by Rayne, Piper
Her smile drops. “You thought I was stealing from you?”
“I’m kidding.” I raise my eyebrows and accelerate when the light changes.
“I would never.”
I grab her leg. “I’m kidding. And yes, we’re even. If you accept my apology, I accept your—oh, that’s right. You haven’t apologized.”
She’s quiet until we pull into my garage and I take the keys from the ignition.
She unbuckles herself. “I’m sorry.”
She opens her door and climbs down.
“That wasn’t very heartfelt.” I meet her at the driver’s side before she can go into the house.
“There’s something you should know about me.” She stops, and I circle the keys around my forefinger. “I do things without thinking. I know Maverick is your son and I should’ve told you what was happening, but I usually think I know best.”
I can’t stop the laugh that erupts out of me. I knew that about her already. It’s half the reason for what happened on our hike.
“You don’t say?” She pushes my chest when she sees my smirk, and I wrap my arm around her waist. “I think we were still negotiating when the call from the school came in?”
The two of us is a horrible idea, but I’m done being the only one who thinks of the repercussions. For once, I want to be the one who takes what he wants.
Adam didn’t give a shit about the repercussions when he was fucking my ex-wife. And Maggie didn’t give me a second thought while she entertained men inside her on-set trailer.
My attraction for Phoenix only grew when I watched her in the principal’s office. She was on Team Maverick and I loved every second of it.
Her hands splay on my chest. “I think that call happened at exactly the right time.”
I nod, staring at the hollow of her neck while my thumb runs along her waistline. I love having her in my arms. “I know we shouldn’t, but you did something I’m not sure I can get out of my head.”
“Which is what?” she asks, and I notice her voice has a breathy quality.
I walk her back until her ass presses against my truck, and I lock her there with my hips. “You stuck up for my kid. You went into that principal’s office and got Maverick what he deserved. He puts on a tough exterior but being suspended would’ve bothered the shit out of him. You saw that, and you didn’t care what I or the principal had to say about it.”
“Yeah, that goes with the whole me thinking after I act thing of mine.”
I shake my head and lower it. “I really want to kiss you.”
Her eyes and her nostrils flare. “I want you to kiss me, but there’s a line we shouldn’t cross.”
“It’s just me and you here. We’re the only ones who need to know what we’re about to do. I’ve held off on doing what I want for way too long.” I dip my head lower and her hands push a little harder against my chest. “Just say no and I’ll walk through that door and we can forget this ever happened. Are you able to tell me you don’t want this as much as I do?”
She looks into my eyes and her hands slide up my torso, her fingers delving into my hair. She arches her neck, and I lower my lips to the spot I’ve wanted my mouth on since the first time she had her hair in a ponytail.
“I can’t say that,” she practically whispers.
“Then stop fighting this thing between us.” My tongue slides up the arc of her neck.
Her fingers dig deeper into my hair, and my hands move around to her back, resting just slightly lower than appropriate.
“This might be the worst decision I’ve ever made,” she says softly, but her body responds to my touch. She arches into me, and I cast small kisses along her jaw before claiming her lips.
The world around us fades as I slide my tongue into her mouth. Her tongue meets mine right away, as though she was waiting for me this entire time. I pull her into my chest, needing her as close as possible. As I assumed she would, she meets me match for match. Swipe for swipe. Touch for touch.
I worried she’d be a hard one to forget if I took us over this line, and now I know that’s true. But my new philosophy is to take what I want. And I want Phoenix Bailey.
The crunch of gravel on my driveway stops us all too soon. I rest my forehead on hers, and she’s yet to disentangle herself from my hold.
“Who the hell is that?” I grumble.
We’re shielded enough that we can see the car, but the people in the car can’t see us.
“My grandma,” she says with disappointment and shakes her head, sliding out of my hold. “I forgot that I told Kingston to come by so we could practice. I have no idea what she’s doing here.”
We walk to the garage opening and watch as her grandma steps out of her giant Cadillac, along with an auburn-haired woman and a large man with the same dark hair as Phoenix. I guess they’re making this visit a family affair?
“Juno. Kingston.”
That’s Kingston? I didn’t think a guy who looks as rough as him would have that much sentimental longing in his tone when he sings.
“The house is beautiful, Griffin.” The grandmother I met at the bakery approaches us while the other two stare at the house in awe. This is nothing compared to my house in LA.
“Thank you. They did a great job.”
“Griffin, you remember my grandma, Dori,” Phoenix introduces us.
I glance down to make sure I’ve calmed down. Thankfully, the appearance of a grandma tends to do that. “Pleasure to see you again.”
I put out my hand, but Dori waves it away and hugs me. My arms loosely hang off her body and I kiss her cheek as I would my own grandma.
“And this is my sister Juno and my brother Kingston.”
I extend my hand to each of them and they shake it.
“Great voice,” I say to Kingston, and a red tint colors his cheeks.
“I prefer to be part of the group, but Grandma Dori had other ideas.” He side-glances her and sighs.
“Well, you’ll do a great job. I’m not worried,” Dori says.
“Phoenix said you wanted to work with us on the song?” Kingston says.
I nod like I was expecting him.
“How exciting that a famous producer is going to work with you, Phoenix.” Juno’s hands come together in a little clap.
Phoenix looks at me.
“Where are my manners? Come in. Would you like a drink?”
“Oh, I almost forgot. Juno, get the donuts.” Grandma Dori walks by me toward the narrow opening between my truck and the side of the garage.
“Sure thing.” Juno rolls her eyes but heads back to the car where she retrieves a box of donuts.
Kingston looks around the ceiling and walls. “You should have sprinklers in the garage.”
“You’re not on duty,” Phoenix says and follows her grandma into the house.
“It’s in my oath.” He continues to look around. “Are you sure your builder put in the right outlets in here in case you’re running bigger equipment? If the load is bigger than what it’s designed for, it can be a fire hazard.”
“I’d have to ask Cedric,” I say.
“Oh, you used Cedric?” He appears impressed. Hopefully, that means Cedric is reliable. “I’m sure you’re in good hands.” He claps his hand on my shoulder and smiles at me, walking into the house after Juno.
Phoenix is already making a pot of coffee. I glance to the clock to find it’s only twelve-thirty. It feels like it’s been forever since Maverick left for school this morning.
“Why are you driving?” Phoenix presumably asks her grandma, but when she turns around, Dori’s nowhere to be found. Appearing unsurprised, Phoenix looks at Juno. “Why are you letting her drive?”
“Because the sheriff said after her cataract surgery, she could try again for her license. And guess what?”
Phoenix’s mouth hangs open. “No way.”
Juno thumbs toward Kingston behind her. “He prepped her.”
“Kingston!”
He shrugs. “She
deserves the freedom. Don’t worry. We practiced.”
“Where is she?” I whisper to Phoenix.
“I’ll be back.” She walks into the other room. “Grandma!”
“You two seem to be working well together,” Juno says.
“It’s only been a few weeks, but so far so good,” I say.
“Did Phoenix tell you what I do for a living?”
I grab two coffee mugs and look over my shoulder at her. “She didn’t.”
“Don’t do it, Juno,” Kingston says.
“I’m a matchmaker.”
Since the coffee is still brewing, I walk over to the island where Juno slides her card across to me. Sure as shit, it says professional matchmaker. Is that a thing in a day and age where you can swipe left or right?
“I’m always looking for bachelors. Then again, I’m looking for women mostly since Alaska has more men than women. But…” She waves mid-thought like that doesn’t matter. “Anyway, want to get on my list?”
Kingston shakes his head behind her.
I shift under the weight of her gaze. “Um. I’m not really looking right now.”
“Why not? I mean, if you don’t mind me asking.”
“Juno,” Kingston says with warning in his voice and shoots me an expression to say he’s sorry.
“Truth is, my sole focus is on my son at the moment. I wouldn’t be able to give one hundred percent to a relationship.”
“Then I suggest you stop locking lips with my little sister.”
Huh. I guess we weren’t as hidden as I thought.
Seventeen
Phoenix
“Grandma, you cannot be in his bedroom,” I whisper, finding her looking through Griffin’s closet.
“I just wanted to snap a picture of his Grammy. We don’t know anyone else with one of those. The most Ethel’s son has done is buy a used Tesla.”
“Why must you continue to be in competition with your best friend?” I ask, weaving my arm through hers. “You could’ve just asked. He has them downstairs.”
“Them? Oh, I can’t wait to show Ethel that my granddaughter is working for a multiple Grammy winner.” She allows me to lead her out of Griffin’s room, but not before his scent surrounds me. My knees weaken with the thought that I was this close to lying down with him on that bed.
Damn family.
“Tell me again why you compete with Ethel?”
“Because what else do we have to do? Hello? We’re old and live in a retirement facility. It keeps our minds fresh.” She taps her temple as I hold her hand going down the open wooden staircase. “Why isn’t there any carpeting in this house? It’s going to be cold in the winter.”
“Let Griffin worry about that.”
We reach the downstairs and I notice that Griffin’s hair is now pulled back and the flush that was on his face is gone. Kingston eyes me with a look that says sorry. Ugh. What has Juno done?
“Griffin, do you mind if I show my grandma your Grammys?”
He hands two cups of coffee to my siblings and comes our way. “Let me show you.”
“I want to see too.” Kingston leaves the kitchen and Juno’s gaze remains on me.
“Nailing the boss isn’t going to get you a record deal,” she whispers then sips her coffee as though she’s not trying to get up in my business.
“I’m not nailing the boss,” I whisper-shout. I walk over to the coffeemaker and pour Grandma Dori a cup, then I grab the milk out of the fridge to add to her coffee.
“Is that only because we showed up?” She leans over the island. “Do not sleep with him to get ahead.”
“I’m not sleeping with him to get ahead.” I shake my head at my sister. Of course she thinks I’d do that. My family always thinks the worst of me.
She looks down her nose at me. “Then why are you kissing him in the garage?”
I don’t know whether it’s that she picked matchmaker as her career or the fact that she’s Grandma Dori’s new sidekick now that Savannah is with Liam and I’m busy, but Juno’s the worst person who could’ve seen that kiss.
Actually, I take that back. Denver would be the worst.
“Don’t say anything to Denver,” I say.
Her face distorts as though that’s the last thing I should be worried about.
“I’m serious,” I whisper-shout.
“Be careful,” Griffin says from the other room.
My gaze shoots to the family room where Kingston grabs the Grammy from Grandma Dori.
“Heavier than I thought,” she says, appearing even more impressed. “Kingston, take a picture of me and Griffin.”
Kingston hands Griffin the Grammy, and Griffin puts it back in the case next to his others.
Juno snapping her fingers in front of my face pulls my attention away. “Stop staring at him.”
“I’m twenty-two. I can handle this myself.”
“Really? Does he know you were in LA two years ago? Or how you schemed to get this job?”
I lower my hands to get her to shut up. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“Because if you’re kissing him and it’s not to get ahead, it’s either because you haven’t thought it through and you’re going on what you want physically, which is destined to blow up, or you’re entering into a real relationship. And if it was a real relationship, he’d know all about what I just mentioned.”
Damn Juno. I hate the way she’s so insightful about everyone’s life but her own.
“How’s Colton?” I sneer.
“What?”
“Colton. The man you should be entering into a serious relationship with.”
She rolls her eyes and blows out a breath like she used to do when she was sixteen and I was her annoying little sister. “If you must know, he went out on a date the other night.”
My eyes widen. “And how do you feel about that?”
“Fine. Why would I care?”
“Gee, I have no idea why that might bother you.” I roll my eyes.
“This whole family is so annoying sometimes. Men and women can be friends. Not that you and Griffin are a great example of that. It’s been a month and you’re already sucking face in the garage.”
“Sucking face? How old are you?”
Both of us look into the other room. Griffin has his guitar out, and Kingston is sitting next to him. Grandma Dori is smiling from the chair, phone out.
“Oh Jesus.” I leave Juno and her need to give every family member advice when she should be worried about losing the man she’s been meant to marry since preschool. In the family room, I ask, “What’s going on?”
Griffin smiles at me. Kingston groans and shoots me a look to say, “This is why I fight fires, to keep me from doing shit like this.”
“Griffin said I could observe him work with you and Kingston.” Grandma Dori crosses her arms over her flowered purse and crosses her ankles, leaning back into the chair, getting comfortable.
Griffin pats the spot next to him. “Come on over.”
Shivers run up my spine, though I’d rather him do that same thing when three members of my family aren’t present.
I sit on the couch, and Griffin strums the guitar. “Okay, Phoenix is going to sing the first part.” He pulls out the song sheets he must’ve printed earlier.
Kingston looks at his and puts it on the table. He’s not even nervous, but then again, what does he have to worry about? This isn’t his dream.
“I need to stand.” I get up, step over Griffin’s legs, and shake out my arms, trying to dispel some of the nerves that are suddenly bearing down on me.
Juno takes a seat on the chaise part of the couch with her arms crossed.
I try to channel everything Griffin and I spoke about this morning on the hike. The fact that I ran from this town. How freeing it felt to be in LA, where no one knew me. All the shit I’ve had to hear people say over the years. Rumors that don’t hold a hint of truth.
When I open my mouth, my voice cracks.
Griffin stops. “Water?”
I shake my head and clear my throat. I’ve been lax on my vocal exercises since I moved in here. “Let me just run through a quick vocal warm-up.” I take a few minutes to warm up my voice while everyone watches on. “Okay.” I signal for him to start over.
Griffin plays the song on his guitar, and I tap the beat on my fingers against my thighs.
“I can’t go for a ride…” I continue singing, hardly having to go off the sheet music.
Kingston comes in with his deep rasp that blends perfectly with mine. I allow the images of my past to float to the surface. The pain, the good, the indifferent. My parents, my siblings, my friends. The good and the bad weave together while the lyrics belt out of me. When there’s an instrumental break, I soak in the room and see Grandma Dori’s wide smile. She’s never showed much interest in my singing, so I take it as a good sign.
The song draws to a close and Griffin smiles at me, taking out a pen and scribbling a note on both of our sheets.
“Try this.” He points at the section in question. “You need to be louder here, Phoenix. Drown him out. And here.” He touches his pen to paper again. “Kingston, you need more control. Let it come and don’t waver. I can give you a few exercises to help with that.”
We go through the song three more times, each time Griffin tweaking us to be the perfect blend of opposites.
When we take a break, I head to the kitchen and make myself a cup of tea.
“The lyrics resonate with you,” Griffin says to Kingston.
He looks up from his phone and shrugs.
“Seriously?” Juno shakes her head. “It’s like the song was written for him and his high school crush.”
“It is not. It’s totally Liam and Savannah,” Kingston grumbles.
“How is Stella?” Grandma Dori asks, mentioning she-who-shall-not-be-named. She’s never one to beat around the bush. “I heard she was thinking about returning home but decided not to at the last minute.”
“I don’t talk to her anymore.” Kingston’s fingers fly on the screen of his phone.
“It’s good that you feel the words,” Griffin says. “A song with meaning will get people more emotionally drawn in. I’ve been trying with your sister—”