Page 15

H onor had always loved festivals with her sister, but this? This was something else entirely.

With Gray by her side, everything ran smoother, faster. He was the muscle and did all the heavy lifting of crates of jewelry. He set up the tables far quicker than she and Felicity ever managed. The pop-up tent? He got it erected in record time while she was arranging her items for display.

No struggling with heavy boxes or a table on uneven ground with legs that threatened to buckle. With Gray, the teamwork was effortless. They moved in sync. When she gave him directions, he took them without batting an eye. Like they were on the same wavelength.

And apparently the customers noticed her hot new sidekick too.

Honor arranged the final necklaces on the display rack and stepped back to survey the setup. Several women stood in front of the table, not looking at the jewelry—looking at Gray.

In fact, the steady flow of customers was definitely out of the norm. She was confident she had the best products to sell at this festival, but the number of women stopping by to browse was starting to make her wonder if there were some major whispers going around about who was “manning” her booth.

A new throng of women approached the table, all throwing sideways glances at Gray, who was completely ignoring them while he stacked the wooden crates out of the way.

She narrowed her eyes at the group, who weren’t paying any attention to her wares at all.

“Excuse me,” one called out to Gray.

He shot a glance over his shoulder.

“Do you have any of these in blue stones?” The woman tossed her hair over her shoulder in the most blatant display of flirtation that Honor had ever seen.

A laugh burst out of her, and she shook her head in amusement. Even though she could easily believe it, all right. Gray was the hottest man she—and likely all of the women at the festival too—had ever seen.

He fixed a look on Honor. From the crease between his brows, she knew he had no damn clue that these ladies were here for him.

Well, she was going to use him to her advantage. She moved up beside him. “Why don’t you come sit by me?”

“Sure, sugar.”

Her insides warmed, and they each took a seat on the lawn chairs she brought. The traffic only increased over the next few hours as the festival really got rolling. The live music, the smell of food from food trucks and the crowds of people really made these things fun. And having Gray with her was even more special.

Before noon, she had sold out of all of her silk corded necklaces. As she shifted products around the table and added more from her backstock, she heard a woman call out.

“Excuse me. What is this type of metal?”

Honor looked over to see a woman standing in front of Gray, twirling a lock of hair around her finger in the most cliché move she’d ever seen.

He leaned over and picked up the item, reading the tag. “Says silver.” He set it back down.

“Oh! Thanks. I’ll take two.”

Honor rushed over to accept the payment and wrap the items in tissue and slip them into a recycled paper bag. She was just doing her job. After all, it was her business. She wasn’t being territorial. Not at all.

When there was a small spell of time where people moved off to watch a live band, Honor grabbed her tools and a length of wire.

“You know,” she said in a tone she tried to play off as cool, “my sales have doubled with you here.”

His gray gaze settled on her. “The festival is really busy. Lots of traffic.”

“Oh sure. That must be it.” She wasn’t upset with Gray. He was oblivious to the women giggling over him like he was the only man at the festival. And he was just being his usual helpful, polite self.

But the success of the festival had her wondering about that storefront. Could a specialty shop in a small town stay afloat? Every time she made another sale, her confidence grew and she became more convinced a store could work.

She twisted and shaped the wire into a sturdy but elegant ring. Then she wrapped it around a gemstone. Not just any stone—a big, bold and unmistakable one. When she finished, she stood up and took a step toward Gray even though he was within touching distance.

His smile creased the corners of his eyes, making her think of how he looked that day they were on horseback. He was wearing the same cowboy hat, and squinting into the sun exactly the same way.

He set his hands on her hips, drawing her a step closer. “What is it, Honor?”

She let her gaze dip over his face, chest and long legs clad in worn denim to the tips of his leather cowboy boots, then back up to his ruggedly handsome features. “I like it. So I’m sticking a ring on it.” She held out the ring to him.

His lips twitched, and for a second, she wondered if he was going to tease her for the obviously territorial move. But he didn’t.

He looked down at the ring, then at her, something unreadable flickering in his eyes. He slipped the ring on his finger. On the marriage finger.

“I love it.”

Warmth spread through her and settled low in her belly.

His smile changed to a wide smirk. “But you do realize you just branded me like a prize bull, right?”

She shrugged and bent to capture his lips in a soft kiss. “If the shoe fits.”

When they broke apart, more customers began parading past the booth, and she got busy talking up her jewelry and selling out of all the Lavender Horizon collection as well as the Twilight Amulet bracelets.

Gray interrupted, and she could tell by the concerned pinch between his brows that something was on his mind.

“What is it?” she asked.

“I’d like to make a food run, but I don’t feel good about leaving you alone.”

“I’ll be fine.” She waved a hand, but just the mention of a problem made her stomach flutter.

He crouched behind the table, making sure she saw him slip the weapon out of his waistband. He twisted to look up at her. “It’s right here. Within reach. If you need it for any reason.”

Her heart jogged. “I won’t need it.”

“And I’m going to have the festival security hang out by your booth while I’m gone.”

“Is that necessary?”

He leaned in to press a soft kiss to her forehead. “Yes.”

While she didn’t like seeing the security hanging out near her booth, she had to admit that Gray made her feel protected in ways she never had before.

What felt like half an hour later, he returned, arms loaded with every type of food on offer.

Honor blinked at him. “You really know how to make me feel like the luckiest woman alive. What did you get? I’m starving!”

With Felicity helping, she was able to snag a gyro and a soda before the food vendors sold out, but with Gray? Different story. The man had carried in a walking feast—skewers of grilled meat, curly fries, deep-fried Oreos, cotton candy in a cloud of pink and blue and…

“Is that a turkey leg?” She gaped at him.

He clutched the leg and brought it to his lips. “Figured I’d go for the full festival experience. Go big or go home.”

She shook her head in amazement. “Totally different experience with you than my sister.”

They settled in the chairs with the spread on one corner of the table away from the jewelry. He handed her a powdered sugar-covered pastry on a paper plate. “A man’s gotta take care of his woman.”

Her heart did something ridiculous in her chest.

Then he brought out another bag and handed it to her.

She wiped her fingers on a napkin before reaching into the bag, wondering what kind of food she’d find. But her fingers brushed over fabric.

Silky fabric.

She drew out a soft, flowing skirt in a shade of deep blue.

“You bought me a skirt?” Her voice was quieter than usual.

He nodded, studying her reaction, a light gleam of grease from the turkey leg on his bottom lip. “I saw it in a booth and thought of you.”

Butterflies soared through her chest. Her ex never bought her presents. And here was Gray, handing one over like it was the most natural thing in the world.

She kept staring at the skirt in a vibrant blue that reminded her of the sea and the sky mixed on a perfect summer’s day. Her throat felt unusually tight.

He shifted beside her. “You hate it, don’t you?”

She snapped her gaze up to his. “No! No. I love it.” Her tone took that soft dip again as emotion washed over her. “It’s beautiful, and so special to me, Gray.”

“You act like you never got a present before.”

She moved her shoulders in a light shrug. “It’s been a long time. Thank you.” She leaned over to wrap her arms around him, dropping her forehead to his and looking deep into his eyes.

“I’d love to see it on you.” He trailed his fingers through her hair, raising a quiver inside her. “And then on the ground.”

She broke out laughing. “You’re impossible.”

“And you’re beautiful.”

She rolled her eyes, but inside she was melting. And falling so deeply in love with Gray Malone that there probably wasn’t a chance she’d survive it.

Later…she would try the skirt on for him. And just maybe she’d let it fall to the ground exactly like they both wanted.

* * * * *

Gray stood flipping burgers by the campsite grill, the scent of sizzling meat thick in the air. The sky had darkened to a dusky purple, and the area glowed with lantern light. From the main festival grounds drifted the sounds of laughter and music as people continued to enjoy themselves, but he wasn’t paying attention to that.

The back doors of the van opened, and Honor climbed out. His breath stalled.

She was wearing the skirt he bought her.

It fit like it had been made for her, hugging her hips and falling to brush her toned calves.

Relief rolled through him, something he’d never felt before when it came to a woman. He’d only had practice giving gifts to his sister, and he figured Willow liked anything he gave her no matter what. She had to—she was family.

Buying the skirt had been a shot in the dark. After impulsively paying for it, he second-guessed himself all the way back to Honor’s jewelry booth. But seeing her in it was the best feeling.

She approached him, a tender expression in her eyes. When she did a little twirl, he couldn’t help but grin. “I love it so much, Gray. Thank you for getting it for me.”

He glanced down at the ring she’d made him earlier. Sticking a ring on it, she’d said, had his heart doing things in his chest that he never knew possible.

“You don’t know how hard it was picking out that skirt.” He flipped the burgers onto a paper plate and set aside the long-handled spatula.

He stepped up to face her.

“Do tell.” Her voice sounded husky with the desire he saw pulsing in the depths of her eyes.

“I had to use my hands to show your waist size to the shop owner.”

“Oh yeah? Show me.”

He held out his hands as if he was gripping her waist. “I said…she’s about this curvy. I got some weird looks.”

Then he grasped her waist for real.

With a little tug, he pulled her against him. She molded to his body and tipped her head back so the loose strands of her hair tickled his fingers on her waist.

Her soft laugh shot electric lust along his senses. When he gently rubbed the fabric of the skirt along her skin, the silky sensation made him rock-hard and drew a soft noise from Honor.

He twisted the cloth at the front, tugging it higher up her thighs. Her breath came in faster pants as he inched it upward. When he slipped his hand under her skirt and stroked bare, soaking wet skin, he froze.

A growl vibrated from him.

Then he was rubbing her wet slit and massaging the juices into her hard clit. She sagged in his arms, and he supported her weight with ease as he continued to torment her with small but practiced strokes of his fingers.

The sleek wetness had him throbbing and ready to blow. But this was about celebrating Honor and her day at the festival. Recognizing her talent and what a wonderful person she was…

And how love was brimming in his veins for her.

She thrust her hips forward and cried out. Staring down into her eyes, he continued to rub her pussy, making her gasp and rock her hips to the rhythm her body demanded.

He teased his finger over her stiff nubbin and dipped his mouth to her throat, sucking lightly as he drove her to the finish line.

She let out a moan that spurred him on. Faster brushes of his fingertip made her tense. The cloth of the skirt draped over his wrist, and he knew he’d never see the garment the same way again.

She began to shake as her release climbed. Two more soft and insanely slow strokes later, she came with a sharp cry.

His heart flooded with emotions as he watched bliss transform her from stunning to otherworldly. She shook apart in his hold, and he felt every pulsation of her release zapping through his hand.

Bringing her down nice and easy, he took her mouth with gentle nips and flicks of his tongue. When a final shudder rocked her, he pulled his hand free of her slick folds and let her skirt drop.

With a soft pat on her behind, he turned back to the grill. The burgers had gone cold in the time he pleasured Honor, but nothing a little reheating wouldn’t fix.

When he glanced up at her, she was staring at him with a stunned look on her face. “You good?”

“Incredible.” She flashed him a grin and sashayed over to the back of the van, her hips taunting him with every mind-blowing step.

His aching cock throbbed against his fly, but instead of throwing her skirt up, entering her from behind and slaking his own lust, he savored the pulse of desire.

After the burgers were warm, they each settled on folding lawn chairs with their plates. Talking and laughing about their day at the festival felt new and exciting to him. He never had this before. Up until now, his life had been duty and family, but he didn’t let them skim past the top layers of his emotions.

Honor had dug so deep that he didn’t know whether his heart was beating or it was hers he felt when he held her against him.

After they ate their burgers and the night deepened, Gray packed up the portable grill, stacking everything and wiping everything down. They had to return to the festival first thing in the morning and wouldn’t have time to spare for cleanup.

As he walked away from the back of the van where he stowed the items in a special compartment, he stopped in his tracks.

Honor crouched in front of the small fire she’d made. The flames leaped high, sending orange sparks into the dark sky.

His chest tightened at the sight.

She straightened and spotted him. With a flick of her hand, she gestured for him to come sit down. Gray had to force his thigh muscles to loosen so he could take a step.

Shadows flickered over her face and played along her delicate features. She sank to the chair and pulled out a bag of marshmallows.

On stiff, wooden legs, he moved forward to join her and dropped too heavily into the seat, making it rock on its thin metal legs. The bright flames weren’t shooting as high into the sky as they had been on the USS Valor Heights , but his mind couldn’t separate one from the other.

She held a retractable fork speared with a marshmallow over the flame.

He didn’t see the sugary snack, only flames. The red-orange streaks imprinted on the back of his eyes and those imagined screams reverberated in his ears.

Honor turned to him, holding out a marshmallow. “Here. Perfectly golden.”

He didn’t move. Couldn’t.

From the corner of his eye, he saw the smile fade from her face. Then she dropped the fork on the ground and grabbed his balled fist.

“Gray…my god. You weren’t just in the air at the time that ship sunk, were you? You saw everything.”

His jaw clenched. He turned slightly and shook himself, trying to cast off the heavy weight in his chest. But Honor shifted out of her seat and dropped to her knees in front of him. Staring into his face, she covered both of his fists with her soft hands.

Her touch grounded him a little, brought him a bit closer to home.

“Tell me.”

His voice came out as gruff as if he’d inhaled all the smoke from that blaze. “I was in the air. Watching them die. I could do nothing. For months after, I was still enlisted. I tried to work through it, but in the end…I just couldn’t anymore.”

She didn’t say anything at first, only wrapped her hands tighter around his, anchoring him.

“I felt weak when I came home. All winter I watched the other vets in therapy dealing with similar issues. That’s when I realized…I’m not weak.”

“No,” she said fiercely. “You’re not. You’re the strongest man I’ve ever met.”

His throat burned hearing the sincerity in her words.

Her voice came out softer now, a whisper of calm in the tumultuous sea churning with the sinking ship in his imagination. “You couldn’t help them. And that’s the worst part. You’re a protector, Gray. But your hands were tied, and you couldn’t help.”

“The bonfire—”

“Is a trigger. I understand. But it’s different, and you don’t have to think about the past. I’m here, Gray. I’m with you.”

She talked him through the moment with patience and understanding, just as he did for her when she got on horseback.

“Focus on me, okay? And on these delicious marshmallows.”

“Because I need a little sugar in my life?”

She huffed out a watery laugh that made his heart flex hard on a new realization, one that didn’t take a long, hard winter and a lonely spring to figure out.

He couldn’t imagine life without Honor.