Beyond What is Given(20)

“Hi!” She grinned and waved, skipping over to our table. “Scooch over.” She nudged my shoulder, and I slid toward Carter, more than happy to be the barrier between them.

“You look happy,” Josh said.

“Friday payday! So I picked up some groceries and swung by the library to ask Paisley if they need any volunteers. Oh, is that mine?” She raised her eyebrows at me, and I slid her sandwich toward her. “Thank you!”

“Sam, you didn’t have to grocery shop,” Jagger said, a French fry hanging out of his mouth. How he got by dating the Commanding General’s daughter with those manners, I’d never know.

“I wanted to. But I wish I’d been warned that they didn’t stock peppermint-mocha coffee creamer down here. I would have stocked up in Nashville.” She took a bite of her food and moaned. “Ohmygodsogood,” she mumbled through her chewing.

I’d never really thought a girl eating was hot, but damn. Stop it. You’re going home today. “Do you want my muffin, too?” I motioned to the banana walnut one I’d added to my tray.

“Thanks, but I’m allergic to nuts. I’ll stick with this masterpiece,” she said to her sandwich. “So, are you flying straight into Nags Head?” she asked, her eyes on me.

Jagger dropped his fry. “Nags Head?”

Sam nodded, her eyebrows knitting together. “Yeah. It’s where he’s from. Right, Grayson?”

Their stares burned holes through my uniform, but I nodded anyway. “Yep.”

Jagger leaned forward on his elbows. “What else do you know?”

She looked up at me for permission, her eyes wide, inquisitive. They broke me down like nothing else could, and I gave her a short nod.

“His father builds racing sailboats, and his mother believes in old-fashioned manners,” she stated, then sipped sweet tea through her straw. Those lips.

“I didn’t tell you that last part,” I said softly.

“I’ve lived with you for the last four weeks. You didn’t have to.” She tipped her chin and smiled up at me.

Her lips demanded all of my attention, and I tightened every muscle in my body to keep from kissing her. Her face would fit perfectly between my hands, her skin would be soft under my fingers, and her mouth would be sweet and warm until it was hot and demanding. I wanted her needy, her hips in my hands, my name a gasp on her lips. Snap the f*ck out of it.

I blinked and fought to picture Grace’s face. The way her brown eyes softened after I kissed her, the gentle touch of her hands all seemed so far away. Too long ago. Grace was my moon, my constant, but Sam…she shone like the sun, fiery, a little temperamental, and she was burning away the darkness I’d lived in for so long.

Problem was, I didn’t deserve sunlight.

“Shit, that’s why you have the degree in Marine engineering?” Jagger asked.

“Yeah.” I sat up straight and shoved food into my mouth.

“Huh,” Jagger said with a shit-eating grin that I wanted to punch off his face. “So who’s up for the Outer Banks over the Fourth of July?”

“I wish,” Josh answered.

“I’m game…if you’re inviting me,” Carter replied. “I mean, are you?”

“No,” I answered, and he scoffed. “No one is inviting anyone.”

The conversation died swiftly and turned to the sounds of chewing while they looked at one another with the whole “f*cking Grayson” look I’d become accustomed to.

“Well, I’m up for it. Grouchy-pants-Grayson, you don’t have to visit or anything. You stay on your side, and we’ll stay on ours.” Sam broke the tension with a giggle, nudging me with her shoulder.

I shook my head and sighed. “There are no words for you, Samantha.”

She shrugged, then stole one of my French fries with a grin. “You’re going to miss me this weekend.”

Damn it, she was right.



The smell of the ocean hit me the moment they opened the airplane door. Home. I descended the steps out of the aircraft, the warm breeze washing over me better than any welcome-home banner could have.

I waited on the tarmac until my carry-on made its appearance and then walked into the tiny airport I’d seen far too much of this last year.

“Gray!” Mia shrieked, racing past the small crowd to fly into my arms in a skinny tangle of dark curls.

“Hey, Mia.” She weighed next to nothing as I leaned back, bringing her feet off the ground. “You need a cheeseburger, little sis.”

“Ugh. Shut up. My prom dress barely fit as it was!” She let go and led me through the living-room-size waiting room to where Parker leaned against the doorframe.

“Welcome home, Gray,” she said with a Parker-like half smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. She was an older version of Mia, but she’d clipped her curls to pixie-length and wore her skirts about four inches higher.

“Did you draw the short straw, Parker?”

She snorted. “Dad is busy with The Alibi, and Mom is pulling double duty on the accounting books. Besides, I’m not sure you’d make it anywhere alive if we let Mia drive you.”

I nearly blanched. “No. Mia will not be driving.”

“I’m not that bad,” she protested, but climbed into the back of Parker’s Jeep Liberty.