Page 23

CHAPTER 22

GRADY

“ W hat is this?” Jill asked from her porch, her tone suspicious as she scanned my dad’s pickup that I’d pulled out of the garage.

“It’s called a truck,” I said, coming around the front. She’d changed and done her hair in the two hours since we’d gotten back. The short sundress she’d put on gave my mind entirely too much leg to work with, visions of what the view would be like kneeling in front of her, pushing that flimsy lavender fabric out of my way as I finally got a chance to taste her.

“Should I be reconsidering this?” she asked, her expression growing more apprehensive. “I thought we were doing dinner? Since when does that require a utility vehicle?”

I stepped up on the bottom stair, putting us at eye level. “We’re going to eat,” I said, failing to cover the smirk brought on by my earlier imagery. “But if we want, I have some other ideas too.”

Her mouth tilted, like she was trying to smile but was still fighting her nerves. “Do I get to know what these ideas are?”

Even if it made me something of a caveman, I could admit that getting to be the first guy to do some of these things with Jill pleased the basest part of me. It was bullshit she’d never been treated right before, but I was prepared to right as many wrongs as I could this summer where she was concerned. By the time I left she’d know how it felt to be with a man who actually cared about her.

“You will.” I nodded, kissing her cheek. “And if you hate them, we pass. No pressure.”

That seemed to settle it for her and she let me take her hand. She laughed at me when I opened the truck door for her and helped her up. A woman of her height hardly needed the assistance, but it gave me another excuse to touch her. She’d pulled her hair half up, and some wispy tendrils had fallen loose landing on her cheeks. I coaxed one behind her ear, the softness of her skin ricocheting up my arm. It was going to be a long night with her looking this good.

“So, where are we headed?”

Now it was my turn to be nervous. I’d shoved my anxiety aside when Cory had texted the details, because asking him to switch spots—again—would have drawn way too much attention. Swallowing, I kept my eyes on the road as I said, “The Docks.”

Jill didn’t look at me, but I felt her shift in her seat. “Who picked that place?”

I scoffed, my irritation at myself getting the better of me. “Not me.”

When Jill’s hand slid across my thigh, I closed my eyes, for just a second, and let myself savor the comfort in her touch. I wished she was ignorant to what was going on with me, but with one touch I didn’t have to say a thing.

“I’ll be fine.”

“You will be,” she said softly, offering a sweet kind of encouragement. “You’ve been doing great.”

It was too easy for me to think back to the nightmares and puking of the week before to really believe her. But I nodded, giving her a reassuring glance. Her hand was still on my leg and I laid mine on top of it.

“You talk to your brother?” I asked, eager to change the subject.

Jill eyed me for a second before pulling her hand away to fix the strap of her dress that had fallen down. “No. He keeps calling but not leaving messages. I’m heading over to help LeAnn with a project tomorrow, so I’m sure I’ll get an earful if he’s around.” She squinted out the windshield, as if she was already geared up for the fight. “But considering the way he went after you, he better be the one treading lightly.”

It hurt to laugh, but I did it anyway. Other than Lexi, I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen a woman get this upset in my defense. That I’d earned some shit from Joey clearly didn’t matter to Jill.

Swiveling in her seat she asked, “What did Cory say?”

“About us?”

“Yeah.”

I shrugged, because Cory hadn’t been against the idea, but he hadn’t been for it either. He didn’t think I was setting out to hurt Jill the way Joey did, but he wasn’t sure I knew what I was getting myself into. Part of me thought that this dinner invite was a way for him to see for himself—and Skylar, too—just how good Jill and I were for each other. But I wasn’t going to tell Jill that.

“He didn’t have strong feelings about it either way. He’s pretty good at minding his own business.”

“And yet his first impulse was to set up a double date?” Jill laughed. “Twenty bucks says he’s reporting back to my brother.”

I pulled into the lot for The Docks, the low hanging sun shining in a blinding sheet off the water. This was a townie gem that I’d spent more time at than any other place growing up. We’d tie up at the docks down below and come up for burgers and beers every weekend. In the winter they’d carve out a rink on the ice just off shore, and we’d play till we were exhausted and then come inside for the best roast beef sandwich in the state. Their massive deck overlooked the western shore of the lake, and every table had a view, making you feel like you were sitting on the water, a part of it.

My stomach knotted instantly, and I let out a loud breath. “Let him. We’re just having a good time, right?” I cut the engine and turned toward her, watching the frustration on her face melt into understanding. I scratched at my jaw anxiously and she gave me a reassuring grin.

“Right.”

As we approached Cory and Skylar at a table in the corner of the deck, I caught the sly grin on both their faces and remembered when Cory had introduced me to his then fake girlfriend. I’d hit on her—as one would expect—and watching him get all hot about it had been more fun than I’d anticipated.

“Hey, so glad you could join us. It’s good to see you, Jill,” Cory said, getting to his feet and leaning in to give her a hug, his eyes on me over her head. I tracked the movement of his arm, even though I knew he was far too devoted to his wife to do anything.

“You don’t look too beat up,” Skylar said, pulling back from my hug with a scrutinizing gaze. “He take it easy on you?”

“ Sky ,” Cory said, clearing his throat. He gave her a wide-eyed look, but she just laughed.

With a sympathetic glance in Jill’s direction, she clucked at him. “Please, ignoring the elephant in the room has never once made it go away.”

Jill’s laugh drew all eyes to her, and she blushed when she saw it. “I mean, she’s not wrong. My brother’s a big baby and we all know he can’t stand not getting his way.”

Taking our seats Jill and I ordered drinks to catch up with them and as the waitress left my eyes finally landed on the water at Cory’s back. It felt like we were hovering just above it. It was dark green and calm except for the boat wakes snaking over the surface. I took a breath through my nose, counting the inhale and exhaling just as slowly.

Jill’s foot grazing my leg under the table brought me back. I shook my head, smiling over at her and letting myself sink into her eyes. She was stunning. Warm cheeks, full lips dusted with a lipstick the slightest shade of pink. Her gaze softened as she held mine, and suddenly she felt too far away. Reaching under her chair I took hold of the nearest leg and dragged her closer to me. A laugh erupted out of her as she was jerked sideways, but she never looked away.

“So, when does training camp start?” Cory asked, and I realized an entire conversation had been happening without me.

“No sports talk,” I muttered, my eyes still on Jill. It felt like we were kids, like some lust-drunk teens who couldn’t help but make a scene. But I didn’t care.

“Okay then, Hollywood. What should we talk about?”

I chuckled at his tone; amused but also slightly uncomfortable. Turning his way I took a sip of my water. “How’s the construction business?”

Cory groaned, but his grin told a different story. “It’s fine. Dirt, cement, trees. We’re doing great.”

“Did you guys get that new shopping plaza in Lyman?” Jill asked, surprising Cory.

“Yeah,” he said, lowering his head like he was almost bashful about it.

“That was a really neat design you submitted.”

Skylar shifted beside Cory, straightening proudly as she nodded in agreement.

“We were lucky the town liked our ideas for the greenspace. If we can keep things on track timing wise, it’ll be one of the most environmentally friendly retail spaces in the county.”

I was far enough out of the loop of local news that I just sat and listened as they debated the use of the abandoned spaces versus the construction of new ones. It was fun to see Jill and Cory both so passionate about the community. By the time dinner had arrived, no one was even thinking about Joey and what he’d have to say about my hand in his sister’s lap.

“Does anyone want dessert?” Cory asked, looking over the menu the waitress had dropped by when she’d retrieved our plates.

“I don’t think so,” I said, giving Jill a sideways glance. “We’ve actually got another stop to make tonight.” I pulled out my wallet and handed my card to the waitress as she buzzed past our table, lowering my voice as I told her, “Put it all on this, once they get their dessert.”

“Hey,” Cory said, scowling at me over the menu.

“Sorry, pal, we’ve got to run.”

Checking my watch confirmed we had to leave right then or we wouldn’t make it to part two of the evening’s agenda. An agenda Jill was very curious about, based on the look she was giving me.

“Let them go,” Skylar said, swatting at Cory’s arm. “We’ve seen enough. Clearly Jill is here of her own volition,” she paused, smirking up at me. “Even if her choice of company is questionable at best.”

I shook my head, but appreciated the way her ribbing me had Jill laughing. Anyone who could help her feel more at ease was okay in my book. I gave Cory a quick handshake before he could stand, and leaned down to kiss Sky on the cheek. “Thanks,” I whispered in her ear before I pulled back.

“Anytime, hot shot,” she said, giving Jill a wave. “Have fun.”

It might have seemed a little odd to me that Skylar was so encouraging about all this, but I didn’t stop to consider why. Snagging my card from the waitress I took Jill’s hand and we bee-lined it for the truck.

“Okay,” I said, slamming my door shut. “Next up—if you approve—is a movie and some ice cream.” I raised my eyebrows, waiting and watching as she pulled her lips in on themselves, her eyes wide as she considered it. “Yay or nay?”

She tilted her head, noticing how excited I was. “I’m in.”

“That’s my girl,” I said, throwing the truck in gear.

After a second she turned, looking around the truck cab before she said. “I still don’t get why we needed the truck though?”

I chuckled under my breath. “You will.”