Page 83 of Gravity

“I knew things where bad, but I’d had no idea how bad until he broke down and told me after I kept challenging him about the distance he’d put between us. It’s just sad that he felt that he had to go it alone and couldn’t come to any of us.”

She smiles flatly. “People mourn in different ways, and at different times in their life, but what’s important is those you have around you when that time comes. The ones who are there to hold you up when you can barely hold on. And I believe you are that person to help him.”

If only she knew there was a double meaning behind what she just said—or perhaps she does, and that’s the reason my heart races in my chest.

Either way, I’m on the verge of saying that not only do I want to help him but that I’m falling for him faster than my heart can control.

“We have a good friendship, Mom.”

“You have. There’s no denying that you two are close, you’re his Shortcake after all. People drift toward each other for a reason, and sometimes it’s a blessing. It’s just...”

“Just what?” I whisper because I swear the look in her eyes is telling me she knows.

“Just be ready for a bumpy ride. Not all will see what a mother can see.”

And just like that, I’m left guessing, no clearer about what she knows, if anything, or if she even approves. However, my biggest challenge still remains in the hands of my brother.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Grayson

“Grayson, we need to stop,” Nora breathes as I kiss her senseless against the side of the pier, hidden away from those we are at the beach with, but as soon as the words leave her mouth, she pulls me back and lets me invade her once again. Her hands are in my hair, one leg is wrapped around my thigh, and in all honesty, we do need to stop because I’m getting hard from her grinding against me.

But the woman is like a fucking addiction and reels me in all the more.

“I don’t want to.”

“We have to.”

It’s been almost a month since she let me take her innocence, and from that point on we’ve been inseparable. My place. My office at work. Her place when no one has been looking. You name it.

She’s got me wrapped around her finger in the best possible way, and I’ve done nothing but smile and laugh in the weeks I’ve been with her, more than I have in such a long time.

“You expect me to behave today and not touch you when you turn up wearing a bikini like this?”

“So, you do like it then…”

I growl, hooking my fingers around the strap of her halter neck bikini. It’s both sexy and classy—a perfect combination—covering her tattoos that are for my eyes only yet dipping low enough to expose the skin I want to do naughty things to.

“Did you deliberately wear this to test me?”

“Maybe. I mean, I know you like me in red. Not to mention how much you love my cleavage and running your tongue between my breasts. However will you cope today?”

“Fucking tease.”

She laughs. “Come on. We already have eyes on us. I don’t want any one we know to catch us.”

“Let them. I thought the daring part of me turned you on?”

“It does, but I already raised suspicion in Mom when I said I needed to be with you when you made the call to Ryan.”

“It wasn’t a lie,” I breathe, resuming my position against her neck as the shallow water glides over our feet. “It was work.”

“Yes, but I could tell by the look in her eyes that she knew I had a game plan.”

“I like this game plan. When’s the home run?”

“Later. We need to get back.”