Beyond What is Given(57)

I wound my arms around his neck as he carried me down the steps. Mad or not, I wanted him too much to not enjoy the tiny moment. “It’s hard to be sure about anything when you keep me locked out.”

I cringed as the wall went up behind his eyes. “We’re going to be late.”

The drive to his parents’ house was only about ten minutes, but I enjoyed every one of them. He pointed out places that held significance to him and held my hand.

“Are we going to talk about today?” I asked, fidgeting with the hemline of my dress as we pulled into his parents’ driveway.

He parked and turned to me. “Yes. I promise. Let’s get through dinner, and we’ll talk after.”

I had to ask. “Did you really hit Owen with your car? Is that the damage on the front end?”

His jaw locked. “I hit the fence post right next to him.”

“You’re a different person here,” I whispered as he held my face. “I don’t like it.”

He answered with a soft kiss. “I promise. After.”

I nodded. “Okay.”

He held my hand as we walked up the steps to the door but paused before we went inside. “Oh, Sam?”

“Oh, Grayson?” I smiled up at him, soaking in this one moment that he was still my Grayson.

“Can you remember not to mention anything about flight school?” His forehead puckered.

“Uh. Sure? Why would—”

He kissed me again, this time swiftly sliding his tongue along mine. I quickly forgot my name, let alone what I’d been asking.

“Ahem.” Mia cleared her throat. “Maybe you should come in before Mom comes out?”

Grayson released my mouth with one more quick kiss. “After.”

I nodded, and then growled as my head cleared. “Stop doing that.”

“Stop doing what?” he asked with mock innocence.

“Kissing me to stop me from asking questions.”

“You look very kissable while asking questions,” he answered as we stepped into the house.

“Excuses.” I laughed.

“Where is everyone?” Grayson asked Mia, who was grinning at us.

“Oh, Mom set up the table outside. There were too many people here for the dining room.” At the look on Grayson’s face, Mia clarified, “Only family, I swear.”

“Good,” Grayson replied as we walked toward the back of the house.

I stopped at the doorframe that led to the kitchen. “You have one!”

“What?” Grayson asked.

My fingers skimmed over the inked lines with dates and names. “Your heights. They’re all marked as you grew up.”

“Yeah?” Mia asked.

My cheeks warmed. “It’s just really cool to see you guys grow up in this house. It’s all right here. A family story.” I stood, my eyes prickling, and brushed imaginary lint off my dress. “You probably think I’m stupid.”

Grayson tilted my chin. “Mia?”

“Yes?”

“Leave.” He didn’t wait for her response, instead pressed me against that doorframe and kissed me breathless, tilting his mouth over mine to get the deepest, sweetest angle.

I was dizzy and ready to strip him by the time he finished. “What was that for?” I asked, unable to tear my eyes off his mouth.

“Now it has the next chapter of my story. I’ll never look at it again without thinking of the way you taste.”

Excuse me while my panties evaporate. I swallowed and tried to get my reaction under control.

“Grayson Masters!” his Mom called from the back of the house.

“Coming, ma’am,” he responded, but his eyes sparkled in a way I hadn’t seen since before the disaster of a party. Maybe kissing him was my best weapon, the key to keeping my Grayson in the world that demanded Gray.

“Your accent isn’t as strong as theirs.”

“My dad’s a northerner. I always tried to emulate him, so I guess mine was never as heavy.”

We walked onto the deck, and my hand tightened reflexively around Grayson’s. The family stood around a perfectly set beach-themed table, and Grayson led me to a set of empty chairs so I’d be sandwiched between him and Mia. He held out my chair and then pushed it in as everyone sat. His dad did the same for his mom.

Chivalry wasn’t dead in North Carolina.

“Sam, you remember my dad, Constance and her fiancé, Bryan”—he skipped two empty chairs—“Mom, and Parker, of course.”

“Hi.” I smiled, waving to everyone, especially Parker. She wasn’t getting the best of me tonight. I needed all my strength to deal with her brother later.

“Who are we missing?” Grayson asked.

“Sorry we’re late!” A couple in their mid-forties came up the porch steps behind us. The woman reminded me of a blond Gillian Anderson and the man looked like someone had permanently pinched a nerve…in his ass.

“Ian, Tess. We’re glad you made it,” Grayson’s dad welcomed them and motioned to the empty chairs. “How is Miranda?”

“A healthy girl! Amberly Grace.” Ian grinned. “We couldn’t be more thrilled.”

“You two should be celebrating.” Connie handed down a bottle of wine.