Ingrid, who had green hair this week and wore a purple tank top, sat over at the breakfast nook table. She’d been the lead singer and guitarist for a one-hit wonder rock band back in the eighties. Now she lived with her widowed sister, Gretchen Snow. “Gracie tell you I’m losing her come September?”
“She did. She seems excited to start teaching.” He caught Marie’s fat little hand before she could poke him in the eye.
“I hate to see her go. But you can’t keep the good ones forever, you know?”
Unfortunately, he’d had Gracie for only one night—way short of forever. And maybe “had” was the wrong word. Too objectifying. Or something.
“Dante?” Ingrid seemed to be hiding a grin. “You with me?”
“Uh. Yeah—and you’re right. Good things never last forever.” Some of them last only one damn night.
“Gwamma Ingwid,” said Frannie, with a Duplo in each hand. “Come help.”
Ingrid, who was slim and fit and maybe in her fifties, got up and joined the twins on the floor.
Gracie emerged from the short hall next to the pantry, Keely right behind her. “I’ll head up to Warrenton, tell him in person,” Gracie said. Dante knew she meant Daniel. Her eldest brother ran Valentine Logging. The family company had its offices on the Columbia at the Warrenton docks. “Just as soon as we get all my things into the cabin at Dante’s.”
“That’ll work,” agreed Keely.
Gracie shifted her glance to Dante. He felt the force of her gaze all through him. Did he have it bad for her? He decided it was better not to think about that.
She asked, “Ready to haul some heavy furniture out to your truck?”
“I’m ready.” He put Marie down and she toddled over to join the Duplo builders on the floor. “Let’s get after it.”
She led him back to her room and they got to work taking the bed apart.
A few hours later, they had her bedroom furniture and all of Gracie’s clothes and random other stuff loaded into the two vehicles. They caravanned back to his place and transferred everything into the cabin. Dante had had a graveled side driveway added a few years ago. It branched off to the cabin from the main driveway, so they were able to drive right up to the cabin door.
By a little after three, they had everything out of the vehicles and stacked up in the cabin, ready to be put away. He helped her reassemble the bed.
Once that was done, she fell back across the mattress with a groan that made him start thinking about last night again—not that he’d ever really stopped. “Thank you so much, Dante. You’re a lifesaver on so many levels. Now, I’m going to see if I can find a towel and a bar of soap in one of those boxes somewhere. I’ll take a quick shower and then go tell my big brother that a miracle has happened and I’ve found somewhere other than the room off his kitchen to live.”
He realized he was starving. They hadn’t eaten since the eggs and sausage they’d had at breakfast. “Come on over to the house first. I’ve got plenty of stuff for sandwiches. You should eat.”
She remained sprawled across the bed, looking way too inviting, with her arms thrown out wide, her pink Chucks dangling an inch from the floor. “Can’t.”
Owen, who had followed them around as they brought in her things, trotted over to her, dropped to his haunches and whined at her hopefully.
She sat up and gave him a pat on the head. With her free hand, she pulled the elastic free of her high ponytail. The silvery mass spilled over shoulders and down her back. He wanted to grab her arm, yank her up off the bed, wrap her hair around his fist and pull her head back so he could bite her smooth, pale neck.
“I need to get going,” she said. “I want to catch Daniel before he heads for home.”
“It’s been hours since breakfast.” He should shut up. He sounded like some fussy old mother hen. But then he just kept on talking. “You’ve got to be hungry and you really should eat.”
She laughed. The happy sound kind of reached down inside him, making him yearn for something he was never going to have. Between completely unacceptable bouts of pure lust for her, he kept thinking that maybe they should talk about what had happened last night, kind of clear the air a little, get their friendship back on track. But then, what were they going to say?
No. It was probably better to just leave it alone.
“I’ll grab a burger on the way,” she said. “Promise. Don’t worry about me. I’m fine.”
If she wanted to starve herself, how was he going to stop her? He let it go.
She thanked him again. He clicked his tongue at Owen and the dog followed him back to the main house.
* * *
At the Warrenton docks, Gracie went straight to the barnlike building where Valentine Logging had its offices. Daniel was still there. The office manager told her to go on in.
A big man, broad shouldered and square jawed, with hair a little darker than her own, Daniel sat at his desk punching keys on his laptop. He glanced up at her when she entered. “Scotch?”
“No, thanks.” Daniel always brought out the good Scotch during important discussions, to mark life transitions and for big occasions. Apparently, he already knew why she was here. “Keely told you, huh?”
He rose, went to the liquor cart in the corner and poured himself a small one. “She said you’d be dropping by. I asked what was going on. She said you would explain everything.”
“You don’t know what I’m here for and you offered the good Scotch anyway?”
He saluted her with his glass. “Just in case I’m going to need it.”
She laughed. “Yeah. I get that. You never know what kind of crap I might pull next.”
He had on his wary face. “I didn’t say that.”
“But maybe you thought it?” She held up her thumb and forefinger with a sliver of space between them. “Just a little...”
He went to the sofa and chairs across from his desk and gestured for her to join him as he sat. She took one of the chairs and Daniel said, “So what’s going on?”
“Dante Santangelo offered me this little cabin he has on his property. I took it. Moved all my stuff in there today.”
He asked, very carefully, “So, you and Dante...?”
She almost gave him a dirty look, but somehow managed to stop herself in time. “We’re friends.” Yeah, okay. With benefits—for last night only and never again. But all that was TMI as far as her big brother was concerned. “We got to know each other at the bar. He likes to stop in there for a beer a couple of times a week.”
Daniel now looked thoughtful, like maybe he was pondering the mysteries of the universe. “Dante’s a good man.”
She realized then that this conversation was actually going well. Her overbearing eldest brother was treating her like an adult. And that was the second time he’d seemed to imply that maybe she and Dante had a thing. And they kind of did. A very short thing that Daniel never needed to know about. “Like I said, Dante’s a friend.”
Daniel studied her for several seconds, long enough that she almost started to worry about what he might say next. But then he only reminded her gently, “Your room is there for you. Come home to stay anytime you need to.”
Her throat clutched. Just a little. “I’m going to try really hard not to. You should use my room for a guest room. It’s downstairs, private, with its own bath. I already took all my furniture and stuff, so you don’t even need to clear it out.”
“It’s not going to be the same without you there.” His voice was kind of gruff. Like he might be just a little choked up, too.
Strange. It seemed like she and Daniel had been at odds since she turned ten or so. But right now, all she felt was affection for him—and gratitude that he’d kept them all together, kept them a family, when their parents died.
“I’m sorry that we haven’t always gotten along. I think my moving out on my
own will be good, you know?”
“Yeah.”
It was the right time, she realized, to tell him what she really thought of him. “You are amazing and strong and we all count on you far too much. I love you a lot, Daniel.”
He gave her a slow nod. “And I love you. I’m proud of you, too, Gracie. You do things your own way and I’m slowly learning to accept that you’re all grown up, not my little baby sister anymore.”
When she got up to leave, he held out his arms. She stepped into them and they shared a hug.
“You need help with the move?” he asked.
“Thanks, but no. It’s handled.”
“Whatever I can do, you just let me know.”
“That works both ways.” She smiled up at him, feeling really good about everything right at that moment.
* * *
Grace stopped for a burger and then to get groceries before heading back to the cabin. It was a little after seven and she’d almost finished putting the food away when someone tapped on the door.
She figured it would be Dante.
And it was.
Sweet Lord, he looked good. All dark and broody. He must have showered. His tanned cheeks were clean-shaven, he smelled of some yummy aftershave and he’d changed to black jeans and a faded plaid shirt with the sleeves rolled up to reveal those sculpted forearms of his.
“Just the man I wanted to see,” she said. “I have something for you.”
His dark eyebrows drew together in a worried frown. “What?”
“So suspicious,” she chided, and ushered him in. Owen was right behind him. “Here you go.” She had a check already made out to him, but when she took it from her pocket, he put up both hands like she’d pulled a gun on him.
“Gracie. Come on. I said that’s not necessary.”
“It’s the five hundred I was going to pay Sonja.”
“Keep it.”
“No.”
“Gracie...”
“Listen. I know it’s hardly what a homey little cabin in the woods with a nearby trail leading down to a gorgeous stretch of beach would bring you if you actually rented it out, but at least it’ll cover utilities.”
“I said no. Forget it.”
“Five hundred a month,” she repeated, her chin high. “If you don’t take it, that’s a deal breaker. You’ll be forcing me to load all this stuff into my Toyota and move back to Daniel’s. And you know that will be bad for the Bravo family dynamic. I love my big brother and he loves me, but it’s definitely time for me not to be living in his house.” Dante had lowered his hands by then. She grabbed one and slapped the check in it.
He looked down at the scrap of paper and then back up at her. Owen, who’d dropped to his haunches at their feet, whined up at them.
“It’s okay, boy,” she said to the dog. “Your human is stubborn, but we’re working it out.”
Annoyance flashed in Dante’s eyes and his gorgeous high cheekbones suddenly looked like they might poke right through his skin. “You’re not going to give the hell up on this are you?”
“Nope. And you need to cash that in the next few days. Unless you’d really rather I didn’t stay here. If you don’t cash it, I’ll know you want me gone and I’ll make that happen.”
“See how you did that? You turned it all around on me. If I don’t take your money, I want you gone?”
“So, then. You don’t want me gone?”
“Of course not.” He really seemed to mean it.
And she felt considerable relief. She had kind of worried that after last night, he would prefer that she lived elsewhere. “Good, then,” she answered softly. “Five hundred a month.”
He threw up both hands again. “Have it your way.”
“Thank you. It’s a steal and we both know it. So much better than a room in someone’s house.” She went back to the kitchen counter to finish emptying the last grocery bag.
He was silent. A quick glance over her shoulder confirmed that he was just standing there in the middle of the room, surrounded by plastic bags and a few boxes and more than one suitcase full of her stuff.
“What can I do to help?” he asked.
She stuck a giant box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch in the cupboard and turned to him. “You helped me all day. Go home. Take a break. Head on over to the Sea Breeze for a beer.”
He didn’t budge, just stood there frowning at the piles of stuff she’d yet to put away. “You eat something?”
“Yes, Mother, I did.”
“You must be exhausted.”
She wasn’t, not really. She’d always had a lot of energy. And she was excited to have her own space at last. It was beautiful here. Maybe, before bed, she would take the trail down to the beach, enjoy a stroll along the shore. “I think I’m getting my second wind. And hey, the bed’s made.” It had stacks of towels and two suitcases on it, though. “When I get tired, I can just shove everything off it and climb in.”
Now he was staring down at the rag rug, which they’d left rolled up near the sofa when they brought it in from his truck. “Let’s roll the rug out, why don’t we?”
She braced her hands on her hips. “You just can’t stop helping, can you?”
He flashed her a mouthful of straight white teeth and she swooned a little inside. “Please. You know you need a hand moving the furniture out of the way.”
She really could use some help with the rug. “Well, since you asked so nicely...”
They set to work, shoving the bed, the nightstand, the coffee table and all her stuff against the walls, rolling the rug out, positioning it just so, and then putting the furniture in place on top of it.
“It looks so good,” she said, standing back by the window to admire the effect. “My great-great-grandmother Cora Valentine made this rug as part of her trousseau.” The braided rug was a treasure, with a rainbow of colors woven into it. “So cozy and homey.”
Dante had already moved on to the next job. The two suitcases were still on the bed. He grabbed one and pulled it to the edge of the mattress. “We should clear off the bed, figure out where you want all this stuff to go.”
She knew what was in that suitcase and almost stopped him. But then she remembered the little promise she’d made to herself.
Really, she shouldn’t.
He’d gone way above and beyond to help her out when she needed a hand, not only providing a place for her, but pitching right in to help her make it habitable. The guy was a true friend.
Even if he had given her a speeding ticket.
It wasn’t right for her to hold a grudge just because he said he wouldn’t have sex with her again.
But, well, some grudges were too much fun to give up.
And besides, Dante Santangelo was wound way too tight. He needed to loosen the heck up.
Grace was only too happy to help him with that. She crossed the space between them and stood at his side.
He unzipped the suitcase and tossed the lid back, revealing stacks of pretty bras, sexy panties and a froth of different nighties she hardly ever wore. For a moment, he stared down at all those goodies—not embarrassed, exactly.
More like not sure where to take it from there.
“I confess,” she said wryly. “I’ve got this thing for lingerie. I’ve controlled my fancy-panty addiction the past year or so in my ongoing effort to get the budget under control, but I still have more undies than will fit in my drawers—if you know what I mean.” She snatched up a fuchsia-pink satin thong and another pair of panties that was mostly lace. “What do you think—a thong?” She dangled the bit of satin by her index finger. “Or cheekies?” She waved the black lace.
He gave her a look of great patience, with just maybe a touch of sexy smolder there in his eyes. “All your drawers are full, you said?”
“Yup.” She popped the p and pressed
both pairs of panties to her breasts. “What shall I do?”
Dante was all business. “I say we bring back that bureau from the shed.” He pointed to a bare corner next to the window on the other side of the bed. “It should fit there.”
She gave him a blinding smile. “Brilliant.”
And really now, exactly how far should she take this? He didn’t seem to have noticed yet, but tucked in with all that lace and silk and satin was a personal pleasure toy—or five. Because a girl who’s steering clear of romantic complications for a while definitely needs a little stimulation now and then.
She was just about to grab her favorite magic wand and wave it at him with gleeful enthusiasm when he said, “Let’s go get it, then.” And turned for the door.
They brought the bureau back.
Again, she tried to tell him he’d done enough.
But he refused to stop there. He helped her empty the big black plastic bags, the other suitcase and the boxes. Somehow, they found a place for everything. As for her lingerie and personal pleasure devices, he steered clear of them, so she put them away herself without brandishing a single one.
He didn’t go back to the main house until after nine.
She stood at the door as he left. “I can’t believe I’m pretty much moved in already. Thank you. Again.”
“Anytime. Come on, Owen.” His dog at his heels, Dante headed off through the trees.
She watched him stride along the footpath until he reached the cleared area that surrounded his house. No, she hadn’t given up on her plan to drive him mad with unsatisfied lust.
But that was going to take time. He was a tough nut to crack. Luckily, she lived here now and would have all sorts of opportunities to work on bringing him to his knees, sexually speaking.
Operation Make Dante Beg for It was going to be a whole lot of fun.
Chapter Three
Dante stood at the slider that led out to the deck. Staring out past the twisted trees that framed the path down to the beach, he watched the last orange fingers of sunset fade into the growing dark.
Their Secret Summer Family (The Bravos 0f Valentine Bay Book 7) Page 4