“True.” He couldn’t take his eyes off her and didn’t like seeing her like this. Almost uncertain of herself.
“Come with me. Really. My family would love to meet you. My mom is actually planning on asking you to dinner one night. She’s probably planning on discussing that tonight. She just didn’t want to interfere with your concentration and your work. All that creativity, you know.”
He smiled. He wanted to go. Anything that would get him time with her, he was all in. “Still, it sounds like I might be intruding tonight.”
“No, you would be welcomed. And to be honest, I should have already invited you but I worried you wouldn’t want to come. I didn’t want to take up your time. But, tonight you would take pressure off me. I’m shamelessly using you, not only here at the resort but in this dinner invitation also.”
He grinned. “Use me all you want. Sounds like fun.”
She swallowed hard. “Yes, sure. So you don’t mind?”
“Mind? I just said it sounds like fun. More plainly, I’d love to go with you.” Anywhere, anytime.
“Great.”
“Will all of your family be there? Other than Cam?”
“No. Some of my brothers will but I’m never sure who’ll show up at the weekly dinners. It depends on schedules and what’s going on in everyone’s lives. Shar and Jillian will be there so I’ll warn you now. But Olivia is out of town.”
“Sounds intriguing. I need to run up and shower. Can you give me a few minutes?”
“Of course. Take your time.”
“I don’t want to make you late. I’ll meet you in the lobby in thirty minutes. Does that work?”
“Perfect. I’ll be there.”
He fought the urge to touch her and knew he was doomed to fight that urge all evening.
“Cam has told me a little about your family,” Grant said later as they drove down the coastal road toward her parents’ home. “There are nine of you. Seven biological and two adopted. Right? And though they don’t look like it, Shar and Jillian are part of a set of triplets.”
The man smelled of clean, manly soap and his hair was still damp at the edges from the shower he’d had. Cali had been finding it hard to concentrate as she rode beside him in his rustic Jeep. “Yes, that’s correct. But we look at Jake and Max as blood. They lost their parents when they were adolescents. We’d all grown up together, so we were already close when tragedy struck their lives. And Shar, Jillian and Olivia are triplets but Jillian and Olivia are paternal so they look alike, though age has brought slight differences. Shar is one of a kind.”
He laughed. “Oh yeah. I can see that. Your parents sound like amazing people. They raised nine kids.”
She laughed because there was such awe in his voice. “Many more than that if you count the constant stream of friends who traipsed through our home. There it is.” She pointed to the house that sat alone on this stretch of the coast and glanced over at him. He was studying the house with deep interest. With an artist’s eye, maybe, considering the house was perfect for the setting.
Sitting back from the beach, the waterfront home was a large beach-style home with gray shingles and bright white shutters. “We moved into this home not long after the triplets were born. By that time, we were about to bust out of the smaller home we’d lived in. And later, when the twins joined our family, this place could accommodate us.”
“Did Jillian do the landscaping? With the ocean backdrop, it is brilliantly highlighted.”
“Mom helped. That’s where Jillian gets her talent.”
Because of the man beside her, butterflies had been exhausting themselves inside her rib cage as they drove. Now they seemed to have burning wings as he parked the Jeep and the evening drew imminent.
“You’re getting off light,” she said, trying not to let her nerves get the better of her. Would they all start pressing her to date? Would they all see the attraction to Grant that was becoming almost overwhelming? “Levi and Jake are my only brothers who are here. At least at the moment. Unless they arrive later, it looks like Levi’s twin, Trent, and the youngest brother, Max, are missing. Lucky you. That pulls your number of interrogations down substantially.”
“So you think I might survive now?”
“It’s possible. Though, Levi is the chief of police. Fair warning.”
“I’ll survive.”
When he said the words, she was mesmerized by the way his lips moved. Oh boy. The question was, would she?
Silence stretched between them as she found herself unable to look away from him. Then, his gaze darkened and he leaned toward her… Was he going to kiss her?
Butterflies in her chest went wild and her heart thundered at the thought. She didn’t move, couldn’t. And then he lifted a hand and gently cupped her jaw. Her breath caught at his touch and she instinctively leaned toward him…anticipation overwhelming.
“It’s going to be all right, Cali.” His words were a gentle whisper that caught her runaway emotions. His gaze bore into her. “You’re tense about tonight. I’m not completely clear why you’re so tense with the people you obviously love, but if you need someone to talk to while I’m here, I’m a good listener.”
She could not move. His touch was so gentle. Her mouth had gone dry with the want to nuzzle her cheek deeper into his palm. To lean into him and press her lips to his… She jerked upright.
He was offering to let her talk. Just talk.
To listen to her and then leave with all of her secrets.
He was offering her a safe place to pour out everything she couldn’t tell anyone else.
Instinctively, she understood that opening up to him could be more dangerous to her than a kiss. She forced herself to pull back. Forced her throat to work, so she could form words. “Thanks, we should go in now. I’m fine,” she lied, because she was far from fine and at the moment, it had to do with nothing except wanting Grant Ellington.
Chapter Thirteen
The initial introductions were made the moment they entered the house. Grant felt himself being sized up by her brothers and dad after handshakes were exchanged. The word protective was foremost in his mind upon meeting them. He wasn’t sure whether they, too, were trying to push Cali into the dating scene but they were sure sizing him up.
Levi looked every bit the police chief: suntanned, muscular, with a seriousness about him that probably came from the job.
“You boys can talk in a minute. First come into the kitchen and let’s get you something to drink,” Cali’s mother, Violet, urged the moment introductions had been made. It was easy to see she was a nurturer as she hustled about the kitchen. She wore her long, thick charcoal-gray hair in a clasp at the nape of her neck and had an engaging smile that dominated her face as she directed it at him with full force. “We’re so excited that you’re here. I am a huge fan.” She reached for a pitcher and he found himself with a glass of lemonade within seconds of her declaration.
Shar and Jillian looked unapologetically gleeful as they greeted him.
Cali had tensed up the moment they’d driven up the driveway; she seemed more relaxed now and yet he could see the strain, like a shadow in her eyes.
As if she waited to see whether her sisters were going to embarrass her. Did her sisters realize how stressed Cali was? If they did, they didn’t act like it. Maybe being so full of hope, thinking if they pushed her it would help her somehow.
Obviously they could only see what they wanted to see.
He took a step closer to her, feeling protective as he rested a hand at the small of her back. To his surprise, she inched a little closer to him.
Jake picked up his drink and scooped a chip from the large bowl in the center of the table. “So, Shar told us that you have Cali showing you the sights to find inspiration for your paintings. I assume you scuba dive with all that underwater art you do?”
“That’s right. I love it.”
“Me too. If you need me to show you some places around the island, just let me know. I ha
ve a dive shop in town. There’s some pretty cool places around here.”
“That sounds good. If I can squeeze it in before I leave, I’ll do that.” And so the night began. He enjoyed meeting the Sinclairs and couldn’t imagine getting them all together in one room.
He’d never been around a large family. Not one with nine kids. He wasn’t sure what he was expecting but every time he looked at Violet Sinclair, he was in awe. The woman had given birth to seven children. And she’d raised nine. That in itself was noteworthy.
Everyone asked questions about his work, the places he’d been, the things he’d seen.
Cali’s father, Sam, was lean and had the look of a man who enjoyed being outside.
He was a handsome man with a permanent tan and an easy smile.
Levi was tall and muscular and looked strikingly like his father, Sam; Jake was leaner and, because he was adopted, he didn’t resemble Sam at all. But it was easy to see he belonged. They all fit. Or what he’d seen so far.
Watching the family made him miss his parents. They lived in London at the moment. His dad’s consulting business kept him moving every few years. He hadn’t been to see them since the crash and they understood that; they didn’t understand him not letting them come see him. He’d tried to explain it to them. It just hadn’t felt right to receive comfort from his family when Mike and David’s family were grieving. Their families would never be able to embrace them again. The thought sent a wave of sorrow coursing over him. He’d learned that grief came in waves. Waves that could sneak up on him or other times crashing waves that grabbed him and kept him caught in the undertow. Tonight he fought it off, knowing he didn’t want to draw attention to himself in that way. His grief was private. It was too close to his heart.
But he hadn’t let himself think about his mom and dad’s need to see him. Watching Violet as she went around the room, he saw her pat an arm of one of her kids and smooth another one’s hair as she passed by. Little touches here and there that showed her love.
He promised himself that he would plan to visit his parents. They deserved to see him and to see for themselves that he was doing okay.
Better now than before.
Cali caught his eye from across the room and she smiled. And in that smile, his mood brightened.
The moon was bright as they drove back to the resort. They’d talked about her family on the way, keeping conversation light while the tension between them was as sharp as a razor’s edge.
“Where do you live?” he asked as he parked his Jeep.
Cali breathed a sigh of relief that they were now back at the resort. He’d taken all the attention at dinner and even her sisters hadn’t worked too hard at drawing attention to her. “In a bungalow at the back of the property.”
“I don’t know why I’m just now asking that.”
He tucked his fingers in the pockets of his jeans. Jeans, she noted, that he looked mighty fine in.
“It’s no big deal. It’s a tiny thing that used to be the groundskeeper’s place back before we had surveillance cameras to take that task. I moved in there when I came back and intended to find my own place but haven’t taken the time. This is really convenient.”
“I’ll walk you to your door then.”
She leaned back on her heels and glanced in the direction of the beach. It couldn’t be seen from the parking lot but the music from the bar and restaurant was playing and the low hum of surf could be heard in the moments between the music.
“Actually, I’d like it if you’d take a walk on the beach with me.” She had just officially moved into the deep water.
“I’d like that,” he said.
She led the way around the edge of the resort, past the laughter and along the paths where couples walked hand in hand along the moonlit paths. Her heart skittered as she paused at the edge of the sand to remove her sandals. When he slipped his hand into hers, her stomach went bottomless. She’d wanted to hold his hand.
Such a simple thing and yet such a momentous step for her.
Not more than four days ago, she never wanted a man to touch her again. Couldn’t believe that she could feel anything for anyone again. And then Grant had shown up.
He smiled sexily. “Can’t do a moonlit walk and not hold hands.”
“So true,” she said. His hand was callused, probably from working on his ranch when he was there. She liked the way her hand felt in his. Though rough, his hands were not hands that would hurt a woman…
He tugged her close; her knees melted and suddenly she felt tingly all over as he held her. A fierce longing drove through her as she looked up into his solemn eyes. Her breath hitched as his lips covered hers.
And Cali was lost to everything but that moment.
Or found.
Melting against him, she was stunned by the feel of his tender lips and the passion that washed through her as he deepened the kiss. Her heart thundered and crashed harder than the waves off the coast of the island. He dug his fingers into her hair, drew the kiss out until she was breathless against him. And she knew she had never, ever experienced anything like Grant’s kiss.
She couldn’t think straight. Couldn’t catch her breath as he finally drew back, his own breath rasping, “Cali,” before he placed a kiss against her temple. And then her cheek. “You are so wonderful.” He placed another kiss against her other temple and then her other cheek. And then brushed her lips with his again.
She was breathing hard when he pulled away, and she had to make herself not tug him back for more. Her knees were weak and her heart felt as if it would burst.
“You are so beautiful,” he said. “And in the moonlight you are breathtaking.”
It had been a very long time since she’d heard words like his…if she’d ever been so lucky to hear them at all. She didn’t want this to end. Didn’t want to think about when he would be gone. And he would be gone. He’d said so at her parents’ house. She’d heard him talking to her brothers. But for now, she had this moment with him.
When he began trailing heated kisses down her jaw and to the base of her neck, Cali’s stomach clenched tightly. She felt as if she were floating on air as those gifted lips blew every hesitancy, every fear out of the water.
All evening she’d watched him patiently answer every question fired his way by her family. He’d seemed to genuinely enjoy every moment of their nosiness and a couple of times, when no one was looking, he winked at her. His antics had played havoc with her, driving her crazy with attraction.
“We better walk,” he said after a moment. Taking her hand in his, he led her across the thick, shifting sand to the damp, firmer sand were the tide lapped. And they walked hand in hand with the ocean breeze billowing about them and the waves cresting in the silvery light of the night. It was a magical night. And, just for this moment, she didn’t want to think about why she couldn’t give her heart away again.
Didn’t want to think about why she’d come running back to Windswept Bay, feeling lost and lacking. She didn’t want any of her ugly past intruding on the night, though she could feel it crouching at the edges, waiting to pounce. Tonight, she ignored it and held tightly to Grant’s hand.
For tonight, she’d let her heart fully feel the emotions being with Grant filled her with. And if she were lucky, she hoped to steal a few more kisses before the clock struck midnight and she pulled herself back behind the walls that she’d constructed around her heart.
Chapter Fourteen
He hadn’t been able to help himself. He’d wanted to hold her all night. Wanted to walk along the shore in the silvery light of the moon. To taste her lips like he’d been longing to do since the first time they’d run into each other beside the elevators.
“I’ve been wanting this all week.” He stopped walking and turned to look at her. “Ever since you barreled into my life at the elevator.” He chuckled and she did, too, just before her expression tensed.
“I wasn’t expecting this. I think you should know I’m not ready
for a relationship. I know that’s not important since by the end of next week you’ll be gone. But, I need to tell you that.”
“I don’t have to leave. I’ve got two murals to finish and then— Cali, that wasn’t just a casual kiss.” He knew it was true. When he’d arrived at Windswept Bay he’d been lost, floundering, and bleak. Though he was searching for a way to find his footing after the crash, he had only begun and wasn’t too hopeful. And then he’d run into Cali and everything had a new outlook. “I know you’ve been through a lot. And I have a feeling it goes much deeper than you’ve told anyone. I’m a good listener and I want to help.”
She pulled her hand free and moved away from him several steps. The breeze played with the strands of her hair.
Sensing that she needed to talk to someone and wanting that person to be him, he opened his palms. “Talk to me, Cali. I feel like something isn’t right. At dinner, it was evident that everyone obviously wants what’s best for you. It showed in how they looked at you and in so many other ways, including accepting me, but what stood out to me was your reluctance to let them in.”
He was an artist of landscapes and seascapes but he was an artist, and he saw past the exterior and into the interior. Cali was hiding something. Something she needed to release.
“Talk to me. Did your ex hurt you? Physically hurt you?” He hated the words and the thought but his gut told him he was right. Or close.
And he’d never wanted as much in his life to be wrong about something.
But he wasn’t. The look on her face told him so.
Grant’s questions shot at her tender heart, like darts hitting the bull’s-eye.
She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms tightly about her. His kiss had awakened memories that she’d tried to banish. The longing for love. Memories of what she’d hoped for and what she’d had and lost.
Irrational anger shot through her. Why had he gone and messed up a perfect moment? So be it. “My family just thinks I went through a divorce. A normal, painful divorce from a man who I once loved…or thought I loved. And trusted.” She couldn’t say this and be still, so she started to walk. Grant moved beside her in quick strides and stopped her with his gentle hand on her arm.
From This Moment On: Heartwarming Contemporary Romance (Windswept Bay Book 1) Page 9