Amazing Gracie

by Sherryl Woods

  “Never mind.”

  Kevin grinned. “Come on. What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue?”

  Gracie held on to her temper with a very tight rein. “Could you excuse me, please?”

  He didn’t budge.

  “Kevin!”

  “Let her out of there this instant, young man,” Delia ordered.

  Kevin slid out of the booth and allowed Gracie to pass. She aimed straight for the restroom.

  “See what you’ve done,” Abby chided. “You made her cry.”

  Gracie heard the preteen’s footsteps coming after her. By the time Abby caught up with her, Gracie was already splashing cold water on her face to cover the stupid tears.

  “Uncle Kevin can be a jerk sometimes,” Abby told her, watching her reflection worriedly. “He just likes to tease. He only does it ’cause he likes you.”

  “I know,” Gracie said. “I can’t imagine why I let him get to me.”

  “It’s because all those guys sent their bills and stuff to Uncle Kevin, like you don’t have a brain in your head. I’d be ticked, too. Mama says some men just can’t cope with a woman who’s smart. I used to ask her sometimes if that meant I ought to play dumb, but she said no. She said if they weren’t smart enough to love me the way I am, then I’d be sick of them in no time anyway.”

  Gracie grinned. “Your mother is a very smart woman.”

  Abby smiled back. “Yeah, she is. Too bad Daddy couldn’t cope with it. Instead, he ends up with an airhead like Sara Lynn. He only likes her because she drives him crazy. If he ever had to spend ten consecutive minutes talking to her, he’d realize she’s clueless.” Her expression turned wistful. “Do you think that’s why he’s been calling Mama more lately?”

  “I suppose,” she said carefully. Gracie figured she was treading on thin ice, poking her nose into family matters, but Abby clearly wanted to talk. “Do you think he’d ever go back to your mom?”

  “I used to want that, but now I’m not so sure. I mean if he doesn’t get it, if he can’t even see what he lost, who wants him, right?”

  Gracie had the feeling Abby was talking about her own relationship with her father now. “He’ll always be you dad, Abby. You don’t stop loving him, just because he doesn’t know how to love you back.”

  Abby sighed. “Yeah, I know, but it’s hard sometimes. Uncle Kevin is so cool. Why couldn’t my dad have been more like him?”

  “Sorry, kiddo. It just doesn’t work that way.”

  “You like Uncle Kevin, though, don’t you? I mean, I know he made you mad just now, but deep down you really like him, right?”

  This time it was Gracie’s turn to sigh. As irritating and annoying as Kevin could be, the truth was that deep down she more than liked him. She couldn’t help wondering, though, if her dream of turning his aunt’s house into a bed-and-breakfast wasn’t clashing with some dream of his own, maybe one he hadn’t even acknowledged to himself.

  “Gracie?”

  “Yes, sweetie.”

  “You didn’t say. Do you like Uncle Kevin?”

  “When he’s not being a pest, yes, I like him very much.”

  “All right!” Abby enthused just as the restroom door opened.

  “What on earth is taking so long in here?” Delia demanded. She scanned Gracie’s face intently. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Well, then, get on back out here and finish your lunch. Time’s awasting.” Her expression turned innocent. “Oh, and Kevin said maybe he could spare some time this afternoon to help us pick out wallpaper.”

  “Oh, did he?” Gracie muttered. “How very special of him.”

  Abby and Delia exchanged another one of their knowing looks.

  “I saw that,” Gracie said.

  “Oh, don’t mind us,” Delia said. “We’re just a couple of fools for love.”

  Love? Gracie swallowed hard. That was absurd. She didn’t love Kevin. Half the time she didn’t even like him very much, despite what she’d conceded to Abby.

  She squeezed Delia’s hand. “Stick to picking out wallpaper, okay? I’ll find my own man.”

  “If you say so,” Delia said, not looking the least bit daunted. “Seems to me, though, that you already have.”

  Helen spread half a dozen rough sketches along the board that spanned two sawhorses in the middle of what would be the parlor of the renovated house. Right now, it looked more like a war zone.

  “This was tough to do without a name for the place,” she said pointedly.

  “I know,” Gracie apologized. “That has been brought to my attention more than once today. I’ll think about it overnight. I promise.”

  “I could help,” Kevin offered, grinning at her. “Maybe provide a little inspiration.”

  “More likely a distraction.”

  “I don’t know. You want it to be romantic, don’t you? I can definitely put you on that wavelength.”

  “In your dreams,” she shot back, still irritated by those bills he’d received and delivered along with a lot of unsolicited advice.

  “Children, children,” Delia scolded. “This isn’t helping.”

  “I’m sorry,” Gracie apologized at once. “You’re right. And Helen, these ideas of yours are wonderful. I especially like this pen-and-ink sketch. It looks old-fashioned and romantic and elegant.”

  Helen seemed startled by the praise. “It’s just an idea. It’s not as if I’m artist or anything.”

  “I like it just the way it is,” Gracie insisted. “There’s a simplicity and charm to it.”

  Kevin peered over her shoulder, his hands on her waist. “I like it, too. Helen, I never knew you could draw.”

  “I dabble, that’s all,” she said, clearly embarrassed by all the praise. “Max said he liked it, too.”

  “You’ve shown this to Max?” Gracie asked, uncertain how she felt about that. It did explain why he’d left half a dozen messages for her over the past forty-eight hours. She hadn’t returned his calls. Obviously, though, he’d been shaken by the evidence that she was truly settling in Virginia.

  Helen nodded. “I faxed all of them to him just to get his opinion. I didn’t want to bring you something that was so far off the mark you’d laugh.”

  “Why on earth would we laugh?” Delia demanded. “We’re all winging it here, except for Gracie. She knows the hotel business. The rest of us are just along for the fun of it.”

  “What did Max have to say?” Gracie asked, proving once and for all that she cared about Max’s professional opinion.

  “He was very encouraging. He seemed a little surprised about the B & B, though.” She studied Gracie worriedly. “I’m sorry if I let the cat out of the bag.”

  “Never mind. I suppose he would have found out sooner or later anyway.”

  “I was sure you’d mentioned it to him while he was here.”

  “No, I hadn’t, but it’s okay, Helen. Really.”

  “He wants what’s best for you, you know that, don’t you?”

  “Only if it doesn’t inconvenience him,” Gracie said. “I imagine he told you this whole idea was insane.”

  “He doesn’t think that at all,” Helen protested. “He thought it was a terrific idea.”

  Gracie hadn’t realized she’d been holding her breath until she felt a sigh of relief shudder through her. “He said that?” She glanced up and caught Kevin’s expression. “Okay, so his opinion matters. Sue me.”

  “Hey, darlin’, I never said a word.”

  “You didn’t have to. Your expression said it all.”

  “Could we get back to the point,” Delia coaxed. “Are we going with this ad or not?”

  “I vote yes,” Abby said. “I think it’s the best, Aunt Helen.”

  “Thank you, sweetie.” She looked at Kevin. “Do you have an opinion, too?”

  “An opinion, but no vote,” he said. “I like it.”

  “Me, too,” Delia chimed in. “Gracie?”

  She nodded slowly. “I love it. As s
oon as we settle on a name to plug in there, you can finalize it. I’ll come up with a list of publications we need to put it in.”

  “When on earth will you have time to do that?” Delia demanded. “You’re here practically twenty-four hours a day.”

  “In the middle of the night would be my guess,” Kevin said, his gaze intent. “I’m recommending a break.”

  “I don’t have time for a break. I just got back from lunch. There are a million things left on my list for today.”

  “Forget the damned list. And I’m not talking about a little break,” he retorted. “I’m talking about an entire afternoon and evening off.” He held out his hand. “Let’s go.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Of course you can,” Delia said.

  “The wallpaper samples,” Gracie protested.

  “Will be here in the morning.”

  “There are paint chips, too. And I need to go through those catalogues for kitchen appliances.”

  “They’ll all be here,” Delia repeated. “Our target date for opening is not until Labor Day weekend.”

  “That’s only six weeks away,” Gracie pointed out. “We don’t have time to spare.”

  “Abby and I can begin sorting through this stuff,” Delia said.

  “And I can help,” Helen added. “I’ve redecorated my house so many times I can do it blindfolded. I think that ad proves we’re on the same wavelength, don’t you? Trust me.”

  Kevin’s hand was still outstretched. “Well?” he said.

  “You’ll get even more done tomorrow if you’re well rested,” Delia reminded her. “A nice long break will clear the cobwebs.”

  “Okay, okay,” Gracie conceded, and placed her hand in Kevin’s.

  The minute she did, the instant her skin made contact with his, she knew with absolute certainty that the one thing she wouldn’t be getting that night was rest.

  19

  The trip back to Gracie’s took only a few minutes, but Kevin used the time to remind himself that it made absolutely no sense whatsoever to sleep with a woman who’d practically stolen something right out from under him.

  He told himself Gracie couldn’t be trusted.

  He told himself a whole lot of things, but they didn’t add up to a hill of beans when compared to this driving need to make love to her. He’d wanted her for so long now, denied himself for so long that the aching had almost become a part of him.

  He parked in front of her house and sat perfectly still, his hands clamped around the steering wheel to prevent himself from reaching for her.

  “Gracie, you can say no now.”

  She peered at him with wide, innocent eyes. “Oh? What’s the question?”

  He glanced over and caught the amused smile tugging on her lips. “If you don’t know that, darlin’, then I really should let you out right here and be on my way.”

  She was the one who reached then. She touched her hand lightly to his forearm and sent a jolt straight through him.

  “Don’t go,” she pleaded softly.

  He felt some of the tension ease out of him then only to be replaced by another sort of tension entirely. “Do you have any idea how much I want you?” he murmured, surprised by it himself. He’d been surrounded by neediness for so long now, he’d never had time to indulge in it himself. He’d always pushed his own desires aside to take care of everyone else.

  “Maybe I don’t,” she teased. “You’ve done an excellent job of controlling it.”

  “You have no idea.”

  “I wish you’d stop.”

  “Stop what?”

  “Controlling it.”

  He grinned at the plaintive note in her voice. He wondered if she even knew it was there. A little anticipation served its purposes apparently. He leaned back against the door and studied her.

  She was a mess, with streaks of paint on her clothes and her hair tousled. He thought she looked charming, delectable. She also looked as nervous as a new bride, jittery and excited at the same time. A smoldering sensuality burned in her eyes.

  “Now the way I see it,” he said, “we could go about this nice and slow.”

  “Slower than this?” She sounded thoroughly horrified by the suggestion.

  Kevin grinned. “Afraid you’ll change your mind if I give you too much time?”

  “I’m afraid I’ll be too old to remember what’s happening,’ she said dryly.

  The teasing startled him, challenged him. “Oh, you’ll remember,” he vowed. “I guarantee that.”

  “Big talk, mister, but I sure don’t see much action. A couple of paltry little kisses hardly amounts to a seduction. I’ve about given up.”

  “Paltry little kisses!” Kevin protested, rising to the bait.

  “Hardly memorable at all,” she insisted.

  Even though he recognized that it was exactly what she’d intended, his ego kicked in with a vengeance. “I guess slow isn’t the way to go then,” he said, reaching for her.

  His mouth settled against hers. He could have been satisfied with that much alone…for a time. The brush of silk against his lips was erotic enough, but he remembered the possibility of more. He recalled the taste of her and simply had to prove that memory served him correctly. That, too, could have been enough to last…for a bit.

  But then she slipped her hands into his hair and molded her body to his, and then the sweet, summery scent of her surrounded him and nothing they could possibly do in the front seat of a car was even remotely close to enough. Years ago he could have managed…something, but that wasn’t what he wanted with Gracie. He wanted to savor every second. He wanted to explore and excite and inflame.

  And he sure as heck didn’t want to do it in public.

  “Time out,” he murmured, his breath catching as if he’d sprinted a dozen laps around a ballfield, instead of pacing himself.

  Her reluctance to move away was plain. So was her confusion.

  “We’re taking this inside,” he explained. “I don’t want the entire town to know by sunset that you and I were caught making love in the front seat of a car.”

  “And you don’t suppose they’ll know we went inside in the nick of time.”

  He sighed. “Let ’em use their imaginations all they want. At least there won’t be witnesses.”

  She shot him an impish look. “I’ll race you,” she said, already scrambling out the other side.

  Kevin stared after her for a second, then burst out laughing. Amazing, he thought as he followed. The woman was absolutely amazing.

  Gracie had never been more afraid in her life than she was on that short race for the house. She knew that Kevin had doubts about her, about them. She knew that he was as commitment-shy as any man she’d ever seen, thanks mostly to the slew of family commitments he already had. Even the few yards from car to house could give him long enough to think things through, to change his mind.

  He was, above all, an honorable man. She knew that as surely as she knew that the sun rose in the east every morning. Would he conclude that sleeping with her under such circumstances defied his moral code?

  She waited at the back door, her heart in her throat. When he didn’t bolt after her, she was sure that his first words would be a polite and hastily concocted excuse for leaving. Then she saw the look in his eyes, the flaring of heat. His desire hadn’t waned at all. The only question was whether his head would win out over his heart.

  He came through the back door and shoved it closed with an emphatic crash. All the while, his gaze was locked with hers. Gracie swallowed hard and waited, stomach knotted, pulse skittering wildly.

  “I’m not starting over in the kitchen,” he warned quietly.

  That was just dandy with her, as long as they didn’t waste too much time getting to…wherever. She nodded.

  Honor warred with yearning. She could see that much in his eyes.

  “Last chance,” he said.

  Fearing he was the one who’d take the out, if she let him, she took a step closer
and touched a hand to his cheek. His skin was burning hot, as fiery as the glint in his eyes. Her caress, light as it was, was apparently message enough. This time he nodded, his satisfaction and relief apparent.

  And then he scooped her into his arms and aimed straight for the stairs, unerringly finding her bedroom and kicking that door shut behind him, as if he feared that the gossips might be lurking outside that, too.

  It didn’t seem to bother him a bit that she probably had paint on the tip of her nose and splattered on her clothes. Nor did he seem too worried about the tangle her hair was likely in. In fact, he was gazing at her as if she were Cinderella all dressed up in a dazzling gown for the ball. Suddenly that was what she wanted to be. She wanted to come to him after she’d been polished and buffed and scented with something wickedly provocative.

  “I think I should take a shower,” she murmured, touching her hair and trying effectively to rake her fingers through it.

  His eyes lit up. “Could be interesting,” Kevin said. “I could join you.”

  “I don’t think so. The whole purpose is to clean up so you’ll see me at my best.”

  He chuckled. “Too late, darlin’. Actually, I kind of like this look. It’s…”

  “Messy?”

  “Approachable. Until today I’m not sure I’ve ever seen you when you weren’t at your best.”

  “You seem to have forgotten the first cooking debacle.”

  His eyes lit with amusement. “Ah, yes, that was a close second.”

  Gracie stared at him, horrified. “I look worse than that? I really am going to take a shower.”

  “Not without me.”

  “Think of it this way,” she coaxed. “I’ll come out all soft and silky and smelling like something other than sawdust and sweat.”

  He brushed her hair back from her face and kissed her neck. His tongue touched a spot behind her ear and sent a jolt straight through her.

  “No trace of sawdust there,” he assessed thoughtfully. “Maybe a hint of roses.”

  Gracie stared at him in wonder. “You really think I’m beautiful just the way I am, don’t you?”