Page 23 of Mr. Green (Mr. #2)

Grant

M y Sunshine is letting those clouds go. I can tell. She’s still in denial, but she’s pulling through. I’m here to guide her out of the clouds. I want to show her I’m the sky, and I’m not going anywhere.

The more I learned about her, the more I liked. I’ve been asking. I’ve talked to Matt, Scarlett, Jason, the guy that makes her a sandwich at the café. I want to know everything about her. I know she’s just what I’ve been looking for.

She’s a girl who’s pretty, but has no idea.

She’s smart, thoughtful, family-oriented, likes food, likes cooking, has her own goals with work.

I can’t escape feeling like she’s perfect for me.

Every smug couple will always tell you, “When you know, you know.” That’s never rang more true than right now.

I know I’m supposed to be with Lana. I’ve known since I saw her again.

It was like everything clicked. The girl I’ve known for years became the woman I’ve been searching for.

The more time I spend with her, the more I want to be with her.

I text Matt that I left with Lana and to let her friends know she won’t be returning. He responds with a thumbs up.

“You don’t need to stay, Grant,” Lana explains through deep breaths as I hold her in my arms in the backseat of the town car.

“I want to.”

“Why?”

“I can see you, Sunshine.” I kiss the top of her head. “ You’re not alone.”

A tear slips from her face onto my hand holding her shoulder. It’s hard to see her like this, but I have a feeling it’s what she has been needing.

My decisions for what happens next need to be wise. If I pursue her, I don’t want to be her rebound. I can’t be her rebound. I also can’t have her friend zone me. I can’t watch her from a distance, acting like we aren’t attracted to each other.

She’s leaning into me. I know she’s attracted to me. She’s just so stuck in her head, she’s having a hard time seeing me.

I have to play out what happens next very carefully.

If I don’t, I’ll lose her.

Lana

He sees me.

His words tremble through my body and replay over and over again in my mind.

He can see me. I thought he was messing with me, saying that stupid nickname.

Now I never want him to stop calling me Sunshine.

I want to change my name to Sunshine. I like it so much that I want to go outside and twirl around with my arms out, yelling, “I’m freaking Sunshine! ”

I wasn’t supposed to fall for another guy. They’re horrible. They leave you. They don’t care about you.

Except...

I’m already drawn to Grant. He’s the first guy I’ve considered in years. He knows I’m not this ominous, dark person. He knows I can be happy and joyful. He’s seen me when I was happy and excited for life. He’s showing me I can be happy and joyful again.

I don’t have to stay in this humiliating darkness. I was finding that out myself, but it’s like he has given me the extra push I needed .

Thank goodness he was there tonight. I don’t want him to leave my side. However, being the needy girlfriend has worked for absolutely no one. So, there’s that.

I’m going to need to keep my boundaries. Even though I want to jump on him and feel what it’s like to be connected with an actual person again instead of a toy, but I need to keep my cool.

He’s seen enough of my tears. That can’t be attractive.

Grant

I’m going to take her to her place and kiss her. I don’t want her to think of me as some drunk hookup. I want her to want to be with me. I think she’s been fighting her feelings for me and it seems like that might be changing. Regardless, tonight is not the night to go all the way with Lana.

I don’t want her feeling pity for herself and then hooking up with me out of obligation.

I want our passion to be off the charts.

I want to take her on a proper date, not just lunch.

I want her in a better head space. I think her mind is still on her ex and it’s going to take some time to get her mind on me.

“Thank you. For the drive and for the hug,” she says on the curb outside of the hotel.

“I’m walking you up to your room.”

“It’s okay, I can manage.”

“I’m walking you up,” I reiterate. Then I put my arm around her lower back and walk us inside, pushing the elevator button.

She rolls her eyes with a huff. I don’t give a fuck. I want to make sure she gets back safely.

I can kiss her good night, I remind myself. I want more than that; I’ve been drawn to her for weeks now, but I’m not a dick. I’m stopping at a kiss. It takes me out of the friend zone, but doesn’t put me in the rebound category. I’m here for the long haul .

I will make Lana mine—eventually.

Lana

He’s walking me to my room. I know he’s just walking me up. His room is close by and no one wants a girl throwing a pity party.

I’m trying to evaluate my feelings. I feel numb. I feel like I’ve cried my heart out. I feel like the morning I woke up and remembered Ryan was gone. I feel like an idiot.

I keep my head down, embarrassed about the night’s events.

He keeps walking with me, staying silent but with his arm around my lower waist. I’m going to need to do an extra-long run tomorrow to try to forget the night’s events and bring some emotion to me.

Feeling numb is so far from where I want to be.

I lead him to my suite and grab my key card from my purse.

He’s watching patiently. His light brown eyes digging into every movement.

His beard makes him look mature, and that ridiculous luscious hair—I want to run my fingers through it, feeling the smooth texture. I don’t know what’s gotten into me.

“I’m sor—”

I can’t finish the sentence. His lips are on mine. It’s not aggressive. It’s gentle, but commanding. It’s enough to feel my whole body come back to life. I’ve wanted to know what kissing Grant would be like for years. He doesn’t disappoint.

He cups my left side of my face with one hand and brings my waist in towards him with the other. His lips are moving minutely, but they feel strong. I focus on every movement, every nibble, every touch while my body lights up like it’s on fire.

Kissing Ryan never felt like this! Ryan felt like kissing a placid fish compared to kissing Grant.

I want more. My leg reaches over his, bringing our hips closer. He doesn’t stop kissing me, so I open my mouth. He inserts his tongue, tasting my own. His kiss is sensual, but also like a claim. A claim I never want to end.

But it does.

He pulls away a minute later, leaving me stunned and panting, leaning up against the door frame. He keeps his hands where they are, embracing me. Then he kisses each of my eyes, and then my forehead. “I see you, Lana.” He pauses. “I’ll see you, again. Soon. Good night, Sunshine.”

Then he leaves.

I’m frozen in my doorway, while my chest moves up and down in shallow breaths.

I don’t know what he means by seeing me soon.

As far as I was concerned, I was running and then heading back on the plane without him.

He’s supposed to be going to Texas. He said he spent too much time away from there and got a first-class ticket back to his home, instead of all of us flying back to Washington together. Which means he won’t be on our plane.

Who is this guy?

I would never have guessed Grant would be so bossy. I’ve always been attracted to him, but I thought it was more of an unrequited love situation. I never thought he would actually make a move on me. I touch my lips to make sure it wasn’t a dream. I want his lips on mine again.

I pull from my haze and open my door. I grab a drink of water to help me calm down, then I wet my face. I go out onto the balcony for some fresh air.

All I can think about is that kiss. I don’t want to take my hands from my lips; the only imprint of Grant I have.

I look up to the sky and whisper, “Thank you.”

I let another tear fall down, but it’s a tear of relief. A tear of someone knowing who I really am. It’s a relief I can be my old self again. Now I know a new beginning is happening.