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“It’s not true. I’m just good at acting like it. It’s my Blondie act, that’s what Granger calls it.”
“You don’t have to put on an act with me, Bliss.”
“I know. I mean, I’m trying.” She blew her nose into one of Teddy’s baby wipes. “I always thought people only wanted the happy-go-lucky, no-cares-in-the-world Bliss. No one wanted to hear about the hard parts. But there were lots of them. Did you know I never even had sex with a man until Granger? I was too scared.”
Oops, had she gone too far? She stole a glance at Granger and saw him quickly pull Thomas back to their spot in the eelgrass. Great, now her new brother-in-law knew her personal business.
She pulled her attention back to Carly, who was cuddling Teddy against her chest. The baby didn’t seem to mind being held so closely to his mother’s heart. He reached up and touched her cheek with his tiny hand.
“I wish I’d known you better,” she said softly.
“I wish I’d known you better too. I wish I’d confided more. I wish…” She trailed off, because she wished a lot of things. That they were closer, more of a family. That Gault was still with them.
That she’d seen her father one more time.
“Listen, Bliss.” Carly leaned toward her, making Teddy squeal and wriggle his legs. “I’m so freaking happy now, I can barely believe it. But it took me a long time to get here. It’s not even just because of Thomas and Teddy. It’s because I got my confidence back. I started believing in myself in a way I didn’t used to. I want that for you, too. I don’t want you to pretend your life is always fabulous and that there isn’t a single cloud in the sky. We all have clouds. Clouds are important. I care about your clouds. I want to know about your clouds and help if I can. Cumulus, cunnilingus, whatever.”
A bubble of laughter burst from Bliss’ lips; she couldn’t help it. Carly grinned, her green eyes filled with light, like dappled sunshine in a forest canopy.
“Am I beating this damn metaphor to death?”
“Just a little. But I hear what you’re saying. Thank you.”
“Can I hug you? Please? I should warn you that my boobs might smother you, though. They’re ridiculous right now.”
Carly was still going on about her boobs when Bliss surprised her by throwing her arms around her. The fact that Carly had heard her, that she wanted to know her, all of her—that meant so much to her, more than she ever could have imagined.
“My goodness, you’re right,” Bliss said in awe after they’d hugged each other for a long moment. “Those boobs are something else. I thought mine were huge, but yours are next-level.”
“And now they’re talking about their boobs.” Thomas’ deep, amused voice sounded above them. “My son is getting quite the education. Lucky kid.”
Carly and Bliss drew apart. Carly was cracking up right along with Thomas.
But Bliss was pretty sure she was as red as the hummingbird feeder mounted on the terrace. Apparently Thomas had heard and remembered the bit about her losing her virginity to Granger.
She glanced at Granger, but his expression showed no hint of embarrassment or really anything else. Stern-faced FBI Granger had returned, and she couldn’t tell what he was thinking. What had he and Thomas been talking about over there in the eelgrass?
Possibly he was rethinking the life choices that had brought him into the Gault family orbit. Or maybe he was trying to decide between roast beef and tuna for lunch. When he was like this, it was impossible to tell.
But then he met her gaze, and for a split second, the most intimate, tender, wildly amused moment passed between them. As if they could read each other’s minds, and he was telling her without words that he found this whole thing funny as hell, and so should she.
And wow, that silent communication was almost better than sex. It would have been, except that sex with Granger was so very, very, extremely, astonishingly satisfying.
Twenty-Six
When Bliss’ eyelids started to droop and she gave their familiar three-fingered “help” signal, Granger took charge of helping Carly pack up. Leaving Bliss napping on the terrace, he walked Thomas and Carly to the front door.
“Think about it,” Thomas told him in a low voice. “This is a very serious offer. It may not be the kind of money you’re used to, but—”
Granger abruptly cut him off. “Money’s not the issue. I’ll get back to you. It requires some thinking.”
It actually didn’t require that much thinking. He’d love to become the first ever constable of Lake Bittersweet. Thomas had made a thoroughly convincing case that the town needed someone like him, especially in the summer.
But Bliss had never said one word about wanting to actually live in Lake Bittersweet. Her life was based in New York. If he wanted any chance at being part of his baby’s life—and hers—he’d have to live there.
He hadn’t said “no,” to Thomas. Maybe he should talk it over with Bliss. As an established model, she could live anywhere she chose to, after all. And sometimes she talked as if she preferred to focus on her ideas for a new line of knitted halter tops and microskirts. Sometimes she talked about an even bigger change. Like law school. Or art school.
Lake Bittersweet didn’t have either of those.
