As if it wasn’t enough that fate had shocked the hell out of him by revealing a Lark who not only didn’t annoy him but was also fun to be around, discovering that she was the one was something he still hadn’t fully wrapped his head around.
He’d been flying high yesterday morning, hoping to slowly start his pursuit of her. He still wasn’t sure why she’d broken off their kiss, why she’d jumped out of bed like it was on fire. Part of him wondered if she was still hung up on her ex. Or if she’d been concerned about hooking up with someone who was essentially her boss. Either of those reasons, he could work with. Because the Storms didn’t just share a legend, they also shared a legendary stubbornness when it came to winning the hearts of their women.
Kasi had certainly put Levi through his paces when he finally opened his eyes and saw her. And the same was true for Theo and Maverick, who’d had to help Gretchen and Ella, respectively, overcome serious issues from their pasts.
In his mind, he’d imagined an easier path with Lark. Until yesterday afternoon, when everything changed.
One minute, they were having fun, even flirting, and the next, it felt as if a steel door had slammed shut between them.
She’d gone quiet, withdrawn. After that, every smile felt forced, and her laughter was just a little too loud and…off.
When he finally cornered her as they were packing up at the end of the festival and asked what was wrong, she’d merely shrugged, claiming she was tired from the busy weekend.
He knew bullshit when he heard it, but he also didn’t know her well enough yet to push.
That realization irritated the shit out of him, because he really wanted the right to push.
Grayson raked a hand through his hair, aware he was about to disappoint his brother. “It was a good weekend. Lark was amazing.”
Jace blinked. Once. Twice. Then his brows furrowed. He didn’t reply immediately, obviously waiting for Grayson to yell, “Psych!”
When Grayson didn’t add anything more, Jace’s frown grew more pronounced. “Lark? Was amazing?”
Grayson nodded. “Yeah.”
Jace leaned back and crossed his arms. “Huh.”
He chuckled. “I know. I was surprised too.”
Jace shook his head. “I’m not surprised she was amazing, because she is. She’s a great worker, something everyone around here, with the exception of you, can see.”
“I see it,” Grayson corrected. “I just think she could stand to be a little more punctual. Besides, I seem to recall you voicing some opposition before we hired her.”
Jace grimaced. “I did. But I shouldn’t have.”
Grayson felt compelled to mention that some of Jace’s concerns had been valid. His brother had warned them about Lark’s inability to focus, always bouncing out of town for concerts or shows. “Nora still feeling bad for yelling at her?”
Jace shrugged. “She is, but last night at Sunday dinner—you missed a good one by the way, Mom made pulled pork—Dad suggested she not apologize or take back the unspoken threat that she could be fired. He seems to be in the same camp you are. That Lark needs to be held accountable so she learns responsibility.”
Grayson was surprised Dad had chimed in with an opinion at all. Typically, he trusted them to do their jobs in the way they saw fit.
“For all Lark’s faults when it comes to getting to work on time, she’s still one of our best employees,” Grayson pointed out. Which he shouldn’t have, because it only piqued his brother’s interest.
“I’m surprised you’re admitting out loud that you were wrong about her,” Jace teased. “Bet that hurt coming out.”
Grayson ignored the jest. “I misjudged her.”
Badly. He’d thought she was chaos wrapped in denim and sarcasm.
Okay, she was still those things.
But beneath it all was also someone observant and intelligent, someone who cared far more deeply than she let people see.
That night in the hotel together, they’d lain in the dark, sharing bits and pieces of themselves through their family stories. It meant something to him, made him believe they were on the cusp of building something.
Then…it simply vanished. They’d spent a brutally quiet, long-ass ride back to Gracemont as Lark leaned against the headrest and closed her eyes, pretending to be asleep. For four fucking hours. And he would bet the bank she never truly slept a wink of the journey.
Jace’s smirk faded as he studied Grayson’s face. “You like her.”
