In fact, he looks almost like he wants to get up and walk over and finish the job for me.
Shit, maybe I’m not the only one struggling with this attraction thing.
Noelle moves then, turning to head back over to the couch and sweep up the spare wine glasses we brought with us to nurse during our decorating.
Her movements are quick and a little stilted, her cheeks still flushed from our kiss.
I can’t take my eyes off her.
Not because I want to start anything again, though I’d be lying if I said I didn’t, doing so would make me an even bigger fool than I already am.
But because I can’t believe I let it happen in the first place. She’s Richard’s daughter.
His pride and joy.
How the hell could I let my own lust cloud my judgement like that?
Grant finally speaks again, cutting through the heavy quiet. “Maybe we should call it a night.”
He doesn’tsoundangry, but there’s a careful, restrained kind of control to his tone that makes it obvious he’s biting back more than he’s saying.
His jaw flexes once. He doesn’t look at me when he speaks, which somehow makes it worse.
I nod, mostly to show I can take the hint, but Cal, calm and unflappable Cal, decides he’s not done with the evening just yet.
“It’s still early. Why won’t we do something else.”
Grant shoots him a look, suspicious. “Like what?”
He shrugs, though there’s a glint of mischief behind his composed expression that I’m not expecting.
It’s subtle, but there. “We’ve got half a bottle of wine left. Why not use it? We could play truth or dare.”
That earns a small pause, then a sound I wasn’t expecting floats through the room.
Noelle laughs.
Not the nervous, polite one she’s been giving us since we all walked through that front door, but something bright and genuine that cuts straight through the lingering tension.
It catches me off guard.
“Seriously? What are we, twelve?” she asks.
Cal’s mouth twitches. It’s his version of a smirk, understated but smug enough to make Grant groan quietly. “Twelve-year-olds don’t usually drink wine while they play games, Noelle. What kind of middle school did you go to? Plus, we’re done decorating. And unless you want to cozy up in front of the fireplace and put on another cheesy Hallmark movie, I’d say this is the best option we’ve got.”
Grant lets out a sigh, rubbing a hand over the side of his face. “You’re unbelievable. Noelle, you don’t need to spend the rest of the night with us.”
She shakes her head. “I’m good. I think it will be fun.”
My eyes land on Grant.
Out of everyone in the room, he’s the one I expect to shut this down.
The one who could always end an argument or a stupid idea with just a look.
He’s the grounded one.
The rancher with a quiet kind of authority who never needs to raise his voice to be heard.
