Wildly (Crimson Romance) (12 page)

He hadn’t relaxed since Shauna strolled back into town and pretended not to have any feelings for him. Oh, she tried to fool him, but she couldn’t hide her true feelings from him. Every emotion played across her face, and he knew them all. She might’ve come back more mature and educated, but there was no denying the way her eyes still shone when she looked at him.

What he couldn't understand was why she’d turned him down. They were adults. Adults had sex. It didn’t have to change anything between them. Hell, he didn’t want it to change. He liked the single life, and not answering to anyone else. He’d worked damn hard to gain his freedom, and he wasn’t going to ruin it.

“Grayson … I’m your friend. If something is going on, I want to help you. You’d do the same thing for me, wouldn’t you?”

“Yeah, you know I would.” He ran his hands over his face. “My problem isn’t simple.”

“Hell, we’ve been through a lot together. It can’t be that bad.” Bruce turned. “Is it woman trouble?”

He nodded. “She’s a pain in my ass.”

“Yeah?” Bruce chuckled. “Aren’t they all?”

“I never have problems getting a woman in bed.” He snorted. “There are times I can’t keep them out. This one … she’s different.”

“Turned you down, huh?”

“Shot me in the chest before I could even talk her into it. All I could think about was getting the hell out of town.” He shook his head. “The damn thing is I shouldn’t even like her. I’ve known her forever. She’s a friend who helped me survive growing up in Cottage Grove. She kept me sane.” He snorted. “I swear she’s out to cause me nothing but misery. Do you know she has it in her head that she loves me? She’s more persistent than any opponent I’ve faced on the courts.”

“Jesus, Gray … ” Bruce slapped him on the shoulder. “Are you talking about that young chick that used to stalk you?”

“The one and the same, except she’s not so young anymore.” He clenched his teeth and grunted. “We’ve got a history. Years ago, in the off-season, I used to go back to Cottage Grove and give lessons to the younger kids. She was one of them. She had a crush on me, but I just saw her as a cute kid. She was funnier than hell, and no matter what life threw at her, she never gave up. Hell, looking back, I wasn’t that much older than the kids I was teaching. I think I was around twenty-one years old. It seems like a lifetime ago.”

“And … ” Bruce sat forward.

“She grew up. Every time I came back from a tournament, I’d tell myself to ignore her and I made sure I was never alone with her.”

“Did you go your separate ways?”

“Hell no. She found me wherever I went, even going as far as to make sure the town knew about how much she loved me. I couldn’t hurt her. I felt sorry for her. It was just her dad and her. They barely scraped by after her mom ran away. She needed a friend, so I listened to her when she needed to talk. That’s all. I didn’t mean to encourage her or let her believe that I cared in any other way than as a friend.”

Bruce shrugged. “That sounds like you. You’re a good friend to others.”

“When she turned eighteen, everything changed.” He scratched his jaw. “She changed. Suddenly I realized that the little friend that pestered me and kept me in laughs had turned into someone who … she’s beautiful, you know.”

“How old is she now?”

“Twenty-four, maybe twenty-five.” He sighed.

Bruce clicked his tongue. “The age difference isn’t such a big obstacle now.”

“I shouldn’t feel this way about her.”

“Why not?” Bruce asked. “You’re both adults.”

“She might be older, but she’s still naive compared to me. I’ve been on my own my whole life. Even when my parents were alive, they weren’t with me. I raised myself, with my manager leading my way.” He stared out at the water. “I’m not someone who does the whole dating scene. I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“I know what she wants. She wants love, marriage, and forever. I don’t do any of those. I don’t believe in them.” He stood up and crossed to the porch railing. “Maybe it’s all about the chase. She’s the one woman who turned me down, and I hate losing.”

Bruce joined him and motioned toward the boat tied up on shore. “Let’s go fishing. Maybe once I show you how to hook a fish, you can go back and catch the woman.”

Shauna survived another week of working on the benefit all by herself, and even managed to hide out in the hotel room across the road from the commerce building in her free time. She’d gone out with Kate and Diana, afraid that Diana would somehow find out she was staying in the same hotel she was working at, but neither one of them uttered a single word about what was going on with her family. For all they knew, she was staying at home with her dad and throwing herself into what everyone knew as the Celebrating Cottage Grove event.

The excitement of her secret plan going public on Wednesday helped distract everyone from what was going on in her personal life. For that, she was grateful.

The decision to throw herself into a routine helped take her focus off what was going on with Grayson. She finished her day, went to the hotel, got through the night, and returned to work the next morning. She didn’t cry or sleep, and she managed to consume enough food to keep her going. The smile on her face hid the tug of war happening in her heart.

Grayson had left Cottage Grove two weeks ago. The rumors in town swung between Grayson returning to the tennis circuit and him escaping with a woman who’d ended up pregnant from one of his spotlight affairs. Mr. Winston informed her — not that she’d asked — that even the workers at the tennis center were staying silent about their boss’s whereabouts.

She opened the front door at the Quayside and stood inside, letting her eyes adjust to the lights. Spotting her friends at the back table, she waved to the host, and then made her way through the room.

John stood up, smiling. “Good. You made it. I was getting ready to call and see if you’d changed your mind.”

She walked into his arms. “I told you I would. I just had something I needed to take care of first.”

“I’ll go get you a drink. Have you eaten?” he asked.

“I’m not hungry. A drink will be fine. Thank you.” She sat down.

He left for the bar, and she turned toward Kate. “Is that the new shirt you were talking about?”

“Yep, and it’s not the only thing sparkling.” Kate held out her hand and waved her fingers. Shauna gasped. A huge solitaire diamond ring glimmered on Kate’s slim finger.

“Get out of here!” She grabbed Kate’s hand and brought the piece of high-priced jewelry closer. “When did this happen and why didn’t you call me?”

“Wednesday, and I tried.” Kate stuck her lower lip out. “Your dad said you’d moved out. Where have you been, Shauna?”

Diana leaned forward. “We spent all day calling your cell phone, but it goes to voice mail.”

“Diana saw your car at the hotel earlier too.” Kate frowned. “You’re not having an affair with some married man, are you? Why aren’t you at home?”

John slid into his chair, and picked up the last of the conversation. “That’s a question that I think we’d all like to have answered. Your friends called me today, thinking I’d know where you were. I know I’ve been busy the last couple of weeks, but we have talked and you haven’t mentioned anything was wrong. I grew concerned when I couldn’t get ahold of you last night, and I stopped by your dad’s garage this morning. He wouldn’t tell me anything, except I’d have to ask you.”

“You shouldn’t have done that,” she whispered, fingering the napkin. “I’m fine. It was always my plan to find my own place, once I had time to look around at the real estate market.”

“Shauna, you’re staying at the hotel, not an apartment.” Kate grasped Shauna’s hand. “Why?”

“You do know that we’re all here to help you … with anything you need.” John reached over and clasped her hand. “You didn’t even mention you were having problems when I talked to you while I was in Oregon last week.”

“I’m sorry.” She gazed down at the table.

How did she explain that the precious hold she had on her life had slipped from her grasp? Not willing to allow them to see how much she was hurting, she squared her shoulders and hoped she could tell them without breaking down.

“Apparently, when I was away at college, my mother decided to come back to my father. This is all a surprise to me. I had no idea until the other day. My dad … well, he kept it a secret from me.” She shrugged. “He’s happy, I guess, so I figured since I’m an adult I’d give them privacy and find my own place sooner than I planned. With all the hours I’m putting in organizing the Celebrating Cottage Grove event, I haven’t found time to go house hunting, or even apartment digging. In the meantime, I’m staying at the hotel.”

“Oh, Shauna.” Kate pulled her into her arms. “You must be in shock.”

“The bitch,” Diana hissed. “I’m sorry, I know she’s your mom but you can’t let her hurt you again. She almost destroyed you the last time she left.”

John cleared his throat. “Why don’t you stay with me? You’ll be more comfortable than at the hotel.”

“I couldn’t.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek. “I’ll be fine, really.”

He frowned. “I insist. I have a spare bedroom and it’ll give you time to understand all the changes you’re going through. I really like you, Shauna. I don’t want to pressure you, but I want to show you how I’m here for you through the good times and bad. As a friend … ”

She glanced around her circle of friends. Kate and Diana nodded, encouraging her to accept his offer. John was someone she could depend on. He was committed to his business, even tempered, and caring. He was nothing like Grayson who let his power control how he acted. No, John was a giver.

She nodded. “Okay, I’ll stay in your spare room, but only until I can find somewhere besides a room at the hotel.”

“No hurry.” He smiled. “Is there anything you need?”

She scrunched her nose. “I’d like to get the rest of my clothes from the house, but — ”

“I’ll get them for you.” John stood up. “I’ll also let your dad know you’ll be staying with me. He’s worried.”

She swallowed. “Thank you.”

The moment John slipped out of sight, Kate and Diane attacked. Shauna shook her head and held up her hands. She couldn’t answer all their questions at once.

“Kate goes first.” She leaned forward. “Two questions from each of you. That’s all I’m allowing.”

“Fine.” Kate grabbed her hand. “Does your mom coming back have anything to do with Grayson leaving town?”

“No.”

“Does Grayson’s absence have anything to do with you?” Kate lowered her voice. “You can’t lie to us.”

She swallowed. “Yes. It’s my fault he left.”

“What happened?”

Shauna held up her hand. “You’ve already asked your two questions. It’s Diane’s turn.”

“What did he do? I know it wasn’t your fault. It never is. He’s making you feel guilty again, and that makes me want to kick his ass.” Diana clutched her fingers and held up a fist.

“If he did anything, it was making the mistake of asking me to sleep with him. Next question … ”

“Shut up. You would never turn him down.” Diana narrowed her eyes. “Ever.”

“Are you asking?” Shauna slumped back in her chair.

“Yes, dammit. I want to know if you slept with him.”

“No,” Shauna whispered. “I wanted to, but I couldn’t.”

“Oh.” Diana glanced at Kate. “You mean you were unable to … to physically have sex?”

She inflated her cheeks and blew the air out. “No, that’s not what I mean. I can’t let myself go there. Not with him.”

“Did you turn him down to get even?” Kate rubbed her arm.

She shook her head. “No more questions. I want to hear about your engagement. How did Jackson propose?”

The story went on in front of her, but she couldn’t follow along. She smiled and nodded in the right places, but her thoughts drifted back to Grayson. Could he believe she’d told him she wouldn’t have sex with him to get back at him?

No, he wouldn’t think that way. She would never hurt him to pay him back for all the times he’d ignored her. She slipped her hand into her purse, turned on her phone, and texted Grayson’s phone.

I need to talk to you.

There. That’s all she could do right now. If he wanted to call her back, the ball was in his court. There was nothing more she could do.

The long, low wolf whistle came from the end of the hall. Shauna lifted her gaze and laughed. It was strange to be going out on a date with the man you were living with.

“You look gorgeous.” John kissed her cheek.

The yellow and turquoise sundress was new, along with the wedged sandals. Yesterday, Kate and Diana had brought over a cake and ice cream to John’s house. She hadn’t even remembered it was her birthday.

She’d lain awake most of the night wondering what her dad was doing and if he was thinking about her. Even when she was away from home, he’d traveled to Cal State to see her on her birthday.

“We better get going if we’re going to make the show.” John picked up his car keys.

She followed him outside, and slid into the passenger seat. A wet nose nudged her arm, and she grinned, reaching to scratch the shaggy mutt in the backseat.

“You’ve either got a stowaway in your car, or this dog’s got a hot date too,” she said.

“Sit down, Blue.” John started the engine. “This one needs a little socialization, so I thought we’d take him with us. You don’t mind, do you?”

“Not at all.” She smiled. “I love animals. Maybe I’ll buy a dog once I find somewhere to live. I never had a pet growing up. I like the idea of having someone always excited to see me when I come home from work. Do you think a dog would be okay by himself during the day? Maybe I should get a cat.”

John double glanced at her and grinned. “I don’t picture you as a cat lady.”

“I said one cat, not six.” Shauna slapped his arm. “You’re right though. I think I’m more of a dog person. I’ll have to give the idea of being a pet owner more thought. It’s a big commitment.”

When they passed the road to Schyler’s Tennis Center, she forced herself to keep her eyes on the road. She’d heard Grayson was back, but his whereabouts no longer concerned her. She reached over and slipped her hand into John’s.