by Allie Able
I get the cupcake box, that I brought from the bakery, off of the passenger seat and get out of my car, before I change my mind and drive home. I walk up the front steps and tentatively knock on the door. I don't know why I'm so nervous. Grant has been to my house a few times now, but I guess it's just the thought of being with him outside the comfort of my own home.
Grant answers the door looking handsome as always. He is wearing a soft black t-shirt and a pair of gray shorts. His hair is still wet from the shower and he has my favorite smile on his face, the one that shows off his dimples. Even though I'm nervous as hell, I can't help but smile back.
“Hey, beautiful,” he says, leaning in to kiss my cheek.
“Hey, I brought cupcakes,” I respond, holding up the box.
If possible, his smile gets even bigger, as he takes the box from me. “Thank you,” he says, stepping back and holding the door open for me.
As I step inside, I take a moment to look around the space, He has a small table right inside the door, that holds a bowl for his keys and wallet. The room is painted a soft cream color and is sparsely decorated with just a couch, recliner, and a huge TV. I notice a fireplace, in the corner, that has a few pictures hanging above it. I want to go over and get a better look at them, but I don't want to be intrusive.
He shuts the door behind us and leads me through the dining room, that holds a beautiful wood table, and into the kitchen. His kitchen is about the size of mine, but has newly updated appliances. There is a sliding glass door on the far wall, that I assume leads to the backyard. In the middle of his kitchen, there is an island with two stools in front of it.
“Do you want a glass of wine?” he asks, while opening the refrigerator.
“Thank you. That would be great.”
I watch as he opens the bottle and gets a glass down out of the cabinet. For a man who doesn't drink wine, I'm surprised he has wine glasses. I raise an eyebrow at him in question and he chuckles.
“My sister drinks wine,” he explains.
I nod my head and smile, as he hands me my glass. He puts the bottle back and grabs himself a beer.
“Okay, so I have the steaks marinating and I thought we would have a salad and garlic potatoes with it. Is that okay with you?” he asks.
I nod my head, “That sounds great. What do you need me to do?”
He turns and gets a bag of potatoes out of the pantry and two cutting boards. “You want to help me cut the potatoes or do you want to make the salad?”
I pick the salad and he gets the lettuce, out of the refrigerator, along with carrots, celery, and tomatoes and hands it all to me. We work in compatible silence, until I am finished with the salad and he is putting the potatoes in the oven. He puts the bowl of salad in the refrigerator and gets the bottle of wine out, to refills my glass, while getting himself another beer.
He grabs a bowl out of the fridge and holds it up, “Do you want to come sit in the backyard with me, while I cook on the grill?”
I nod my head in response and follow him to the sliding glass door. His backyard is large and has a privacy fence. He has a small deck, that holds a grill and a glass table with chairs around it. I sit down at the table and watch him as he lights the gas grill and lays the steaks on it, before shutting the lid. He comes to sit across from me and for a moment we just stare at each other.
“Why are you so nervous?” he asks, with a small grin.
I laugh and shake my head. “Is it that obvious?” I ask.
He nods and takes a drink of his beer, “You've barely said anything, sweetheart.”
I shake my head again, not knowing what to say.
“Come here, Summer,” he says, while moving his chair back and setting his beer down.
I hesitate, not knowing what he wants. When I look back up at his face, his eyes are gentle and understanding. I set my glass down and walk towards him. When I get close, he reaches for my hand and pulls me down, into his lap. I let out a yelp of surprise and he chuckles. He holds me close to him and between the smell of his cologne and his steady heartbeat, against my ear, I instantly feel calmer. He hand travels up and down my back in a soothing gesture. I look up at him and see his eyes are already fixed on me.
“Are you okay?” he asks quietly. I love how understanding and patient he is with me. It's almost like he knows what I need, even before I do.
“Yeah, I'm okay,” I whisper.
“Good. I'm going to kiss you now. Okay?”
I nod my head and watch, as his lips descend on mine. I relax into him, enjoying the gentle, but firm way his lips move against mine. We stay that way for a few minutes, until Grant has to get up and flip the steaks.
* * *
I am much more relaxed through dinner. I talk to him about the bakery and Jenna, my new hire that is working out spectacularly, and he tells me about all of the new construction contracts, that his company just got hired to do. When we have finished dinner, we make our way towards the living room. Since the night is cool, Grant builds a fire in the fireplace, before sitting down beside me on the couch. He pulls me over to him so that my head is resting on his shoulder.
“I've been meaning to ask you how dinner with your Aunt went the other night?” he says, as his hand moves up and down my side.
I take a sip of my wine to distract me from the feel of his hands, before I answer. “It went good. I love getting together with her and her friend, Korean,” I hesitate, before finishing on a whisper, “I told them about you.”
He hums low in his throat. “And what did you say about me?” he whispers back.
I look up at him, so that I can see his eyes. “I told them that we were dating. I told them how sweet you are to me and how much I like you.” I can feel my cheeks get warm, admitting that small truth to him.
“I like you too, beautiful,” he says, with a tender smile, before bending to take my mouth in a sweet kiss. He pulls back and takes my wine glass setting it on the table, before arranging me so that I'm straddling his lap. He watches his hands as he runs them through my hair.
“My parents want to meet you,” he mutters, looking back to my face.
My eyes go wide and I momentarily panic. He must have known I was going to have this kind of reaction, because he resumes running his fingers through my hair with one hand, while his other hand rubs small comforting circles on my back.
“When?” I ask.
“In a few weeks, maybe we could go have dinner at their house? It's up to you, sweetheart. If you don't want to, we won't. Simple as that.”
I silently think this over for a minute. I would love to meet Grant's parents. The only problem is that I can be so awkward sometimes. I didn't like Ryan's parents. They were just not nice people, but I know Grant's parents won't be like that and I feel like this is important to Grant.
Finally I nod my head. “Okay,” I whisper, “I would love to meet your parents.”
He smiles big and I trace his dimples with my fingertip.
“Thank you,” he says, turning his head and kissing the palm of my hand.
I run my fingers through the hair on the back of his neck, before pulling him into a kiss. I open my mouth and his tongue meets mine in a slow caress. After a minute, he pulls back nibbling on my bottom lip, before looking up into my eyes. His are hooded and full of lust, and I imagine mine look the same.
“There is one more thing that I need to talk to you about and then I want to take you to bed.” I blush, but nod my head in agreement. “Next Monday we will be starting the renovations on your bedroom and bathroom. How do you feel about staying with me for a week or so, just until they are finished?”
It takes a minute for my lust filled brain to catch on to what he saying, but when it does, I start shaking my head. “I don't want to impose on you Grant. I could ask Lexie or get a hotel room for a little while,” I reply.
“You wouldn't be imposing on me, Summer. I would love for you to stay here. If you really don't want to, I will understand, but if you're ju
st saying that because you think it will bother me, trust me when I say that having you in my home, in my bed, would not be a hardship for me,” he explains with a smile.
I think about what he is saying for a second, before I nod my head in agreement. “Okay, but promise me that, If I start to get in your way or if I start to annoy you, you will let me know,” I demand.
He laughs and pulls me closer to him. “You wouldn't ever be in my way or annoy me, but okay, I promise.” He kisses me, again, effectively ending our conversation. As he picks me up and carries me down the hall to his bedroom, I can't help but wonder what in the hell I just got myself into.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Grant
THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY, I WALK into Summer's bakery and see Lexie bent over, cleaning the display cases.
She looks up when she hears the bell on the door ring and gives me a huge smile. “Hey, Grant!” She sets the dish towel down and walks over to me. “What are you doing here?” she asks, while giving me a hug.
“I'm taking Summer to dinner,” I respond, smiling down at her.
Summer has been staying with me for a week, while we do the renovations in her bedroom. I know she was apprehensive about staying with me at first, but I think she is comfortable now that she is settled in.
“Of course you are,” Lexie says, with a wink.
I look over her shoulder, when I see the kitchen doors swing open and Summer walks out, holding a bunch of different colored ribbons in her hand.
She looks up and smiles, when she sees me. “Hey, you're early. I still have about another hour, before we close,” she says, as she sets the ribbon down and walks towards me.
It has only been a few hours since I woke up with her wrapped around me, in my bed, but I've missed her. I want to pull her to me and feel her soft lips against mine, but I don't want to embarrass her, so I decide to wait and see how she greets me. I'm pleasantly surprised, when she lifts onto her tip toes and touches her lips to mine. Although the contact is brief, it still warms me to know that she is okay with showing everyone we are together.
“Hey, beautiful,” I whisper, for her ears only, as I pull her into a hug. I hear a gagging noise behind Summer and I look over her shoulder to see Lexie, making an exaggerated look of disgust.
“Ugh, ya'll are so lovey dovey,” she says, but I can see her joy for us, shining in her eyes.
Summer laughs and pulls back, so that she can look up at me. “I don't want you to have to wait around here for another hour. Do you want me to just meet you at the restaurant?” she asks, but before I can answer and tell her that I'm fine just waiting on her, Lexie is answering.
“Summer, why don't you go ahead and go? Jenna is here and all we really have left to do is clean up. I don't think we are suddenly going to have a mad rush at this time of night.”
I watch Summer as she hesitates. I know her bakery means everything to her and as far as I know, the only times she has left, while they were open, is to go to the bank or go get lunch.
“I can get some coffee and hang around here if you have some work to do. You don't have to leave early if you don't want to, sweetheart,” I reassure her.
She smiles at me and then shakes her head, “No, it's fine. I think Jenna and Lexie can handle it. Let me go tell Jenna and grab my purse, then I'll be ready to go. Okay?”
I nod my head and kiss her cheek before she turns to walk towards the back. “Take your time.”
Lexie is still standing at the counter smiling, when Summer walks by her and goes through the kitchen doors.
“Ya'll are disgustingly cute,” she says, as the doors to the kitchen close.
I look around the shop and see two girls, sitting in the corner booth, both on their laptops are out in front of them and they aren't paying any attention to us. I walk closer to the counter and smile. “I'm going to take that as a compliment,” I say, smirking at her.
“You should,” she agrees.
I have never been one to talk about my love life, not even to a close friend like Lexie, so I change the subject. “I heard your brother is coming home for a visit in about two weeks.”
She nods her head and claps her hands together, while jumping up and down. “Yes! Mom called me yesterday to let me know. I'm so excited. It's been forever since I've seen him.”
I laugh at her dramatics.
Summer walks back through the kitchen doors and looks at Lexie in confusion. “Who haven't you seen in forever?” she asks.
“My brother. He is coming home for a visit in about two weeks.” Lexie says, excitement still pouring off of her.
“That's awesome,” Summer says, smiling and giving her a hug. She looks over at me, as she pulls away from Lexie. “That is right around your birthday. We will have to celebrate.”
I'm so surprised she remembered, I'm momentarily struck speechless and all I can do is nod. I remember every detail Summer tells me and it warms me to know she may do the same.
She takes in my expression and her eyes become tender, before she turns back to Lexie. “Okay, we're leaving. Please call me if you need anything.”
Lexie waves her off, “We will be fine, boss lady. Ya'll go have fun.”
Summer nods her head in acknowledgment and rounds the counter, walking towards me. I place my hand on her lower back and open the front door for her. As we walk down the sidewalk towards the Mexican restaurant, I reach out and lace my fingers through her's, giving her hand a little squeeze.
She looks up at me and smiles. “Did you have a good day?” she asks.
“I had a great morning. I woke up with a beautiful woman in my bed and I have a feeling, if I play my cards right, that beautiful woman will be naked in my bed again tonight. The rest of my day was pretty boring in comparison,” I say, with a wink.
“Behave,” she whispers, while smiling and blushing.
I laugh and squeeze her hand again.
* * *
After dinner, we drive to Summer's house, so that she can check her mail and pack more clothes. She disappears into her bedroom, while I check the progress being made in her kitchen. It's looking good. Only a few more days and think it will be finished.
I walk into Summer's bedroom to see how the bathroom renovations are coming along. I notice her sitting on her bed holding a letter in her hands, but what alarms me is that her face is ghostly white.
“Summer, are you okay?” I ask moving towards her.
She startles at my voice and quickly shoves the letter into her purse. She gives me a forced smile. “I'm fine,” she says, standing up from the bed and quickly packing her clothes.
I watch her for a second, before nodding my head. I don't want to force her to talk to me. I can only hope she will come to me, when she is ready to talk about whatever is bothering her.
When she's done packing, I grab her bag from her and we walk through her house to the front door. “The renovations are coming along good. We should be done within a week,” I say, as we pass through the kitchen.
“Yep,” she mumbles.
“Are you still okay with going to my parents house for dinner this weekend?” I ask.
She looks at me, as she shuts her front door behind us and her eyes soften. “I'm looking forward to it,” she says quietly.
On the way to my house, Summer stares out the passenger side window, not saying one word. I'm use to silence around Summer. We often sit in a comfortable silence together, but this is not a comfortable silence. My truck is filled with a nervous energy and some other emotion I can't quite place. While I was in the military, I learned to read people pretty well, but I couldn't tell you what is going through Summer's mind right now, even if my life depended on it.
* * *
When we get back to my house, I lead Summer up the steps and through the front door. She moves towards the kitchen and I go to my bedroom, to set her bag down, before joining her. She is pouring a glass of wine, so I walk to the refrigerator and get a beer.
“Are you sure your ok
ay, sweetheart?” I ask, again.
She nods her head and takes a healthy swallow of her wine. I raise my eyebrow at her, silently calling her out on her bullshit.
She looks at me with pleading eyes. “Can we talk about it some other time, please?” she asks. Her eyes look so sad and a little scared. Whatever happened while we were at her house, has made her completely freaked out.
“Okay. We can talk about it later,” I agree.
I tentatively walk towards her, so that I can give her a hug. I pull her into my arms and I'm relieved when she wraps are arms around my middle and squeezes.
We stay like that for a few minutes, before Summer pulls back and looks up at me. “Will you take me to bed?” she whispers.
I look at the clock in the kitchen and then back at her, confused. “It's still early. Are you tired?” I ask.
She shakes her head and then looks away. “No. I'm not tired.”
It only takes me a second to realize what she is trying to ask. I have always been the one to initiate sex between us, but I have a feeling this is about more than just sex. She wants to forget about whatever is bothering her. I just wish I knew what that was.
“I would love to take you to bed, beautiful, but answer me this first. Whatever is bothering you, is it something I did?”
She starts shaking her head before I can even finish my sentence. “No, not at all.” She pulls me closer to her and kisses the base of my throat.
“Okay.” I bend my head down and gently kiss her mouth, nibbling her bottom lip, until she opens for me and my tongue meets hers. I could live a hundred years and never get enough of the way she tastes.
I put my hands under her ass and lift. Her legs immediately wrap around my waist, as I walk us towards my bedroom. I gently lay her down on the bed and unwrap her legs from around me. I pull my t-shirt off and toss it onto the floor. I run my hands up Summer's stomach, taking her shirt with me as I go. I bend my head and kiss the exposed skin of her stomach, moving up, until I reach her breasts. She lifts her upper body off of the bed and raises her arms above her, so I can pull her shirt the rest of the way off. I hook my hands in her shorts and pull them off, as well, leaving her in only her bra and panties. I look down at her and my chest swells with love. I am falling in love with this woman and there is nothing I can do to stop it. With shaking hands, I quickly discard my pants and get a condom out of my bedside drawer. I toss the condom onto the bed and move Summer, until her head is resting on the pillows. I look down at her and see she still has that haunted look in her eyes.