Chapter Four
REED SAT ACROSS the dinner table from his aunt Ella and uncle Roy, in the house where they’d raised him. It was a simple three-bedroom rambler, far from extraordinary in any way, but it felt much larger and full of love in ways no other home ever had. Reed’s mother, Lily, was Ella’s sister and had died in childbirth. His father, Frank Gilbert, had abandoned him to Roy and Ella as a baby. Although Reed had lived with Roy and Ella since he was two days old, his aunt and uncle had always hoped Frank would return, and for that reason he’d always called them Aunt Ella and Uncle Roy rather than Mom and Dad. Reed had only seen his real father once. He was four years old at the time, and the only thing he remembered from the visit was the scars on the back of one of Frank’s hands and forearm. When Reed was nine years old, after years of hoping his father would claim him, he desperately wanted to belong to Roy and Ella. To be a Cross, not a Gilbert. To shed the sadness of his past. Unable to have children of their own, they had been thrilled to adopt him, though by then the endearments of aunt and uncle were already ingrained. But that didn’t mean Reed thought of them as anything less than his mother and father.
Reed was glad he was there for them now, as Roy recovered from his heart attack. But being there came with a heavy dose of guilt for leaving all those years ago and not visiting often enough. Some might say catching his girlfriend and business partner in bed together was the worst thing a man could endure. Reed knew otherwise. It had been a blessing in disguise, the catalyst to sell his business and return home to rebuild his relationships with his relatives. He’d thought it was odd that he’d felt worse about selling his business than he had about losing his girlfriend, but after seeing Grace, he knew he’d never been in love with Alina.
He was done making any more half-assed attempts at filling the emptiness in his heart.
“How’s the Montgomery job going?” Roy asked. He was getting stronger every day, but Reed knew it was killing him not to be healthy enough to handle the renovations himself. For as long as Reed could remember, Roy had worked from sunup until well past sundown, and he had never failed to take his wife out every Saturday night. He’d also made time to teach Reed about building, renovations, historical preservation, and everything in between, while doling out important life lessons. They’d tossed footballs, reviewed school projects, and talked about everything from dating to his father—a sore subject for both of them.
“She’s a beauty of a house.” Reed speared a piece of steak with his fork, thinking about the headstrong look in Grace’s eyes as she’d pranced across the grass in that pretty little dress. He’d been sure she was going to give him hell, until she’d turned tail and scurried away.
His uncle arched a gray brow. “And?”
And he’d wished like hell she had given him grief or said something. Anything. Reed shrugged. “Nothing. It’s not that big of a job, although I did find some sheathing that needs replacing. It’s a gorgeous porch.”
“Is that why you look like your insides are trying to climb out?” Roy asked. “You’ve dealt with these situations before.”
Reed ground his teeth together, annoyed with his own transparency. While he and Grace had kept their relationship a secret from Grace’s family for fear of one of her younger siblings accidentally exposing them, he’d never kept it from his aunt and uncle. He’d been so head over heels with her he’d wanted to share his happiness with the people he loved most, and he’d finally invited her for dinner. They were careful not to spend too much time at his house, as his classmates lived on the same street and he didn’t want to cause trouble for Grace. Unfortunately, his aunt and uncle had also borne witness to the longing that had eventually driven him away from the memories, and away from them.
There was no sense trying to hide his discomfort. “Grace is in town visiting her parents.”
Roy and Ella exchanged a curious, and concerned, glance.
“Don’t worry,” Reed reassured them. “It won’t interfere with my doing the job.”
Roy set his normally jovial, and now serious, gray-blue eyes on Reed and said, “The job’s the last of my concerns.”
“Your hearts were once one, honey,” Ella said with an empathetic gaze. Her dark hair was flecked with white around her temples, and crow’s-feet lined her warm brown eyes. Ella was a petite woman with narrow shoulders, pin-straight posture, and a kind word always at the ready. She’d been the best mother Reed could ever hope for, and although she’d always been as dainty as Roy was rugged, Reed had noticed an unfamiliar strength in Ella since Roy’s incident. Where Roy had always been an overprotective husband, now it seemed Ella had taken on the same role toward him.
“It’s been a long time. I’m fine.” Reed shoveled food in his mouth to try to bury the lie.
Ella and Roy had always sat beside each other at meals, and until now Reed hadn’t thought much about it. But now he understood that urge to be as close as possible to the person they loved. And hell if he wasn’t feeling the same way about Grace.
Ella set her hand on Roy’s, and with a warm gaze locked on her husband, she said, “The heart never forgets a first love.”
Reed looked around the cozy dining room. The walls were littered with family photographs. There was one of him and Roy standing in front of a church that Roy had renovated and another of Reed standing by the river holding up a fishing pole with a perch proudly displayed. A photo hanging across the room showed his gap-toothed smile beaming out from behind one of Ella’s homemade birthday cakes, six candles brightly lit. There was a lifetime of memories within these walls.
“Anyway,” Reed said, needing to change the subject. “I was glad not to find too much decay in the foundation of the porch. Marilynn had been prepared to reduce the size of the porch rather than replace it because of cost.” Thinking of Grace and the flowers he used to sneak up to her porch, he said, “Who knows what memories we would have been casting aside.”
“You’re just as nostalgic as your uncle,” Ella said warmly. “But, honey, memories live in our hearts. Whether the physical place or person changes or remains the same makes no difference. Someday you’ll find a woman who will fall in love with that old-school charm of yours.”
If his track record was any measure of his relationship abilities, he wouldn’t bet on that.
Reed rose to clear the table, and Ella reached for his hand. “Honey, leave the dishes. It’s Saturday night. Why don’t you go out, relax, and have fun for a while? You could go to the county fair.”
He remembered wanting to take Grace to the fair when they were in high school, but the goddamn rivalry bullshit had gotten in the way.
No, thank you. He’d stay as far away from that fair as he could.
“I have painting to do at my place. Besides, I saw the guys this morning.” His ass was still sore from taking the first ride on that wild horse. But man, had it been exhilarating. He’d become reacquainted with Shane Jericho when he’d first arrived back in town and was working on a barn renovation. They’d been the ultimate rivals in high school, but they’d instantly hit it off. Shane and a couple of his siblings ran their parents’ cattle business and horse ranch. Funny how a few years could change people.
He wondered just how much Grace had changed.
“Yes, but working with horses at dawn is not exactly relaxing,” Ella said.
“I’m not here to relax, Aunt Ella. I’m here to help.” Although he had to admit that after working in the hot sun all day and thinking about why the hell Grace had practically run away from him, he could use a drink—or three.
“Reed, honey, we appreciate how attentive you’ve been, and Lord knows that it’s wonderful to have you back home for good,” Ella said. “But you’re a young, good-looking guy, and there are plenty of pretty women in our town. Go out. Have some fun.”
He was tempted to do just that, if only to take his mind off Grace. Some of the guys were going to a creek party tonight. A few laughs might do him some good.
“Go on, boy,” Roy urged. “Get the hell out of here, and give me and my woman a little privacy.”
“Well, if you put it that way.” Reed laughed.
Forty minutes later, he parked his truck alongside a few dozen others at Jericho Ridge and followed the sounds of laughter and live music toward the creek. The air smelled of burning wood, pine, and sweet perfume. His boots sank into the dirt as he came to a clearing at the bottom of the hill. The night was alive with couples bumping and grinding to the music along the creek bank. Between ending his partnership, moving, and taking over his uncle’s business, he hadn’t really taken any time to relax. He made his way through the crowd, scanning the familiar faces he’d come to know over the past few months. It was still weird, seeing them as friends rather than rivals, but the air buzzed with positive energy, and he felt the stress of the day falling away.
“Hey, Reed!” Shayla, the redhead who worked at the Stardust Café where he often stopped for coffee before work, waved from down by the water.
He smiled, waved, and headed for his buddy Chet Hudson, a firefighter, who was standing near the band with Trace and JJ. He made his way toward them and spotted Sable playing the guitar. His mind immediately went to Grace, and he scanned the crowd again, looking for the tall brunette whom he seemed to piss off at every turn.
“Reed.” Chet slapped him on the back. “How’s it going, dude? I wondered if you’d make it tonight.”
“I wasn’t sure I would, but I’m glad I did.” Especially knowing Grace might be here. “How’s it going?”
“Hot women, cold beer, good music. Life is good,” Trace said, clinking his beer with JJ’s. He reached into a cooler at his feet and handed a cold bottle to Reed. “Here you go, brother.”
“Thanks.” He cracked it open and took a long swallow. “I forgot Sable played in a band. I thought she just owned that garage in town.”
“Surge,” Chet reminded him. “Her band has been together since high school.”
“I remember,” Reed said. “They played at halftime our senior year. Seems like a lifetime ago.”
“Cougars!” Trace hollered.
“Mustangs all the way,” Reed retorted.
Chet nodded in agreement. He was from Meadowside, too.
“Don’t start that high school bullshit,” JJ said. “The last thing I want to see is you two tumbling in the dirt over whose team is better. It sure seemed like everything back then, didn’t it?”
Trace bumped shoulders with Reed. “Anyway. Sable’s hot, right? She’s single, too. You should take a crack at her.”
Reed laughed under his breath and took another swig of his beer, noticing the way Chet’s eyes narrowed at Trace’s remark. “Thanks, but uh…” I’d rather find Grace. “I’m cool.”
“If I had a dollar for every time I heard that lie,” Beckett Wheeler said from behind him. Beckett was a bigwig investor and another of Reed’s former rivals—but then again, weren’t they all?
At six foot two, Reed and Beckett stood eye to eye. “Hey, Beck. How’s it hanging?”
“Long and straight. You?” He flashed an arrogant grin.
Reed laughed. It was hard to believe these were the same guys he’d stared down across the football field.
“Well, Reed Cross,” Beckett said in a hushed tone. “Don’t turn around, because there’s a whole lot of pretty women checking out the cool guy.”
Reed turned, and a group of twentysomethings he didn’t recognize smiled flirtatiously, whispering to one another as they eyed him up. Reed smiled, but his eyes fell beyond the group to Grace, wearing the same summery dress she’d had on earlier in the day. She stood by the bonfire with her sisters Morgyn and Brindle, who were chatting, their gazes gliding over the crowd, while Grace fidgeted with her beer bottle. He recalled that nervous habit from when they were kids. It was a soda bottle back then, but the way she tapped her index finger on the glass told him she wasn’t comfortable.
He watched her for a few minutes, drinking in the way her hair kept falling in front of her eyes and the little shake of her head she used to brush it away, only for it to fall right back again. Another familiar mannerism. She used to do the same thing when she was younger. At least some things haven’t changed.
“Dude!” Trace hollered.
Reed turned just in time to see JJ shove Trace into the creek, then double over laughing. Trace reached up and hauled JJ into the water. Then all hell broke loose. Women screamed and shouts filled the air as people began kicking off their boots and shoes. Guys tore off their shirts, and girls egged them on, running barefoot into the water.
“Let’s go!” Brindle grabbed Morgyn’s hand, dragging her off the bank. “Come on, Grace!”
Reed’s attention homed in on Grace as she backed toward the woods. He remembered skinny-dipping with her in this very creek when they were alone at night, and it saddened him to see her trying to escape the fun.
“Woo-hoo!” A guy sprinted past and into the water. A group of women shrieked as he splashed them.
Seconds later the creek was full, leaving only a few stragglers on the banks. Reed tugged off his boots and socks, then closed the distance between him and Grace.
“Reed?” Her eyes widened as he reached for her arm. “No!”
“You’re not in the city anymore, Grace.” He hoisted her into his arms and she pushed at his chest. “It’s time to have some fun.”
“Put me down! What the hell do you think you’re doing?” She fought and kicked as he neared the edge of the creek. “My shoes! My dress!”
He flipped her sandals off and they tumbled to the dirt. “I can take your dress off, too, if you’d like.” He laughed, lost in the feel of having her back in his arms.
“Put. Me. Down!” she demanded.
He ignored her pleas. She flailed and struggled to no avail as everyone around them laughed and splashed. “Stop fighting me, Gracie. You won’t win.”
She screamed and pleaded, and as he waded into deeper water, her arms and legs wrapped around him. Damn, she felt incredible, bringing back more sinful memories. Memories he’d like to relive.
“No! Please! Stop!” Her hair blew around her face, and she had a wild, sexy look in her eyes.
“With you hanging on to me like this? Not a chance in hell.” Cold water inched up his waist and over her hips. He gripped her thighs, feeling their warmth against his palms.
“Reed!”
She began climbing him like a tree to keep from getting wet, which only made him laugh and hold on tighter. Her lips were a whisper away. He was sure he’d died and gone to heaven. The hell with what happened all those years go. The heat in her eyes held him captive as she crushed her sweet softness against him, her body contradicting the anger in her voice. The rest of the party faded away, until there was nothing but the warmth of Grace’s breath on his cheeks, the look of longing in her eyes, and the feel of her hands pressing into the back of his neck as he lowered his lips to hers, taking the kiss he’d spent years missing.
GRACE WAS LOST in a sea of steamy sensations. Reed’s mouth was as possessive and demanding as she’d remembered. He tasted of beer and potent male, an intoxicating combination underscored by the hard press of his chest against hers. One rough hand moved along her thigh, then cupped her ass so firmly, her entire body clenched with desire. His other arm circled her body like a seat belt, keeping her close as his fingers threaded into her hair and then fisted tight. She’d forgotten the sting of that grip, but her body hadn’t. Ripples of lust slithered through her, and her hips rocked forward. His scruff abraded her cheeks as he angled her face to the exact place he wanted and took the kiss deeper. Even through their clothes and the cold water splashing her skin, heat blazed between them.
Grace buried her hands in his hair, meeting every luscious stroke of his tongue with an eagerness of her own. Reed didn’t just kiss. He took and consumed. Every move brought a tightening of his arms, making it hard to breathe—and oh, that was glorious! This was the element that was missing from every single kiss she’d ever had after leaving Oak Falls. This intensity, the way his biceps pulsed against her and his body anchored her.
“Grace…”
His gravelly voice trailed off, but that didn’t keep it from winding through her like liquid fire. “Reed—” His name slipped from her lips, hungry and needy. Her eyes flew open. “Reed! Oh shit! No, no, no.” She struggled to free herself, but his grip was too tight.
“Calm down,” he said.
“Don’t tell me to calm down! We kissed!” Oh God! What was she thinking?
“Several times in fact,” he said all too smugly, and flashed that boyish, lopsided smile that made her heart flip-flop. “We haven’t lost it, Gracie. Our kisses could start a firestorm.”
“Don’t talk about it!” Firestorm? They could cause an earthquake! She pushed on his shoulders, trying not to get sidetracked by the endearment he’d used, which made her heart tumble. She had to get away from him before any other organs became reckless. All around them people laughed and splashed. She was glad to see Brindle and Morgyn too preoccupied with Trace and his friends to have noticed her momentary indiscretion.
“Admit it. Our kisses are fucking hot, Grace.” Reed tightened his grip on her, a challenge simmering in his eyes.
“Fine. Our kisses are still hot.” More like toe-curling. “Now will you let me down?”
“You sure you want me to?” He waggled his brows.
No—and that’s a problem. “Yes, please. Now.”
He slowly lowered her until her thighs skimmed the frigid water. She squealed and scrambled back up his body, clinging to him like her life depended on it.
A deep laugh rumbled up Reed’s chest, and he held on tight, his hands splayed across her soaking-wet panties. Like one of Pavlov’s dogs, her sex clenched with anticipation, and she groaned.
“Reed, please!” She pointed to the grass and saw Sable standing on the banks, watching them with an amused expression. Damn it. She’d never hear the end of this.
He carried her out of the water and set her feet on the grass. Grace wrapped her arms around herself to ward off the cold as she scanned the ground for her sandals. Her heart was beating so hard she was sure he could hear it.
“Gracie.” He reached for her hand. His gaze was softer now, and his smile less challenging, tempered even.
“It’s Grace,” she said, shivering.
“You’ll always be Gracie to me.”
Was he purposely trying to turn her insides into pretzels? She never should have come out tonight. “That was part of our problem,” she said before she could stop herself. “I’m not small-town Gracie anymore, Reed.”
His eyes turned serious. “I know. You’re an award-winning playwright and producer, and I’m happy for you.”
She lowered her gaze, feeling stupid for making such a point about her name, and when she looked up again, she was bowled over by how much she wanted to say to him. But she had no idea how, or where, to start. How could she ask him why he’d told her he’d never even consider leaving his family and then done so only a few weeks later? She couldn’t, that’s how.
Instead she said, “Thank you, but it sounds more glamorous than it is.”
“Can we talk? Sit by the fire, dry off for a bit?”
“Talk? Or are you going to try to put those weapons on me again?”
“Weapons?” He arched a brow.
She had to laugh at his confused expression. “Your lips. They’re like crack. No, worse than crack. They’re like a sip of beer to an alcoholic. One sip leads to a shot, which leads to a glass, then a bottle, and the next thing you know, I’m passed out in your bed—”
He stepped closer, the heat in his eyes stealing her voice. His wet jeans grazed her thighs, wreaking havoc with more than her voice. She took a step back, but his hand swept around her waist, keeping her close. “I’ll keep my lips to myself. We’ve got a decade of bad feelings between us, Gracie, and a few kisses sent me right back to where we were all those years ago. I’m pretty sure you were right there with me.”
She opened her mouth to deny it but realized it would be an outright lie.
“I’m going to be working at your parents’ house for a while. All I’m asking is to clear the air.”
“It’s a bad idea,” she said too quickly. “I mean…It’s a good idea to clear the air, but no more kisses.”
“No more kisses,” he agreed, though his arrogant smile told her he didn’t believe she wanted that rule.
“No touching, either.” She peeled his hand from around her waist.
He held both hands up, his amused smile making him even more handsome. “No touching. Anything else?”
“It would be great if you could stop breathing. It hinders my ability to think rationally.”
That earned another sexy laugh. “No can do, Gracie. Fair warning, I might use that to my advantage.”
“I’d expect nothing less,” she said with a smile. She’d wondered over the years if she’d exaggerated or romanticized his personality, but she hadn’t. He was still as honest and affable as ever.
“Do I get to make rules, too?” he asked.
Save for his demanding kisses, Reed had never been one to ask anything from her. They’d seen each other only when they could steal away undetected. Sable had covered for her after she’d caught Grace sneaking out one night and learned of their secret relationship, but still, it had never been enough time. She’d always wanted more, but she’d been afraid of the grief she’d get from her friends if they knew she was dating the rival quarterback. Grace had complained more about their lack of time together than Reed had. Now it all seemed so silly, but back then the rivalry between schools had felt like a black cloud hanging over them.
She figured she owed him a rule or two and said, “Go for it.”
“No hiding from the truth.” He held her steady gaze. “That’s all I ask. We did so much hiding when we were kids. I just want to lay it all out in the open.”
Could she do that? Tell him how hurt she’d been when he’d left town, when she knew she’d already made her choice and had no right to be hurt?
“What do you say, Grace? The ball is in your court.”
The last time she’d held the ball she’d walked off the court and had regretted it ever since—despite knowing she’d done the right thing for herself at the time. She was older now, and she knew better than to start something that would end in heartache. Surely they could handle being friends.
“Okay,” she said, earning another panty-melting smile. Down, girl.
Reed retrieved her sandals and his boots, and as they made their way toward the bonfire, she was glad she was soaking wet, because she was playing with fire. She needed all the help she could get to douse the flames.