“This feels more like a country dancing move rather than epic movie reenactment.”
She nodded. “I agree. Put me down. I’m thinking you need to run all the way to me, and I’ll leap from the couch straight into your arms. That way we’re not fighting gravity.”
“Good thinking.”
I didn’t bother getting up on the couch this time. I planted my feet right in front of it in a hero stance and stared her down the way Bastien might.
“You look like you’re ready to murder me, Dean.”
“It’s called a smolder. But also, Bastien is totally a murderer. He roasted a whole village before I fell asleep.”
“On accident.”
“Sure. Okay, one, two, three.” I ran at Grace and she leaped at exactly the right time, launching from the couch and wrapping her arms around my neck and her legs around my waist. The perfect cradle. I had her securely in my arms, and when our eyes met, she was the one with the smolder.
My heartbeat kicked up and time seemed to stop. Her hands slid from the back of my neck until they were on the sides of my face, and she studied me, like a decision was warring inside of her. I couldn’t make it for her. I wouldn’t. And then she was kissing me, and I was kissing her back. Her mouth on mine moved like it belonged there, like she owned me. My arms were locked in place, but I pulled her in even closer while her lips claimed mine over and over again, and she angled me in for more. The scent of almond extract and honey butter came from her hair, teasing me, locking this in as a core memory. I wanted my hands in her hair. I’d have to move us to the couch.
A small gasp from the doorway startled us both, and I turned with Grace still in my arms to see Molly standing there like a startled mouse. Only less terrified. She managed to look both repentant and gleeful.
“I’m sorry. I forgot my YETI cup.” She darted forward and grabbed it, holding it up as evidence.
“This is not what you think.” Grace said.
Molly took a step back. “You wouldn’t believe the weird stuff Miles and I try. And for the record, I didn’t see anything. Carry on. Piper’s still asleep.” She ducked out and ran. A few seconds later, the front door opened and closed with a click. If we hadn’t been so preoccupied, we would have heard her when she came in.
I released Grace and she slid to the floor, resting her forehead against my chest, less in a cuddly way and more in a refusing-to-lift-her-head sort of way. She groaned. “This is so embarrassing.”
“Agreed. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. It was fun.” She ran her hands across my forearms before dropping her hands back to her sides andtaking a step back. Her words wouldn’t have worried me if there wasn’t the sound of defeat in them, and if she could meet my eyes.
“Grace, I’m not here to have fun. And I don’t think you are either.”
She retreated from me and plopped back onto the couch, wrapping her arms around her knees. “You don’t get it, Dean.”
“What don’t I get?” I sat down on the middle section of the couch, giving her plenty of space.
“The last guy I kissed? It was right after my divorce finalized. My mom had Piper for the night, and I ran into a guy I knew from high school at the grocery store. His life wasn’t going any better than mine. He’d married his high school sweetheart and it hadn’t worked out. She left him for someone else. I’d already heard about it through mutual friends. So, after talking for a few minutes, we ditched our carts and went to the movies and held hands. And then he dropped me off and we made out on my porch. He said he’d call me. He never did.”
“What a jerk.”
“I knew he wouldn’t. And I was glad.”
“Why?”
“Because we’d both loved someone and had our hearts ripped out. We weren’t falling in love. We were… I don’t know, finding solace in each other. For some people, that’s enough. But I don’t want to be with someone who doesn’t love me. I already lived through that.” She rubbed her hand over her mouth. “And then you come along, and you’re so… easy to care about. And I know I shouldn’t, but I just can’t keep resisting you.” At that, she looked up at me and sighed.
I leaned forward. “Then don’t resist me anymore.” Even now, I could see her fighting the connection between us. That pain didn’t have to continue. She didn’t have to keep carrying it with her.
She finally looked away, shivering. “I need to. You have to see that.”
“You don’t think I can love you?” I thought about all my stupid flirty comments. I’d led her to that conclusion. I hadn’t given her a reason to think I was serious about her.
“I think you’d want to because you’re so good. But it’s not just that.” She put a hand to her chest. “I don’t know if I’m capable of loving someone anymore. Holding nothing back. And yet, just having fun feels wrong. So where does that leave me? I’m stuck, and that’s not your problem. So, let’s just be friends.”
“Let’s be both.”
“Dean.”
