by Marie Force
“Why are we stopping?” she asked.
“Give me one second and I’ll show you.” He stood and turned to face her before sitting back down and reaching for her. “Because I couldn’t wait any longer for this.” He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her with hours’ worth of pent-up desperation that she returned in equal measure. The deep strokes of his tongue had her straining to get closer to him.
“God,” he whispered against her lips, “what’re you doing to me?”
“Same thing you’re doing to me.”
“How am I supposed to let you go tomorrow?”
The softly spoken question brought tears to her eyes.
“Don’t cry. Please don’t cry. We’ll figure it out.”
She shook her head. “There’s nothing to figure out. You live here. I live there.”
“I don’t live anywhere right now. I can get a job in New York.”
Emma pulled back so she could see his face. “That’s not what you want.”
“I want you. I want this. I want us.”
She shook her head. “Grayson, you just made this big change to simplify your life—”
“Then I met you, and nothing is simple anymore.”
“You’ve got a new apartment.”
“That I haven’t moved anything into yet. I haven’t done anything that can’t be undone.”
Her heart raced with foolish hope. “You can’t make decisions based on a few days.”
“I can’t?”
“No, you can’t. You were excited to move home, to be closer to your family, to simplify your life.”
“That was so three days ago. Everything is different now.”
“Grayson, you can’t—”
He kissed her again, making her forget the many reasons this could be a very bad idea and all the many more reasons it could be the best idea either of them had ever had. When they came up for air many minutes later, he said, “Give me some time to figure things out, okay?”
She tipped her head forward, resting it on his chest.
“Tell me what you’re thinking.”
“I’m afraid to get my hopes up.”
“Don’t be afraid. You can go home tomorrow knowing I want this as much as you do, and we’re going to find a way. I promise.”
She shook her head again. “Don’t make promises.”
“I never make promises I don’t intend to keep. Look at me, Emma.”
Drawing in a deep breath, she raised her head and met his intense gaze. “I promise you it’s okay to have faith in me and in us. I promise you it’s okay to feel hopeful and excited about what’s to come.” He brushed a soft kiss over her lips. “I promise you this is not the end, but just the beginning.”
Her heart beat so fast, she felt light-headed. He made her believe anything was possible and all she had to do was have faith. She could do that if it meant more time with him, more of the way she felt when he held her and kissed her and made love to her. More. Just more.
“Do you believe me?” he asked.
“I want to.”
“You can. I swear you can.”
“We… We should go back. Simone…”
“Okay.” But he made no move to go. Rather, he kissed her again, softly and sweetly this time, devastating her with every stroke of his tongue. “It’s going to work out. Remember that I promised you, okay?”
“I’ll try.”
With what seemed like great reluctance, he disentangled himself from her and got back on the snowmobile to return to the tree farm, where her daughter waited for them. As he steered them back the way they’d come, Emma rested her face against his back and held on tight to him and his promises.
* * *
When they returned to the tree farm, they marveled over the huge snowman Lucas and Simone had built while they were gone. Lucas invited them up to his loft for the hot chocolate he’d promised Simone.
“What a great space,” Emma said, taking in the post-and-beam ceiling, the fireplace, the knotty-pine wood floor and the other rustic touches. “I love it.”
“I like it, too,” Lucas said as he put a kettle on to boil. “From one barn to another. Such is my lot in life.”
Emma laughed at the witty comment. “At least you’re up here rather than in one of the stalls.”
“There is that. My grandparents lived here for a time when they were first married, and my parents stayed here while their barn was being renovated. Lots of family history in this place.”
“You all have the coolest homes up here,” Emma said. “I love the rustic vibe.”
“It’s rustic, all right,” Lucas said. “Especially when the wind chill is at thirty below zero.”
Emma shivered. “I don’t think I’d like that.”
Grayson put his arm around her. “I’d keep you warm.”
She shivered for a whole different reason, imagining how he’d do that.
They enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate with Lucas before departing in Grayson’s SUV.
“How about some pizza before I take you ladies home?” he asked.
“Yes!” Simone said from the backseat.
“Pizza is her favorite food group,” Emma said.
“Mine, too,” Grayson said. “Especially Kingdom Pizza. It’s the best.”
They shared a large cheese pizza and split a salad. Over dinner, Grayson asked what Simone’s favorite part of her trip to Vermont had been.
“Hmm, I really liked skiing until I hurt my arm, and the sleigh ride was pretty cool, too. I liked meeting you.”
“I liked that, too.”
She pushed her new iPhone across the table. “I’m putting everyone’s contacts in my phone. Will you put yours?”
Emma could see that he was touched that she would ask.
“Of course, but only if you’ll text me.”
“I will.”
“Remember that I have no cell service in Butler, so it might take me a day or two to reply, but I’ll always reply.” He handed his phone to her. “Add yourself to my contacts.”
As Simone dedicated herself to the task, Emma and Grayson shared a smile. She mouthed the words thank you to him. Under the table, he grasped her hand and brought it to rest on his leg.
Darkness had descended upon Butler by the time they returned to the Abbotts’. Emma was filled with dread at the thought of saying good-bye to him and was relieved when he came inside with them. They found Molly wearing a robe over her pajamas, curled up in front of the fire with a down comforter over her lap, and Linc asleep in his chair.
“This grandparent gig is exhausting,” Molly said.
“How’re they doing?” Grayson asked.
“Very well. The baby is getting great reports, and Hannah actually got some sleep today.”
“Can we see the baby before we go?” Simone asked her mom.
“Not this time.”
“Why not?”
“Moms of new babies are very protective of them when they’re first born. Usually they only allow their immediate family near the baby for the first month or two. By the time we come back to visit Lucy, baby Callie will be big enough for a visit.”
“We should get her a present,” Simone said.
“Definitely. Why don’t you run up and get out your pajamas? I’ll be up to help you in a minute.”
“Okay, Mommy.”
After Simone went upstairs, Molly said, “Lucy called to check on Simone. And Will and Cameron called to invite you guys to a get-together at their house tonight. Lucy said to tell you she’ll be there and wants to see you before you leave.”
“Simone has already had a big day,” Emma said.
“She can stay here with us,” Molly said. “We’re early to bed tonight.”
“I wouldn’t want to impose,” Emma said hesitantly. “You’ve already been such wonderful hosts.”
“Oh please, honey. She’s a pleasure to have around. We’d be happy to have her here with us. You two should go out while you can.”
; Emma glanced at Grayson, who raised his brows. “Do you want to go?”
“Only if you do.”
“I’d really like to see Lucy and the others before we leave.”
“Then let’s go,” he said.
“I need to get Simone settled first. Give me a few minutes?”
“Take your time.” He took a seat in one of the easy chairs while she went upstairs to help Simone.
“How’s it going up here?” she asked her daughter, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, her pajamas next to her.
“Okay.”
“What’s the matter?”
“I’m sad that we have to leave tomorrow. It’s fun here. There’s always something to do.”
“I know, baby. We’ll come back and visit again soon.” Emma helped her remove the sling and carefully eased her sweater up and over her head, revealing her badly bruised elbow. “How’s it feeling?”
“Hurts a little, but not bad.”
Emma planned to have it checked by an orthopedic doctor when they got back to the city. That was one of many things on her to-do list once they returned to real life. The thought of it exhausted her as she helped Simone change into pajamas, realizing it’d been a long time since she’d had to help her daughter get dressed. Time with her was flying by so quickly. Soon, she’d be a teenager, a thought that had Emma snuggling Simone into a hug.
“Grayson and I were going to go out for a little while. Molly and Linc said you can hang out with them.” The Abbotts had insisted that Simone call them by their first names, even if Emma had wanted her to call them Mr. and Mrs. Abbott. “Is that okay with you?”
“Sure. Will I see Auntie Lu before we go?”
“We’ll make sure of it. Should we put the sling back on?”
“I think I’m okay without it.”
“Just be careful not to overdo it.”
“I will.”
Emma escorted Simone back downstairs with the new doll Santa had brought her and a couple of her favorite books.
“Is that the new doll?” Grayson asked her.
“Yes, this is Ashley,” she said of the doll that shared her auburn hair. “She’s not American Girl, because Mommy said they’re ridiculously expensive, but I think she’s really pretty.”
“I agree,” he said. “Can I hold her?”
Emma’s heart melted at the request as well as the big smile that lit up Simone’s adorable face.
“Sure.” She took the doll to him and set her carefully in his arms.
Watching him cradle the doll with such tender care, Emma was struck by a pang of yearning to see him holding a baby of theirs someday. Holy hell, where did that thought come from? Ten years into motherhood, the last thing she wanted was to start over again. But if he were the father… Stop. Just stop.
“She’s very pretty,” Grayson said. “Just like her mama.” He handed her back to Simone. “Thanks for letting me hold her.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Are you ready?” Emma asked him.
“Whenever you are.”
Emma hugged and kissed Simone. “Be good for Molly and Linc, and go to bed when they tell you to.”
“She’ll be fine,” Molly said. “Go have a good time.”
“Thank you,” Emma said, filled with anticipation for more time alone with Grayson.
“Night, Simone,” Grayson said.
Simone crooked her finger at him.
He went to her and squatted in front of her.
“Thank you for the sleigh ride and the pizza. It was a lot of fun.”
“You’re very welcome.” He stood and then leaned in to kiss her forehead. “Sweet dreams.” To Molly and Linc, he said, “Sleep tight, guys.”
“We’ll sleep like zombies after this day,” Linc said.
“Congrats again on the new granddaughter,” Emma said. “And thanks again for having Simone.”
“Our pleasure.”
* * *
Chapter 14
Love is a friendship set to music.
—Joseph Campbell
With his hand on her back, Grayson guided Emma through the kitchen to the mudroom, where they donned their coats. He looped her scarf around her neck and drew her in close to him for a kiss. “Bonus time.”
“I was thinking the same thing.”
“I’ve never loved my aunt Molly more than I do right now.”
“I was in full-on girl crush with her before she offered to keep Simone.”
“She is pretty damned awesome.” He opened the door and gestured for her to go ahead of him into the icy night.
When they were in the SUV, he said, “So we’re going to Will’s?”
As she did every time she got in his vehicle, she immediately turned on the seat warmer. “I thought so. Where else would we go?”
Grayson answered her saucy question with a grin. “I can’t think of a single other place we might go.” He reached across the center console for her hand. “How do you feel about a brief visit with Will, Cameron, Lucy and the others?”
“I feel like that might be rude.”
“So?”
Emma laughed at the impatient way he said that. “They’ll talk about us if we do that.”
“Um, newsflash, sweetheart, they’re already talking about us.”
“Does that bother you?”
“Not even kinda. Let them talk.” He glanced over at her. “Does it bother you?”
“No, not really. It’s been a long time since I’ve been involved in anything worth talking about.”
“The teasing is all in good fun in my family. I hope you know that.”
“I do. Of course I do.”
“I won’t let it get out of hand. Don’t worry.”
“I’m not worried.” What she thought but didn’t say was that there wouldn’t be much for them to talk about after tonight.
They pulled into Will and Cameron’s driveway, which was full of trucks and SUVs. The cabin was lit up, and smoke curled from the chimney into the darkness. Above them, the night sky was full of more stars than Emma had ever seen before.
“It’s so beautiful here,” she said wistfully.
“Even when it’s freezing?”
“Even then.”
He put his arm around her shoulders as they walked to the door, escorted by Will’s excited yellow Labs, Trevor and Tanner. “So yes to a brief visit?”
“Brief but not rude.”
Dropping his hand from her shoulder, he gave her ass a squeeze that let her know exactly what was on his mind. “I can work with that.”
Even though the air around them was frigid, heat zinged through her bloodstream at the thought of more time alone with him later.
Grayson walked right into his cousin’s home, where everyone turned to greet them.
Emma felt like the proverbial moose in the headlights with all eyes on her and Grayson.
Cameron and Lucy came over to hug her.
“There you are!” Cam said. “I wondered if you’d gotten the message to come over.”
Emma gave Grayson a grateful smile when he helped her out of her coat. “Molly told us.”
“Where ya been all day?” Lucy asked, glancing from her to him and then back to her again.
“Grayson took us for a sleigh ride, and we hung out with Lucas for a while. Then we had pizza at Kingdom Pizza and went back to the Abbotts’. They offered to keep Simone if I wanted to go out, and here I am. That’s my whole day accounted for.”
“Sounds like fun.”
“It was.”
Lucy gave her a measuring look, letting her know there was much more she wanted to say, but she’d never do that in front of a crowd. “Come get a drink.”
Emma followed Lucy and Cameron to the kitchen, suspecting she was in for a grilling about Grayson and what would happen next for them. If only she had the answer to that question.
* * *
Grayson wanted to take her by the hand and get the hell out of there. He wanted to go to his
new apartment and lose himself in her for hours until the time came when he had to let her go—for now, anyway. Tomorrow was going to suck, but tonight… Tonight he would be able to hold her and kiss her and make love to her.
“What’s up with you?” his cousin Wade asked.
“Nothing. Why?”
“You’re tense.”
“Am I?”
“Uh-huh. Something tells me it has everything to do with a gorgeous blonde who’s going back to her real life tomorrow. Am I warm?”
“You’re warm,” he said with a sigh.
“She’s really nice, and her daughter is a cutie.”
“I agree.”
“What’re you going to do about her?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“Might be time to make a plan, unless you want her to get away.”
The thought of that made him feel panicky and overheated. He tugged at the neck of his sweater. During the time he’d spent with Emma and Simone today, he’d done a pretty good job of forgetting about the situation with his father, but that, too, weighed heavily on him tonight. “What would you do if you were me?”
Wade laughed. “I’m the last one you should ask for romance advice.”
“Why’s that?”
“The only woman I’ve ever felt something for is married to someone else. What do I know about how to deal with things like this?”
“Who is she?” Gray asked, intrigued by the rare glimpse at Wade’s private life.
“No one you know.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It is what it is,” Wade said with bravado that sounded forced. “Have you told her how you feel about her?”
“Only that I want to see her again.”
“Might be worth putting it all on the table if you’re determined to make it work.”
“Too soon.”
“Is it?”
“For her, it probably is. She’s reserved and cautious.”
“Makes sense. She has a lot on the line with a daughter to think about.”
Before Grayson could reply, Ella plopped down on the sofa next to him. “I was over at the apartment today and took most of my stuff. I left things like sheets, towels and pans that I don’t need. If you don’t want them, let me know, and I’ll donate them.”