She shut down that line of thinking.
Grayson didn’t even belong in the same category as Charlie and Jake. Her feelings had never progressed beyond “like” with those previous two suitors. And when she looked back, she wondered if she’d picked them not because of attraction, but because they’d been sort of small, awkward, and nonthreatening.
Grayson was the complete opposite of what she’d previously sought out in men. He was strong, big, confident, and, considering some of the things he’d said last night, extremely alpha. She’d always assumed a man like that would scare her spitless, so she steered clear. But unlike Jake and Charlie, who’d vanished the second things went sideways, Grayson had stuck by her, swearing he would “never” leave.
Those words had meant more to her than she could ever express to him, because no one had ever looked at broken Wren and seen something worth sticking around for. She’d freaked out on Jake and Charlie, and they’d both run for the hills.
It was wrong for her to assume Grayson would do the same thing. Because so far, he’d given her no reason to doubt him.
No. The person she doubted in this relationship was herself. So she needed time to sort that out. Somehow.
“I’ve been neglecting my family for weeks. I promised Mom I’d have dinner with them tonight. I must’ve forgotten to tell you.” This new lie slipped out as effortlessly as the others.
Grayson nodded slowly. “You know what? You raise a good point.”
She frowned. “I was raising a point?”
“We’ve basically been hibernating, spending all our free time alone.” His mouth curved in that charming grin of his that never failed to make her melt. “Not that I’m complaining. But you’re right. It’s time we come out of hiding, start acting like a normal couple.”
That word felt like a knife.
Normal.
Yeah. That word had never fit on her.
“We aren’t acting like a normal couple?” she asked. Given her inexperience with serious relationships, she didn’t have a clue what normal looked like.
She and Jake had been shy teenagers in their senior year, trying out that first-love concept. In truth, their handful of dates were based more on the need for Homecoming than feelings. And it hadn’t survived the night of that dance. He’d pulled down a private lane in an apple orchard and parked. Foolishly, she’d let him convince her to get into the back seat, where they’d be more comfortable.
Jake had been her first kiss, but like the boy himself, it had been awkward as hell. Then he tried to slip his hands under her dress, and she’d burst out of the back seat of that car like it was on fire. Despite him calling her name over and over, she ran the entire way home. Two miles. In heels.
The next day, he dumped her, claiming she was crazy. Then he’d proceeded to spread that opinion to the rest of the boys in their class, along with the word “prude,” essentially rendering her date-less right up through high school graduation. Not that she’d intended to date anyone else again after that failed attempt.
Her determination to steer clear of guys remained strong until her junior year of college. Charlie had lasted longer than Jake, patient and satisfied with simply kissing her—and nothing else—for all of five months. Then, one night, he tried to take things further, and she pulled away when it got too heated.
Charlie didn’t stop, demanding more. When he pushed her to her back and crawled on top of her, blind panic and desperation took over, leaving him with a bloody lip and black eye as she lashed out in sheer terror. Once again, the same prudish virgin label made the rounds and stuck.
After those two failed attempts, she decided the best relationship was no relationship.
Until Grayson made her want more.
Grayson continued to explain. “We’re always hidden away here. Even the few times you’ve come to the winery, we’ve tucked ourselves into an out-of-the-way corner on the patio. Hell, there’s a good chance half the town still thinks you’re single, and I can’t have that.”
If he’d said those same words last night, she would have floated to bed on a freaking cloud. Now, however, they simply made her feel heavy and tired and sad.
“At some point, I’d like to join you for dinner with your parents, so you can introduce me as your boyfriend. And on Sunday, I want you to come to dinner with my family.”
She shook her head. “No.”
“No?”
“I mean…I don’t want to intrude.”
Grayson had invited her to Sunday dinner every week, but she’d refused because the idea of sitting down to dinner with the entire Storm family intimidated the hell out of her and triggered her claustrophobia in a big way. There were just…so many of them. They were a very nice family, always kind to her. But there was a difference between being neighborly and being the girlfriend. She worried they wouldn’t approve of her for Grayson.
“Intrude? My mom has asked me every single Sunday since the Harvest Dance why I haven’t invited you to join us. If I show up this week without you again, she’ll probably disown me.”
Despite everything, a tiny smile tugged at her lips.
