Stages of Grace (23 page)

"Did you like it?"

I grin. "I loved it."

We are off the stairs and he still has my hand in his. I see Darrell walking over to us. I tug my hand free. Ryan gives me a strange look and takes off his life jacket. I try to do the same but can't seem to get the last clip undone. Ryan pushes my hands away and undoes it for me.

"Was that your first time?" Darrell asks when he reaches us.

I flush and nod.

"So, did Ryan show you a good time?"

What was it with this guy and innuendo? Ryan just laughs and pulls on his t-shirt before handing me a towel. I dry off best I can and put my clothes back on. We walk back to the office together.

"Would you like to have lunch with me today?" Ryan asks as we walk back.

Yes. No. I wasn’t sure. "I brought a lunch with me today."

"You could always eat it tomorrow," he pleads.

"Alright."

"Did you want to go to that burger place?"

"You should have said that from the start," I tease.

"Ouch." He puts his hand up to his chest as though wounded.

Jennifer has her feet up on the desk and is filing her nails when we walk up. She glances up at us and slowly lowers her feet but keeps filing her nails.

"Jennifer, this is Grace."

"Figured as much."

I shoot Ryan a concerned look. "This is Jennifer in a good mood. We all stay far, far away from her otherwise."

She nods her head in agreement.

"I'd have fired her ages ago, but she is somewhat of a computer whiz, and we wouldn't have a website without her."

"I prefer computer genius," Jennifer says, looking up from her nails.

"Alright, computer genius. I'm taking Grace to lunch. Want me to bring you back some onion rings?"

Her eyes light
up, and she nods before realizing she looks too happy. She leans back into her chair and shrugs.

"Come on," Ryan says, taking my hand again and walking to his car.

His hand feels so warm in comparison to mine. I'm both thrilled and terrified by the physical contact. Ryan walks me to the passenger side and opens my door for me. Why does this feel like a date? Is this a date? I know I like him. I really like him and not just because I dream about running my fingers through his brown hair. He's a good person. I'm amazed he's single. Must be hard to meet people eating dinner with my grandmother every night.

"Grace, I have to tell you something."

He looks so stressed. "Is everything okay?"

"I hope so. Well, here's the thing. I'm attracted to you."

I inhale sharply. I thought he might be, but I never expected him to be so blunt about it.

"And I think you might feel the same way about me. Do you?"

I feel incapable of responding but reach my hand out to set it on top of his. His eyes snap to mine, and it’s like his whole body relaxes.

"I was really nervous about telling you."

My mouth drops. "You were nervous around me?"

"Since the day I picked you up from the airport."

I don't understand. "But why?"

He gives me a half smile.
"I think you're lovely, always have. When I heard you had a boyfriend, I was crushed."

I just shake my head. I can'
t imagine why he would be interested in me.

"So is this a date?'

"Nope. This is just lunch. If you aren’t doing anything Friday night, I'd like to take you on a date but not just that. I'd like to date you period. Is that something you would be interested in? Dating me?"

"I'd really like that."

His smile at my response is perfection. I laugh when he grabs my hand and kisses it. He is too cute. The rest of lunch is uncomfortable, but in a good way. I find myself transfixed by his lips. I don’t hear a word that come out of them but imagine them on me. When I’m not staring at his lips, I watch his hands, thinking back to when he had pulled me in front of him on the ski. Those hands on my waist. It’s hard to eat when I am so distracted. On the way out, Ryan picks up the take out order of onion rings for Jennifer.

When we are back at the office, Ryan leaves me with Jennifer for the afternoon. He is leading a kayak tour.
I feel light and can't seem to stop smiling or looking at him.

"So you and Ryan?"

"Yes?"

She tilts her head at me.
"Bummer."

"Do you like Ryan?"

She laughs. "Nope. I'm gay. Was kinda hoping you were too, blondie."

My mouth drops. Not really sure what the right response to that is so I just shrug, which makes her laugh. That seems to eliminate any tension that may have been there, and we work well together for the rest of the day. Not long before closing time, I watch Ryan return with the kayak tour. I am riveted watching his arms as his paddle slices through the water. Once he is parallel to the dock, he smoothly pulls himself and his yak out before helping other people. I blush when I remember my fall getting out of the kayak.

After everyone is out of their kayaks and the gear is stowed, Ryan comes to collect me. He takes off his shirt, using it to wipe his face in the office. He grabs a spare one and pulls it over his head. I did my best not to drool, still a bit flustered by the idea of him liking me. When we are in the car, he asks how I got on with Jennifer.

"She was great. I think she really liked me."

He groans. "Did she hit on you?"

I pause.
"Not really."

"What did she say?"
He glances at me, lifting a brow.

I’m laughing at this point. "Just that she was bummed I was with you."

"Can't blame her. I think Darrell was trying to hit on you, too."

"What?"

"May have to keep you with me at all times."

"Hush. Don’t be silly."

"I'm really only worried about next time Jack is in town."

"Your partner?
Why?"

"I'm scared you'll take one look at him and forget all about me."

"Not going to happen."

He drops me off at Kate's. We both need a shower. He jokingly suggests we save water and take a joint shower. I do my best to look shocked while images of soaping up his chest flash through my mind. Kate is on the lanai, waiting to hear all about my first day. Ryan and I decide we are going to tell Kate about us together. After chatting with Kate for a few minutes, I hurry to take my shower, wanting to look nice when Ryan comes over. I’m getting dressed when I hear my phone buzz.

Quickly pulling my shirt on, I answer it. "Hello?"

"Hey, stranger!"

"Nikita, how are you?"

"Good, just missing you. So, how's Tampa, tell me all about it."

I tell her about the drive, the weather, my learning how to knit, and saving the best for last: Ryan.

"Shut up! That guy who came and helped you move? Oh my God, he is so
friggin’ hot. How did it happen?"

"He took me jet skiing today. It was so intense. First, I was behind him,
then he was behind me. Then he took me out to lunch and told me he was attracted to me and asked me if I would date him."

"Whoa, and that accent.
I am super jealous right now."

"He's taking me out Friday, I'm excited but, I wonder...Do you think it's too soon? I mean, since Jon?"

"Do you still have feelings for Jon?"

"I think I will always miss what we had, sometimes I'm sad when I think about it, or angry, when I think about how he acted. I don't know if I'll ever forgive him, it's weird. I'm not in love with him anymore but we were together for so long it's just complicated."

"I get that, you can't just turn off feelings like that, but I don't think you're rushing. Didn't you say you guys have dinner together every night? Don't stress about it, just do what feels right. How's living with your grandmother? Didn't you say she's helping you make a scarf? Kim just bought a gorgeous scarf off Etsy. Text me a picture of the one you made, and I'll show it to everyone. While you're at it, send a picture of Ryan too. "

I'm just hanging up when I hear Ryan walk in. Crap. I wanted to brush my hair and put on some make up. I should have been multitasking while I was on the phone with Nikita but was too distracted talking. I grab my brush and quickly pull it through my still slightly damp hair. When I turn, he's leaning against my doorframe. Something comes over me, and I rush over to hug him.
His arms wrap around me. "Hey."

"Hi."

"You're going to be trouble. I can tell."

I go to pull away, and he holds me tighter. "No, no.
I'm smelling your hair."

I tilt my face up to his and smile. He leans down and softly brushes his lips over mine. Our eyes are locked as he pulls back a breath. The look in his eyes make
s me wonder if he acted on impulse. It feels like he is trying to gauge my reaction. I want him to know how happy I am that he kissed me. I put my hands around his neck and pull his lips back to mine. This kiss is not delicate. It is not sweet. Ryan pushes me up against the wall. My hands knot in his hair. His hands pull my hips tightly to him. His lips move to my neck as he pulls one of my legs up to his waist.

I try to catch my breath but can’t as long as he is touching me, I gently push him back, and my eyes widen when I see the hunger in his. This is going to be interesting. I bite my lip and grab his hand, pulling him towards Kate. I d
on't trust myself alone with him right now. Kate is sitting on the lanai, knitting. I keep his hand in mine and pull him into the room with me.

When Kate looks up and sees we are holding hands, she mutters, "Took you two long enough," before going back to her knitting.

"Kate!"

"What? You s
hould've heard him talk about you when you went back to Cleveland."

He does his best to not look embarrassed. "What can I say? I was encha
nted from the moment I first met you."

"Really?"

"Really." He leans down, brushing his lips against my cheek.

Kate sets her knitting down beside her and stands to hug and kiss both of us. "I say this is a reason to celebrate. Ryan, go open a bottle of wine." Once he is out of the room, she turns to me. "Are you happy, dear?"

I blush and nod, asking her if she thinks it’s too fast.

"It only takes a moment, sweetheart, if it's the right person."

Ryan walks back out with three glasses. After handing one to Kate and to me, he stands next to me with his arm around my waist.

After taking a drink, I jump. "I forgot. Here, can you hold this?" I
hand my glass to Ryan. "Nikita asked that I send her a picture of my scarf. I'll go grab it from my room. Will you take the picture?"

Ryan nods, setting both of our glasses down on the table behind him. I hurry back in, handing him my cell phone. I am wrapping the scarf around my neck when the phone buzzes in his hand. He passes it to me, and I check it. It’s a text from Jon
. I miss you
, is all it says. I close my eyes, and let my hand drop to my side.

"Grace, are you alright?"

I open my eyes and meet Ryan's concerned gaze. "It's nothing." I click to the camera feature of my phone and hand it back to him

Ryan snaps a couple of pictures of me and passes my phone back to me. After making sure I look okay in the pictures, I pick my favorite one and text it to Ni
kita. I turn off the screen and put it in my pocket as I move to stand beside Ryan.

"Thank you." He slides his arm back around my waist, giving me my glass of wine.

Kate goes into the kitchen to take a casserole out of the oven.

"Are you sure you're alright?" Ryan asks, turning to face me.

"I am. It was a text from Jon. I just didn’t expect to hear from him again."

"You don’t have to tell me."

"I know. I’m just nervous about liking you so soon after things ended with him."

"I don’t want to rush you."

"It's not that. I just worry that you'll think less of me."

"Impossible."

I give him a half smile. He's adorable, and the way he's looking at me makes me feel suddenly shy. It’s still hard for me to understand that he's interested in me. I lean against him, putting my head down. Ryan sets his wine glass down and slowly rubs his hands up and down my back. I feel myself relax into him, and he leans his cheek on the top of my head.

"Grace, I want you to know I adore you, and the thought that you might return those feelings makes me very happy." I feel his chest lift as he inhales deeply and I look up at him.
"Your hair smells so good." He playfully runs his nose back and forth in my hair, making me laugh.

"Ryan, stop smelling her and set the table."

"Yes, ma'am," He says, grinning. He kisses me on the cheek before dropping his arms and walking to the kitchen.