Her Texas New Year's Wish

by Michelle Major

  Just like that, every last one of Wiley’s rationales about remaining distant or getting her out of his system disappeared like a puff of smoke in a brisk wind.

  “Later,” he promised, brushing his hand against hers. “Save that thought for later.”

  “Who was the first girl you kissed?” Grace asked as they made their way toward the restaurant’s entrance.

  “Jessica Meyer in seventh grade. We were in the same math class, and she was way smarter than me.”

  “You were a late bloomer,” Grace said, clearly delighted. “I kissed Miles Spicaro on the playground in second grade.”

  “Not Collin?” Wiley asked, then regretted the question. He felt like a fool revealing how much her friendship with the boy—now man—next door bothered him.

  She gave him a funny look. “Not Collin. And Miles ended up being a onetime interlude. Too much pressure for elementary school. What about this Jessica? Was it first love?”

  Wiley opened the heavy wood door to Provisions and gestured Grace forward. “I’ve never had a first love.”

  “Oh.” That one syllable conveyed so much about what she thought of his confession, and once more, he wished he would have kept his personal business to himself. It wasn’t like him to share details about his feelings or really anything with the women he dated. He hadn’t planned on not falling in love, of course. He wasn’t completely coldhearted.

  But love meant compromise, and Wiley valued his independence too much to give it up on any meaningful level. At least that’s what he told himself.

  “Hi, guys.” Ashley met them at the hostess stand when they entered the restaurant. She gave Grace a one-armed hug and touched a finger to the scab that had almost completely healed on Grace’s forehead. “You look amazing, and I love that scooter. How are you feeling?”

  “Thank you,” Grace answered almost shyly. “I’m doing better every day and looking forward to getting back to work. Wiley found the scooter, and it’s a huge improvement over the crutches. I could never quite find my balance with them.”

  “Nice work, Wi.” Ashley turned to hug him. “Did you just eat a lemon?”

  He frowned at the question. “No, why?”

  “Your face is all puckered. Is something wrong?”

  He shook his head, willing some random alien ship to appear and beam his sister up into its depths. Grace was looking at him oddly now that Ashley had pointed out his lemon face. Even though he was certain he didn’t have any kind of furrowed expression. He simply didn’t want to think about what he couldn’t give to a woman like Grace.

  “Everything is great. We’re excited for dinner.” He gestured to the dining room. “You have quite a crowd.”

  Ashley followed his gaze to the open-concept restaurant, situated with tables filled with customers. “I hope the hotel does as well as we are. It’s beyond my wildest dreams.”

  “We’re going to make sure the hotel is a huge success,” Grace offered. “Your brothers and sisters have been working so hard to get things ready.”

  “With your help,” Ashley answered. “From what Nicole says, they miss having you at work. Not that the other trainees aren’t doing a great job, but...”

  Grace nodded, color blooming on her cheeks. “I can’t wait to be back.”

  “You all need to stop pressuring her,” Wiley grumbled, hating that he sounded like some kind of overprotective grandpa. But he couldn’t stop himself. After speaking to Callum and Mariana about Grace not following up on the PT appointments, he wondered if anxiety about returning to work was making her sacrifice her recovery.

  Were her parents actually right?

  “No pressure,” Ashley promised as she led them through the dining room. “You getting well is the top priority.”

  “I’m really feeling much better,” Grace assured her, darting a quelling glance at Wiley over her shoulder.

  Ashley opened the door to a private room on one side of the restaurant. “I hope it’s okay with both of you, but we prepared a special tasting menu for tonight.” She grinned at Wiley. “I want a chance to impress my big brother and figured you might enjoy a bit of privacy.” She gave Grace a sympathetic nod. “It feels like everyone is still talking about the accident, you know?”

  “I do,” Grace agreed with a grateful smile. “I hate being a topic of conversation. Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Ashley. I really appreciate it.”

  As his sister closed the door to the private dining area, Wiley glanced around the space, pleased at how things had turned out. He’d suggested to Ashley that Grace didn’t like the attention she was receiving for her injury, feeling like that was a plausible reason to request a space of their own.

  The room retained the character of the grain silo that had once occupied the space, with high ceilings and painted shiplap on the walls. A white cloth covered an impeccably set table in the middle of the room. Grace wheeled the scooter slowly toward the table, taking in the flowers and candles on the sideboard. He wondered what would happen if he told her how he was truly coming to feel about her—the way his heart stammered every time he looked at her and the anticipation of seeing one of her sweet smiles. Would she admit to the same level of connection, or would he scare her away by deviating from the path they’d agreed to?

  Was he brave enough to risk finding out?

  Just as he was about to speak, she turned to him, and the anger flashing in her blue eyes took him by surprise.

  “Do you think I need to be coddled in the same way my parents do?” she whispered, the pain in her voice cutting off all thoughts of a revelation about his feelings. Confusion filled him, and he wanted a do-over on the past few minutes. Apparently, Wiley had misjudged her reaction to his plan for a private dinner in a monumental way.

  * * *

  Grace regretted the words as soon as they left her mouth. She looked away from Wiley’s shocked expression and took in the beauty of the room. From the soft lighting punctuated with flickering candles to the scent of flowers perfuming the air, she couldn’t have asked for a more romantic setup. Calla lilies took center stage in the flower arrangements, not a surprise since Wiley knew they were her favorite.

  She had no doubt he’d orchestrated this room and the mood it set. She didn’t want to consider what the attention to detail that had gone into it might reveal to the Provisions staff—and more importantly to his sister—about the nature of their relationship. She’d expect nothing less of her big-city attorney. From food to the little gifts and flowers he’d brought her, it was clear he was a master of thoughtful gestures.

  As much as she appreciated being spoiled in this way, what Grace liked best about Wiley was that he’d seemed to believe in her. He hadn’t treated her like a child the way her parents tended to. Despite her struggles, he never gave any indication that he thought her incapable of dealing with challenges or making her own decisions.

  Until tonight.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He shook his head. “I’m not trying to coddle you, Grace.”

  “Then why mention to your sister how I need to make recovering my priority as if I’m not already doing that?” She moved closer to the table. “You sound like my dad or Jake. I thought you believed I could manage my own life?”

  “I do.”

  “That’s not what it sounded like.” She dashed a hand across her cheek, cursing the tears that gathered in her eyes. She didn’t want to cry but was working so hard to prove that she could handle everything. The truth was, sometimes she doubted herself. She felt tired and achy and like she wanted to crawl into bed, but she kept going. She wouldn’t have the opportunity for the promotion at the hotel taken from her because she wasn’t up to the task of it.

  “Grace.” He stepped closer, and she wanted to back away, but that wasn’t so easy to manage with the scooter. “I know how determined you are to return to the hotel, even
though you’re practically managing as much as two people working remotely. But I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t worried about you.”

  Betrayal ripped through her, but he held up a hand before she could speak. “Tell me why you haven’t contacted the physical therapist my family arranged.”

  “How do you know about that?” she demanded instead of answering, hating to be put on the spot in this way.

  “Callum mentioned it,” he said gently. “You understand that people realize how serious the fall could have been? More serious than it was.” He paused, looked away for moment before his gaze returned to hers. “Deadly.”

  “Of course I do.” She squeezed her eyes shut. “And I hate it. I hate that people are talking about me or feeling sorry for me.” She slapped her hand against the scooter’s metal frame. “I hate that the cast is a visible reminder of the accident. I’m forever going to be associated with this black spot that I’m sure everyone at the Hotel Fortune would like to erase.”

  “They don’t want to erase you, sweetheart.” He took her hand and lifted it to his lips, placing a kiss on each one of her knuckles.

  “No kissing,” she reminded him, but didn’t pull away.

  “You’re too hard to resist.” He inclined his head. “Will you make an appointment with the PT? I know how strong you are. And brave. I know that you’ll work through almost anything, but that doesn’t mean I don’t worry.” He leaned in, his forehead pressing against hers in a way that felt strangely intimate. “Not like your parents, Grace. I worry like a man who cares about a woman. The fact that I want you to take care of yourself doesn’t mean I don’t believe in you.”

  “Okay,” she answered, unsure that her jumbled brain was capable of saying anything more. He cared about her. What did that mean?

  Because she knew what it meant for her. It meant that her heart was happy when Wiley was around and that the depth of feeling she already had for him scared her to her core. She knew what it was like to have her heart broken, and here she was risking it with a man who’d just blithely told her he’d never been in love.

  It wasn’t as if she thought he was going to change for her, despite how much she might want him to try.

  Yet she had to admit he was right about pushing herself. “I don’t want the Fortunes to think I’m trying to take advantage of them or that I think they’re responsible for me being hurt. It felt like if I worked with a physical therapist on the injuries I have unrelated to my ankle, I’d be admitting that I was hurt more seriously than people thought.” She placed a finger to his lips when he would have spoken. “Which I’m not, although my back is stiff, and I probably rely on over-the-counter anti-inflammatories more often than I should.”

  Wiley gave a sharp shake of his head. “That’s it. I’m making sure the therapist is at your house first thing Monday morning.”

  Grace smiled. “I’m coming into the hotel next week for a meeting about the preopening event.”

  “No.”

  She rolled her eyes at him. “Wiley.”

  “Grace, you just admitted you’re in pain. I hate the thought of you in pain.”

  She leaned in and kissed him, unable to stop herself. “I appreciate that and the fact that you’re concerned and not overprotective. I’ll call the PT and schedule a session for Monday afternoon, but no more talk about my injuries, especially with your siblings.”

  He looked like he wanted to argue, so she kissed him again.

  “You can’t resist me, either,” he said with a sexy smirk as she pulled back.

  “I guess you’re right.” Her heart hammered in her chest at the thought of how much she was already coming to care for him. A part of her wanted to tell him, but she was too afraid of scaring him off. Instead, she moved aside the scooter and eased herself into the chair. “Let’s leave talk of the hotel behind tonight. I want to enjoy every moment of this friendly dinner.”

  To her great relief, he nodded and sat next to her. A discreet knock sounded on the door, and the server entered, carrying a tray filled with an assortment of appetizers that both smelled and looked divine.

  Yes, Grace liked Wiley for the man he’d shown himself to be and the way he made her feel. She also appreciated that he wanted what was best for her, and tonight she was content to let herself be treated like someone special. She couldn’t deny that she wanted more from him. Tomorrow she’d remind herself that her priority was proving herself at the hotel and winning the promotion. Tonight she’d let her heart lead the way.

  Chapter Ten

  “Are you sure you don’t want me to help you in?” her mother asked as they rounded the corner toward the Hotel Fortune.

  Grace blew out a huff of nervous laughter. “Mom, this isn’t the first day of kindergarten.”

  “I get it,” Barbara said with a chuckle. “I know you’re a capable adult, Gracie. Your father and I are proud of how you’ve dealt with everything life has thrown your way. A lesser woman would have let it ruin them.”

  “I learned my strength from you,” Grace said quietly.

  It was true. After Jake’s car accident, her mother had never wavered in her outward confidence that her son would fully recover, despite the grueling process and all the setbacks they faced. Grace wanted to find a way to have that kind of faith in herself.

  Her mother pulled to a stop at the curb in front of the hotel’s main entrance. Grace smiled as she saw Jay Cross heading toward her.

  “I’ve got this,” Grace said as she opened her door, not sure who she was trying to convince.

  “I love you, sweetie,” Barbara said as she pushed the button to open the sedan’s trunk. “I’d tell you to break a leg, but I’m afraid you might take me literally.”

  Grace turned to her mother with a smile. “I’ll text you in a bit to let you know I’m fine.”

  A look of obvious relief crossed her mom’s face, but she shook her head. “You don’t have to, but I’d appreciate the update.”

  Jay had the scooter out of the trunk when Grace climbed out of the car. “Look at you, Ms. Overachiever,” he said in his country drawl as she placed her purse and files in the scooter’s wire basket and positioned her cast on the pad. “Are you trying to make the rest of us look like slackers?”

  Excitement flooded through her as she looked at the hotel’s stucco exterior. She tipped her head to the sky and said a silent thank-you for the ability to return to work and the beautiful day for it. “I’m a twenty-eight-year-old woman getting dropped off at work by my mom.” She lifted a brow. “She even offered to pack lunch for me, which is sweet but also humiliating in a humbling way.”

  “I’ll take your mom’s lunch,” Jay answered with a laugh, running a hand through his cropped hair.

  “You’ll take free food from anyone.” Grace started for the hotel. “And we both know you aren’t a slacker. You’re just strangely tranquil.”

  Jay looked startled for a brief moment before his features shifted back to self-possessed. He was her favorite person in the trainee program. His easygoing attitude and willingness to pitch in made everything more fun. He definitely cared about the hotel and he worked hard, but didn’t seem to have the same drive as Jillian and Grace.

  “Someone needs to be tranquil with Jillian taking the lead in your absence.”

  Grace let out a small groan. “I was afraid of that.”

  “I don’t think anyone is buying her ‘I’m the second coming of Conrad Hilton’ routine,” Jay confided. “But that isn’t stopping her from trying to convince them. It’s like she’s on a mission to suck up to every Fortune in this town.”

  His derision was clear, and Grace appreciated that he felt the same as she did about Jillian’s attempts to cast herself in the starring role for the hotel. But she wondered if the Fortunes saw it that way.

  Jillian had positive qualities. She was organized and detail-oriented, but Grace
had worked in hospitality long enough to know that Jillian’s snobby attitude would be a turnoff to certain guests. One of the cardinal rules about the hospitality industry was a focus on service, and in Grace’s opinion, her rival still had a ways to go in learning to put the guests above her own ambition.

  “I’m back,” Grace murmured, unsure whether she was trying to reassure Jay or herself. “At least for a few hours every morning.”

  “How are you really feeling?” Jay asked, and she appreciated the concern in his voice.

  “Other than the cast, I’m doing okay.” She didn’t bother mentioning the aches and pains she still had every morning. True to her word to Callum, she’d left a message for the physical therapist. She hadn’t expected to hear back until today, but the woman had returned her call almost immediately. So fast, in fact, that Grace wondered if the PT had been instructed to respond as soon as Grace reached out. Either way, she was coming to the house for an initial consultation that afternoon. Although she’d been assured the hotel’s insurance would cover all of the expenses related to her accident, Grace still didn’t feel comfortable letting the Fortunes pay for the sessions, but she’d work that part out later.

  Jay opened one of the hotel’s large iron doors. She wheeled through and then gasped at the crowd of her coworkers congregating in front of the reservation desk. Everyone clapped for her arrival and several people—Nicole and Ashley included—held up signs welcoming her back.

  Tears sprang to Grace’s eyes, and she quickly tried to blink them away. Callum stood at the back of the crowd. He gave a slow nod as their gazes met. She’d wondered if anyone would even notice her absence, but this reception made her feel like the people at the hotel were truly a part of her family.

  “I wasn’t the only one who missed you,” Jay said as he came to stand next to her.

  “Welcome back, Grace.” Callum stepped forward. “It’s great to have you here again.”