Chapter 8 – Donuts and Dominoes
Maya –
“There’s one more donut. Do you want it, Grady?” Betty asks giddily, as she slowly rises to get up from her chair.
“I’ll get it for him,” Erma insists, but she’s even slower and Betty has a head start.
Miss Lillian Rose waves her hand toward the other two women as she leans in next to Grady. “They can go chase your donuts. I’ll just sit here and talk to you.”
Grady gives her a devilish grin with his bright blue eyes shining, and I swear, even after being widowed twice, Miss Lillian Rose blushes.
This has been going on all morning. Donuts and Dominoes is a popular activity and brings out the residents en masse. For one—donuts. They love their sweets. Even the sugar-free varieties we special order for the diabetics aren’t too bad. And two—they get to sit. I haven’t found a way to get them up and dancing in the middle of dominoes. Everyone’s sitting at different tables and have their own games going on. Maybe we need an intermission. All I know is Donuts, Dominoes, and Dancing has such a catchy ring to it, I need to find a way to make it happen.
The instant the ladies caught sight of Grady Cain this morning, they all argued over who would get to play dominoes with him. Not only that, but I have no idea how many donuts Grady’s eaten. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a baker’s dozen.
Hoping Grady would simply drop me off at work this morning was too much to wish for. After the short drive to the Ranch, I tried one more time to talk him out of coming in. He was having none of it, and held my hand as we walked through the entrance. I had to wave off the big-eyed interest of Stephanie, the office manager and my boss, telling her Grady would leave eventually.
Grady, on the other hand, informed Stephanie he was here for the duration of my shift, and even asked what he could do to help. That’s all it took. Faster than I could blink, he’d filled out the half-page pink form and was proudly wearing a badge with his name on it that Stephanie whipped up in no time flat, informing everyone he’s an official volunteer.
Ugh.
Even though he’s eaten a good portion of their beloved donuts, he’s the most popular new toy that has hit the Ranch since I started working here.
Betty, Erma, and Miss Lillian Rose dug their claws in him first. There was an argument that sent Dot into a fuming tizzy since she didn’t get to sit at Grady’s table. She was so mad, she nabbed two donuts, and marched right back to her apartment, refusing to participate in dominoes, but informed me she might be back for book club after lunch.
There are five tables of dominoes going this morning. I’m playing with Foxy and Butch at a table next to Grady and his harem.
“So, tell me, Grady, what made you want to volunteer here at Rolling Hills Ranch?” Erma smiles sweetly.
Grady takes his turn, sliding a tile across the table placing it crossways since it’s a double. Before picking up his umpteenth donut, he answers, “I’m here with Maya.”
“You are?” Miss Lillian Rose looks surprised before turning toward my table and keeps on loudly. “Is this your beau, Maya? If so, you’re one lucky belle. Where I’m from, we’d call him a tall drink o’ sweet tea.”
Not that I can argue that Grady’s a tall drink of sweet tea, especially since I kissed him last night and know for a fact how he tastes, but I don’t get the chance to refute the fact he’s my beau when Foxy butts in. “I thought we were a thing. We do the dirty—bumpin’ and grindin’—a few times a week during your dance parties, and now you bring another man here? I was about to make my move on you. I’m hurt, Maya.”
I think my jaw hit the floor and look back at Foxy, who winks at me. He even raises his arms with his hands up, giving them a couple pumps toward the ceiling to raise the roof.
My eyes go big. “We do not bump and grind, Foxy.”
He narrows his, I think trying to make them sultry or something, and does a little wiggle dance move in his chair. “We could—that was my next move. Just you and me, blue eyes. I was gonna break out the Marvin Gaye.”
Butch laughs, but still has the decency to stick up for me. “The only bumping and grinding you’ll be doing is in your dreams. There aren’t enough blue pills in the Commonwealth of Virginia to push you over the top.”
Foxy finishes his dance and reaches for his cup of coffee. “My testosterone is strong, my friend. Sometimes I don’t even need my little blue friend. I got it goin’ on, as the youngins say.”
“Here’s your donut, sugarlump. It’s the last one.” Betty sets the small paper plate on top of the empty stack in front of Grady. He wastes no time picking it up and taking a huge bite.
“Grady is Maya’s boyfriend,” Erma informs Betty what she missed out on during her trip to the donut table. Erma turns to Grady. “How long have you been dating? Maya hasn’t mentioned you.”
Even though she didn’t ask me, I insist, “We’re not dating.”
Grady washes down his donut with a big gulp of milk and tips his head, ignoring me. “Long enough, even though it feels like only yesterday when she threw herself at me for the first time.”
I turn in my chair to fully face him. “I did not throw myself at you.”
He settles his blue eyes on me and winks. “If that makes you feel better, baby.”
Flabbergasted, I insist more emphatically, “I had a good reason!”
Grady turns back to his harem. “Does time really matter, anyway? Time is insignificant. Have we been together twelve years?” He looks back at me and my breath catches at his words. His expression and voice are meaningful when he speaks straight to me. “No, but even years mean nothing if they’re bad. I think when you know, you know.” He looks back to his adoring audience. “Maya will get that eventually.”
“Trust me, when you get to our age, time is nothing if not significant,” Betty confirms.
“I think you’re lovely,” Erma adds, as she looks admiringly up at Grady.
“He’s a charmer and a looker,” Miss Lillian Rose states before glaring at me. “What’s wrong with you, Maya?”
That’s it.
“Our time for dominoes is almost over,” I announce and push my chair back to stand. “Finish up and put them away, but leave the boxes on the tables. I’ll come back and collect them. You, Mr. Prince Charming,” I point at Grady, “come with me.”
Grady grins as Erma croons, “Ahh, she calls him Prince Charming.”
I roll my eyes and turn to leave the commons area, assuming Grady will follow. I quickly march through the halls until I get to the clinic. The current physical therapist is off today, so there are no appointments or anyone about.
I get to the back room and open the last door. After Grady follows, I slam it, closing us in.
Grady looks around, probably wondering what we’re doing, but I don’t waste any time. I have Wii games on the schedule and need to get that going soon. Moving to the cart parked at the side of the room, I roll it to the vinyl-covered exam bed.
Between what happened last night with Weston, Grady being wonderful yet annoying by insisting we’re something we’re not, and finally, wondering what Weston’s next move might be, my emotions are all over the place. I’ve officially lost my patience.
“Take your shirt off,” I clip.
Grady half-grins, half-frowns and immediately starts to unbutton his shirt. “If you say so.”
I do my best to be professional and not ogle Grady undressing, so I look away and snap the stickers onto the electrodes. When I turn back, he’s standing bare from the waist up, his jeans are sort of loose and sitting low on his hips where I can see the band of his underwear peeking at me. I have to exhale quickly when I see his iliac furrow for the second time. It’s so deeply defined, I could barely handle it during our first PT session, and now isn’t any easier.
Looking up from the beautiful V below his abs, I chastise him for last night. “You shouldn’t have carried me to bed. That wasn’t a good idea, you really could’ve reinjured that joint.”
He continues to grin. “I didn’t think you’d sleep well with me on your miniature couch. Maybe next time we’ll just start off in your bed.”
I bite my lip, and regret bringing it up at all, so I change the subject.
“Sit,” I demand. When he settles on the vinyl exam table, I take a step toward him and start peeling the stickers one by one. I adhere them to his muscles, framing his shoulder, and then have to bite the inside of my lip when I place three on each of his pectorals.
“Is this some sort of kinky sex game?” Grady looks up from what I’m doing and into my eyes. “Do I get to do you next?”
“Since you insisted on coming, we might as well get you on the electrical stimulator.” I don’t wait for him to say anything more and turn to the machine. It might not be nice of me, but I’m not in the mood so I don’t ease him into it. I flip the dial all the way to the highest surge before turning it back down to a moderate level.
“Fuck, Maya,” he exclaims, even though he hardly jerks from the initial shock of the strongest possible electrodes pulsing into his body.
“What?” I tip my head, copying what he’s done to me regularly over the past few days, and grin. “You’re a big, tough guy. I thought you could take it.”
“I was just shitting you the other day, but now I do think you get off on inflicting pain.”
“This will increase strength, and prevent disuse atrophy since you’re behind on your PT. It’ll even reduce the pain during therapy, if you can handle it.” I step back and cross my arms, watching his muscles jump and twitch from the stimulation.
I can tell he’s settling into it because he looks up from his bare chiseled chest and shakes his head at me. “You know this means I’m going to get even with you someday.”
I give him a smirk and only tell a half-truth. “I’m only doing what’s best for you, Grady. It’s not like I’m getting some weird satisfaction out of this.”
“Yeah, I bet.” He looks around the room and when his eyes settle back on me, he states, “You’re good at this.”
“I haven’t fixed you yet—you might want to wait on that assessment.”
He shakes his head. “I don’t mean the therapy stuff. As much as you’ve hurt me, I assume you’re good at that. I meant working with the people here. They really like you.”
I shake my head and shrug. “They’re sweet, but really I just herd them around and try to keep them active. They’re fun. I’ll miss the activities with them every day if I get to work back here. That is, if I’m still working here.”
He looks at me questioningly. “You goin’ somewhere?”
I shake my head and sigh, not wanting to talk about this so I change the subject. “Why did you let them believe we’re together?”
A smirk appears. “We felt together last night.”
“I explained that.”
Grady narrows his eyes and leans back on his good arm. “Why are you hiding?”
“I’m not hiding,” I sort of lie. I’ve always thought of myself as running. As desperately as I needed to get away, the longer I’m gone, the guilt has become a heavy burden, harder and harder to bear. Weston showing up last night only made that worse.
“Maya,” he starts and lowers his voice. “It’s obvious you’re hiding. You ran away from a man who insists you’re his when you tell me you’re not. You’ve got a brother you’re worried about. From what I see, you know no one here other than the people you work with, and now you’re talking about leaving. No one talks about leaving a place where they like to work and people they like to be around without a reason. What’s going on?”
I swallow over the lump in my throat, because he’s right about all that. But I’m not about to tell him anything, so my only choice is to go on the defense. It’s worked before.
“If you tell me how you got hurt, I’ll think about it.”
This time he doesn’t look defensive at all. He pulls in a big breath and softens his voice. “Come here.”
My brow furrows. “Why?”
His hand comes up gesturing to his chest and he sounds a little frustrated when he continues. “Maya, you’re basically electrocuting me. I’m stuck to this machine or I’d come to you. Would you please come here?”
I sigh because he’s right and take the few steps separating us. When I get close, he reaches out and grabs my hand, pulling me the rest of the way. He then separates his legs and pulls me close. My hands come up to his chest because he’s pressed my torso to his so we’re face-to-face.
I know I should pull away, tell him to stop, to leave me alone because my life is nothing but a bad made-for-TV drama right now. If he’s smart, he’ll want no part of it. But ever since last night, his sweet touches and affectionate ways are too much. I haven’t experienced anything like it in a long time. If I allowed myself to really think about it, I don’t think I’ve ever experienced it.
One of his big boots wraps around the back of my leg as his arms come around me. Before I have the chance to complain, ask what he’s doing, or even enjoy the feeling of being held tight to Grady Cain, he looks into my eyes and shocks me. “My work was dangerous. On my last job, I was captured.”
My eyes go big and his arms constrict around me when my body tenses. I can’t believe what he said, but I’m also surprised he called my bluff.
“What?” I whisper.
“You heard me. Not gonna lie, I was lucky to get out alive. You wanted to know, so I told you, but I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t tell anyone else how I got hurt. It won’t be the end of the world if you do, but I like to live lowkey. My life is no one’s business but mine and who I choose to share it with.”
I’m shocked at his words, by his confession, really. I thought he was probably in some sort of accident. “Why did you tell me?”
He shrugs. “I show you mine—you show me yours.”
I ignore his tit-for-tat expectation, and ask, “What do you do for a living?”
He shakes his head. “I’m retired from that. I’m taking some time off for a while, but now I work for Crew—we specialize in intelligence. We train and contract with those we used to work with. I used to be a contractor, but I’m done working in the field.”
“Like what? What kind of jobs did you contract for?” I ask, wondering what he possibly could have done that got him captured, beaten, and from the sounds of it, almost killed.
“Security. I told you what I could … and I did it because I want you to trust me. I can’t expect anything of you if I don’t share first. Now, tell me why you’re running.”
My fingers flex on his skin, and in turn, his muscles contract, either from my touch or the electro therapy. Whichever it is, it feels good. But instead of telling him what he wants, I slide one hand off his chest and reach for the dial, turning off the machine.
Looking back to him, I say quietly, “You’re done. It’s time for Wii games.”
“I promise I’ll find out one way or another, but I’d rather hear it from you. You might as well tell me.”
“You don’t want to be bothered with my problems, trust me,” I tell him the truth, trying to put him off.
“I’m feeling a little used, you know.” A small smirk appears on his face and he lowers his voice and he pulls me in even tighter. “You throw yourself in my arms, kissing me for your own benefit? That stings, baby.”
I know he’s teasing but he’s right, so I press against his chest to move away, but he wants none of it. His arms constrict, keeping me close.
“I apologized for that,” I remind him.
One of his hands on my back moves up, and pulls my face into the side of his. His clean-shaven cheek brushes mine and I scarcely feel the tip of his nose run up the side of my ear, making me shiver. “You didn’t feel sorry when I had you in my arms. In fact, you felt the very opposite of sorry.” His tongue flicks my earlobe once. “It felt right—felt like you’ve been there forever.”
“Grady,” I whisper on an exhale. Damn if he isn’t right again. I’ve never felt anything so good, so natural as being kissed by Grady. Even if he doesn’t know he’s only the second man ever to lay a hand on me. I never remember feeling this way with Weston, even in the beginning when I was caught in his snare and could pretend it was good.
When Grady’s lips hit the sensitive skin below my ear, my breath catches, and I slide my hands up his thick, corded neck. I’m not sure if I’m trying to push him away, pull him to me, or simply hang on.
“I need to get back to the residents,” I mutter as best I can, but his hand comes to my hair and he gently pulls my head back to gain access to my neck. I exhale and sound breathy as his tongue traces my collar bone. “I can’t get off schedule or it breaks into their lunch. Wii games are important for their circulation.”
His head comes up and he runs light kisses over my sensitive skin as he murmurs, “I’ve never played Wii before.”
“It’s fun,” I breathe and swallow hard. “The ladies like bowling and Foxy likes to hula-hoop.”
That’s when I lose his lips. He pulls back just enough for me to tip my head and look into his eyes where I find him frowning. “You are not hula-hooping with Foxy.”
His words, but even more his expression, are laced with a possessiveness that snap me out of my Grady-haze created by his lips on my body. I’m not sure if it’s because his expression is created by jealousy over an elderly man, but I find it funny instead of irritating. What it isn’t, is scary, like it became with Weston.
For some reason, I do something I’ve never done before, because I wouldn’t dare try to egg on Weston. I’m not sure if it’s my many months of new-found freedom or if it’s just Grady, but I can’t help but grin and taunt him. “I always hula-hoop with Foxy. It’s our thing.”
He narrows his eyes and his hands squeeze my waist. Even though my experience is limited to Weston, for some reason I knew it was safe and I was right, because I know he’s not serious when he says, “If you’re gonna fucking hula-hoop with anyone, it’s gonna be me.”
“I don’t know.” I let my eyes wander to his bare chest and let my hands run down his smooth skin, covered with a light smattering of hair. “You’ve clearly got it going on with the ladies, as Foxy would say. I’m not sure I’ll get a turn, they all seem to be vying for your attention.”
“Foxy’s a dirty old man,” he states.
“Maybe.” I look back to my hands as I keep speaking. “I guess we’ll just have to see who gets to hula-hoop with whom.”
With that, I grab an adhesive electrode in each hand, yanking hard and fast.
“Dammit,” he jerks, letting go of my hips.
I take a step back, but reach for the rest of the stickers, ripping quickly, but he’s expecting it this time. “I’ve got a date with Foxy, we need to get moving. Get dressed, Grady.”
A sexy smile spreads across his face and his dark blue eyes heat. “Someday, Maya, I’m gonna get you back for all the pain. I’m looking forward to it.”
For some reason, his threat doesn’t scare me as I’m accustomed to, and I’ve been threatened many times.
I look at him over my shoulder and grin as I roll the cart back. “No pain-no gain, big guy.”
Grady simply shakes his head, but with the smile on his face, I know for a fact there’s no reason for me to worry. Grady might’ve been grumpy and a little brooding in the beginning, but he’s turning out to be nothing but a big, fluffy, sweet marshmallow.