I didn’t want to say Andy’s name. It set him off before and I didn’t want to ruin the beautiful moment we had going for us.
“Gotcha. Did she help you get the job at the diner?” Gray asked.
“She did. Both times. I worked at the diner for a few weeks before I met Anton. When he offered me the job to keep up his property, I put in my notice at the diner.”
“Well, I’m glad you found a place to work.”
But I knew the compliment was as empty as the voice he’d said it with. What I didn’t understand was why. I sipped the incredible wine in my glass and picked up half of my sandwich, then settled onto my butt and turned out towards the picture in front of me. Wild animals were bounding in the field. Rabbits and a doe with two little fawns. Birds flew overhead and the sun cast a beautiful light over the expanse of the wilderness around us, and I tried to commit the place to memory.
Maybe I could come back sometime.
After Gray had gone back home.
I had to keep reminding myself of that. No matter how romantic things became, Gray was eventually leaving. Going home. Never coming back. One Anton’s house was sold off, it would be the last piece of his estate to be settled. Then, Gray would never have a reason to come back to a place like Stillsville. I didn’t want to ruin the mood with Andy’s name, nor did I want to ruin the romance with my thoughts.
But I had to keep myself rooted into reality. Grounded into the fact that Gray wasn’t here permanently.
No matter how picturesque and worry-free it all seemed.
Chapter 9
Grayson
Relief washed over me the second she addressed it. Granted, I didn’t like the fact that she was staying in some fucked-up, run-down motel. But it was better than living next door to her damn ex. I wanted to talk more about Andy, and to figure out the nature of their relationship to ease my curiosity. But I wanted to look towards the future instead of always dwelling in the damn past even more. Plus, the time I had with Michelle was limited. I was only in Stillsville to sell Anton’s house and fix up the car, then I’d probably sell that thing, too, before leaving. I wanted to enjoy the time I had with Michelle. I wanted her to know how sorry I was for leaving things the way I had between us.
I looked over at her, watching as she watched the animals in the field. She looked so delectable, with her thighs splayed out and her breasts bouncing as she breathed. I was surprised I could string sentences together in her presence. The two of us ate our fill in silence while we polished off the bottle of wine I’d brought. But when she turned that gorgeous smile towards me, I knew it was time to enact the second part of our afternoon.
“Where are you going?” she asked, as I stood up.
“Come with me and find out.”
I held out my hand for her and she looked at it wearily. But she still slipped her delicate hand into mine. I helped her to her feet before I laced our fingers together, and not once did she fight the feeling. I led her across the meadow and into the woods, heading for the babbling brook that ran through this part of Stillsville. It was running high today. The water rushed clear over the silt and rocks that had settled to the bottom. I released Michelle’s hand while she gawked at the expanse of the beauty around her.
And I watched her while she watched the world.
“I know exactly what to do right now,” she said.
“Oh really?” I asked. “And what’s that?”
She shot me the cutest little grin before she kicked off her shoes.
Before I knew it, she had hopped into the stream. Water ran over her legs as she climbed up onto the rock, splashing her hands and feet into the cool water. She smiled broadly and giggled with all her might as she frolicked in the water without a care in the fucking world. Just enough sunlight crept through the canopy of trees, surrounding her in the slightest golden halo as she jumped back into the stream.
“Come on, Gray. It doesn’t feel as cold as it looks.”
She held out her hand for me, but I shook my head.
“You look like you’re having enough fun as it is. If I get in, you might simply explode from the joyous occasion.”
“And people don’t think you’re humble,” she said with a grin.
Had people been talking about me to her?
“Come on. You really should get in,” she said. “It feels great.”
“No really. I’m good. I’ve got the perfect view from where I’m standing.”
“You know what I think?”