Falling for Grace (Four Winds)

by Anne Conley

  "It's three-thirty. I'm sorry. I'm not supposed to be here for two more hours, but I didn't really have anything else to do."

  "…Okay…" Grace hadn't quite recovered from her bad dream and was having a hard time focusing on his words. All she could see were his eyes, and that smile. Wow. Those dimples. Her stomach did a little flip, and the white hot heat that she'd felt earlier returned with a vengeance.

  He had buttoned up his shirt, but the way it hung on his frame with the board shorts gave him an air of casualness that was fresh. He wore a pair of leather flip flops on his feet, which were nice. He had attractive toes, with neatly groomed nails.

  Her gaze traveled up his strong legs, to the body hidden by the baggy shorts and shirt, to the tanned face that held a mischievous smirk, barely there but for the dimples. His emerald gaze was on her, staring with an intensity that made her blush under his scrutiny.

  "I don't mean to interrupt anything. Were you doing something?" He asked her pleasantly, dimples still there. Ugh. Dimples. Why did he have to have dimples? She forced herself to remember she had a boyfriend and to stop ogling this man in front of her.

  "Um, no. I was taking a nap."

  "I'm sorry. You can go back to bed, if you want to. I can leave and walk the beach again."

  "No, that's okay." She looked down at her sweaty self again. "Just, um…let me change real quick." A shower would be nice, but she wasn't about to leave a strange man alone in her living room while she got naked. No matter how hot he was.

  Back in her bedroom, she threw on a tank top that wasn't all sweaty, ran a brush through her hair, and pulled on a pair of shorts. In lieu of a shower, she opted to put on some fresh deodorant.

  Back in the living room, she found him on the couch, looking relaxed and totally delicious. Clearing her throat, she asked him, "Do you want to see the extra room? If you make it through Nicole's next round of questions, it's yours." It was getting close to rent being due, and nobody really wanted to fork over the extra fourth share of the money this month. Grace actually found herself hoping this guy worked out.

  He grinned quickly and stood, motioning for her to lead the way.

  The room was spacious, but not the biggest in the house. "It's close to the bathroom you would share with me. Um, we could work out a schedule to use it, if you want. I usually shower in the evening after work, so you could use it in the mornings, if you wanted." Realizing she was rambling, she bit her tongue before she said anything else completely idiotic, like telling him when she pooped. Sheesh.

  He looked around the space and nodded appreciatively. "It's bigger than what I'm used to." He looked at her again, this time with a gleam in his gorgeous eyes that made her feel warm all over. As she continued touring the house, pointing out the other bedrooms, she could feel his eyes on her, and a flush rose on her cheeks under his gaze. In the kitchen, she stopped and turned to him, noticing belatedly that he was really close to her. She had a hard time breathing when she realized he stood close enough to smell: sweet and spicy.

  "Um, we each buy our own groceries. Occasionally, we'll make a meal together, but nobody really cooks much. We mostly eat cereal and salads. There's a grill in the back, but we only use it once a month, maybe."

  "I like to cook. I could make some meals for everybody," he said quietly. "Although, if y'all would prefer your cereal and salad, I won't mess anybody up." He flashed that dimply grin again, and Grace warned herself to stay away.

  "Do you have a job?"

  "Not yet. I just got into town this week. I have some money to last a few months, though. I just need a roof over my head." His manner was easy, reassuring. Grace found herself drawn to his open, casual demeanor, wanting to know more about him. Something about him seemed so familiar, but she couldn't put her finger on what it was. His eyes, maybe? Maybe she knew someone who uses the same cologne.

  "Where did you move from?"

  "Houston, I lived by the medical center."

  "Did you work there?"

  He answered quickly, "Yes. I did."

  "Cool." She said it noncommittally, but something about the guy excited her, made her pulse beat a little faster, made her breaths a little shallower, made her belly hot. Hot.

  He was hot. And she was in trouble.

  Grace didn't date hot guys. They inevitably knew they were hot and used it to their own advantage. Hot guys were users, chewing up women and spitting them out, leaving them as unrecognizable pieces of flesh with missing souls. Her mother was proof of that.

  As gorgeous as Rafe was though, Grace had to admit that there was something unassuming about him. He didn't seem like the type of guy to flaunt his looks to get what he wanted. He didn't seem like he wanted to charm her pants off.

  Then again, she'd known him all of twenty minutes.

  She realized that being in Rafe's presence had completely taken her mind off her nightmare. That was a good thing. Usually the nightmare stuck with her for a couple of hours after waking up from one. She led the way back into the living room and motioned for him to sit. He did, in the chair next to the sofa, so she sat on the opposite end of the sofa, to put some space between them. He relaxed into the chair, crossing one ankle over his knee, resting his hands on the arms of the chair.

  "Bree should be home in about an hour, and Nicole will be home soon. Nicole's the one you have to convince. The rest of us just want basic consideration from a roommate. Nic's the one with the extreme expectations."

  "Any pointers on how to win her over?" He threw her another one of his charming grins, and her toes curled. She put her feet under her rear on the sofa. She certainly didn't want this guy to know the effect he had on her.

  "Um, you don't play any musical instruments, do you?"

  "Nope."

  "Good. She told you about the no smoking, no pets, no insomnia, no messes?"

  "Yep." The grin widened at a memory that Grace could only imagine.

  "What about drugs?"

  "Never. I don't even drink." His face turned serious for a minute, then broke back out into another smile.

  "Scared of hurricanes?"

  "Nope. I love displays of Mother Nature."

  "You're not one of those crazies that like to surf in the storms, are you?"

  He laughed, a deep belly laugh that sent the white heat from Grace's belly to her nether regions, making her blush at her reaction. His voice was like liquid sex, deep and rumbly, and his laugh was even better. Why was she encouraging him? She couldn't live with this guy.

  After he recovered from his laughing spell, he replied, "Not hardly. I worked in the ER long enough to see a lot of stupidity. I'm a bit of a chicken about actually experiencing displays of Mother Nature. I just like to watch."

  The way he said the last part of that made a pressure build between Grace's legs, and she shifted her position. Wow. He didn't seem aware of what he was doing to her. His open face was eager, like a little kid. Maybe he wouldn't be so bad. She cleared her throat in an attempt to find her voice again.

  "Um, what about cooking? You said you liked to cook. Do you cook stuff that smells bad? Fry everything? Lots of onions and garlic? Stuff like that?"

  His ever present grin was absolutely heart stopping. "I do use onions and garlic, for flavor, but I'd like to think that I don't overdo it. And I rarely fry food. I prefer to broil, or grill."

  "What do you like to do in your spare time?"

  "I like to stay active. With the beach here, close, I'll probably do some jogging, riding a bike on the Sea Wall, stuff like that. I'm a bit of a health nut." He actually looked sheepish at that admission.

  At a loss for any other questions to ask him, she stood. "You want some water? I'm thirsty." She walked into the kitchen without waiting for a reply. She needed to get out from under his influence. She was having trouble thinking straight around him.

  She heard him reply, "Sure," and she poured two glasses as the front door opened, and Nicole walked in.

  "What the hell? You're early." Grace
smiled as she heard the annoyance in Nicole's voice. She couldn't hear his reply, but she imagined the sheepish grin on his face, and blushed again at the image.

  Carrying his glass of water into the living room, she found him standing in front of Nicole, looking at his feet.

  "Don't worry, Rafe. Just remember the bark and bite, and all that." She tried to sound reassuring, but wasn't sure how it came off.

  "Are you calling me a dog?" Nicole turned her annoyance on Grace, but the smile on her face belied her friend's words.

  "If the shoe fits…" Grace remembered her stench, and grateful that Nicole had come home, she continued. "I'm gonna grab a shower before Bree gets home. I'll leave you two." To Nicole, she flashed a thumbs up, indicating her approval of the man, who had sat back down, grin still on his face.

  Chapter Five

  Grace emerged from her shower to hear Nicole and Bree laughing with Rafe. Puzzled, as she had thought that Nicole would be harder to win over, she poked her head around the door frame into the living room to see the three of them crowded around the computer screen.

  Walking up behind them, Rafe straightened and turned to her. She'd gotten too close again, and here she was, under his influence as his scent washed over her. She had a hard time finding her voice, but she managed, "What's going on?"

  "Youtube videos," Rafe answered her, with that grin on his face, showing off the dimples and the even teeth that Grace really wanted to lick right now.

  "Why?" Her voice was a whisper, since her thoughts were still in the gutter.

  "Because laughing is good for you. I was trying to loosen everybody up."

  Bree stood and looked at Rafe, a wide smile on her face. "Hey, Rafe. You like to dance?"

  "Love it." His eyes hadn't left Grace, and his voice sent a warm shiver up her spine. She looked away from the intensity of his gaze, over at Nicole, who was clicking on a video in the side bar.

  Bree continued, oblivious to the sizzle between Rafe and Grace. "We're going dancing tonight, you want to come?"

  Still staring at Grace, he answered, a lazy smile on his lips, "Absolutely." Those green eyes were going to be her undoing.

  Nicole’s voice broke the spell that Grace was quickly succumbing to. “Um, Rafe, can you go outside for a minute? We need to have a roommate meeting, and since you aren’t a roommate, yet…”

  He nodded, and looked hopeful as he turned and let himself out the door. “Do I need to go walk around a little bit? Or is it cool if I just sit on the steps?”

  “I don’t think it’ll take too long, but we’ll let you know. Just sit for now,” Nicole had an uncharacteristic reassuring quality to her voice that raised Grace’s eyebrows.

  After he’d let himself out, Grace turned to Nicole. “Has he passed your test? Already?”

  Nicole shrugged. “I called his references during my break today, and he got glowing recommendations. He’s a quiet neighbor, pays on time, and doesn’t seem to be annoying.”

  “And he’s HAWT!” Bree interjected.

  Grace rolled her eyes. “Ted Bundy was quiet too.”

  Nicole shrugged. “We need the rent money. We won’t know if he’s a Ted Bundy anyway until one of us ends up in pieces on the barbecue pit. I’m tired of interviewing whack jobs, and he’s the first normal-seeming person I’ve talked to in a month.”

  “If you didn’t have such high standards, we would have found a roommate by now.” Grace pointed out.

  “Yeah, but he seems like he would be a nice fit with us, and he doesn’t seem annoying, unless he’s one of those morning people. I forgot to ask that.”

  Grace laughed. “Nic, you can’t base a roommate application on whether or not somebody’s a morning person.”

  “Yeah, I’m a morning person, and I live here. I would be happy to keep him out of your hair before nine, if you want.” Bree’s tone got wistful, and Grace smiled at the smirk that Nicole gave her.

  “I bet you would.”

  “Let’s vote!” Bree said. “All in favor of hot guy roommate raise your hand.” Bree’s hand was in the air as she spoke, followed quickly by Nicole’s.

  “Not because he’s hot, though.” They both turned to Grace, whose hands were at her side.

  “I’m just not sure,” she hedged.

  “Come on, if I can’t disqualify him because he’s a morning person, you can’t disqualify him because he’s gorgeous.” Nicole told Grace impatiently. Bree looked disappointed and Grace had to laugh at her own transparency.

  “Okay. Fine.” Begrudgingly, she raised her hand.

  Bree ran to the door and opened it, calling out gleefully. “You’re in!”

  Rafe came to the door, looking ridiculously grateful, beaming at everybody. Grace felt a shudder wrack her body and turned her head as if his smile would burn her.

  “Thanks guys. I really appreciate it.” His voice was warm, and Grace peeked at him in spite of herself. He was watching her, a knowing smile on his face. She wondered what he was smiling about. It was almost as if he knew she was the one that wasn’t totally on board with him joining their humble abode. She found it wasn’t easy to break eye contact with him, once their eyes met. The green depths called to her in a way that she didn’t understand, and it was disconcerting.

  Her cell phone ringing broke the spell. She turned, reluctantly to dig through her purse to answer it. Looking at the screen, she saw it was Brad.

  "Hey, honey."

  "Hi babe. You still going dancing tonight?" He sounded eager, reminding Grace of a puppy willing to do anything to please his master. Grace knew he didn't like to dance, that he was just going because Grace liked it.

  "Yeah. Can you meet us here in a couple of hours? We'll all go over together."

  "Sure. I've been looking forward to it all day."

  "Liar." She laughed at him. There was no way he was looking forward to hanging out with a bunch of women tonight.

  "I want to spend time with you, Grace. I'm looking forward to it." His voice grew husky with the declaration, and Grace realized she felt guilty for comparing him to a puppy with his master. She wasn't his master, although he would probably do anything she asked him. "See you soon."

  She turned back to the group, to see everybody shaking hands.

  "Okay, then you can move in. Can you make this month's rent? We can pro-rate it, if you'd like." Nicole was being awfully accommodating, Grace thought to herself with a certain amount of surprise.

  "I have money for the whole month, if you let me move in now."

  "Deal." She actually smiled at him. Wow. Miracles never cease. Grace shook her head to herself, as she watched Rafe walk over to the door, bend over to pick up a backpack and a bedroll that she hadn't noticed. She did however, notice the other women's sharp inhale as he bent at the waist, hinting at a spectacular backside.

  Bree spoke everybody's thoughts. "Can you wear jeans tonight, Rafe? You will play the part of our arm candy at the club."

  He chuckled and nodded, before walking into his new room with his things and shutting the door behind him. Bree fanned herself with her hand. "Jees, Nicole, where did you find that guy? He's amazing!"

  Nicole grunted in reply, her good mood gone. "I need to shower. Gotta shave my legs before tonight. Did you leave any hot water, Grace?"

  Chapter Six

  They decided not to try the new place, and to stick with The Lounge, their old standby for dancing. They knew the bartenders there, and the music was good.

  While Grace was getting ready, she could hear Rafe banging around in his room next door to hers and wondered about him. The man seemed so familiar, even though she knew she'd never seen him before today. Something about those green eyes…And his voice. It bred a familiarity that gave her comfort, reminding her of a part of her past that brought her peace. She just wasn't sure which part.

  At one point in her primping for the evening, she had to walk across the house to Bree's room to borrow something and almost lost her footing when she saw Rafe sitting on the co
uch. Silently thanking Bree for telling him to wear jeans, she admired his long frame in the tight-fitting tee shirt that showed off a ripped torso and arms. He was relaxed on the couch, his head thrown back, and Grace resisted the urge to climb on top of him, straddle his lap, and lick his Adam's apple.

  Where did that come from?

  Grace watched as a slow smile graced his lips and she almost giggled out loud, thinking to herself that if this guy could read her mind, she was in some serious trouble.

  Shaking her head to clear the image from her mind, she reminded herself that Brad would be there in a half an hour, and she could lick him wherever she wanted. He would probably enjoy it more than Rafe would, anyway.

  Rafe's smile abruptly disappeared, and he lifted his head to look at Grace, a definite scowl marring his features. She shrugged and continued to Bree's room. Okay, so he didn't like her looking at him. Whatever.

  In Bree's room, Grace started rummaging around, looking for the lip gloss that she liked that Bree's mother sent in her monthly care packages. Bree was watching her, disappointment written all over her face.

  "What's wrong, Bree?"

  "My parents said if the hurricane lands here, I can't stay."

  "They're going to make you move?" Grace was shocked. Bree had lived here through two hurricane seasons, and her parents hadn't freaked before.

  "No. Evacuate."

  "Well, that's not so bad. They're just looking out for you."

  "Yeah, but I'll get to miss all the excitement." The pout on her mouth annoyed Grace briefly, and she walked over to stand in front of her friend.

  "It's scary, Bree. The only reason I stay is because of the beaches."

  "Yeah, well, Nicole says her parents feel the same way." Great. Now Grace would be alone during the hurricane. They'd really had a lot of fun during the last one, but it hadn't been bad. She went back to rummaging in Bree's makeup to find the lip gloss.

  "Parents are like that. Just be lucky you have parents that worry about you. Mine could care less." Grace didn't like to talk about her mom, but occasionally, she had to bring her up to keep her friends from complaining too much.