by Stacey Wilk
“Honestly, I have no idea.” He was embarrassed to admit that. Cash would never tell him what the issue was. He didn’t know how much to push, and Melissa was never worried about it because the kids only saw each other on holidays. Until now.
“There must be a reason. Otherwise, they’d get along. Your whole family seems to get along with each other. You might make each other mad, but it’s clear you care deeply for one another. I heard Colton on the phone with your ex-wife today.” Grace turned and looked out the window. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to overhear.”
“It’s okay. We’re a loud bunch.” She was right about his family. No matter what, they had each other’s backs. Their dad had taught them that. He had hoped it would seep down into the kids, but it hadn’t. Maybe Savannah’s kids felt that way about each other, but her kids didn’t seem to feel that way about Cash. Cash had never made it easy for them. He should’ve insisted Cash spent more time with him.
Blaise turned the truck off the side roads and headed to the edge of town.
“I hope you don’t mind me saying, but does Jud pick on Cash because of…well…” She turned away again.
“Just say it.”
Her head snapped back around. “Does Jud pick on Cash because of the way he looks?”
“Why should that matter?” But Jud had said exactly that earlier. Had he really been picking on Cash because of his appearance?
“It doesn’t matter to you, but it might matter to Jud. Look at him, clean-cut, excels at school. He’s an athlete, student body president, the whole package.”
He gripped the wheel tighter. “Are you saying my kid isn’t the whole package?”
Her hand went to her mouth. “Oh God, no. I’m sorry. He is. I didn’t mean it like that. He’s different from Jud. Cash is certainly smart and handsome—talented, I’m sure, with a family so proficient in music—but his look says he’s different. He’s part of the group on the outside. Sometimes teenagers like Jud pick at the scabs of kids like Cash. Do you know what I mean?”
He did. But that wasn’t Jud. Not one of Savannah’s kids. No way. “It has to be more than that. Maybe Cash said something to Jud or accused him of doing something Jud didn’t do. I don’t know what it is, and maybe it doesn’t matter. I just want to find my son and know he’s all right. I’ll deal with the rest later.”
Grace folded her hands in her lap and didn’t say another word. He wanted to pull her out of the shell she’d covered herself with, say he was being a big jerk because he was scared. He had asked her to come along, and now he was being short with her.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“Nothing to be sorry about. I would be upset too if I didn’t know where Chloe was.”
“How do you stay so calm dealing with her?”
Grace laughed. How he loved that laugh. “Calm? You don’t know me very well. Calm is the last word I’d use to describe how I feel with her. I haven’t been calm since the day she was born. That might be part of my problem.”
“From over here it looks like you’re doing just fine. You’ve given me plenty of advice.”
She turned to him and gave him a wry smile. “You don’t know much about parenting, do you?” She laughed again.
“Go ahead. Make me the brunt of your joke.” He winked. He liked the banter between them. She could joke around and take it too.
Blaise turned the truck off the main road onto a dirt road. The only lights were those of his truck. Tall grass swayed on either side of them.
“You think he went to the lake?” she said.
“I can’t think of anywhere else to look.” He stopped the truck and they got out. He pulled a flashlight from his tackle case in the back. They walked over the edge onto the sand. The fireflies danced around them, and the cicadas sang their nightly lullaby. The air was thick and smelled sweet. Some of the houses on the other side were still lit. The moon draped its rays over the lake’s surface. No one was there except them.
“Where to now?” she said.
His phone buzzed in his pocket. He yanked it out. “Yeah?”
“He’s home,” Colton said. “He walked in five minutes ago and went straight to his room. I tried to get him to tell me where he was, but he wasn’t talking. I can try again if you want, or I can call Savannah if you think it’s better he talks to her.”
Blaise let out a long breath. “No. No. Don’t call her. Leave him alone until I get back. Just don’t let him leave. Can you do that?”
“You want me to stand guard?”
“Yes, dammit.”
“Easy. It’s no problem. I’ll stay up all night if I have to. Where are you anyway?”
“Driving around looking for Cash. I’ll be back later.”
“Take your time. Kiss her once for me.”
Colton ended the call before Blaise could say another word. Sometimes he really hated his brother. He was pretty sure he heard laughing right before Colton hung up.
He shoved the phone back in his pocket. “Cash is home.” His heart slowed to a normal rhythm.
“Thank God.”
“I’m not sure how to handle him.” He hated admitting how inept he was at being a father.
“Just talk to him. Find out what’s really going on between him and Jud. You can offer advice, but it’s up to him to use it or not. He’s an adult now. The choices are his.”
“You make it sound so easy.”
“It isn’t.” She looked around and then back at him. “Should we get back?”
He didn’t want to go. He wasn’t ready to have a heart-to-heart with Cash. He needed more time to get his footing. The moonlight cast Grace in a warm glow. He could look at her all night like that.
“My brother thinks I should kiss you.”
“What? Why?” She stepped back and tripped before righting herself.
“I don’t know. I thought he had a crush on you, actually, and wanted you for himself.”
She turned away from him and looked out across the lake. “That’s silly. I’m too old for someone to have a crush on.”
“You’re wrong about that.” He leaned against the hood of the truck and watched her. She tucked her hair behind her ear and swatted at the mosquitos biting at her legs. How he wished that was him. Biting her, not being swatted at. Well, maybe. He chuckled, but she didn’t hear him.
She turned back. “He isn’t planning on asking me out, is he? Because I won’t go.” Her hand covered her mouth. “Oh, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said it like that. It’s just…I’m, oh, I don’t know how to act around men. I’m out of practice, not that I was ever good at it.”
The dark night made seeing difficult, but he was pretty sure her face turned red. “You can’t iron your shirt with your hands.” He walked over and rescued the bottom of her top from her constant smoothing. Her hands were small and cold in his. He rubbed the tops with his thumbs. “So you don’t like Colton?”
She didn’t release her grip. “Not like that.”
“Should I kiss you, then?”
Before she could say anything, Blaise leaned in and pressed his lips against hers. Her lips were smooth and warm. He wouldn’t push her—she might run scared into the water—so he lingered like a violin in C minor. She kissed him back and parted her lips, inviting him in. He pulled Grace closer so their bodies were touching, his hands on her shoulders. His tongue sought out hers, and she let out a slight moan. His blood heated up, but he wouldn’t rush her, even though his brain was three steps ahead, already taking her clothes off and lying on the sand with her. Instead, his fingers tangled in her hair while he took the kiss deeper. Her mouth followed his lead, as she reached her arms up around his neck. Her sweet taste made his head spin. He wanted this woman in a way he hadn’t wanted a woman before.
He broke the kiss. Grace stumbled a little at the abrupt ending, but he held her close. He leaned his forehead down against hers.
“Was that bad?” Her voice trembled.
“That was the opposite of bad, but
if I didn’t stop then, I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to stop at all. I didn’t want to sully your reputation, ma’am. What would the neighbors say?”
“If you keep using your accent, it’s going to make it harder to let go and I will stop caring what the neighbors say.” She continued to hold onto him.
He could stay there all night with her wrapped around him, standing by the hood of the truck. The engine ticked as it cooled down.
He wasn’t sure he would be able cool down at all. He leaned in and kissed her again. She opened her mouth wider and took control. His head spun for sure. Her hands slid down his chest, learning his angles, then rested at his waist. His blood heated up further.
He was afraid to touch her. Afraid he’d scare her. Afraid he’d do it wrong. Afraid he wouldn’t be able to stop. He felt like a teenager again, and kind of liked it.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, but he was going to ignore it.
Grace pulled away this time. “You should get that.”
“It can wait.” He was breathless.
“Considering what went on today. Get it. It’s okay.” She released him and stepped back.
It was Cash. She had been right. “You okay?” Blaise said into the phone.
“I’m going back to California. Uncle Colton said he’d drive me tonight.”
“What? Wait a second. You can’t go back to California tonight. It’s late.” That was a stupid thing to say, but it was out of his mouth before he could stop it.
“I don’t care how late it is. We can stay in a hotel if we have to. I’m not staying in Heritage River anymore.” Cash said it the way he might say pass the milk. He wasn’t angry or upset. He’d come to a decision, and that was it.
“I thought you wanted to live with me.” Blaise didn’t understand where any of this was coming from. “This can’t be all because you and Jud got into it today.”
“I don’t want to live in the same town as he does.”
“Don’t go anywhere until I get back. I’m at the lake. I’ll be home in thirty minutes.” Cash didn’t say anything. “Cash, please tell me you’ll wait.”
“Yeah. Okay.” Cash ended the call.
Blaise looked at Grace. She was so beautiful, staring back at him with her eyes wide and her mouth in a little circle. “We have to go,” he said. “I may have lost my son.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Grace climbed the steps to the front porch of her disaster house. Things really were becoming a disaster. The renovations were going okay, but they weren’t going to make the deadline. Not after Blaise told her Cash wanted to go back to California.
She couldn’t tell in the dark interior of Blaise’s truck on the race back from the lake, but maybe he had tears in his eyes. He didn’t want to lose his son. She knew that much for sure.
Hoke Carter was onto her investigation into who bought the house for her. He’d said as much, but that wasn’t going to stop her. She’d go to the library tomorrow and look up Claire Phillips. Blaise had enough on his plate. He didn’t need to help her.
She shut the door and leaned against it. She’d left a small table lamp on so the house wouldn’t be in total darkness when she returned. The lamp sat on the floor because the room still wasn’t finished, and maybe never would be at this rate. The place smelled of dust and spackle.
What would she do if she lost this house? How would she return to Silverside and still hold her head up? Jenn had said she was crazy for taking this project on. Chloe thought it too. Larry would probably have a good laugh at her expense. Would she have to tell the people at the Silverside Library about her failure? Silverside might be bigger than Heritage River, but gossip still flowed at a quick rate. There would be whispers about Grace making a fool of herself. Isn’t that what she had been doing down here?
What she needed was a cup of tea.
With a soft knock, she carefully opened Chloe’s door and checked. She didn’t expect Chloe to be asleep yet. She listened to her daughter’s slow breathing. Watching Chloe sleep never got old, and old habits don’t die. She used to stand at Chloe’s crib and watch in fascination as her little baby lay on her side, sucking on her fingers. Then Grace would watch as her preschooler with chubby cheeks tossed and turned in her sleep.
As Chloe got older, she didn’t check in as much. Larry always said it wasn’t necessary, and Chloe liked Grace stepping into her room less and less as the years went on. But she couldn’t help herself. Who was she if she wasn’t Chloe’s mother? She watched for a moment longer and then left as quietly as she came.
Grace took the tea and went out to the back patio. She could sit out there at least. Otherwise, she’d be confined to her bedroom, and at the moment, that had lost its appeal.
The lights were on in Blaise’s house. If she positioned herself right, she could see him over the fence as he paced back and forth in the kitchen. Cash stood at the counter, his hands in his pockets. Colton leaned against the fridge, a mug in his hand. Nothing good was going on over there. She sank into the patio chair. It wasn’t comfortable with its plastic lines cutting into her, but at least she could sit and see the stars.
She wanted to help Blaise. Offer advice, but she didn’t have any. She wasn’t in any position to tell him how to handle his son. She didn’t want Cash to go either, but her reasons were partly selfish. What was going on between the cousins? And why doesn’t anyone see it? Maybe Grace would ask Chloe what she thought. If the mood was right.
The chamomile soothed her nerves, which had been on fire since Blaise pressed his lips against hers. Just thinking about it made her legs jittery. It was a good thing she was sitting. She pressed her fingers to her lips and could still feel Blaise. He had smelled good too. Clean and masculine. She had wanted to run her fingers against his skin, but she didn’t dare. She hardly knew this man, but he was affecting her in ways no man had before. Making her act like a schoolgirl when she was a middle-aged divorced woman who should have some sense.
Did she really want to have sense? On the one hand, yes. He had been with so many women. She could contract a disease, and how could he possibly feel anything for her other than lust? She didn’t want to be another Blaise Savage conquest. Making love had to mean something, didn’t it? What would it mean to a man who could never stay in one place very long with hundreds of women lining up to get into his bed?
And what if she did try to have sex with him—her face flushed just thinking about it—and things went badly? She was out of practice. She and Larry hardly set off any fireworks. They had their routine, with its memorized steps. Lovemaking with Larry didn’t amount to much. As soon as it was over, he’d reach for his reading glasses and check emails. She’d roll over and turn out the light.
Just that kiss with Blaise felt hotter than any sex she had while married. Yes, he was skilled and it showed, but there was more. His quick wit and sense of humor. The subtleties and his consideration. The passion in his music. She needed to stop thinking about him, or she might find herself on his front porch. And how would that look?
Besides, he would go on tour and forget about her. Some younger, hotter woman would wave her bra in his face, and he’d forget about Grace. She couldn’t bear that. And she was leaving for Jersey as soon as she could. They weren’t in a position for a romance, and no amount of learning to be more of a free spirit was going to allow her to have a sexual affair with a man. She wasn’t ready to take that leap.
The lights went out next door. The Savage men had retired for the night. She hadn’t heard a car start or slamming doors, so maybe Blaise convinced Cash to stay at least until morning. She hoped Colton was on Blaise’s side through this. Colton’s obvious connection to Cash didn’t help matters any.
Grace drained the last of the tea. The night was warm and quiet. It might be nice to sleep outside if she had a way to do it. She could put up a hammock under the big poplar tree and a conversation set in wicker with green cushions under an awning would round out the backyard. A fire pit would be nice on
cooler nights. This place could be a little oasis with half a chance. She pushed up from the chair. Something to think about.
Maybe she should think about staying. The thought took her by surprise, and she stopped with her hand poised at the sliding door. Stay? In Heritage River? Why? She glanced over her shoulder at the darkened house next door.
“It was just a kiss,” she said into the night. “Nothing more. Don’t get ahead of yourself. You’re too old for fantasies.”
****
The morning light slid through the kitchen window, draping the room in white. The heat hadn’t arrived yet. Grace stood by the opened window. The breeze rubbed against her warm skin. She hadn’t slept much with her mind racing in all directions. She was ready to start the day.
A truck rumbled into her driveway. Beau was there. Alone.
“Chloe, hurry. Beau is here,” she shouted through the house.
“Mom, you don’t have to yell.” Chloe turned the corner. She wore shorts and a tee.
“That looks like underwear.” Grace pointed a finger at the tiny pieces of cotton. “Why don’t you leave something to the imagination?”
“I’m an adult, and it’s my body. I can do what I want with it.”
“Said every hooker.” Grace yanked open the door before Chloe could stamp her feet and accuse Grace of calling her a hooker. Which she wasn’t, but Chloe wouldn’t see it that way.
“Good morning, Beau.”
He held up his coffee cup in salute. “Miss Grace. Miss Chloe. We have a lot of work to do today.”
“I hate this job.” Chloe threw her hands in the air. “I should’ve stayed in New Jersey.”
“You two have a lot of work today.” Grace pointed to Beau and Chloe’s retreating backs. “I have some errands to run, remember? I’m picking out the quartz counters and the appliances. I’ll be back later. Beau, you really should hire the boys back, and when is your crew coming?”
He gave her a grumble and marched into the kitchen. Stubborn old man. There was no time to debate with him. She wanted to get to the library when it opened and hopefully be in and out before Savannah arrived. Her internet service had been glitchy since she moved the router to the bedroom. If she locked herself in her bedroom, before long Chloe or Beau would come looking for her. She didn’t trust herself to lie well. Beau couldn’t find out what she was up to. He’d already warned her to stay away from any searching.