Once Upon A Bet: A Grumpy Single Dad Romance, page 9
He smirked. “Was it that bad?”
“It was worse,” I laughed.
He smiled back. Our eyes locked and I chewed my lip. I broke the moment with a shrug. “Well, I need the normal grumpy Greyson back so he can taste this food and tell me if I’ve got the job.”
He hesitated, eyes still holding mine. Then he nodded. “Alright, let’s see how we did.”
Greyson worked his way down the line of dishes, listening carefully as I described each dish and then giving it a taste. He withheld any feedback as he tasted. By the time he was at the last dish, my heart was in my throat and I felt like I was about to barf from nerves. I had no idea if he was hating everything or loving it.
He finally set down his fork, folded his arms, and looked straight at me. I felt naked under his gaze.
“Damn,” he said after what felt like an eternity. “I was honestly hoping you would fuck this up, but you didn’t. I was useless in the kitchen, and you still managed to find a way to keep me useful and stop me from sabotaging your food. And all of that?” he said, pointing to the counter. “It was incredible. People would pay top dollar for that. You think you could produce that kind of food every night?”
I nodded.
“And did you come up with what the cost will be for each item and the menu price?”
I nodded again.
Greyson ran his big hand across his stubble and shook his head. “Damn it. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but the job is yours.”
I forgot to be scared of him and rushed over to jump up and hug him hard. “Thank you so much. I promise I won’t disappoint you.”
He froze at first, but then put his arms around me, hugging me back. “I know you won’t,” he said quietly.
I closed my eyes as joy and excitement melted into something else. Having his strong arms around me felt so good. I didn’t want him to let me go.
“I wanted to make sure we cleared something up,” he said suddenly, almost pushing me away from himself. “That kiss. It didn’t mean anything. It was just… Attraction. I don’t want you thinking there was anything more to it.”
I opened my mouth to reply but couldn’t find the right words to express my outrage. Was he serious? I took several heartbeats to think of my response. “Don’t worry. If any part of me hoped it meant more, that part just shriveled up and died. I’ll be your employee and nothing more. And I’m taking this with me,” I said, picking up the plate of meatloaf I’d made. I was hungry and hadn’t eaten in hours. I’d been too damn nervous about this little test.
“The restaurant opens in a month,” he said, completely ignoring how much of an asshole he just was and my annoyed response. “But I want you to start coming by for half days. You’ll be laying out a business plan with me and making sure we have everything we need on opening day.”
“You got it, Boss,” I said, biting back sarcasm.
I went to my car and ate the meatloaf, trying not to let angry tears come. Why should his words sting so much? It was exactly what I was hoping for, wasn’t it? My dream job opportunity, and wasn’t it better if I didn’t have to worry about some complicated mess of feelings with my boss? Greyson just put that to bed. He made it clear there was nothing between us and there never would be. I should be happy.
I took an angry bite of meatloaf. “You taste so good,” I muttered to my food.
I looked back at the inn, glaring. “Asshole.”
18
GREYSON
I could still taste Harper’s amazing food in the back of my mouth hours after she cooked for me. I honestly wasn’t hungry, but Zack wanted us all to meet at his place for beers and hamburgers. He had some new girlfriend he wanted me to meet, and he promised the kids he’d have a baby deer he just rescued in the back yard for them to play with.
We all showed up around seven and even though it had been hours since I saw Harper, I couldn’t pull my thoughts from the encounter.
Zack offered me a beer at the door and then showed the kids to the back where the baby deer was waiting, as promised.
His new girlfriend was a twenty-something with blonde hair tied back in a ponytail and a fit, athletic build. She smiled warmly while planting her palm on Zack’s chest and then getting on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “Hey baby,” she said. “Is this the famous Greyson Ashford?”
“Hardly famous,” I said. I tried to smile and be friendly, but I felt a pent-up anger inside that was refusing to fade.
Zack looked at me a heartbeat too long, then smiled. “This is the man, the myth, the legend. Straight from the big city to slum it with us small town folk.”
The girl smiled and stuck her hand out. “I’m Sarah.”
“Greyson,” I grunted, shaking her hand. “I should go check on the kids.”
I excused myself and went to the back. Zack had a large fenced in yard behind his small house. I knew he spent more time out here than inside, and he’d made the place more homey than the interior was. Hamburgers were sizzling on the grill while my two cousins, Griff and Jay argued over whether they were ready to be taken off the heat yet. I was surprised to see Katie was there as well. She was chatting with two more of my cousins, Ashley and Margo. It was a regular thing for the cousins to come to my brother’s place in Fairhope. Everybody in the family seemed to love the place except my dad and our youngest brother.
I hovered near the kids, hoping nobody would come talk to me.
I was doing a pretty good job of glaring everyone into keeping their distance until I saw Harper’s friends, Lin and Farrah come out from the house, smiling with beers in hand. Shit. What the hell were they doing here?
Both women spotted me almost immediately and shot me dirty looks. So it looked like Harper already told them about our conversation.
Zack came up beside me with a plate of food. “Hungry?”
I peeled my eyes away from Harper’s friends. “Not really.”
“Eat anyway, asshole.”
I took the plate and picked up a chip, chewing with disinterest.
“Gonna tell me what has you so pissy? Sarah asked if she said something wrong.”
I let out a breath. It annoyed me that I was letting this all get to me so much. I should be able to control my fucking emotions enough to put on a happy face for an evening. “I’m fine.”
“Yeah? Because you look ready to tear someone’s head off.”
“Are you volunteering?”
He chuckled. “See? Even pissier than usual.”
“It’s nothing. Just drop it.”
As if sensing my temper was high, Katie walked over to join us. “What’s up your ass, Greyson?”
I felt my anger threatening to boil over. All I needed was to sort through this on my own. Why the hell did everyone in my life feel the need to butt into my business? I tipped back the beer and drained what was left.
Katie made an unimpressed sound. “That’s mature. Drink until your problems go away. Is that the plan?”
“It’s one beer,” I snapped. “Why don’t you take the kids home tonight. I can pick them up next weekend.” My heart sank at my own words. What the fuck was I doing? I never gave up time with the kids, but I also could feel I was on the edge of losing my temper. I didn’t want to let it loose on them.
Katie’s face lit with concern. “You want me to take them early?”
She didn’t need to say more. The unspoken parts hung in the air between us, dripping with accusation and worry.
“Can you?” I managed.
“Yeah, sure,” she said.
Zack was watching me with worried eyes, too.
“Great. Thanks.” I went over to Molly and Billy, using every shred of control I had to smile and be normal for them. “Hey guys, I am feeling a little off tonight. I’m going to have mom take you back with her a little early. You can come get your stuff after this. Okay?”
They both stared up at me with confused, big eyes. Dammit. They were probably wondering why their dad didn’t want them. Of course that wasn’t fucking it, but I couldn’t explain what was going on in my head. I could hardly understand it myself.
“Will you come see us?” Molly asked.
“Yeah. Definitely. I just need to sleep this off, okay?” I kissed her forehead and then ruffled Billy’s hair. “You guys be good for your mom, okay? And be careful on that arm.”
They both nodded.
I went to my car, ignoring Zack’s attempt to stop me and ask again if I was okay.
He jogged outside after me and stopped by my car. I grudgingly rolled the window down for him as I turned the engine over. “I just need some sleep.”
“It’s about Harper, right? You said something stupid, I’m guessing. And I know you’re not going to tell me what you said but take my advice. If fucking it up with her has you this pissy, then she’s worth making an effort for. Just suck up your pride and apologize for whatever you did.”
“I hired her. That’s all.”
Zack didn’t buy my lie. “Just think about it. Apologize for being a dumbass and you’ll feel better. Trust me, I’ve been there a few dozen times.”
“I’ll talk to you later.” I rolled up the window and pulled out of the driveway, kicking up dirt and rocks behind me as I clutched the steering wheel like I was about to choke the thing.
And fuck. I had a very bad feeling I wasn’t about to drive home.
19
HARPER
I was trying very hard to be excited about my new job. I even baked myself a “Congratulations on the new job!” cake. Eating over a quarter of it by myself with a generous side of rocky road ice cream was possibly a mistake, especially since I was mildly lactose intolerant. But screw it. I was supposed to be celebrating.
Instead, I’d ended up watching John Wick shoot about three thousand guys because they killed his dog. It felt therapeutic, and I didn’t feel like psychoanalyzing myself to determine why.
A knock came at my door just after nine. I was in pajamas with no bra and wearing an old ratty Teletubbies t-shirt I’d somehow acquired as a kid. It still fit and was so worn that it was just about the comfiest thing I owned. I expected to find Farrah, Lin, or maybe both at my door. I’d vented about my experience to them and figured they were coming to cheer me up.
“Thanks for–” I trailed off when I opened the door and saw a tall, broad shape in the hall. Greyson had on a gray t-shirt and dark jeans that hugged his gorgeous frame. His hair was messy and his eyes looked a little tired, but he flashed that charming smile he kept in reserve when our gazes met.
I saw he was holding a six pack of beers, which he lifted up to me. “I come in peace. I was thinking I could formally apologize once we’re both a little tipsy.”
I worked my lips to the side. I’d been so angry with him just a moment ago, but it was very hard to stay mad when he looked at me like that. God, I was so weak.
“I’ll listen,” I said carefully. “But I make no promises of forgiveness.”
“That’s fair.” Greyson stepped inside and pulled the door shut behind him. I forgot to back up and give him space, so we were both mere inches apart until I had to crane my neck to look up at him. I took a hard swallow, laughed a little nervously, then backed up. “Come on in. I was just finishing a movie.”
He glanced at the TV and chuckled. “I didn’t take you for the type. I was imagining you as more of a Christmas rom com year-round kind of girl.”
I put a hand on my hip, easily falling into the teasing and flirtation with him. It was like my anger was frost on the grass and his presence was the rising of the sun. I could practically feel the annoyance and frustration I’d been simmering in just moments ago evaporating into harmless steam. Maybe it was just that he’d come to apologize. I wasn’t sure I ever had a guy make an effort to say he was sorry for being a jerk, even if it was a simple gesture. “Christmas rom coms all year?” I asked defiantly. “I’ll have you know, I firmly shut off the Christmas movies by July and don’t put them back on until September at the earliest. I have standards.”
He popped the caps off two of the beer bottles, smiling sexily at me in a way that made my insides feel like they were being microwaved. “You have standards,” he agreed, handing a beer to me.
I was more of a margarita and cheap wine kind of girl, but I took the beer and sipped it, trying not to screw up my face at the taste. Our eyes met as he took a drink of his, too.
“Everything I said came out wrong,” he blurted. Apparently, we weren’t going to wait until we were tipsy.
“Okay,” I said, waiting for him to say more.
He opened his mouth, hesitated, then ran a hand through his hair, making it even more wild. He took a few steps around my kitchen, then set down his beer bottle. “I’m not looking for anything serious. I’m only here three months. I’ve got the kids. I’ve got my gramps and his business to fix. I thought I needed to stomp out whatever might be between us. For both our sakes.”
“Okay,” I said again, still not completely ready to forgive him for the way he’d handled our conversation at the inn.
Greyson sighed and lifted his beer abruptly, taking a long drink. “Fuck. Look, I know I’m not good at this. I don’t make a habit of… this.”
“Apologizing?” I said with a half smile. “Or bringing booze over to innocent young girls after dark?”
He chuckled. I could see some of the building tension he felt melt away. “Both.”
Greyson lowered his eyes and his brows knitted together. After a moment, he walked closer to me and put his hand on my arm. “That kiss was supposed to be meaningless. I wanted to prove to myself that it was all nothing.”
“And?” I breathed. My freaking body was on overdrive. My heart was thumping like I’d just kicked John Wick’s puppy and spit on his goldfish.
“It wasn’t nothing. It was fucking incredible.” He inched closer and I could feel the heat of his breath against my forehead. I could practically feel the crackle of potential energy in the small space between us. “But it couldn’t be anything. It would have to just be casual.”
“I’m not looking for anything serious,” I said. It was almost entirely a lie, but I could learn to believe my own lie, couldn’t I? After all, I had a bright future ahead of me and a brand-new job opportunity. That should be my entire focus. Maybe something casual was just what I needed.
“It would have to be discreet,” he said, eyes searching mine.
I nodded. “I can be very sneaky. One time, my period came early in math class and I managed to sneak into the locker room. I snuck some spare clothes from the lost and found and nobody had any idea. And I’m talking too much,” I added in a whisper.
“I want you. But I can’t keep you,” he said.
My throat was tight and my stomach was doing flips. I nodded. “Like a really nice rental car.”
The corner of his mouth twitched into a temporary smile, but it faded quickly. He was devouring me with his eyes. “I’m too old for you.”
“Agree to disagree.”
There was that smile again.
Two heartbeats passed and then he bent to kiss my neck. His hand slid around my waist and then down to my rear. He cupped my ass hard, then ran his tongue up my neck to my jaw. He took in a shuddering breath, then stepped back and shook his head. “Fucking hell,” he hissed. “I don’t know what I’m doing.”
He looked like he was about to bolt, but I lunged forward and grabbed his arm. I felt like I was about to hyperventilate. I didn’t do this kind of thing. I wasn’t bold. I definitely wasn’t the confident, sexy girl I was about to pretend to be. “Wait.”
His eyes held mine with a touch of desperation, almost like he was hoping I’d find a way to convince him to stay.
“Don’t go. I can do everything you said. I can be casual. I can be discreet. It doesn’t have to be more than… Well,” I ran my tongue over my lips and his eyes fell to watch. “I want you,” I added in barely more than a whisper.
“Fuck,” he groaned. He rushed back toward me, plucking the beer from me and slamming it down on the counter as he kissed me and walked me toward the couch. My ass bumped into the back of the couch and my hands were in his hair. Our kiss was frantic. Hungry.
He slid his hand under my t-shirt and found my hard nipple. He dusted it with his thumb while he kissed me deeply. I moaned into his mouth, and it only made him more frantic. I could feel the hard shape of his erection against me. I bit his lip and pressed myself into him, grinding against his arousal as my own blossomed.
A phone rang from the counter, and he paused. He started kissing me again, but the second ring seemed to pull at him.
“It’s okay,” I said.
Greyson stepped back, eyes wild. His jaw ticked twice, then he walked over to look at his phone. “Fuck, it’s Katie.”
My stomach fell. His ex.
“I need to–”
“It’s okay.” I tried to smile casually, but I probably looked sex-crazed. I felt one touch away from orgasm, and he hadn’t even put so much as a finger below my waist yet.
He picked up the phone and turned his back. He waited a few seconds before speaking. “Sorry, I went out to get some medicine. I’ll be there to let them in. Just give me a minute or two. Yeah.” He hung up and looked at me. “Katie was going to take the kids early, but she said Molly apparently wasn’t taking it well. I was supposed to finish reading her favorite story tonight, and she–”
“Hey,” I went to take his hands and smiled. “Go be a good dad. It’s totally fine.”
He swallowed hard. “We’re not done here,” he said in a husky voice that lit a fresh fire in me.
I chewed the corner of my lip. “Okay.”
He kissed me once more, then stepped back. “Remember. Nobody finds out about this.”
“My lips are sealed.”
He paused at the door. “I hope they aren’t sealed next time.”
I blushed. “Sealed except for you.”
“Good. And Harper… This has to be separate from work. Neither of us can–”
