AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Mhm. If you want, you can have first dibs on the bathroom.” I toss the last of the trash in the bin and set the dishes aside for room cleaning to collect in the morning.
Ashley takes a deep breath. “It’s weird. Having to share a bed with you. But we’re both adults, and I can get past it if you can.”
“Already past it,” I say, honestly. “I was just worried about you. You haven’t actually shared a bed with a guy before, right?”
Ashley shakes her head. “I haven’t but—I mean, you’re definitely the gentleman to do it with.” Her cheeks go red. “I don’t mean that the way it came out.”
“I know you don’t,” I tell her with a grin. But it did sound nice to hear her say it.
Ashley grabs her toiletry bag and pajamas and steps into the bathroom. We’ve both decided that for tonight, a quick shower is all we need before crawling into bed. She’s not in there too long before she steps back into the main room wearing an absolutely adorable pair of matching pink pajamas. The shorts come up a little higher than is strictly decent, and the top is more of a cami than anything else. She sits at the end of the bed and works on rolling her long, blonde hair up into a loose damp bun.
I grab my bag and head into the already steamy bathroom air. A shower feels incredible after a long day. The water is so hot it almost stings as it rains down on me. I stay in longer than I intended to. By the time I get out my skin is red, and I’m overwhelmed with fatigue. I usually only sleep in sweats, no boxers, and no shirt—but I don’t want to make Ashley more stressed than she already is, so I put on a comfortable old t-shirt.
“You ready?” She asks me, like this is some big mission that she’s gearing up for. She’s already laying down very much on her side of the bed. And it strikes me that she might be more nervous about this than about meeting my family.
“Ready,” I tell her, pulling back the comforter on my side and getting in bed. I make sure to stay on my side of it, leaving plenty of space between our bodies… But I’m more aware of the heat of Ashley at my back than I thought I would be.
For some reason, it strikes me that she would be within arm’s reach if I just rolled over. That it would be so easy to curl up with her pressed against me. I close my eyes instead, focusing on getting some sleep before the big meeting tomorrow.
Chapter eight
Ashley
I’mupbeforeGrantin the morning. The first thing I do is grab my suitcase and vanish into the bathroom. Sharing the bed with him wasn’t as awkward as I thought it would be, but that doesn’t mean my nerves aren’t totally haywire. I’m about to formally meet his parents for the first time. And I haven’t seen Charlie in years. I need to make sure that I’m presentable for them.
Taking a deep breath, I run through my skincare routine, and then try to find something nice to wear. I want to be elegant and serious but not stuffy. I know that Don is looking for someone who will be a good fit with the family, so I end up going with a burgundy pencil skirt and a black blouse.
The blouse shows off just a touch of cleavage without veering on the edge of too much. I want to look like I’m in a relationship with Grant, not like I’m still trying to pick him up. Every piece of jewelry that I brought with me was carefully picked out to match the outfits I’ve prepared, so I don’t need to think about that too much. I finish with a smoky eye look.
When I step back into the main section of our room, I find that Grant has made us both a cup of coffee. He offers me mine, and we go out on the balcony to enjoy it. The fresh air does wonders for my nerves, plus there’s something really calming about looking over the city.
It’s nothing at all like our little lake side neighborhood back home, or even like the city nearby where my parents work, and I went to college.
“You’re going to be fine,” says Grant. “I know that I’ve hyped them up a lot, but you don’t actually need to worry. Breakfast is going to be fine.”
I nod. “I know. I’m a great catch.”
Grant laughs. “You are a great catch.”
We don’t linger for long. Don and Cheryl are early risers, and the brothers need to attend their first meeting by noon. So we only have the one cup before heading down to the ground floor. The glass elevator is just as captivating the second time around— though it’s nothing like walking into the lobby of the hotel’s restaurant. It’s much bigger than I imagined, with impressive dark wood and deep gold fabric. It’s like stepping into a different world. Everything in this hotel was clearly thought out.
A server brings us to the table where Grant’s family is already seated. Cheryl is just as lovely as in the picture accompanying her articles, with her stunning green eyes just like Grant’s, and her dark hair pulled up in a loose coil. She’s a little severe looking in her expression, though it appears she’s in the middle of fussing over something.
Don is imposing. He’s big and broad, with graying hair, and in the kind of suit that just screams this guy has money. He’s quite handsome. It’s clear where Grant gets his good looks.
Charlie hasn’t changed at all. Short dark hair, deep gray eyes like his dad's, a heavy tan, and a white shirt with the top two buttons undone. He’s in the middle of saying, “I have a jacket for the meeting, mom, don’t worry. This isn’t the eighties. People don’t have to wear a full suit to their business meetings. This is fine.”
The woman sitting next to him leans against Charlie’s shoulder. “I think that you look handsome.”
“Thanks, Eliza,” says Charlie. “See? I look handsome.”
“Questionable,” says Grant, giving his younger brother a clap on the shoulder before sliding into his seat. “I’m not sure that handsome is the word I would use.”
“Grant!” Cheryl claps her hands together. “I was starting to think that you might end up missing breakfast.”
I slide into the chair next to Grant, giving both of his parents a smile. “We wouldn’t dream of it.”
Don locks onto me like a laser. “And you must be Ashley. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
