Maybe this group is worth more than I thought,he realized.
He’d thought all along that the captain wanted everyone to join to fill their own needs, but it was starting to feel like helping each other was the real gift. Back at the table, he’d seen some tense faces relax and eyes begin to twinkle, just from being among other people who understood, even though all they were doing was telling old stories.
At the pool table, Grayson took a shot and missed, then grumbled to himself.
“Baby must keep you up all night,” Dalton said lightly. “It’s good you came out anyway.”
He expected another noncommittal grunt, but instead the other man met his eyes.
“I never go out,” Grayson said. “But there’s this girl now, well, this young woman…”
Dalton was so surprised, he couldn’t say a word.
Grayson nodded to the pool table, and Dalton took his shot, sinking one of his striped balls. He took another shot and missed, then backed out of the way for Grayson.
“So, she’s someone you’re dating?” Dalton asked, recovering a bit from his surprise.
He hadn’t expected the man to be seeing anyone.
“No,” Grayson said right away. “She’s my nanny.”
But something about the way the man grumbled out his answer made Dalton push a little more.
“Just the nanny, huh?” he asked. “Is she pretty?”
“She’s so much more than pretty,” Grayson said, abandoning the pool game to lean against the wall, his expression almost dreamy. “She’s incredible, generous, kind, and she… she gets me.”
“So why isn’t she your girl?” Dalton asked.
Grayson shrugged, his eyes meeting Dalton’s again.
“I’m in that boat too,” Dalton heard himself admit.
“Andy’s sister?” Grayson asked, a look of understanding in his eyes. “I heard you guys were out on the town today.”
Dalton could have denied it, but why bother?
“Is it wrong?” he heard himself ask.
“Why would it be wrong?” Grayson asked.
“She’s Andy’s sister,” Dalton said. “Maybe it’s taking advantage. Ella’s a widow, and she lost her brother too.”
“And that means she should be alone forever?” Grayson asked, arching one brow.
“I guess not,” Dalton said, smiling a little in surprise at the way Grayson was digging right in.
“She has a daughter,” Dalton said. “A little daughter, Dove.”
Grayson observed him, nodding.
“She’s the best,” Dalton said. “I can’t imagine what it would be like not to see Dove anymore.”
“If you really care about the two of them, you should tell Ella what you want,” Grayson said. “You should go for it. Life is short. Ella should appreciate that more than most.”
The other man’s words hit Dalton hard in the chest and he swallowed.
“You make a good point,” he managed after a few seconds.
