by Melody Grace
Lila grinned and changed to a different station. “I know how you feel. Every time I walk into TopShop, I feel about 50 years old.”
“Nonsense,” Griffin said, shooting her a smirk. “You don’t look a day over 45.”
“Ouch!” Lila hit his arm playfully. “That’s just cruel!”
“Relax,” he grinned. “You know you’re beautiful.”
Lila felt a warm glow. She flushed and focused on the twilight road ahead. “What do you have planned for tonight then?”
“Well, I made us reservations at a local spot just outside of town,” he replied. “The chef, Declan, is a friend of mine. He can be an arrogant dick sometimes, but he makes a mean pasta. If that works for you?”
“You had me at pasta,” Lila cracked, only half-joking. Then she paused. “Declan . . . I think I know his girlfriend,” Lila said, trying to keep the whole group of new friends straight. “He’s with Paige, right?”
Griffin nodded. “How do you know her?”
“I . . .” Lila wasn’t about to explain she’d spent the morning shopping for seductive lingerie, so she answered with a vague, “Oh, just from around.”
Griffin turned off the highway and pulled up outside an old-style carriage house. Even though the tourist season was months away, the parking lot was full, and when they stepped through the doors of the restaurant, they were met by a warm, lively buzz. Lila looked around. There were low ceilings, and an open fireplace, and—
“Lila?”
She turned. Jenny was by the hostess stand, wearing a black uniform—and a knowing smile. “I thought I saw your name on the reservation list, Griffin,” she said, shooting Lila a wink. “I have the perfect table for you two. Right this way.”
“I didn’t know you worked here,” Lila said, following her across the restaurant. Suddenly, she knew what people meant about life in a small town. It seemed like everywhere she turned, she bumped into a familiar face.
“I’m the manager,” Jenny replied. “Lord knows Declan needs one. Here’s the wine list,” she added, getting them seated. “And I’d offer you the menu, but he’s spent the afternoon working on a beef bourguignon, and it smells so good, you’d be a fool to order anything else.”
Griffin raised an eyebrow at Lila. “That sounds good to me,” she replied, her mouth already watering.
“Two of those, and some of those amazing dips to start,” he agreed.
“Plus bread!” Lila managed to order, before Jenny whisked away. “Lots of it.”
Griffin met her eyes with a smile. “I like your style.”
“Call it making up for lost time,” Lila said, taking a sip of water. She settled back and took in the dim, cozy room. The tables were lit with candlelight, and antique roses were set in tiny glass jars. It felt intimate and romantic.
Seriously romantic.
That at least answered one question, she decided, as a server brought them wine. Griffin must have some kind of intentions for tonight, otherwise he could have just taken them to the local drive-in for a movie and fries. But a place like this . . . ?
Lila felt that glow again, a delicious fizz in her stomach.
“So, how does this measure up to your usual scene?” Griffin asked from across the table. “Bright lights, big city . . .”
Lila almost snorted into her wine. “I’m not exactly the party girl these days,” she told him. “My scene is testing out recipes and curling up in front of the fire.”
“Sounds great to me.” Griffin smiled.
Lila laughed. “I know, but it makes me feel like an old grandma. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I even went out on a date.”
She paused, thinking back. She hadn’t been in the place to even think about opening her heart to somebody these past months—or risking any stories turning up in the tabloids. It must have been Justin.
Oh.
“The ex?” Griffin asked, clearly noticing her expression.
Lila nodded. “It feels like a lifetime ago,” she admitted.
“Well, here’s to second and third acts,” Griffin said, raising his glass.
“I’ll toast to that.”
12
Dinner passed in a blur of great food and flirty conversation. Lila had almost forgotten how much fun a date could be. A good one, where every exchange was laced with giddy expectation, and you lost track of time trading embarrassing stories and anecdotes from your pasts. By the time they’d finished their desserts and lingered over the wine, everyone had gone home. The restaurant was almost empty, with just a few staff members hovering by the door, waiting for them to leave. “Shall we?” Griffin asked, with a wry smile. “I think if we stay any longer, we’ll need to help sweep up.”
Lila stifled a lazy yawn. “I’m definitely not in a sweeping mood.”
“Then how about coffee, back at mine?”
Griffin made the invitation so casually, it was easy for Lila to give a nod and reach for her jacket, but inside, her stomach turned a slow pirouette. She smiled on the ride across town, chiding herself for feeling like a teenager. She was a grown woman, not in high school, sneaking out after curfew to meet her latest crush by the Dairy Queen. But still, the sense of breathless anticipation was the same no matter what her age, and when Griffin opened the passenger door and she realized she’d been wrapped up in her own world the entire journey, she snapped out of her reverie.
If she was a grown-up, she should act like one.
So, she kissed him.
Griffin froze against her in surprise, and for a brief, panicked moment, Lila wondered if she’d once again completely misread the signals. But then he pulled her closer, and the kiss turned hotter. Deeper. Delicious. He eased her lips open, his tongue sliding deep, exploring with a sensuous pace that left Lila’s head spinning and her blood running hot in her veins.
When they finally came up for air, Lila didn’t have to wonder if he felt this heat between them.
She knew it.
Griffin cleared his throat. “Coffee?” he asked, looking as dazed as she felt.
“Sure,” Lila replied, even though caffeine was the last thing she needed. Her heart was beating double time, and she was pretty sure that if she wasn’t holding tightly to him, she might just float away.
Griffin led her around the old barn and unlocked the front door. He headed for the kitchen, and this time, Lila knew her way around. She took off her jacket and paused, browsing the bookcase with its family photos and keepsakes. “You’ve traveled a lot?” she asked, noticing the foreign items.
Griffin looked over from that complicated espresso machine of his. “Work, mainly. At least, that’s my excuse. I made a trip to England last year, to see some of the formal gardens there, and Japan, too,” he explained. “It’s amazing to see how different cultures have their own traditions when it comes to their landscapes, whether they’re just for pleasure and decoration, or to grow food, rear livestock . . .” He paused. “Warning: I can get pretty nerdy about my work.”
“Nerdy is good,” Lila replied. “I was in Japan a couple of years ago, for a press junket, promoting a movie,” she added. “Although, I pretty much just saw the inside of a hotel suite for three days.”
“You ever think about traveling, for yourself this time?” he asked.
Lila paused. “Honestly, I think I’d prefer to put down some roots. Working as an actress, you’re always bouncing around for a different role. Two months here, another three months somewhere else. This is the first time in forever I’ve really been able to feel at home.”
“That’s why I came back here, too,” Griffin said, bringing their mugs of coffee over to the sitting area. “The city was good when I was a younger man, but I got sick of all the chaos and drama. I wanted to be able to take my time, and do things at my own pace.”
“Younger?” Lila asked, teasing. “But you don’t look a day over 45.”
He chuckled, putting their drinks down before sliding his arms around her waist. “I guess I deserved that.”
Lila’s breath caught from his closeness, the feel of his body against hers.
What was it about this man?
From the very first day, he’d gotten under her skin, driving her to distraction with his determination and self-possession. Griffin was unlike any man she’d met before. He seemed so sure about everything—his path in life, his passions and direction—and Lila had to admit that confidence was irresistible. This charge between them was electric, and the more time she spent with him, the more she wanted to know: what would it take to make him come undone?
He drew her closer and kissed her again, a lazy, unhurried kiss that tasted like whiskey and burned just as bright through Lila’s bloodstream. She brought her arms up around his neck, running her fingers through his tousled hair, loving the strong planes of his torso against her, and how his hands skimmed over her body, discovering more.
The kiss deepened, turning ragged and wild. Griffin pulled her back, until they were falling on the couch, and now Lila’s blood really was blazing. He pressed her into the cushions, the hard weight of his body making her gasp against him, as his hands roved lower, and his mouth made her forget her own name.
She wanted more. She wanted everything.
Lila arched up against him, sliding her hand under his shirt to feel the heat of his bare skin. Griffin groaned, trailing his lips down her neck in a blazing path that left her dizzy. One inch lower, two, three . . . Griffin kissed his way down, unbuttoning her blouse as he went, until Lila was splayed back on the couch, her bra on full display.
Griffin paused a moment, his eyes devouring her. “Poppies,” he murmured, before pressing his mouth to the lacy edging. Lila could only murmur an incoherent response, because now he was licking her through the silky fabric and closing his mouth around her taut nipple to suck and tease. She wrapped her legs around his waist, panting as he lavished attention on each breast in turn. She could feel him, hard against her, and when she tugged impatiently at his shirt, Griffin chuckled against her, and then ripped it over his head.
“Better?” he asked, looking down at her with a molten smirk.
“Much,” she agreed, feeling flushed and breathless. His chest was toned and muscular, and as for that stomach . . . Hollywood’s leading men would kill for abs like that. She reached for him, eager to explore, and soon they were a blazing tangle of hands, and mouths, and—
“Mmmmm . . .” Lila moaned as Griffin peeled open her jeans and inched the zipper down. Maybe this was crazy, and they were moving too fast, but after all the false starts and tantalizing glimpses of passion, she didn’t care. She wanted to give herself over to the rush of it all. Lose herself in this moment, where nothing existed in the world but the wildfire of his touch and the pleasure swooping low between her thighs.
Lila threw back her head and surrendered to the feeling, until the flicker was an inferno, and she was close to the edge, ready to fall—
They were interrupted by a loud banging on the front door. Lila startled, almost sliding off the couch.
“Griff?” a man’s voice called. “Open up!”
Someone was there! She scrambled to pull her jeans back up, flushing. “Who is that?” she hissed, pleasure still running hot in her veins. Lila saw Griffin tense. In an instant, his expression shuttered, unreadable.
“My brother.”
Lila blinked. “You have a brother?” Griffin hadn’t mentioned him, not once, in all his stories about growing up here on the Cape.
Griffin didn’t reply. He stood, already adjusting his clothing. “You should go,” he said, thrusting her jacket into her arms.
Wait, what?
Lila stared at him, confused. Was he seriously kicking her out right now—only moments after doing . . . that?
The banging continued. “C’mon, dude, I know you’re home!”
Griffin turned to Lila. “Look, I’m sorry, I’ll explain this later. Just go.”
“I can’t,” Lila replied, still stunned. “You drove me here!”
“So take the Jeep.” Griffin found the keys and tossed them to her. “I’ll pick it up tomorrow.”
Lila barely had time to find her purse before Griffin was hustling her to the back door. “I’m really sorry,” he said again, raking a hand through his hair. His expression was grim, and it was clear this wasn’t up for debate. “I’ll explain later.”
And then, just like that, Lila found herself standing on the dark porch as the door slammed shut in her face.
He was kidding, right?
Lila stood there a moment, her head spinning. Her dream date hadn’t just ravished her on the living room couch, then thrown her out the back door like yesterday’s news. Had he?
She heard voices as Griffin welcomed his brother inside and offered him a beer.
Apparently, he had.
The nerve of this guy!
She turned and stormed over to the Jeep. The door caught, and the seat was way too far back for her, but Lila shoved and pushed and jostled until she could start the engine and drive angrily away. Inside, she was fuming. Either she’d completely misread Griffin and he was really an asshole in disguise, or . . . Or . . .
Lila drew a blank. She couldn’t come up with a reason for what had just happened back there, she only knew Griffin didn’t seem like the kind of guy to treat women like trash.
He better have a good explanation for this!
Griffin didn’t know what he was going to tell Lila—if she ever spoke to him again. What was he supposed to say? Sorry, but my brother is such a piece of work that I can’t even trust him to lay eyes on you without inviting chaos? Jordy was trouble, through and through, and there was no way he was letting Lila cross his path. His scheming, petty-scammer of a brother would take one look at the Hollywood bombshell and see nothing but dollar signs.
Griffin had reacted in the moment, and he already knew he’d handled it all wrong.
“Jesus, what took you so long?” his brother demanded when he finally opened the door. “I’m not interrupting a wild night for you, am I?” He chortled and slapped Griffin on the back as he strolled inside.
Griffin wasn’t in a laughing mood. “What are you doing here, Jordy?” he asked, still wondering if Lila would ever forgive him for throwing her out like that. From the look on her face, he was guessing no.
“I was just in the neighborhood, figured I’d stop by and visit my big brother. Why? Anyone would think you’re not happy to see me.”
Jordy sauntered into the living area, and Griffin quickly checked the room for any hints of Lila left behind. The coffee mugs. Damn.
He casually cut in front of Jordy and cleared them away, but his eagle-eyed brother caught the pair. “So you were entertaining company. Who’s the lovely lady?” he smirked.
“Nobody,” Griffin answered shortly. He heard the faint sound of the Jeep’s engine starting outside, so he turned on some music to drown it out. “Seriously, what are you doing here?” he asked. “Last Mom said, you had a place set up in the city.”
Jordy shrugged, already rifling through Griffin’s refrigerator for a beer. “Yeah, I don’t know if that’s going to work out. The landlord’s a real asshole, always hassling me about my business. I thought maybe I could crash here for a while—”
“No.” Griffin cut him off with a terse reply.
“Dude, you’re not still mad about last time?”
“Why would I be?” Griffin answered coolly. “You only invited half the scumbags in the South End down for a party, trashed my stuff, and then disappeared with half my landscaping equipment.”
“Aww, c’mon.” Jordy shrugged. “You can just buy new ones. You’ve got it set. Mom’s always bragging about your latest big new client, or new award. The least you could do is help out family.”
Griffin opened his mouth to argue, then closed it again. What was the point? Jordy had a chip on his shoulder a mile wide. He’d always resented Griffin’s success, but God forbid he do an honest day’s work in his life. Back when they we
re younger, Griffin had tried to help him out: hiring him on landscape crews for whatever odd jobs he could here and there. But Jordy always turned up late, if at all, and found a way to start fights and aggravate the clients. Even the occasional check Griffin sent to help Jordy pay rent was never enough in his brother’s eyes. So why even try anymore?
“What are you up to these days?” he asked instead, already bracing himself for the bullshit and lies.
“You know, this and that . . .” Jordy said, taking a swig of beer. “Got a couple of opportunities in the pipeline, real big deals. There could be a place for you, if you wanna?”
A place for him to get screwed when these “big deals” came crashing down, more like. Griffin just gave a shrug. “Maybe, I’m pretty busy these days.”
“No time necessary. I could get you a piece just for some start-up cash.”
And there it was, regular as clockwork. Griffin didn’t even need to know the details. Jordy’s wild schemes were all the same.
“How’s that girlfriend of yours?” he asked, changing the subject.
“You know how it is,” Jordy smirked. “She wants to get things locked down, but c’mon, I’m young, there’s plenty of me to go around.” He found the remote and turned on the widescreen TV, channel-hopping until he found a basketball game. Jordy settled in, kicking his feet up on the coffee table. “Hey, grab another beer while you’re up. And you got any chips, something to eat?”
Griffin scowled. “I told you, you can’t crash here.”
“I’m not crashing,” Jordy grinned. “I’m spending quality time with my big bro. C’mon man, lighten up. Watch the game with me. I need to be back in the city tomorrow anyway, I’ve got a big meeting. I’ll be out of your hair before you know it.”
He turned back to the screen, and let out a contented burp. There was no moving him, not without a fight.
Griffin gave a resigned sigh. “I’ll go see if I have more beer.”
“That’s the spirit!”
Griffin ducked into the pantry and pulled out his cellphone. He tried calling Lila, but only got voicemail.