by Stacy Eaton
“A nanny? Are you going to get a job?”
I shook my head, but he wasn’t looking at me, “No, I wanted Allie to have other people around her. I wanted more stability for her, just in case—” I left the thought unvoiced, so much uncertainty.
Grey turned back to me then, “Have you heard anything?”
I sighed, “No, and it’s stressing me the hell out.” I glanced down at the pile of spindles in front of me, “Grey, can I ask a favor?”
“Sure,” he replied slowly.
“Can I help you? I mean I don’t know how to cut wood or anything, but I could stain these. I’ve done stain work before.”
“Why would you want to do that?”
“Because I’m bored out of my mind and I need something to keep me occupied. I’ve been wandering around that big house doing nothing but waiting for the guillotine to fall, and I can’t take it anymore. I’m used to working to keep my mind busy, but I don’t have anything to do.”
He appeared to be contemplating my request.
“I promise I won’t bother you, just tell me what stain to use, and I’ll keep to myself and do it.”
He laughed softly, “Barb, you don’t bother me. Do you really want to help?”
I nodded dramatically, “Yes! I so need something to do.”
“Okay, I’d love help staining. It’s not my favorite thing to do and,” he waved his hand over all the pieces on the work station, “as you can see, I have a lot of it to be done.”
“Really?” I grinned at him and he returned it—and just like that, things shifted between us, and the tension dissipated.
For the next two weeks, after every lunch, I joined Grey in the shop and spent the afternoon staining while he made the components for the chairs. Sometimes we chatted about Allie or about growing up, but mostly we kept to ourselves because we couldn’t hear each other over the cacophony of the power tools nor through the ear protection we wore.
While my hands were busy, my mind still had too much time to wander, but I forced myself to keep my fears at bay. It had been almost three weeks since Todd had come to the house, and I was getting more worried as the days went by. I had expected to hear something from him by now.
It was a Friday, almost four weeks since I had arrived when I peered over at Grey; he was by the lathe making the spindles for the chairs. So far he had the components made for almost half of the chairs, and I had stained over a quarter of those. Grey said that he intended to start putting those first fifty together early next week to make room for more parts. As it was, there were stacks of head plates, spindles, seats, and rocker panels everywhere.
The whine of the lathe faded as he turned it off and glanced up. Grey grinned at me. “That’s the last one for the first fifty.”
“You’re halfway there; that’s great.”
“No, what’s great is that you have been diligently staining all these pieces, and I didn’t have to do them.” He approached me, “Thank you, Barb.”
“You’re welcome, I’ve enjoyed helping.” He dusted off his hands and leaned back against the table. “Are you quitting for the day?”
He regarded me for a moment. “Yes, actually I am, and so are you.”
“But I’m not done.”
“How long is your nanny here today?” he asked abruptly.
“Usually until five, why?”
“Can you get her to stay later?” He lifted both eyebrows in question.
“I can ask, why?”
Grey smiled, and it was the most beautiful thing I had seen in weeks. “Because I want to go out and celebrate, and I’d like to take you with me.”
My mouth dropped open slightly, “You would?”
He tossed his head back, “Don’t look so surprised. I’ve been working long hours, and just hit the middle mark. I want to get out of here for a little bit and unwind. You look like you could use it yourself. Gloria has a dinner meeting, so she won’t mind us missing dinner.”
Man, did that sound good. “Let me call up and speak to Linda to see if she can stay.” I closed up the stain I was using and used the shop phone to call the house. When I turned back around to Grey a few minutes later, I was grinning from ear to ear. “Looks like you got yourself a date.”
His gaze zeroed in on me and sucked the breath right out of my lungs. His voice was husky when he finally spoke, “Then you better go get dressed. I’ll be up in thirty minutes to pick you up.”
My body tingled at the sound of his voice, and I practically ran out of the shop and up to the house to get ready.
I dressed in slacks and a blouse, my hair pulled up in a messy bun with tendrils hanging around my face. Grey arrived wearing dark jeans and had traded his everyday t-shirt for a short-sleeved polo in dark blue.
“You ready?” he asked as he came into the foyer. His eyes burned hot as he watched my every downward step on the stairs.
Hell, yeah! I wanted to scream, but I smiled demurely and nodded. “Where are we going?”
“No place fancy. It’s a nice tavern, and I realized that it’s Friday night, so there will be music. Do you like to dance?”
My eyebrows lifted. “You dance?”
He laughed, “Yes, I happen to enjoy dancing.” He put his hand on my lower back and escorted me toward the garage. “I got permission from Gloria to take out her Mustang. Do you mind if we take that? It’s a great night; we could put the top down.”
“Sounds perfect,” I replied as he pulled open the door like the gentleman that he was and closed it after I was seated. I watched him as he moved around the front of the car. Butterflies in my stomach took flight.
Maybe Todd wasn’t going to do anything. Maybe he had been all talk. Could I finally start to move on with my life? Grey climbed into the car and adjusted the seat and mirrors. “Do you want the top down now or later? I don’t want to mess up your hair.”
A burst of laughter flew out of my mouth, “You don’t want to mess up my hair?”
He shrugged. “I know how women are about their hair.”
I’m not like other women, Mr. Grey Bloodstone. “Put the top down. To hell with my hair.”
He winked and pulled out of the garage before putting the windows down and pushing the button to retract the roof.
Grey and I were quiet on the drive to the tavern. I leaned back in my seat and closed my eyes while my arm hung out the window and floated in the oncoming air pattern like a bird swooping through the air. Ah, to be free like a bird.
The tavern was busy, and we had to wait a few minutes for a seat, but shortly after we ordered, the band came on, and both Grey and I fell into a comfortable silence as we listened. We had finished our appetizers when Grey slid out of the booth. “Come on, let’s go dance.”
I slipped my hand into his, and we made our way to the dance floor. Only a few couples were dancing to the fast beat, and once we stepped onto the wood floor, Grey let go of my hand and began to move. I hesitated for a moment but quickly joined him when I realized he really did know how to dance.
Had I been worried he would get out there and try to bust a move that would embarrass me? Yeah, kind of, but he moved with a grace that belied his size, and we lost ourselves in the beat of the music. The next song up was a slower tune, and Grey instantly stepped toward me and pulled me closer.
“You really can dance,” I said as I wrapped one arm around his neck and clasped my free hand in his.
“You doubted me?” His smirk was so damned cute, my heart tripped over itself.
“Maybe a little bit,” I replied, and he spun me around and held me tighter.
We swayed to the soft tune and I melted into him. Grey’s chin was by my forehead, and I rested my head on his shoulder, breathing in his deep rich scent. His hand flexed on my lower back as he cradled me to him.
“I’ve wanted to do this for so long,” he whispered in my ear.
“What, dance?” I joked as I tipped my head back to see his face.
“No,” he stared down into my eyes, “hold you l
ike this.”
My fingertips grazed the nape of his neck, and I beckoned him to me. Our lips touched once, twice, gently, before he curled himself around me and held me as close as we could get.
The song ended, and Grey pulled back, “Come on, they just put our dinner on the table.”
I didn’t want to step out of his arms, but I followed him back to the table and settled myself across from him. He winked at me and picked up his burger.
Even though we continued a normal conversation, the banter exchanged was charged with a tension that had started on the dance floor.
“You’re a good dancer. Most men don’t like dancing,” I remarked between bites.
“I have always enjoyed it. I found out when I was young, if you could dance, you had more choices in dates.”
I had to laugh at his sound reasoning. “So, you dance to get girls?”
His eyes traveled over my face. “I did then. Now I just want to dance to keep one close by.”
What a smooth talker. I had a feeling I was going to melt right into my booth seat. I looked around the tavern in mock-nonchalance. “Any particular one?” I asked coyly.
“Just you,” he said solemnly. “Finish eating, so I can get you back on the dance floor.”
He didn’t have to say anything else. I ate almost everything on my platter and, as I set my napkin down, he tipped his head toward the floor, “You ready?”
Yes, I’m ready. I’m ready for anything you can give me, I thought. “You bet.”
Grey whisked me back to the dance floor and for the next thirty minutes, we lost ourselves in the music and in each other. The fast songs had us spinning around each other, sometimes bumping up against one another, and other times, just barely missing, but it was the slow songs that captured us and held us in our own private bubble. He was easy to follow, and I soaked in every touch of his body whenever it moved against mine. From time to time, he would kiss the top of my head, but he never strayed further.
Oh, but I wanted him to.
When I finally told him I needed to get back and relieve Linda, he seemed as disappointed as I was.
During the ride home, I watched him carefully from the corner of my eye as the wind picked up his wavy hair and tossed it around playfully. I wanted to twirl my fingers through it and help.
Grey parked the Mustang in the garage and held open my door. After he had closed it, he turned to me. “I had a great time, Barb. Thank you for coming out with me tonight.”
I wanted him to kiss me. “I did, too. Maybe we can do that again sometime soon.”
He shuffled forward a step, putting our chests only inches apart, “I’d like that.” I felt his hands brace the sides of my face gently as he leaned down. “Barb,” he whispered as he closed the final inch between us and kissed me.
The kiss quickly deepened and filled with a passion and desire in which I wanted to lose myself, but he pulled away too soon.
“Sleep well,” he whispered and stepped away.
Nope, that’s not going to happen. I’m going to be thinking about that kiss all night. “You, too.”
He lifted my right hand and kissed my knuckles before he escorted me to the door.
“You’re not coming in?” I asked as he turned away.
“No, as tempting as that is, no.” His smile was soft but tight.
“Good night, Grey.”
“Good night, Barbie. Thank you for a wonderful night.” He turned, but before he could step away, I reached for his arm and pulled him back. My arms flung around his shoulders and with my raised height from standing on the step, we saw almost eye to eye as I brought his lips back to mine.
His arms tightened like bands of steel around my body as he kissed me back with a hunger I had never felt. “Grey,” I mumbled against his lips, “stay.”
He kissed me one more time, slowing the pace before he leaned his forehead on mine. “I can’t stay up here.”
“Then let me see if Amelia can listen for Allie and let me come back with you.”
He hesitated, “Is that what you really want?”
“Yes,” I breathed between us. I took his hand and pulled him inside, leaving him in the conservatory while I went in search of Linda and Amelia.
Ten minutes later, I was back at his side, “Let’s go.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Grey
I brought Barb back to the guest house, keeping her as close to me as possible. When I closed the door to the shop, Barb wrapped her arms around my neck and urged me into a kiss that rivaled any from history.
I swung her in my arms and carried her up the stairs while she nibbled on my neck and kissed my cheek. In the bedroom, I lowered her to her feet and took her face between my hands. “We don’t have to do this—” I began to say, but she stopped my words with the tips of her fingers on my lips.
“I want to make love to you more than anything I have ever wanted to do before.”
“Barb, you have no clue what that means to me, that you trust me to show you that.”
“I have no doubt that you will treat me the way I deserve to be treated,” she murmured as she stepped up on her toes again and closed the distance between us.
“I’m glad because that is exactly what I’m going to do. I’m going to love every inch of you, and show you how incredible you are.”
“Show me, Grey.” She kissed me slowly, “Love me, Greyson.” Her husky voice drifted through the air.
“I already do.” I swooped her in my arms again and carried her to the bed.
After we made love, she lay with her head on my shoulder, and her fingers softly stroked my chest. I had taken my time and explored every inch of her body, making sure that she knew that I cherished her. In return, she did the same.
It was an experience I had never expected, and would never forget. No matter what happened, I had the memories of tonight to carry with me forever.
I felt Barb’s body relax and her breathing even out as she drifted off to sleep in my arms.
I stared at the ceiling while she dozed and recalled the conversation I’d had with Gloria right after Todd had left and Barb had gone in search of Allie.
Gloria had sunk down onto the closest sofa, “I’m not sure, but whatever it is, it’s not going to be good.”
I scratched my chin, “I think you’re right.” I studied Gloria for a moment, “Are you feeling alright?”
She opened her mouth to speak, but closed it and thought for a moment, “No, I’m tired—more tired than I had expected to feel, so soon.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?” I sat beside her and shifted sideways so she had my full attention.
“You’re already doing it, Greyson.”
I wasn’t sure what she meant, “You mean the designs?”
She chuckled, “No, you’re being the man of the house, taking care of those that live under the roof.”
“Yeah, but I’m not really the man of the house.” I paused, “I’m sorry if I overstepped my bounds earlier with calling this home.”
“Grey,” she took my hand in her own, the difference in them was so noticeable that I didn’t want to squeeze her hand back for fear of hurting her, “this is your home. The moment you showed up here, this place became a home again and not just a fancy, sprawling estate. You are welcome to stay here as long as you wish, even after you are done with the project.”
My heart squeezed in my chest.
“I wasn’t going to tell you this, but I might as well. It might make you feel more at home. I had my will changed, I added you to it.”
Her words shocked me. “What? You don’t even know me, Gloria.”
“Now don’t get all excited, I didn’t leave the entire property to you, but I did leave the guest house and all the furnishings, including the workshop to you. As long as the estate stays in this family, you will have a place here. If the property is to get sold, you would get a portion of the sale.”
I blinked a few times to keep the tears from fall
ing. “Why?”
“Why? Because the moment I met you, I felt like you were meant to be part of my family. You are a fine young man, a man anyone would be proud to have as a son, or a grandson.”
No one had ever done anything so incredible for me. I was speechless.
“Oh, and I should tell you one more thing while I’m at it.”
I cleared my throat wondering what else she could possibly have to say. “What’s that?”
“I paid off your hospital debt. You’re free and clear, Greyson. It’s time you take the world by the horns and make it yours. I expect you to do great things. Don’t disappoint me.”
“Gloria, how,” I stuttered trying to get the words out, “how did you do that? Why would you do that?”
“How? Easy. I’m on the board of directors for the hospital. Why? I already told you that. You have a future ahead of you, and I don’t want you looking in the past and struggling with it. It’s time to look forward and live your life.”
Two tears slipped out and ran down my cheeks, but I wasn’t ashamed of them. I was proud that I could show my emotions, especially to such a sweet, wonderful woman.
“I don’t know how to thank you,” I said as I squeezed her hand gently.
“I do. You can go check on my granddaughter and make sure she knows how much you care about her.”
I eyed her carefully, “You figured that out, huh?”
She winked, “The moment you set eyes on her, yours began to sparkle. They got brighter when you looked upon Allie. That right there is your future, Greyson. I would bet my fortune on it. She cares just as much for you.”
“We barely know each other,” I began to explain, and she held up her hand.
“I met Walter and married him two days later. We were married for fifty-six years, and not once did I regret it. Love can happen that quickly, you just have to believe in it.”
I pondered her words, and she was right. My parents had only known each other a few weeks before they had eloped and spent forty-something years happily together. Love could be that fast.
“If you’ll excuse me, Gloria, I’d like to go check on my ladies.”
“You do that,” she said as I leaned down and kissed her cheek.