Page 41 of Gravity

“Chicken shit.”

I gasp when he pushes the last bit of his ice cream I forgot he had against my nose. His grin gets even wider as he takes another step back.

“You did not just do that,” I protest.

“I very much did. Last one to the truck, Shortcake.”

Before I can do anything, he starts running backwards, laughing like an idiot. Why is it that this man can make me all kinds of crazy in a matter of seconds?

“You are unbelievable,” I yell, running after him, already knowing I’m going to lose but loving the smile on his face.

Chapter Twelve

Grayson

“Hey, old man.”

I hear Nora from behind me as I finish restocking the bottles of beer on the shelf. I smile instantly and turn to find her heading into the bar holding a box. Like they constantly have a mind of their own, my eyes trail down her body the closer she gets.

She’s in wedged sandals and those denim shorts she’s famous for wearing. Her bare, tan legs look as smooth as silk—such a temptation, and I envisage running my tongue along them as I work my way up her thighs toward the sweet spot that I’d kill to taste. Her black tank top has me smiling—‘No one puts baby in the corner’—but it’s her face and bright white smile that has my breath catching. She’s mesmerizing, and the beauty of it all is she has no fucking idea.

“Well, that’s not the greeting I thought I’d get.”

“I was going to say silver fox because I swear I see some little shimmers here and there”—she points to my head—“but I thought that was a little harsh.”

“So, you went with old instead?”

“Naturally.”

“Wow, have you come here just to crush my feelings?” I laugh curiously, brushing my fingers through my hair self-consciously, even though I know there’s not a gray hair in sight.

“Oh of course. I just enjoy stamping on your heart at every opportunity.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

It’s been three weeks since she’s been home, five days since she first started working at the bar and way too many hours of her invading my thoughts. Like I knew she would, Nora Nelson hasn’t just occupied my mind with her beauty, she’s slowly taking over my damn heart, too. Each time I’m around her, she makes it easier to breathe, and whenever she is close, I have to work fucking hard not to pull her against me and keep her there forever. But what scares me more than ever is the fact my guard is falling fast, and sooner or later I know I won’t be able to hold back.

My mind is stuck in a war, wanting to progress to see where this leads yet knowing it will blow up in my face if it were to be exposed. Nothing stays a secret forever. Asher will become a nightmare to be around and will not see things as they are, so I question whether it’s even worth it at all because the one who’s likely to come off the worst in all of this is Nora. The last thing I want to do is hurt anyone, and the more I see myself being with her, the more I know it will send everyone’s world spinning.

Especially her brother’s.

But fuck, this is hard when she consumes me like no other.

“Why are you here anyway?” I question, wiping down the bar before flipping the cloth over my shoulder. “You’re not down to work today.”

“Oh. Okay, well if you don’t want me around then I’ll just take these treats I bought and go shall I?” she teases, heading back out of the door and taking the box with her. I don’t want her to go of course but equally, just hearing the word treats has me intrigued and my mouth watering. Anyone who knows me knows I have a sweet tooth.

“Stop. Wait. Turn.”

Looking over her shoulder she says nothing, just graces me with a wicked grin.

I raise a brow and nod my head toward the box. “You have treats? Whatcha buy me?”

“What makes you think I bought you anything?”

“Because you wouldn’t have taken the time to come here and find me otherwise.”

“I could have come here just to tease you.”