Beyond What is Given(48)

“Me, too, and the house is gorgeous!”

“Dad built it when Connie was born,” Mia explained, as I started to lead them up the steps that would take us to the first level. Everything was stilted to accommodate the times the island was more water than land. “Gray, I seriously need to talk to you,” she said, coming up next to me.

“Right now?” I asked as we made it to the porch. She tugged on my sleeve.

“Before you get—”

“Grayson!” Mom came through the sliding glass door and hugged me, her dark curls coming to just beneath my shoulders.

“Hey, Mom.”

She turned my face left and right, inspecting for damage as usual. “Well, you’re no worse for wear. Your father is closing the shop, but he’ll be here soon. Introduce me to your friends.”

Sam stepped onto the porch, and my heart swelled like a damn girl. I guess I appreciated what I had, too. She hung back, worrying her lip between her teeth.

I pointed to each of them in turn. “This is Carter, Morgan, Jagger, and Paisley.” Then I held out my hand and raised an eyebrow at Sam. Take the challenge, Sam.

She swallowed, straightened her shoulders, and raised her chin enough to remind me she’d been raised in social circles a hell of a lot higher than mine. Then she smiled and took my hand. I reeled her in until she was securely tucked beneath my arm. “And, Mom, this is my Samantha.”

Sam’s wide eyes flew to mine at the same time Mom’s assessed her quickly and smiled. “I’m so happy to meet you, Samantha.” She pulled Sam into a hug and held it until Sam visibly relaxed, and then she let her go. “We’re so glad you’re here.”

Sam tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and gave a shy smile that told me she was still on her toes. “Oh, you can call me Sam, and I’m thrilled he asked.” Then she turned that smile on me, and it became genuine.

“Well, now that we’re all acquainted, let’s get inside. Supper is about ready.” Mom ushered the crowd in.

“Gray, now?” Mia asked, her eyebrows furrowed.

“Mia, what’s wrong?”

“Mia, get inside and help your sisters.” Mom ordered in the I-said-now voice.

“Yes, ma’am,” she mumbled, but did as she was told.

“Whoa,” Sam whispered as we entered the living room. It was vaulted to the third floor and boasted huge canvases of Dad’s boats in full sail. “You built these?”

“Not all.” I pointed to the one furthest left. “That was before me, but the one over here is the one we built my junior year in high school.”

“That’s amazing,” Paisley remarked.

“What the hell are you doing flying helicopters?” Jagger asked. “These are seriously badass.”

I cringed, and checked to make sure Mom hadn’t heard. She’d already found her way to the kitchen. “Can we keep the helicopter stuff a little more quiet?”

I got what-the-hell looks tossed my way, but they didn’t have time to ask before Mom came back over. “We’re all set up out back.”

What? “Out back? On the deck?” It faced the channel, with a nice view, but were we all going to fit on the deck?

“Aren’t you hungry?” she asked, not really answering.

“Yes, ma’am,” Carter replied, somehow manifesting the southern drawl he’d beaten out of himself at West Point.

Mom led the way, and I held Sam back, kissing her just because I could. “Welcome to my home.”

She glanced around. “I like it. It feels…solid, sturdy.” Anyone else might have taken that as weird, but I understood what she was saying. She’d never had a home for more than two years, so to Sam, solid was golden. She unleashed an impish grin. “Do I get to see baby pictures?”

“Hell no.” I glanced down the hall and made sure everyone had followed Mom out onto the deck, and then I kissed Sam again, gently sucking on her lower lip.

“Your mom is going to catch us.”

“Let her.”

She laughed, making my house feel more like home than it had in the last five years, and kissed me enthusiastically with a smacking sound. “Stop avoiding your family and feed me.”

I nodded, resigned myself to the insanity of the evening, and walked with her down the hall, pulling her past the pictures that lined the hallway with a promise that she could examine them later. Later like never. I’d been scrawny until a few years ago, and I knew she was attracted to this body. I’d keep that.

Mom opened the sliding door to the back deck with a huge smile and bright eyes. “It’s about time, Gray. We have a little surprise for you.”

My stomach clenched. They wouldn’t. They know better.

I held Sam’s hand while she stepped over the barrier, but the deck was empty. I will f*cking kill them. Mom pointed to the edge of the banister, and I just…knew.

“What a gorgeous view,” Sam said, looking over the water as the sunset turned it an array of colors. Then she looked down. “Whoa.”

“Surprise!” the crowd yelled from beneath us. There had to have been seventy people, all crowded onto the patio and the pool deck, hell, even the walkway to the beach. I swallowed and held Sam’s hand in a death grip, using her to ground me in the present. “Happy Birthday!” they shouted in unison.