Loving Eden (15 page)

I faced him, reading his hungry eyes. I missed that look on him. It was all-consuming and possessive. I wanted him to act on it.

“Grey…” My voice trailed off as his lips moved closer.

“There you are!” Marin piped in over the music.

Grey sat up, straightening his leg. I couldn’t help notice the way his face contorted when he moved it.

“Sorry.” Marin laughed. “Eden, I had a quick question for you. Grey, can I steal her for a minute?”

“No problem.” He squeezed my hand.

I followed Marin away from the blaring speaker. Someone was cranking up the music. A few couples started dancing. I took a couple deep breaths, trying to ground myself.

“What’s up?” I asked. She looked nervous.

“I got a call from one of my cousins today. She was supposed to be a bridesmaid, but she can’t fly in for the wedding.”

“Oh, that’s terrible. I’m so sorry.”

“Well, I was hoping maybe you would like to be a bridesmaid.”

“Me?”

She nodded. “I know it’s late notice and I understand if you don’t want to.”

I hugged her. “Of course I’ll do it. I’d love to be one of your bridesmaids.” I was glad to see a big smile on her face. I couldn’t disappoint the bride.

“And don’t worry about the dress. The blue one you picked will be perfect.”

“But what are the other girls wearing? I’ll wear a bridesmaid dress.” I hated to return the pale blue gown, but I didn’t need it anymore if I was going to be in the wedding. I didn’t want to stand out from the other girls. That was Marin’s job.

“Oh no. It’s gorgeous on you. The girls chose their own dresses, much to my mother’s horror. I didn’t go the traditional bridesmaid route.”

“Really?” I got to keep the dress.

“Yes, they each have different styles and colors, so yours will be perfect. Now I’m going to go tell Pick we have even numbers again. Get back to your man.” She swatted me on the butt.

“Yes, ma’am.” I giggled as I retraced my steps to Grey.

“What was that about?” He looked up at me.

“Marin asked me to be a bridesmaid in the wedding.”

“Uh oh.” His voice was playful.

I sat next to him, hoping to recreate the energy we had started. “What? Are you against bridesmaids?”

“No, but that means you’ll have to do all the girl stuff. Showers, bachelorette party, and whatever else goes with that job. You are going to be busy between now and the wedding.”

I hadn’t thought about that part when Marin asked me. “Do you need me at home?”

He laughed. “No, darlin’. I know it’s a big deal for you and Marin. I can handle a few lonely nights.” He twirled a lock of hair over my shoulder, causing me to lean closer to him.

I looked to see if his cup was empty. “Want me to get another one for you?”

“No. I have to get up early for work. I should probably head back anyway. My leg is starting to take over.”

My heart sank. We were having fun, and the flirting was just heating up. “I can’t leave without making sure Taylor is ok.”

If he meant to wipe the scowl from his face, he did a poor job of it. “She’s a big girl. I think she can take care of herself. Swim with sharks and—”

“Mason isn’t going to hurt her. He’s not like that.” I helped him stand.

“I’m not saying that, but you can’t try to tell me he’s one of the good guys.”

I sighed. “I don’t know what he is. But maybe I should stay to make sure Taylor’s ok.” I didn’t want to stay behind, but Taylor and I did have a girl code. I couldn’t leave her on the beach at night with a group of strangers, even if I knew half of them.

“Darlin’, suit yourself.” He leaned to kiss me on the cheek. “I’ll probably be asleep when you get in.”

I refrained from pouting. “Ok. I’ll see you in the morning.” I watched as he weaved through coolers and dancers. Taylor owed me one.

T
his could not be happening. I watched from the office window as my best friend locked lips with Mason, and it wasn’t some kind of innocent kiss. It was a primal, I-might-rip-your-clothes-off-in-the-parking-lot, hot, heavy, and slow kiss. It might go on for days the way they were lost in each other. I turned several times, but every time I swiveled in my chair, I caught a peek of Mason’s arms wrapped around her, the edge of her T-shirt sneaking up her hip. They were all over each other. I hung my head. Well, this explained why there wasn’t Mason’s usual to-do list under the door this morning when I walked in the office.

The party started to wind down last night not long after Grey left. I waited dutifully for my friend. She and Mason returned before the last partiers left. Taylor assured me he could walk her back to the Palm. I wasn’t about to get in the middle of that, so I picked up my sandals and trudged home alone, hoping I might catch Grey before he drifted off to sleep.

I clutched my coffee in my hand as Taylor tore herself off Mason. He hopped in the convertible, honked twice as he passed the office, and sped down Gulf Boulevard.

Thirty minutes later, Taylor appeared in the office, glowing. I couldn’t pinpoint what it was exactly. Her skin, her eyes, the smile that wouldn’t fade.

“Eden, that was the best night of my entire life.” She fell into the open chair.

“I’m glad you had fun at the bonfire.” I stood to pour a cup of coffee for her.

“I’m not talking about the bonfire.”

I spun on my heels. “Tell me you did not sleep with him the first night.”

“I did!” She squealed.

I stared at her in disbelief. “But that’s Mason.
The
Mason.” It wasn’t her first one-night stand; that part didn’t bother me. This had more to do with the complicated drama Mason had dropped in our laps.

“I know who he is and now I know all about what he can do.” She giggled. “You told me he was good-looking, but I think you really downplayed it.”

I shrugged. “I wasn’t trying to grade his hotness.”

Taylor pretended to fan herself. “I have
never
had a night like that.”

“Ok, ok. I don’t need details.” Imagining my best friend with Mason was weird. Grey was going to flip.

“I think it’s serious.” She crossed the room to retrieve the cup of coffee I had for her.

“Serious? You just met him last night.” Granted sex had a way of escalating things, but this was nuts. It couldn’t be serious in less than twenty-four hours. Could it?

“I have this feeling about him.” She settled into the chair again. “We just had this immediate connection. Like we were supposed to meet. Isn’t that how it happened for you and Grey?”

“Yes, but he wasn’t trying to ruin anyone’s life.” I was annoyed she didn’t see the problem with this relationship. Mason and Grey were not alike.

“You’re the one who invited Mason to stay here. You know he’s not all that bad.”

My shoulders tensed. “I invited him so he wouldn’t tear the place down. I was hoping he would change his mind on the lawsuit and the demolition.” My plan had failed miserably. Taylor knew all of the short Mason history.

“We didn’t talk about any of that stuff.”

“Of course you didn’t. He wasn’t interested in that.” My voice rose louder than I meant it to. Taylor stared at me. “Sorry. I just wish you could see how awkward it’s going to be if you end up in a relationship with someone who is trying to sue my boyfriend and subsequently put me out of work. It’s a nightmare. You have to see that, Taylor.”

She stood from the chair. “I don’t know what I think right now. I was hoping my best friend would be happy I found an amazing guy the same way she did. That’s what I wanted to see.”

She quietly closed the door behind her and walked to room twenty-four.

Taylor turned down my lunch invitation. She said she wasn’t feeling well, but I knew it had nothing to do with her stomach and everything to do with our disagreement. Her flight to North Carolina was tomorrow night. I couldn’t let her leave like this. I tried to think of how I could patch things up on our last night together. Knowing she thought she had just met the love of her life, I realized she was going to want to spend her Saturday night with Mason. After all, it was her fall break.

It was one o’clock in the afternoon, but I hadn’t had a single phone call at the Palm. I decided to close the office. Grey was somewhere in the motel working on a room. I started at the end and checked each room until I found him replacing lightbulbs in a double room.

“There you are.” I smiled.

“Hey, darlin’.” He tossed the old bulb on the bed. “You closing up for the day? Where’s Taylor? You two have plans today?”

I shifted uncomfortably in the doorway. “She’s not happy with me.”

“Really? Why?” He opened a new pack of bulbs and moved to the next lamp.

“She thinks she’s in love with Mason.”

He stopped and looked at me. “What in the hell? Is she crazy or something?”

“No, but she’s crazy about him. They have some kind of connection.” I walked into the room and sat on the bed. “I don’t know what to do.”

“And she knows about the lawsuit? You told her everything about him?” Grey was acting calmer than I expected.

“Mmm-hmm. She thinks I should put that aside and be happy for her.”

“What do you think?” He eased himself on the bed across from me.

His question surprised me. “I told her it was a ridiculous idea. How can I be friends with someone who is dating the man who is trying to take everything away from you?” It sounded absurd.

Grey nodded his head. “Ridiculous, huh?”

My eyes lowered to the floor. “I guess that’s how you felt when I let Mason stay here, but I was trying to convince him to drop the suit. It was different.”

“Doesn’t matter. Hurt the same way.” Grey’s eyes softened. “You always want to help, Eden. That’s what you do.”

“What am I supposed to do this time? Let her ruin our friendship? Get her heart broken when she finds out Mason is just using her?” I felt defeated by the whole thing. I couldn’t lose Taylor to Mason.

“She’s leaving tomorrow, right?”

“Yes. Tonight’s her last night.” My stomach kept flipping with nausea. This sucked. “I don’t know when I’ll see her again.”

“I’m sure you’ll come up with a way to make everybody happy. It’s one of your many talents.” He winked and stood, then hopped on one foot to the dresser. Another bulb needed changing.

It was ludicrous, but I did have one idea that would bring both my plans together. It would involve convincing Grey, calming rocky waters, and playing peacemaker.

“Grey, before you say ‘no,’ think about this. What if we have Taylor and Mason over for dinner tonight?”

He spun on his good heel then grimaced as his knee banged into the dresser. “Dammit.” He steadied himself to face me. “You can’t be serious. Mason in our house?”

I nodded. “I know it will be awkward, but it’s a peace offering I can extend to Taylor, and it’s one more chance we have to try to talk him out of the lawsuit. You’ve never had a civil conversation with him. Maybe you two could talk without throwing punches and come to a resolution.”

Grey shook his head. “Only you would come up with something like this.”

“I’ll do the cooking. I’ll take care of everything. All you have to do is be nice and promise not to knock him out.” I waited for an answer. The new lightbulbs might burn out before Grey answered.