Page 38 of Gravity

“Well, you must have read the schedule wrong because Ryan will be leaving soon.” Grayson says, not a bit fazed that she’s flirting with him because he’s clearly not interested.

Lacy lets out a little giggle that makes her sound ridiculous and desperate. “It’s you, silly. You’re my favorite guy. You know this.”

“I do?”

She leisurely trails her fingers across the bar, itching to touch him. “Of course. I’m always telling you. The question is, am I your favorite girl?”

I don’t know how old she is, but this is pitiful to watch. He and I know now that her smirk was to piss me off. Well, she can damn well try.

“No. I’m his favorite,” I say, sitting myself up straight.

The look of distaste on her features is evident when she turns her head in my direction, but what has me smiling is when Grayson laughs and agrees with me.

“She’s not wrong, Lace. Nora will always be my little lady.”

“Little maybe, but she’s certainly no lady. How old are you, Nora? Ten?”

“Lacy,” Grayson warns.

My irritation with this woman is at a boiling point already, and I’ve been around her for no more than thirty minutes. She told me not to piss her off, but she’s sure as hell not going to be the one that calls the damn shots here and make me cave on the first day with her attitude. Fuck that.

“Twenty-two, actually, and old enough to recognize the behavior of someone who is desperate. You should get yourself checked out, Lacy. There’s therapy for that.”

Her mouth drops open at my comment before her nostrils flare, and she looks at Grayson. All the while I’m shaking on the inside with both anger and apprehension.

“Are you going to let her speak to me like that?”

Grayson leans forward, his shoulders now squared with tension. “When you learn to have respect for those around you, Lacy, you’ll earn it back. So, yes. I will. Now please go and do some work as that is what I pay you for.”

Stepping back like she’s just been slapped with a wet fish, she glares at us both before storming off. When I finally look at Grayson, I see a shit-eating grin on his face.

“What?”

“You know, as your boss, I should call you out on that, but I’m not going to because—”

“I’m your favorite?” I joke.

“Because she deserved it.”

“Does she always act like she’s trying to get into your pants, or is that her way with men in general?” I ask, hating I’ve asked the question because I’m unsure I want to know the answer.

Stretching his arms out in front of him, he exhales. “Both. It’s no secret around here that she wants me.”

Anxiety grips my stomach. “But… you don’t want her?”

“No.”

“Why not? Despite her sour tongue, she’s a pretty woman.”

He turns his body to face me. “And a woman who’s bedded half of Virginia—one of those men being your brother.”

“Right. That makes a lot of sense.” It makes sense because my brother’s reputation when it comes to women is on point. Being a SEAL gives him the impression he is a magnet to the ladies, and he laps up their attention like you wouldn’t believe.

“Lacy just sees every woman I’m near as a threat to her, regardless of what I want.”

“Well, I’m certainly no threat to her where you’re concerned.”

I hold his stare and that electric charge between us is back. I felt it the other night and I know he did, too, only this time, I’ve no alcohol inside me to hide the effect he’s having on me. I pull my gaze from his, trying to control the butterflies that’ve just taken flight.