didn’t like the idea of the pain.
“Yeah, maybe.”
Grant sat up straighter. “Wait, what?”
She shrugged. “Maybe I want one.”
“Since when?” He looked back and forth from her to Hudson, who was studiously ignoring them as he flipped the pork chops.
Reagan blushed slightly. “I don’t know, it might look good. I wouldn’t go to anyone but Brent since I know he can be trusted. Plus, you can’t deny he’s got a gift.”
Grant was flabbergasted. She’d always been very adamant about not getting one. She never lectured him for his choices, but she made it clear she didn’t enjoy the idea of a permanent scar in the form of a tattoo.
“Next time you’re in town,” he said with some effort. He tried to remind himself she was growing up and her opinions were bound to change.
“Maybe for my twentieth birthday.”
He didn’t know what else to say, but thankfully, Hudson was bringing food to the table. They went back to awkward small talk as they shared a meal, and Grant couldn’t help feeling like the third wheel. He hated being the outsider even though he should be used to it by then.
After dinner, Hudson claimed he had papers to grade—and for all Grant knew, he really did—so Reagan could spend time with her brother. They curled up on the white leather couch that Grant secretly hated, and it felt something like old times. Reagan picked a travel show, and they watched the host explore an island and its ruins. It was easier to pretend she was still just his little baby sister that he was the sole caretaker of in moments like that. He wondered if he would ever get used to the idea that she was still his responsibility, but that she had other people to rely on and didn’t need him very much.
“I miss you,” she said during a commercial break.
It was as if she knew what he needed to hear. “I miss you, too, baby girl.”
She rested her head on his shoulder and didn’t say anything else.
In the morning, Grant was worried about getting up too soon and disturbing either of them. He was used to being up at half-past five, and Reagan used to get up with him once upon a time. That was when she had to attend the high school and couldn’t sleep in, but now he had no way of knowing when she rose. Finally, he decided to get up and get a shower in before anyone else was awake.
He showered quickly and got dressed in the bathroom. He let out a bunch of steam when he opened the door, but then he froze. He could hear his sister and her boyfriend through their mostly closed bedroom door.
“No, Reagan, absolutely not while Grant is here.”
“Come on, he won’t know.” He didn’t like the pouty tone to her voice.
Grant tiptoed down the hall, but he stopped to hear Hudson’s response.
“Yes, he would, and I value my balls. I’m going to get up and make breakfast.”
“You’re going to owe me!”
Grant was in his own room with the door closed before he could be found out. Hudson was right about one thing; he would gladly cut off the man’s balls for having sex with his sister while he was there.
Hudson was in the middle of frying eggs when Grant entered the kitchen. He made a beeline for the coffee pot and was glad there were a few mugs sitting in front of it. He poured a mug full and drank half of it before he turned to Hudson, who was watching him warily.
“You should probably add closing your door all the way to your list of things to adhere to while I’m here, along with what you plan on abstaining from in my presence.”
With that, he walked into the living room and sat on the couch with his coffee.
Chapter 7
“I’m so jealous!” Carmela screamed at her cousin.
“Shhh!” Alex admonished her. They were in a room full of people, and Alex didn’t want her business to be broadcasted.
“I can’t b
elieve you! That’s fantastic, really.”
Alex had already questioned how smart it was to tell the girls about her indiscretions with Grant. She wanted to share with them, to unburden herself and get their opinions on what she did. She should have known that Carmela would be her normal self and be loud.
“I didn’t tell you so you could tell the entire restaurant.” Alex rolled her eyes.
“Why did you decide to do those things?” Hailey asked. She had remained quiet while Carmela had been shouting because she was much more sensitive.
“I don’t even know.” Alex sat back in her chair and looked around. They’d decided to go to a nearby spa as they’d planned, and it was the first night of three. They were in the hotel’s cafe having dinner when Alex decided to share what she’d been up to.
“To get some, obviously.” To Carmela it was easy; cut and dry.
“But in public places? That’s not her style,” Hailey pointed out.
Alex nodded. “It’s not, but he’s just . . .” She couldn’t even describe what she felt about Grant. He was the embodiment of all the in-between feelings that she couldn’t put a name on.
“Hot?” Carmela guessed.
Even she had to admit that it was partly the reason. “Well, yes.” She felt herself blush. “It can’t be just that, though. I acted like a wild woman.”
Hailey grinned. “I mean, if he’s that attractive and he was willing to flip your skirt, then who can blame you?”
“You were horny,” Carmela said before she burst out in laughter.
Alex rolled her eyes again. “You’re gonna make me regret telling y’all.”
“I think it’s great. I can see you being more adventurous, just don’t try to change for him because you’re so sure he doesn’t want a relationship. You deserve more than that.” Hailey took a sip of her drink and looked at Alex over the rim of her glass.
“You’re right.” Alex took a deep breath. “It’s just that he excites me so much. All I can think about is letting him touch me again.”
Carmela turned serious for a minute. “So you go see him again and be smart about it. If you don’t want to be his fuck buddy, you tell him it’s dating or nothing. If he turns you down, he wasn’t right for you in the first place.”
It was harder to hear the truth than she’d expected. “I know you’re right.” Alex rubbed her temples and looked at her cousin. “I’m afraid of his rejection because I really like him.”
“I understand.” Carmela covered Alex’s hand with her own and gave it a squeeze. “I love you, sweetie. I want you to be happy. You’re not the type to be happy with casual sex for long.”
Alex remained quiet and was relieved when Hailey changed the subject. They finished their dinner and went up to the suite they were sharing. They spent the evening watching rom-coms on television and nobody brought up Alex and Grant’s pseudo-relationship again.
The next day they were booked for various services, meeting up in the room at lunch time.
“I feel like a boneless chicken,” Carmela said on a sigh as she plopped into a deck chair on the balcony.
“That was the most amazing massage,” Alex agreed.
“You have to try the hot stone treatment. Holy crap.” Hailey blinked at the mid-afternoon sun. “I don’t feel like moving. We should order room service.”
“That’s the best idea I’ve ever heard.”
Hailey shot a smile at Carmela and shifted on her own lounge chair. “This whole trip was your best idea ever.”
Carmela looked over at Alex, who was leaning back with her eyes closed. “You good, honey?”
Alex hummed. “I’ve never been so relaxed.”
“I don’t even want to get up to use the phone.” Carmela stretched.
“I can wait.” Hailey looked over at Alex, thinking she was awfully quiet.
“I’ll do it in a minute. What do you think you want?” Alex was thinking of something light because they’d had a buffet breakfast.
“A double bacon cheeseburger,” Carmela said.
Hailey laughed. “Really?”
“Oh, yeah,” Carmela answered. “I’m famished.”
“You ate so much at breakfast.” Hailey had indulged in a stack of pancakes, but Carmela had gone back for seconds and had one of everything offered.
“I can’t imagine packing away that much food.” Alex got up and went inside the room to call for room service. After confirming with Hailey what she wanted, she placed the order and went back out on the balcony.
“I could stay here forever if I could afford it,” Hailey said after a few minutes of silence.
Carmela snorted. “Yeah, if we didn’t have to go back to our jobs in about two weeks.”
Alex thought about how long it had been since she’d last seen Grant. It was in July, which meant she hadn’t seen him for about three weeks, and the last time they’d been together was over a month ago. She really missed him, and that felt ridiculous. She didn’t know him.
She heard the knock on the room’s door and got up to accept the food delivery. The other two joined her in the room and they took it out to the balcony to eat. Alex really did need the time with the girls. They spent a lot of time together anyway, but getting away and focusing on themselves felt like a good way to renew the spirit. Pretty soon school would be starting and they would have to deal with new students, fighting off germs, spending their own money on school supplies, and a myriad of planning meetings. Late August and early September were the busiest times for Alex, and she worried that she would find herself without any extra time to spend trying to cultivate a relationship with the man she craved but was basically a stranger.
The time at the resort flew by as any good time tends to do. Alex said goodbye to her friends as they dropped her off and went inside to begin the task of unpacking and doing her laundry. She was lucky enough to have a stackable washer/dryer combo in her apartment, making it much easier to get her chore done. She went through her mail and then looked over her calendar for the first meeting of the year. She had just over two weeks before she had to get serious about work again.
So she made a plan. Just like the girls told her, she decided she wouldn’t approach Grant looking for a quickie like she’d done before. The only way she knew how to get in contact was to find him at the shop, but she wouldn’t pull any tricks or ask for work she didn’t need. She would merely ask to talk to him and see what happened after that.
And that saying, the best-laid plans often go to waste was entirely too true. He wasn’t there when she went, and she was beginning to feel like a stalker. She refused to go back and run the risk of missing him again. Defeated, she wasn’t sure what she was going to do with herself. It would be desperate for her to go there every day and watch for him to show up. The odds were in her favor; he’d have to show up, eventually. But she still had some pride left.
So she did what she normally did. She lived her life; she went out for dinner with her aunt and Carmela, she called her parents in Montana, and she worked on her lesson plans for the first quarter of the year. She cleaned the apartment, went grocery shopping, and thought of Grant every minute of every day.
And that pissed her off.
She was working on the Sunday crossword when her cell phone rang. She wasn’t really paying attention as she filled in a word and answered at the same time. “Hello.”
“Alex?”
She dropped her pencil and choked on her saliva so that the first thing he heard was her trying to die of embarrassment.
“Grant!”
“Is this a bad time?” He sounded amused, which ratcheted up her mortification.
“No, I was just . . .” Trying to stop thinking of you. Failing miserably. Rinse and repeat. “Doing a crossword.”
“On purpose?”
She laughed, and her feelings of idiocy fled. “Yes, on purpose. I like them.”
“I guess that makes you a smarty pants, then,” he teased.
“I guess I am.” She
got up to make another cup of tea, cradling the phone against her shoulder as she moved around her kitchen.
“Are you doing anything other than the crossword today?”
Alex nearly melted into a puddle on her floor. He sounded so unsure of himself. “No, I don’t have any plans for today.” Wait, did that make her sound incredibly boring?