“Darlin’, it’s fine.”
I wanted to bring up the conversation we had started during cocktail hour. What exactly was he implying by asking me about my wedding expectations? As the hotels and restaurants rolled past us, I lost my courage. I’d have to wait until he mentioned it again.
Grey pulled into the driveway and parked under the cottage next to my car. It was quiet in the cab. He turned to me. “You looked beautiful tonight.”
I blushed. “Thank you. And you look pretty hot yourself. No brace. No crutches.”
“I could list twenty reasons I’m glad to be rid of those damn things.” He opened the door and walked to my side. He held my hand to help me down. It wasn’t as easy as it looked in high heels.
“I have an idea.” His eyes fired.
“And what’s that?”
“Something we haven’t done in a while.” He clasped my hand behind his back and led me up the stairs to the kitchen.
Grey grabbed two beers from the fridge then disappeared in the hallway, emerging with a blanket. He tugged on my hand, and kept walking until we were on the seaside deck and headed down the steps. It took me a minute to figure out his plan. I smiled. The alcove.
I ditched my shoes on the deck, thankful to have them off my feet, and followed him down the steps.
My eyes adjusted to the darkness of the beach. Grey tucked the corners of the blanket into the sand and handed me a beer. I curled up under his arm and nestled against his chest. I could still smell hints of his cologne.
“This is perfect.” I sighed.
Grey tipped the bottle toward his lips. “Sure is. We haven’t had enough of this since you moved down here.”
The wind whipped around the alcove, but in here, I felt safe. It was as if we were secluded from the rest of the world. The cyclone that was the wedding. The dirtiness of the lawsuit. The uncertainty of our future. In here, it was only Grey and me.
We didn’t talk. We listened to the waves roll on the beach until our beers were empty and I started to shiver from the chill of the wind.
Grey helped me up, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. “Let’s go get you warmed up.”
I followed him to the cottage, hoping this night never ended.
My phone was ringing, but I was in a tangled web of sheets and couldn’t get to it. I spun on my stomach to loosen the wrapping when Grey handed the phone to me. I couldn’t believe it. He was still in bed.
“Here you go.”
“Hello?”
“Eden, you aren’t going to believe this,” Taylor shrieked in my ear.
“What’s going on?” I sank into my pillow.
“I’m on my way to South Padre.”
“What?” I looked at Grey, but he wasn’t paying attention to the call. His hand was sneaking over my hips.
“Mason called me last night and said he wanted to fly me in for Marin’s wedding.” She squealed. “He bought me a ticket, and I’m headed to the airport right now.”
I had no idea what time it was, only that the light in the windows was light and airy. It couldn’t be very late. I gasped as Grey’s fingers moved against my skin.
“That’s great. I’m glad I’ll get to see you tonight.” I wasn’t sure what to say. I hoped we could avoid Mason at the wedding, but that was going to be impossible if Taylor was his date.
“I know! I’ll get to see you in that blue bridesmaid dress, and Marin and Pick. I cannot wait. I haven’t gotten a gift yet. What should I send them?”
My mind was already in a haze, and I couldn’t even tell Taylor where Marin was registered. Grey’s fingers slid farther and slower.
“Um…I don’t know. Maybe we can talk about it when you get here.” I placed one hand over the receiver and tried to give Grey the death stare, but his head ducked under the sheet.
“Ok. I’ll text you when I land in Brownsville. Mason’s going to pick me up. He said he can’t wait to see me. Can you believe all this? It’s going so fast, but it just feels right. You know?”
My eyes closed and I bit hard on my lip. Grey had maneuvered between my legs and I was doing everything I could not to moan into the phone. All I could feel was his heated breath.
“Mmm-hmm.” I tossed the phone on the floor. I didn’t even bother to ask Taylor when her flight landed. My head rocked back and my hips started to follow Grey’s lead. “What are you doing? That was important.” I spoke through heavy breaths.
“I just wanted to say good morning,” he growled from under the covers.
Well, who was I to argue with that?