Any warmth between her and Grayson evaporated beneath the weight of her panic. She forced a bright smile on her face. It was a Lark smile, easy, carefree, teasing.
“You’re hovering, Grayson. Customers are going to think you’re obsessed with me.”
A couple of people standing near the booth heard her, and they laughed.
Grayson didn’t. His eyes narrowed slightly, like he sensed the wall she’d just slammed into place between them. Unlike those stupid pillows, this wall was made from bricks and steel, forged over fourteen years. It was sturdy, strong, impenetrable.
Or at least she thought so.
Until he said, “Maybe I am.”
The quiet sincerity in his voice almost cracked her composure.
Almost.
Sadly, she couldn’t afford almost. Because she was standing on the edge of something she couldn’t handle.
That was when she realized the most dangerous thing about Grayson wasn’t the way he touched her.
It was the way he made her want to stop hiding.
Chapter Eight
Grayson sat at his usual table in the tasting room, a half-finished turkey club and a big glass of iced tea in front of him.
It was a welcome relief to be home after the whirlwind weekend, filled with festival crowds, loud music, and nonstop talking. He was officially “peopled” out. This morning felt like bliss when he returned to his quiet office, chatting with Maverick over a cup of coffee for a few minutes before the two of them separated to handle their own tasks. He’d planned to eat lunch alone in his office, but Jace had shown up, intent on dragging him out.
Grayson hadn’t put up much of a fight, since one of Mila’s turkey clubs sounded a hell of a lot better than the peanut butter and jelly sandwich he’d slapped together before walking to the winery.
Mondays were slow days at the tasting room, so apart from the soft music playing overhead and the low hum of conversation from the three small groups of locals who’d come more for Mila’s delicious lunch than the wine, it was equally peaceful here.
“So?” Jace asked. “You got back late last night. I didn’t get a chance to ask. How did the festival go? Sheriff Anderson hasn’t shown up to arrest you, so I’m assuming you didn’t kill Lark. Which is a good thing, because my GoFundMe didn’t raise quite enough to cover your bail.”
Grayson huffed out a laugh. “Lark is in one piece.”
Jace was clearly unsatisfied with that response. “Come on, dude. My weekend was boring as shit. I figured I’d get one hell of a good grumpfest story from you about how much Lark drove you crazy.”
“Sounds like you were banking on enjoying my pain,” Grayson remarked, amused. He and Jace were the babies of the family, sons six and seven, so in addition to being brothers, they’d been each other’s primary playmates growing up. He figured the two of them had driven their Matchbox cars approximately five million miles around the farm, shot hundreds of paper targets and empty cans with their BB guns, and stolen dozens of their mother’s homemade cookies together when she wasn’t looking.
Jace didn’t bother denying it. “Absolutely. Nothing I like more than watching you get worked up over being forced out into the real world.”
“I’m not that antisocial,” Grayson grumbled.
Jace rolled his eyes in response. “Just give me the goods. Stop holding out. Because you look like you got run over by a tractor.”
Grayson scoffed. “That’s because I worked all fucking weekend.”
“Mm-hmm.” Jace lifted his soda. Grayson’s tone must have convinced him he was about to get his show. “And?”
Grayson glanced at the time on his phone and then at the door, looking for Lark. Ordinarily, he didn’t have a clue who was scheduled to work the tasting room, nor did he really care. This morning, however, he couldn’t stop himself from opening the work schedule on his computer, curious to know when he’d see Lark again. Remi hadn’t made her come in to help with cabin cleaning, so he’d been surprised and a little annoyed to discover Nora had scheduled her for today. He would have expected his cousin to at least give her a couple days off following the festival.
He intended to have a word with her about it, even though he was delighted he didn’t have to wait long to see Lark again.
He also wasn’t sure what the hell he would say when he did see her. Until yesterday afternoon, everything had felt easy. Shockingly easy.
Working with Lark had been effortless in a way he’d never expected. She was funny and sharp and somehow always three steps ahead of whatever disaster was about to hit them. They’d fallen into a pace together that was so natural, it unsettled him.
Then they’d shared that kiss…and holy fuck.
