Take Me Home

by Elks, Carrie

  “You’re right,” she whispered, reaching her hand out to cup his jaw, her palm soft against his rough skin. “I don’t give a damn what Jessica thinks. Or anybody else for that matter.” She rolled onto the balls of her feet, her head tipping up until her lips were a breath from his. “Gray Hartson, you’re making me break all my rules.”

  His brow lifted up. “I’ve already thrown mine out.” He closed his eyes as her mouth brushed his, warmth flooding his body. He slid his good arm around her waist. “Christ, you feel good.”

  When he pulled away, she was smiling, and it about broke him. This pretty, funny, strong woman had chosen him. And she wasn’t afraid to show it.

  “Come on, I’ll let you take me home,” he said, tucking her against his side.

  As they walked out of the hospital, he saw Jessica furiously tapping against her phone.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  “Your record company is pissed,” Marco said down the telephone line. Gray was sitting in the summerhouse, his denim-clad legs stretched out in front of him, his feet rested on a box. “I promised them you’d be ready to record in September. They’re not happy about postponing for two months.”

  “It was an accident,” Gray reminded him. He was used to Marco’s high strung responses. Liked them, even. He paid his manager to panic, so Gray didn’t have to. “Just tell them I’ll be ready in November.”

  “I already did. And they’re still worried, Gray. You left the tour on a high. They don’t want you disappearing for months. They were planning on releasing your next single in December.”

  “We still can. It’ll just be tight, that’s all.” He stretched his injured hand in front of him, wincing at the momentary pain his movement caused. There was no way he could even hold a guitar right now, let alone play. The record company would have to wait.

  “I spoke to the PR department and they’re making a plan in the meantime,” Marco continued. Gray could picture his manager sitting in his office, wearing his usual designer suit and thin, knotted tie, his wire glasses pitched low on the bridge of his nose. He was younger than Gray, but he acted about ten years older. “They want to get you back in the limelight. Let people see what you’re doing back in your home town. Rock Magazine has agreed to do a feature on you. They’re sending a journalist down next week.”

  “What?” Gray sat forward. “I didn’t agree to that.”

  Marco paused. “Okay, let me rephrase. Gray, is it okay if a journalist comes to interview you next week? It’ll be good for your career.”

  “No.”

  A big sigh reverberated through the telephone line. “You gotta throw them a bone. They’ve paid a huge advance for your next album, and now you’ve injured yourself doing something stupid. Something I told you not to do, by the way.”

  A smile lifted the corner of Gray’s lips. “You gonna tell me you told me so?” He knew Marco never would. He was too diplomatic for that.

  “I’m going to tell you to listen to me for a change. Let me earn the money you pay me. Just do this interview and it’ll keep the folks at Vista Records very happy.”

  The thought of a journalist coming to interview him here, in Hartson’s Creek, made Gray want to groan. It was like two worlds colliding, and he had no idea where the fallout would be. In L.A., he was Gray Hartson. Rock singer, Grammy winner, owner of a beautiful house in the hills above Malibu. Over there he was in control of who he was.

  But here? He felt bare. And yeah, some of that was due to Maddie and the way she made him want to be. But there were other things, too. His relationship with his father for one. He never wanted the world to know about that.

  “Okay, I’ll do the interview, but I’ll fly to L.A. to do it,” Gray said, leaning back in his chair. “Tell me the time and date and I’ll be there.”

  Marco hesitated for a moment. “That won’t work,” he said quietly. “They’ve done a whole load of interviews with you in L.A. before. They want an exclusive. And the record company wants to start building the hype for your album. The journalist wants to see you in your home town. Wants the insider scoop regarding the inspiration behind your next album.”

  “And it has to be next week?”

  “Yeah. Rick Charles is flying down. Bringing a photographer with him. I’ll arrange for a hair and makeup artist to be there. And of course I’ll be there.”

  “Of course.” Sarcasm dripped from his tongue.

  Next week. The thought of it brought a heavy discomfort over him. He’d have to speak to Aunt Gina and Becca, not to mention his father. And explain it to Maddie, too, even though he had no idea what she’d make of it.

  “So I’ll tell them to go ahead?” Marco prompted. “We’ll fly in Sunday night for a Monday morning start. They shouldn’t be there for more than a couple of days.”

  “Yeah, tell them it’s on.” Even if it made him feel a little dizzy, like the world was tipping. More than most he knew that interviews and publicity were the price you had to pay to get the kind of success he had. He’d scratch their back, they’d scratch his, and hopefully everybody could move on to the next thing.

  It didn’t stop him feeling weird about it, though.

  * * *

  Gray walked into the diner right as Maddie’s phone lit up. She glanced over at him, her heart skipping a beat as she took in his long, strong body and the tight black t-shirt he was wearing. The tattoos she’d traced more than once with her lips were visible in colorful glory on his thick biceps.

  “Hey.” She smiled as he walked over to the counter. It was the lull between lunch and dinner – only two tables were occupied, and neither customer seemed particularly interested in the rockstar who’d just walked in.

  “Hey.” He leaned on the counter. “I just got back from getting my bandage changed. Thought I’d soothe the pain with some pie.”

  Her grin widened. “You want me to kiss it better?”

  He leaned closer, catching her eye. “I can think of a better place for those pretty lips.”

  “That’s because you’re dirty.” She lifted an eyebrow. “I’ll have you know this is a reputable establishment, Mr. Hartson.”

  He tipped his head to the side, his lip curling up. “So what are you doing working here?”

  “I’ll ignore that question and get you some pie.” She reached for a plate. “How’s the hand? Does it hurt a lot?”

  “Not too bad. The wound is clean which is good, and I took some painkillers before I went. I’d still like that kiss though.” He winked.

  “Later.”

  “I’ll hold you to that.”

  Her phone lit up again, her sister’s name flashing across it. Maddie sighed and slid it into her jeans pocket. “It’s Ashleigh,” she said. “I’m guessing the word is out.” She pressed her lips together in an attempt to smile. “It’s time to face the music.”

  “You not going to answer her?”

  “I’ll ask her to meet me after work,” Maddie said, her stomach dropping. “There are some things that should only be done face to face.”

  “You’re going to tell her about us?” He tipped his head to the side, his eyes scanning her face. God, he was good looking. Every time their gazes met she felt a jolt of electricity shoot through her. All she wanted to do was curl up with him and pretend the rest of the world didn’t exist.

  But it felt like everybody else had other ideas.

  “Yeah,” she said softly. “I am.” And it scared her to death. Not because of Ashleigh’s response, but because she’d finally be admitting to having feelings for Gray. Strong ones. Ones that could hurt her if this went wrong.

  Oh god, she didn’t want to think about that.

  “Then I’ll be there with you.”

  Her eyes widened. “You’re kidding?”

  “Nope. If you’re telling Ashleigh about us, then I want to be there to support you.” He shrugged, as though he was talking about coming over for dinner, rather than the kind of family-ageddon Maddie imagined it was going to be.

>   “That’s really sweet,” she told him. “But she’ll take it so much worse if you’re there. I should tell her alone.”

  He looked at her, and she saw questions behind his deep blue eyes. She waited for him to protest again, but instead he slowly nodded. “Okay. But if she goes too crazy, feel free to tell her it’s all my fault for seducing you.”

  “You think you seduced me?” Maddie asked, the smile returning to her face. He grinned back at her, and the intensity of it took her breath away.

  “Yeah,” he said, closer still. It was a good thing there was a counter between them or she’d probably be rubbing herself on him like a cat in heat. “I seduced you. And the memories keep me company at night.”

  “Good job you’re right handed,” she whispered, and he laughed out loud. “And for the record, I let you seduce me.”

  “I know.” He reached out to tuck a stray hair behind her ear. She shivered at the warmth of his touch. “I’m under no illusions who’s in charge here, Maddie.” He looked at her with heated eyes. “You’ve got me wrapped around your finger.”

  “I do?” she breathed.

  “Yeah. And I like it too goddamned much.”

  The door opened again, and this time two chattering women walked in and headed for a booth.

  “I should go take some orders,” Maddie said. “Before Murphy gives me the boot.”

  Gray pushed himself off the counter. “Call me later. Once you’ve talked to Ashleigh.”

  “Okay.”

  “And if you want to let me seduce you again, I’m up for that, too.”

  She laughed. “I’ll bear that in mind. You want that pie now?”

  “Yeah, but I’d better take it to go. I’ve got some things to do this afternoon. A reporter’s flying in next week to write up a profile on me.”

  “You’re doing an interview here?” Maddie asked him.

  “Yeah. Rock Magazine wants to talk about the next album, and the publicity will make my record company happy. Because currently they are pretty angry about this.” He waved his injured hand.

  “When are they coming?” A wave of alarm washed over her.

  “On Monday. And don’t look so worried. They’re just here to talk about the music and my upbringing.”

  “Okay,” she said softly, but the anxious feeling didn’t disappear. If anything it increased.

  “I wasn’t planning on talking about us,” he told her. “If that’s what’s worrying you.”

  She exhaled, the warm air rushing from her mouth. “Thank you,” she said. “I’m not sure I’m ready for that.”

  A fleeting expression crossed his face. One she couldn’t quite put her finger on. Then he smiled again and it disappeared.

  “I’ll get you that pie,” she said, putting the plate back under the counter and grabbing a cardboard box. She lifted the glass lid up and cut a wedge. “You want whipped cream?”

  “Nah. Got to watch what I’m eating before a photo shoot.” He tapped his flat-as-heck stomach and winked.

  And all those fears and worries disappeared, replaced by a neediness that made her thighs ache and her heart race like a stallion.

  He slid a five dollar bill into her hand. “I’ll see you later, Maddie,” he told her, his eyes soft as he squeezed his fingers against hers. Then he pulled his hand away, grabbed his to go box, and walked out of the diner with long, sure strides.

  Yeah, she’d see him later, if Ashleigh didn’t kill her first.

  * * *

  “You lied to me,” Ashleigh said, her eyes flashing with anger. “I specifically asked you if there was something going on between you two and you told me there wasn’t. Do you know how it felt when Jess called to tell me what she saw at the hospital? The whole town is laughing at me. At the fact that you’re messing around with the guy who broke my heart.”

  Maddie swallowed hard. Her sister had every right to be angry at her.

  “You’re my sister,” Ashleigh continued. “And sisters support each other. They don’t go sneaking around and lie to each other, and do God knows what else. After everything I’ve done for you, you turned around and stab me in the heart.”

  “I know there’s history between you and Gray,” Maddie said, her voice tentative. “But it all happened a long time ago. Can’t you let bygones be bygones?”

  “It’s not about me and Gray. It’s about me and you. What’s going to happen when Gray goes back to L.A.? Are you going with him?”

  “I don’t know. We haven’t talked about that.”

  “So you’d leave?” Ashleigh asked, her voice rising an octave. “You’d walk away from mom and me? And from Carter and Grace? You’d break their hearts.”

  “I’d never want to hurt anybody. And I’m not planning on going anywhere right now.”

  “So you’re going to have a long distance relationship?” Ashleigh’s laugh was short and humorless. “You really think a virile man like Gray would settle for that? You’re crazy, Maddie. He’ll end up hurting you the way he hurt me. The way you were hurt when you went to New York.”

  Maddie’s chest tightened at her sister’s words. “He won’t hurt me,” she whispered.

  “That’s what I thought, too. All those times he held me in his arms and told me we were forever.” Ashleigh’s eyes sparkled with tears. “He made me promises, and then he broke them. You saw what he did to me. You saw how much I hurt. And you’re hurting me again by being with him.”

  “I don’t want to hurt you,” Maddie told her. She reached out, tried to take Ashleigh’s hand, but her sister pulled away. “You have Michael. And Grace and Carter. If things hadn’t ended with you and Gray the way they did, you wouldn’t be their mom.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Ashleigh insisted. “You’re my sister. You’re supposed to be on my side. Always.”

  “I am. I am on your side.”

  “Then end it with Gray. Let him go back to L.A. and we’ll go back to the way things were. We were happy, Maddie. We all were. I have my family. You have mom and your music and the diner. It works for us. Don’t let Gray ruin it.”

  Maddie blinked. “It worked for you. I’m not sure it did for me. It feels like I’ve been living in the dark for so long. Then Gray came along and let the light in. I don’t want to go back to who I was. I like my life better this way.”

  “Oh for god’s sake. The next thing you’ll be telling me is that you love him.”

  Maddie swallowed hard.

  “You don’t love him, do you?” Ashleigh asked, her narrowed eyes boring into Maddie’s. “Tell me you’re not in love with Gray Hartson.”

  Maddie’s thoughts were full of him. Of the softness of his eyes whenever he spoke to her. The heat in his hands whenever he touched her bare skin. And those kisses. Those teasing, heartbreaking kisses. They filled her soul in a way she’d never experienced before.

  “I have feelings for him,” she admitted.

  Ashleigh shook her head. “Does he know what happened at Ansell?”

  “I haven’t told him yet.”

  “Then those feelings you have mean nothing. If you don’t feel safe enough to tell him everything about you then it’s just pretend, isn’t it?” Ashleigh leaned forward, her voice urgent. “If you can’t rely on him to be there for you, what’s the point? And you can’t rely on him, Maddie. The way I couldn’t rely on him. He’ll use you up and toss you aside, and I don’t know if you’ll recover from that a second time.” She folded her arms across her chest. “And if you think I’ll be there to help you when he leaves you, you’re wrong. I saved you once, but I won’t do it again.”

  There was hurt in Ashleigh’s eyes, and it killed Maddie to see it. “I’m so grateful for everything you’ve done for me,” she said, her heart aching. “And I’ve done everything I can to pay you back. I’ve been there for you, too. Supported you when you had Carter and Grace. Taken care of mom so you didn’t have to worry.” Maddie took a deep breath in. “But I can’t do this for you. I can’t give up my one chance at hap
piness.”

  Ashleigh’s expression was tight. “If you want to throw your family away for some guy we all know is bad for you, go ahead. But I won’t be here to watch it. Nor will Carter and Grace.” She unfolded her arms and turned on her heel, her blonde hair swinging behind her as she stomped across the room. Her stiletto heels banged against the wooden floor. Wrenching the door open, she turned back to Maddie, her eyes tight and dark. “I hope you’re happy,” she told her. “Because you’ve just broken my heart.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  “Your sister’s a bitch. That’s all there is to it.” Laura crossed her legs, her bare toes skimming the water rising and falling against the harbor wall. She and Maddie were sitting on the old flagstones, their jeans rolled up, their shoes and socks placed carefully beside them. It had been warm today, enough for this Friday’s Chairs to be full to bursting with townsfolk. Behind them, they could hear the rumble of gossip from the adults clustered in circles, and the shouts of the children as they played makeshift football games.

  “She’s right, though. Family should come first.” Maddie traced a circle in the water with her toes, watching as it disappeared. “I upset her.”

  “Over a guy she used to date when she was a teenager?” Laura said, shaking her auburn curls. “That was a decade ago. They were kids. Jeez, if I wasn’t allowed to date any guy one of my family or friends used to crush on, I would’ve been a spinster for the rest of my life.” She raised an eyebrow.

  “Oh shut up.” Maddie nudged her with her shoulder. “Guys used to cluster around you like flies before you got married.”

  “Yeah. Like flies cluster around manure.” Laura shook her head, though Maddie could tell she was biting down a smile. “Anyway, we’re not talking about me. Your sister has no right to tell you who you can or can’t date. It’s none of her business.”