He pulled her closer. “You make me feel like a damn hero, Grace Andersen.”
She smiled down at him. “I like that. You make me want to be a hero myself.”
“How many chances are you going to give me?” She straightened up, and he could see the confusion on her face. “How many times can I say the wrong thing or act like a possessive asshole before you move on?”
Grace snorted. Then she brushed his hair off his forehead and he liked the mix of woman who’d refuse to take his crap and still touched him tenderly. “Jeez, it’s like you’re two people. A pushy, demanding rich guy who gets what he wants. And this other guy, the one who’s so…”
He didn’t want to hear whatever she came up with to fill in the blank. “Just the one guy, Grace.”
She nodded. “Well, here’s the thing. I like you. Chances are good you’ll never run out of second chances for saying something dumb. But I’m done thinking of forever. I only want to concentrate on one day at a time.”
Her answer lightened the tension in his shoulders. “Anything I should know about? Something that would get me tossed on my ear with no chance of return?”
She frowned at him while she thought about it. “Well, sure. But… I don’t have a list. Just… don’t be a jerk. And if you are, remember that women love grand gestures, okay? You apologize. If that doesn’t do the trick, try something on a larger scale.” She nodded at him and waited for him to acknowledge her advice. “That can’t fix everything, but I can’t think of many things that a public profession of love wouldn’t address. Just don’t give up.”
Love. He hadn’t thought it. She hadn’t said it. They weren’t at love yet. But there was something about watching her lips form the word that made him want it.
“Apologize? McMinns don’t usually apologize, mainly because we’re almost always right.”
Grace rolled her eyes. “Guess you’ll have to decide how bad you want it, Charlie. When you mess up, that is.”
It was probably a good thing she was already thinking of “when” he messed up, not if. Because it would happen. And then he’d have to fight his genetic predisposition to further escalate or to walk away. He wondered if he could make a better decision this time. He didn’t want to spend the next fifteen years ducking Grace every time he visited the hotel.
The idea that he could just not mess up didn’t really occur to him. Maybe he was making some progress with his perfectionist tendencies.
When Grace settled over him, Charlie did his best to ignore the small warning bell going off in his head. The fact that he’d told her the worst things about himself, things he’d change if he could snap his fingers to do it, and she’d still laughed with him and kissed him and shared everything with him made it clear she wasn’t just any girl. He’d had sex before. He couldn’t imagine laughing in bed with either of his fiancées. He’d been about to marry them and was still unable or unwilling to be himself or talk about his mistakes like he had with Grace after less than a week.
It seemed pretty clear to him what he had to do. A smart man would hold on to her. All he needed was a plan. When she slid her hand under the cover and scraped her nails lightly in a blazing trail down his thigh, he decided he’d get right on that. First thing in the morning.
Chapter Twelve
* * *
WHEN HIS PHONE chirped an alarm, Charlie shifted and smiled as Grace muttered next to him. He was wrapped around her and didn’t want to move. But he was anxious to get home. The sooner he went, the sooner he’d be back. The sooner he’d have another chance to convince Grace to think about the future. With him. Maybe she’d miss him so much while he was gone that she’d be a little more open to some real planning.
Unfortunately, her independence came with some stubbornness. He could see how all this needed to happen. Convincing her would be the hard part.
Even after just one night, he knew he wanted to wake up next to her again. He wanted to feel like this: rested, content—maybe even happy—every day.
“Good morning,” he whispered.
Her eyelashes fluttered open before she twisted around to glare up at him. “Who says? And why is it so early?”
He waved his watch. “Schedule. I’m headed home today. Remember?”
She scooted up and shoved her wild hair away from her face. “You really need to get a hold of what Sunday means, Charlie. Rest.”
He kissed her lips and slid from the bed. “Maybe next weekend. I’m going to miss you, you know. I’ll be in a hurry to get back. That’s the first time I’ve ever said that about this place.”
Grace rubbed the sleep from her eyes and tried her bright smile. “I’m going to miss you too. And I’ll be anxious for you to get back. That’s the first time I’ve said that to any man. But there’s plenty of work to do. I’ll be fine, of course. Randa’s asked me to help her shop. I do like spending someone else’s money.”
He knew she was teasing and maybe doing her best to show him nothing had changed, that everything was normal, but he couldn’t let the opportunity pass. He wanted everything settled. He wanted to get his plan in motion. Having Grace in his quiet farmhouse would make everything perfect. Surely she would see that.
He traced a finger over her delicate features and waited for her to face him. “Marry me. Next Monday, we’ll stand up before a justice of the peace. We’ll celebrate Christmas here, then we’ll go back to Newport and surprise your family with the news. I’ll pay off your credit cards and give you a nice, new limitless one. Imagine going home for Christmas with fancy gifts and the steadiest of all boyfriends, a rich husband. Trust me, I’m good at this planning stuff. You don’t have to think a thing about the future. I’ll just take care of it.”
Grace straightened up and yanked the sheet with her. “God, Charlie, way to ruin a mood. I’ve already explained this to you. Slow down and just… enjoy today. You have to listen! Don’t push me.”
He told himself not to overreact. “How did I ruin the mood? With a marriage proposal?” And maybe his tone wasn’t quite as conciliatory as it should have been. He didn’t feel like getting along. He wanted an answer. He wanted Grace. More than that, he wanted her to just say yes, pack up her stuff, and come with him. After years of making decisions involving big investments, he’d learned to go after what he wanted. Only his mother had ever derailed his plans.
Besides all that, he’d been trying to ignore the low-level anxiety that bubbled when the thought about leaving her here, in this hotel, near the interior decorator built like a linebacker.
Charlie was afraid that if he went away, the idea that she’d be better off with someone who actually stayed in Memphis might occur to her. And he couldn’t stay in Memphis. After a week in this hotel, he was ready to spend some time hiking in the woods around his house, get sawdust in his hair by building his mother a small coffee table, and do some online shopping so that he could spoil Grace with gifts she’d love, and maybe . . . bore himself to death. No wonder she didn’t jump at the chance to come home with him to Newport.
She huffed out a sigh. “Yeah. With a marriage… that wasn’t even a proposal and you know it. We’ve known each other a week. You hate gold diggers. You hardly know me, and I know you well enough that I understand this is just…” She slapped a hand on her thigh. “I don’t even know what to call it, but it’s not… I know what I want. We aren’t there yet and now you’ve rushed it. Rushed me! And after we just talked about this! One day at a time, Charlie. That’s all I can focus on for right now.”
Charlie held up both hands to surrender. She had a point. But she just wasn’t seeing the whole picture. This happened to him a lot. He had a great idea, jumped ahead, and then had to remember to bring everyone else with him. “Wait. You’re right. I did rush. But calm down. Let’s look at this logically.” He knew the right thing to do here. For both of them. But he’d said it all wrong again. He took her hands in his and tried his best reasonable voice. “Grace, I… listen, you don’t plan for the future. I get it. So
you’re worried, unsure. But I do and I was fully prepared to set Willodean on the matchmaking trail when I came to Memphis this time. That was going to be my Christmas gift to her.”
He smiled at her. She didn’t smile back. “But then there was you. And me. And this. Maybe my spreadsheets tell me that it’s time I get married, settle down. I want kids. I want a wife. I need a hobby. I wouldn’t mind if it was you.” Just as soon as he said it, he knew he should never have said that last sentence. Or the one before it. Grace stiffened further and yanked her hand away. “You’re at the same point. Or you were. You wouldn’t have landed in Memphis otherwise. I don’t do patient well, especially when it’s so clear how this will work out if you would just… go along.”
She jumped up to pace beside the bed. “So we should just… take a chance, roll the dice, because we’re both ready to get married? And I should just believe you because you’ve used that smarmy, talk-down-to-the-little-lady tone with me. The one that I absolutely hate?”
Charlie decided to take one more run at logic. “When you told me about your plan to marry a rich man, I was mad and sad. But after a minute of consideration, I can see opportunity. I’m a business man at heart. And really, with an airtight prenuptial agreement and an honest good-faith effort from both of us, a marriage like that could work. There’s really very little risk.”
Grace’s eyebrows shot up before she huffed angrily. “Do you even hear yourself, Charlie?” Her lips were a tight line as she shook her head. “Just because it’s logical to you, doesn’t make it right for me. And I can’t imagine spending years with someone who would treat me like I’m the one with a problem every time we disagree.”
He held up his hands to try to calm her down. “Just… think about it. The prenup wouldn’t take very long to draw up. Maybe a romantic Christmas wedding instead of the justice of the peace? We could do it here.”
Grace covered her face with her hands before she laughed. “You really don’t get it. I like you. I am thinking of next weekend with you, but that’s as far into the future as I’m willing to go right now. And I can’t even imagine what would convince me to try with a guy who’s writing his open door into a legally binding contract. I don’t think… someone who’s pretty sure it won’t last…” She shook her head. “How sad does that make us? Besides, I’m not sure I do want to be married anymore. Maybe I never did. Maybe all I wanted was the beautiful dress and my time in the spotlight. But I think I could be really good at this job. I want to give it a chance, give myself a chance to see if this is it, the thing I’ve been looking for.”
An angry response boiled on the tip of his tongue. He didn’t roam around. He stayed. He didn’t want an escape. He just didn’t want to have any regrets. Things happened. People changed. That was all. The end. But she looked so miserable he forced himself to slow down.
“All right. I understand what you’re saying.” He didn’t but it seemed like the right thing to say. “Nothing has to change today. I just want…” He pulled her back against his chest. “I just want you in my life. I want to take care of you, but… I guess I get it. You don’t want that.”
Grace heaved a sigh. “Charlie, that’s not what you want.” He started to argue but she shook her head and said, “No, you want me to do what you want and when you want it. I get it. Who doesn’t? But you aren’t listening to me. I’m staying here. Memphis is where I should be, not Newport. Not ever.” Some of the tension eased out of her shoulders. “If what you wanted was me in your life, you would think about…”
“I’d think about moving to Memphis? You’ve got to be kidding me. I thought you understood, Grace.” He started to yank up the blanket. “I’ve told you how I feel about this place. How can you even think I could move here? I mean, even for you?”
Grace’s shoulders slumped. “I guess… I think this shows where we are pretty well, Charlie.”
He thumped his head against the wall. “I’m not going to apologize for… offering you everything you wanted when you landed in Memphis and more. You could make us both so happy, Grace. Why are you being so… why can’t you embrace the journey this time?”
Grace sniffed. “Are you mocking me now, Charlie? One disappointment and you have to . . . turn it into this?” She shook her head. “How can you feel so right and be so absolutely wrong for me? Maybe you better go.”
Charlie stood up and yanked on his clothes. “You’re going to change your mind. Well, you should change your mind. You’ll think about this and we’ll talk when I get back.” He had to fight the panicky feeling welling up. Just the idea that the only way to have Grace was to settle in at the Rock’n’Rolla Hotel made his heart pound. Grace didn’t move, didn’t acknowledge his words. When he was dressed, he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her cheek. He whispered, “I promised myself I’d never leave without kissing you good-bye.” Then he left her apartment and wondered where the hell he went from there.
WHEN GRACE FOLLOWED Charlie out to the lobby, she had the overwhelming urge to cry. That impulse was followed by a lot of mental tough love because it was crazy to be attached to Charlie like this after a week. In fact, for her, it was crazy to be that attached to him period. The fact that Charlie could make marriage sound like signing a mortgage said so much about him, none of it really endearing. And her own feelings left her vulnerable. And feeling vulnerable gave her itchy feet because it was harder to hit a moving target. She’d told herself he could leave without her this morning, that making a cleaner break would be easier, but she’d heard his whispered words in her ear and she couldn’t let him leave without one last kiss.
So she watched Charlie hug his mother’s neck. He and Tony shared a tense shift of the chin upward. And KT clapped him on the back and said, “Drive safely.” They shared a wordless exchange and KT said, “And we’ll see you next Friday.”
Charlie smiled. “Yep, I’ll be here, ready to suit up for Saturday weddings.” His eyes met hers, and she could read the promise on his face. He was coming back. He wasn’t giving up on his plan. And a little of her fear eased. There was something about him that made her believe his promises. Right now she was so angry at him for ruining their time together, for being so certain his way was the only way and that she’d come around just exactly like he expected, but she couldn’t stay away.
Even though she knew he was coming back, she was going to miss him. And after the holiday, he’d be off wedding duty in the chapel. Willodean had found a Baptist preacher with a strong set of sideburns who’d jumped at the chance to work in the chapel when needed. So Charlie would have very little reason to come back.
She wanted him close. He made her feel steady. Solid. Grounded. Content.
The logical part of her, the one she’d frequently done her best to drown out, told her those weren’t the best reasons to marry someone.
That same part was happy to give her a list of other reasons why she shouldn’t marry him.
She shivered as she trailed behind him toward his SUV. He tossed his suitcase in the back and then turned to wrap his arms around her. They leaned against each other until Grace could feel the cold burning the end of her nose.
Do you really have to go? That’s what she wanted to ask him. But she wouldn’t.
Don’t go. I’m afraid. She couldn’t say that either because she couldn’t be afraid. Strong. Happy. She would be fine without him. She had a great job, a place of her own, and thanks to Willodean’s insistence, she had a nice budget to spend on event setup. She had her own purpose and she was coming to understand how important that was.
She was even thinking of spending some of the next check on a can of paint for her apartment. She’d never painted, never had her own place or enough desire to make it fit her like she did here in Memphis.
But she wanted Charlie too.
“I guess I have to go.” His face looked set but there was something about his eyes that said maybe he wasn’t sure either.
Determined to be happy, even now, Grace straightened. “Te
xt me. Call me. Think of me.” She stretched up to put a smacking kiss on his lips. She would just pretend everything was going to be okay. Don’t give up on me.
He ran his hands over her hips and then took a step back. “Yes, ma’am.”
Grace stood on the sidewalk and watched him wave and drive away. She was still standing there when Randa joined her on the sidewalk. “Ready to go?” She waved a key ring. “I have Tony’s keys. We can buy anything we want!”
Grace forced a smile but she didn’t fool Randa.
“Come on, Grace. It’s just a week. Absence, fonder, all that jazz.” Randa squeezed her shoulder and jingled the keys again. “Besides, there’s nothing like a little retail therapy to take a girl’s mind off a man, is there?”
Grace laughed. “Possibly alcohol, but this will accomplish more.”
“Christmas gifts!” Randa clapped her hands together. “It’s been… well, I’ve never had a chance like this, a time to buy thoughtful gifts for people who will appreciate them. This is going to be good.”
Grace nodded and Randa tugged her off the sidewalk toward Tony’s truck. Randa had enough money to make the trip fun. There was no sense in moping. Charlie would be back. She’d cope. And this was just the latest leg of the journey.
CHARLIE WAS PRETTY sure he’d made a mistake about fifteen minutes outside of Memphis but tried to tell himself that going home would help him decide what to do. When he got to the quiet of his old house and had a chance to think, he’d see the best way to talk to Grace to convince her that she was overreacting.
But he didn’t believe it any better when he parked beside his porch, rolled out with a groan, and stretched to ease the stiffness in his legs. He walked around and tried to figure out the right words to fix it from hundreds of miles away. Words other than “You were right.”
Santa, Bring My Baby Back Page 18