Page 23 of Blame It on the Bikini (Ocean Shores #4)

"Right behind my mother. I know my father loves me, but growing up, he was never around, and when he was, he was working. He didn't keep his friends, either. He didn't make time for them, not the way you do." He paused. "I don't think I make time for my friends, either. I need to do better, Lexie."

"You will," she said with encouragement. "Relationships take time and effort, but it's always worth it."

"But how do you know if someone is genuine or if they're just using you to get ahead, to get something?"

"Uh, I'm not sure. I haven't had that problem. I don't have anything anyone wants. But I'm sure you have friends who genuinely care about you."

"Maybe a few, but, like I said, I haven't made time for friends. My grandmother once told me I shouldn't always follow my father's example, that I should aim higher. He missed the last Christmas we could have spent together before she passed away. Not that he knew it would be her last, but it was."

She thought about his words, wondering why a workaholic like his father would have sent Grayson to Ocean Shores. "Why do you think he wanted you to live in the building for a month?"

"Hell if I know," he muttered. "I've asked him, and he just says I won't have to ask when I figure out the answer, whatever that means.

" He jumped to his feet when their number was called.

"Time for chili." He hurried into the shack to pick up their food, returning a moment later with a burger, hot dog, and fries, all topped with Chuck's chili as well as onions and cheese.

He cut the burger and the dog in half, so that they could each try both dishes, and then they shared the fries.

It was probably the unhealthiest meal she'd had in weeks, but it was also absolutely delicious. And it wasn't just the food; it was a relaxed Grayson and a stunning sunset. Their conversation turned casual as they ate, washing away the emotional heaviness of the last several minutes.

Grayson went back to being excited about everything, and she was happy to follow him wherever he wanted to go. They got along amazingly well. Too bad it wasn't real, she reminded herself as they finished eating.

"That was the best dinner I've had in a long time," Grayson said, wiping his mouth with a napkin. Then he surprised her by reaching across the table and covering her hand with his. "Thank you, Lexie. Thank you for sharing this with me."

"You're welcome. Grayson, I have to tell you something."

"You can tell me anything, just don't tell me this wasn't fun."

"It was very fun," she said with a smile, meeting his warm gaze.

"I think so, too. You're good for me."

"I don't know if that's true." She licked her lips, knowing the time for truth had arrived. "I need to tell you something about the brownies you ate."

"They were great. In fact, I need better adjectives to describe them: exceptional, superlative, out of this world."

She laughed. "Okay, that's a little much, but I'm glad you liked them. Unfortunately, when I stopped by my aunt's apartment to pick up the brownies, I took the wrong plate. The plate I gave you was supposed to go to my aunt's friend, who is going through chemotherapy."

He gave her a blank look. "I don't understand. Was there something wrong with the brownies? They didn't taste bad."

"My aunt put weed in the brownies so her friend would feel less nauseous. You weren't supposed to get those brownies. You were supposed to get the regular ones." She paused. "You're high, Grayson. That's why you're barefoot and everything is wonderful."

"That's not true. I feel fine. Completely relaxed."

"Exactly. When was the last time you walked barefoot in the sand, talked to seagulls, and ate chili fries?"

He frowned as her words sank in. "Are you saying you drugged me?"

"Not on purpose. I'm sorry. I've been trying to tell you since I found you on the beach, but I didn't think you could hear me or understand what I was saying."

"So, I'm high," he said. "Huh. That does kind of seem right. Because I do like to wear shoes. And I don't usually talk to birds."

"Are you mad?"

"I feel too good and too full to be angry. I might be later," he said honestly. "I don't know. It's hard to say."

"Fair enough. Do you want to walk back?"

He nodded. "I definitely need to walk off the chili."

After throwing away their trash, they grabbed their shoes and started walking back along the beach, the glorious colors of the sunset starting to fade. By the time they got back to Ocean Shores, Grayson's high would be fading, too, and nothing, including her, would seem as amazing as it had before.

But as Grayson took her hand once more, she decided to savor whatever time they had left. They walked in companionable silence, and when they finally made it back to the beach in front of Ocean Shores, the last bit of sun dipped over the horizon.

Grayson stopped near the water's edge. Letting go of her hand, he put his arms around her.

They gazed into each other's eyes for a long minute. "Lexie?"

"Yes," she said breathlessly, knowing what he was asking her.

He leaned down and covered her mouth with his, and she sank into the hot, salty, sexy kiss that completely consumed her.

Closing her eyes, she pressed her body closer to his as they kissed again and again as dusk settled over the beach and they lost themselves in each other.

She didn't care who else was around, what anyone thought.

All she cared about was being with him in this moment, a moment she didn't think she'd ever forget.

Later, she would tell herself it wasn't real, that it was created by her aunt's brownies. But it felt real now, and the connection between them, the chemistry, was unbelievably strong.

She liked this man—too much. She didn't know how it had happened. There were so many reasons why it shouldn't be this way, but it was. And she was loving every second of it.

Of course, it had to end, because they had to breathe, and they had to go inside. They had to go back to being who they were. They stared at each other for a long minute, with unspoken words flowing between them.

And then he took her hand again, and without a word, they walked up the beach, across the path, and into the Ocean Shores complex.

The beautiful silence between them was instantly broken by laughter and talking as the Friday night pool party was in full swing.

Before anyone saw them, Grayson pulled her under the nearby stairwell. "I can't talk to anyone right now, Lexie."

"I understand. I'll tell them you have work to do."

"How many people know I'm high?"

"My aunt, Margaret, and Emmalyn. They were there when Josie realized I'd given you the wrong plate."

He groaned. "Great. So basically everyone."

"Probably by now, yes," she admitted. "I am sorry about the brownies, Grayson. I wanted to do something nice for you, and I messed it up. Don't blame Josie. She told me which plate to take; I just forgot. I wasn't paying attention."

He gave her a small smile. "You're very protective of people: your friends, your aunt, even me. You came looking for me because you thought I might be in trouble."

"I wasn't sure how much you'd eaten or how you were feeling, but yes, I did want to make sure you were all right. And I suspect that your rather low level of anger right now will rise as the high wears off. So I hope you can remember that I'm really sorry."

"That's not what I'm going to remember most, Lexie," he said, gazing into her eyes. He took a quick look around, then planted another brief kiss on her lips. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight. I'll distract everyone while you go up the stairs."

"Thank you."

As they came out from under the stairs, she walked back to the courtyard while he moved up the steps to his apartment. Josie, Margaret, and Frank were at the closest table with Emmalyn and Hunter nearby at the grill.

She fielded all the curious, questioning looks with a smile. "He's fine," she said. "It's all good."

"How angry is he?" Josie asked.

"He's not that mad right now, but I can't guarantee he won't be tomorrow. He really liked your brownies. I think he ate several."

Josie smiled. "Well, I'm glad he's okay. You've been gone a long time. I put your things in your apartment while you were gone."

"Do you want some food?" Emmalyn asked. "We have extra chicken."

"No, thanks, I already ate. I'm tired. We walked on the beach for a long time, so I'm going to call it a night. I'll see you tomorrow."

She made her way around the pool and into her apartment, entering with a sigh of both relief and a little bit of yearning.

Maybe if she'd waited to tell Grayson about the brownies, they would have ended up in his apartment together.

But that would have been a bad idea, she told herself forcefully.

She couldn't take advantage of the man, and she didn't want to be with him when he wasn't in his right mind.

But she did want to be with him, and she had no idea how she would get through the next two weeks without thinking about how that might possibly happen.

However, she knew that once Grayson was fully in control of his senses, his logical, practical business mind would determine that a personal relationship with her would be a conflict of interest, and he would shut that idea down immediately.

He might even leave before his month was up.

She might never see him again, and that thought was more overwhelming than her usual nightmare of having her home sold out from under her.

The worst thing was that she felt absolutely powerless to do anything about either one of them.

And as she flopped down on the couch in despair, she really wished she had kept some of Josie's brownies for herself.