Embracing Her Heart Read online

  She lowered her mouth over the crown, and he placed his hand over hers and squeezed tight around his cock, rocking through her fist. Every pulse of his hips sent his shaft deeper into her mouth, making him wetter, and soon she was lost in lust, stroking and sucking. His hand slipped away, and she continued devouring and loving, touching and taking, feeling like she’d never get enough of him. He sealed his mouth over her sex, sucking and tweaking as he clutched and licked. It took all of her focus to remember how to breathe as he shifted her onto her back. She tried to guide his cock into her mouth, but he did something with his teeth and tongue and heat shot through her like lightning. Her hips bucked as his fingers explored, and his hungry mouth sent her topsy-turvy world spinning away.

  She fisted her hands in the sheets, her inner muscles pulsing so tight she moaned. “More. Don’t stop,” came rushing out.

  His teeth grazed her sex as he feasted on her, taking her up, up, up and over the edge again. As her insides quivered and quaked, he came down over her and pinned her hands to the bed, kissing her hungrily. His mouth was wet with her arousal, but she didn’t care, because the taste of Reed overrode everything else as he buried only the head of his cock inside her.

  He drew back from the kiss, his eyes as intense as they were loving as he entered her so slowly she felt her body stretching to accommodate his girth, felt her heart welcoming him and her soul treasuring him.

  Once he was deep inside her, he said, “You were my first love, Gracie, and I know that regardless of where we’re living, you’ll be my last.”

  LATER THAT MORNING, Reed made room in his dresser for Grace’s things and took far too much pleasure in watching her put them away. It was hell not asking her to move back, to move in, but he held his tongue.

  As they got ready to head out to the Stardust Café for breakfast, Grace stood in the foyer holding a pair of cute sandals, looking gorgeous in skinny jeans and a lavender top, with her hair twisted into some sort of knot on the top of her head. Several dark tendrils had already sprung free, sexily framing her face.

  Reed embraced her from behind. “Are we bed shopping after breakfast?”

  She turned and wound her arms around his neck, her sandals dangling over his shoulder. “You know I don’t care if you have a bedframe or not, don’t you?”

  “A big-city girl like you needs proper furniture.”

  She swatted his arm, then bent to put on her sandals. “I do not.”

  He chuckled.

  “I have to get Sophie’s baby shower present. Can we stop by that new baby boutique in town?”

  “Sure.” He opened the door for her and followed her out.

  “And I should really go for a run later. Will you go with me?”

  “What is with you and exercise? You’re gorgeous.”

  “It keeps me sane. Relieves stress.”

  “Why are you stressed?” He drew her into his arms again. Some people lived on deep breaths; he lived on moments with Grace.

  “I’m not right now, actually. I just realized that. But I’m used to working out a few times a week, and not horizontally. Everyone has their crutches. You work with your hands all day—and night. My job is mentally taxing, and sometimes I feel like I need to give all that mental chaos a breather.”

  “I get it, and I’ll go for a run with you anytime you’d like. But it might be more fun to head out for a hike or, I don’t know, play Frisbee or something.”

  “I love both of those ideas!” Her phone rang, and she pulled it out of her back pocket. “Ugh. Speaking of mental chaos, this is work. Sorry. I’ll try to be quick.” She stepped off the porch as she answered the call and walked toward his truck. “No, Satchel. That’s not how this works.” She held up one finger, indicating she needed a minute, and walked away, speaking sternly into the phone.

  Reed locked up and sat on the porch steps. Ten minutes later he was still waiting. He walked down to the creek so she wouldn’t feel pressured and sat in the long grass listening to the leaves rustle and the gentle trickle of the water. Most creeks had an earthy, pungent smell, but the creeks in Virginia had always smelled sweeter to him than those in Michigan. The same way the small towns seemed friendlier and the air felt crisper. None of that was true, of course. He was well aware of his bias toward his hometown. He’d missed the closeness of the community and the ease of the friendships while he’d been in Michigan. His life had been a race. First trying to outrun his heartache and later focusing on anything except the emptiness inside him. Losing Alina had been a relief, and though losing his business had been painful, looking back, that business had only been a mask, a safe distraction from what was missing from his life.

  He felt Grace’s presence behind him before he heard the swishing of grass or smelled her sweet perfume. He pushed to his feet, trying to read her troubled expression, and gathered her in his arms. “Whose ass do I need to kick?”

  “You can’t fix it that way. Besides, Satchel would take one look at you and run the other way.”

  “Satchel? What kind of name is that?”

  “His real name is Samuel, but Samuel isn’t exactly an artistic name. He’s the casting director, and he’s wonderful. But the lead actor in the play is apparently being a real numskull. He hooked up with one of the cast members, and he’s decided to be a jerk to any guy who looks at her. What is wrong with men, anyway? It’s like the minute they have sex with a woman they think they either own her or they’re over her. There’s no middle ground.”

  “Are you really asking me that? You don’t think women are the same way?”

  “Of course not.”

  He arched a brow.

  “What? I’m not mean to women who look at you, and trust me, most every woman who walks by checks you out. Even my sisters.”

  “And how do you handle it? Do you say, ‘Yeah, he’s hot. Go for it.’”

  She knocked him with her shoulder. “Seriously?”

  “Don’t tell me the minute we slept together you thought you owned me,” he teased.

  “We hadn’t even slept toge—”

  “Glad you see my point.” He gave her a chaste kiss and draped an arm over her shoulder as they headed for his truck. “So, what did Satchel expect you to do about it from four hundred miles away?”

  “He’s just keeping me in the loop. In theory, the staff should be able to deal with and manage the chaos. In reality, it can be like herding cubs, and sometimes they’ll only listen to Mama Bear.”

  “Just let me know if you need backup.”

  “I can handle it. But from now on I’m only hiring castrated males and women who will agree to wear chastity belts.”

  Twenty minutes later they entered the Stardust Café. Every red vinyl stool at the counter in the casual, retro-style café was taken, and the booths were nearly as packed.

  “Y’all come right in here and sit at the counter.” Winona Hanson, a fortysomething redhead powered by enough sass to fuel a steam engine, waved them over. Speaking to a brunette sitting at the counter, she said, “Ali, would you and Walter mind taking that corner booth, please? I have a bone to pick with these two lovebirds.”

  “We can sit in the booth,” Grace offered.

  Winona crossed her arms, locking her forest-green eyes on Grace. “Oh no you cannot.”

  The brunette slid off the stool, revealing a very pregnant belly, and threw her arms around Grace. “Gracie! Ali Parker, remember me? Big Ali? Well, Ali Larson now. I haven’t seen you in ages! The town’s all abuzz about you two.”

  “Ali!” Grace’s surprise was evident in the pitch of her voice. “Oh my goodness, you look incredible! And you’re having a baby!”

  “Thank you. I dropped nearly eighty pounds two years ago, thanks to Wally.” Ali looked adoringly at the tall man standing beside her. “We met at a cupcake tasting. He’s a baker and all. Then we started taking walks, and well…” She shrugged. “He taught me about moderation and all that.” She leaned closer and said, “Then we got married, and I gained tw
enty back with our little cupcake.” She rubbed her belly. “Our baby girl is due in just six weeks.”

  Grace’s expression warmed. “You’re having a girl? I’m so happy for you. Wally, it’s nice to meet you. And this is my boyfriend, Reed Cross. He grew up in Meadowside and just moved back a few months ago.”

  Reed had wanted so badly to claim Grace as his girlfriend when they were younger that hearing her call him her boyfriend affected him way more than it should have at his age. But hell if it didn’t give him a thrill. He shook Walter’s hand. “Nice to meet you both.”

  “You’re the guy buying the theater?” Walter asked.

  “That’s right. I guess the rumor mill has already started churning.” Reed reached for Grace’s hand.

  “Okay, Chatty Cathies,” Winona said. “Time to move along and sit on down. Y’all can catch up over lunch one day.”

  “Good idea! Let’s do it soon,” Ali said, giving Grace another quick hug. “I want to hear all about the play y’all are putting on.”

  “Play?” Grace asked.

  “Oh, maybe I heard wrong. Pregnancy brain and all,” Ali said. “I thought I heard you were producing a play here in town.”

  “Oh no. I’m teaching a screenplay writing class over at Amber’s bookstore.”

  “Come on, baby.” Walter put a hand on Ali’s back. “We’d better sit down before Winona refuses to feed you any more pickles and cream cheese. It was nice to meet y’all. Enjoy your breakfast.”

  “I get the oddest cravings,” Ali said over her shoulder as they headed for a booth.

  Reed and Grace sat at the counter. Winona set two mugs in front of them, pouring coffee with a smirk on her freckled face.

  “Go ahead, Winona,” Grace said as she poured cream into her coffee. “Ask away.”

  “Oh, I will.” She set the coffeepot down behind her.

  A burly tattooed guy in the kitchen put two plates on the pass-through and hollered, “Order up!”

  Winona grabbed the plates and set them in front of a customer at the end of the counter. When she returned, she leaned across the counter and spoke quietly, “Just tell me this. Have you been playing around with each other for all these years? Or was that a high school fling and now you’re reunited?”

  Grace blinked several times, as surprised as Reed was.

  “You knew about us?” Grace whispered. “Does everyone?”

  “Don’t be silly. The only reason I know is that my cousin Tami works at the Creekside Diner. She mentioned you two smoochin’ in there a decade ago when you were kids. Someone’s gotta watch out for y’all.”

  “But you never said anything,” Grace said with awe.

  Winona winked. “And I won’t now. I just wanted to know if it was true. But I can see it was. Everyone thinks I don’t know how to keep a secret.” She leaned closer again and lowered her voice. “Y’all did the right thing back then, with those crazy rivalries goin’ on.”

  “Thanks, Winona.” Reed put his hand on Grace’s and squeezed. “To answer your question, no. Grace and I have just found each other again.”

  Winona’s gaze moved between them. She pulled a pencil from above her ear and waved it at them. “And the rest of the rumors? I hear you had a community movie night and didn’t even think to invite my parents, who have known you, Grace Montgomery, since you were nothing more than a hope in your mama’s heart.”

  Grace smiled and shook her head. “That was a date that Reed set up for us. People saw the movie playing and stopped to watch.”

  “And Reed’s buying the theater?” she asked.

  “I am. And before you tell me what I have to do with it, don’t worry; I got an earful last night. Seems everyone in town wants outdoor movies as badly as they want an indoor theater.”

  Winona nodded. “Heck yes, we do. Nobody wants to drive for thirty minutes to go to a cinema complex that they need a map to navigate. Now, I just have one more thing that needs clearin’ up before I take your orders and leave you be.” She set a serious gaze on Reed and said, “Tami told me about you moping in the diner after you two ended that secret thing we’re not speaking of. Going weeks without eating.” She waved her pencil at Grace. “Teenage heartbreak is the worst.” She pointed to the graffiti wall in the back of the café. “You know nearly every kid who ever lived in Oak Falls has worked here for some period of time, and our Let It Out wall is full of Joanie loves Chachis and all sorts of matters of the heart. That’s one thing, but I don’t want any moping around here. If you two decide to part ways, there will be no sitting alone in a booth staring into a chocolate shake, ya hear?”

  Reed chuckled. “Loud and clear, Winona.” He pressed a kiss to the back of Grace’s hand and said, “But we’re not kids on our way to college anymore.”

  “No, you’re ten times more complicated,” Winona said. “Your hearts are so intertwined you couldn’t help but find each other again, but your lives are now worlds apart.”

  “Haven’t you ever heard when there’s a will there’s a way?” Reed asked.

  “Sure I have,” Winona said with a smirk. “That’s how I ended up raising Shayla on my own. My man had the will, and his good-for-nothing trollop found a way.” She pointed her pencil at Reed and said, “You do that to her, and I’ll hunt you down myself. Now,” she smiled brightly, “what can I get y’all for breakfast?”

  THEY HEADED OUT to look for a bedframe after breakfast and meandered through the furniture store by the mall. “I don’t think I’ve ever shopped for furniture like this,” Grace said, looking around at the nearly empty store.

  “You mean arm in arm with a guy who keeps grabbing your ass?” Reed tugged her against him.

  “That and shopping in a physical store. When I went to college, the dorms were furnished, and when I got an apartment I bought furniture online. I’m surprised stores like this can stay open when people can shop from home. Everything is so…”

  “Boring?”

  “Yes, totally. You worked so hard to make your house stand out, and it’s too pretty for this. This furniture would bring it down. At least the boutique where we bought the couches and dining room set had unique pieces. But nothing here feels special.”

  “You’re absolutely right. This isn’t us, Grace. Let’s get out of here.” He took her hand and headed for the exit. “There’s only one place to look for a bedroom set worthy of my girls. The Barn.”

  She stopped cold. “Whoa. Girls? Plural?”

  “Well, yeah. You and my Painted Lady. She’s my other girl.” He crushed her to him and said, “You’d better read up on Victorians, babe. Or you’re going to need that morning run just from misunderstandings.”

  “I think we need to stop at the library.”

  They drove out to Jeb Jericho’s place. He owned a few acres just far enough off the main drag to be private, but close enough to be found by consumers. Jeb ran the Barn, his appropriately named furniture shop, out of a big, blue, renovated barn, with his showroom on the first floor and his living quarters on the second. His workshop was in a separate stone building, which was once an old church.

  “I can’t believe we didn’t think of coming here first,” Grace said as they headed up the wide walkway.

  “It must have been all that mind-blowing sex, followed by a full belly.” He hauled her in for another delicious kiss. “You’ve made me dumb, sweetheart.”

  “That’s weird. You’ve made me happy.”

  She snuggled into him as they climbed the granite steps. There was a note on the barn door that read IN THE WORKSHOP and had an arrow pointing toward the old church building.

  The shop was built of stone, floor to ceiling, with the exception of a few stained-glass windows on either side and near the peak of the back wall, where the altar must have once been. There were several large workstations with furniture in various stages of assembly littering the tops. Metal shelving units holding tools lined the walls, and some sort of fireplace or kiln was built into the rear wall, near a set of enormous
double doors. They found Jeb in full protective garb, welding two large pieces of metal together. When he spotted them, he turned off his welding gun and took off his mask.

  “Hey, guys. How’s it going?” he said as he pulled off his gloves and stripped out of his protective jumpsuit. “I hear you might need some stonework done on the old theater.”

  He strode toward them in a pair of faded jeans and a blue T-shirt with COWS WON’T MILK THEMSELVES written on a round label with a picture of a cow at the top. Ever the farm boy, Jeb had always been proud of his roots. He snagged a baseball cap from a table and pulled it on. He had smallish, studious eyes that Grace had always felt saw far more than people wanted him to. Those watchful eyes took in the two of them. A hair over thirty, Jeb was a big man, known around town for his artistic talent and overprotective nature. Poor Trixie had a heck of a time trying to date with Jeb and her other brothers watching over her.

  “Absolutely,” Reed said. “I just got the word yesterday that the offer was accepted. I’m still processing it.”

  “It’s a hell of a building. I’d have bought it if I’d had the money, but it’s too rich for my blood. I’d love to be part of the project, though.”

  “You’ve got it,” Reed said. “We’ll set up a time to go out there and look around. We thought you could help us with a bedframe.”

  Jeb smiled, softening his sharp jawline. “Sure. I’m glad to see the rumors are true about you two. What’d you have in mind?”

  The devilish look in Reed’s eyes when he said, “Something sturdy,” told Grace exactly where the conversation was headed. She yanked on his hand, and he pulled her closer and laughed.

  “I’m kidding,” Reed said. “Well, not really, but you know…”

  After too many sexual innuendos and an equal dose of laughter, they left with a contract in hand for a custom-designed wood and iron bedframe, spent some time meandering around the shop and picked out two unique nightstands before heading into town to shop for Sophie’s baby gift.

  “I can’t believe Sophie’s married and having a baby,” Reed said as they looked through baby toys. “Do you like her husband?”