Authors: Kristin Vayden
“Yes.”
“Damn if that doesn’t make me want you more.”
“Sorry?” I said, unsure of what to say. All I could think about was how much I wanted him to coax me further when what I should be doing is pushing him away.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be good, for now.” A wicked gleam lit his expression as his eyes boldly took in my face and his hands ran down the curve of my body.
“Thank you… I… It’s important to me. I don’t feel like it right now, but it is.”
“I know… and, Sophia?” His hand paused at my hip. “That’s the only thing stopping me right now.” He kissed me gently. “Because I could tempt you, do my best to take what you don’t want to give, but in the end this isn’t about me. It’s about you. It’s not about sex. It’s about love. And for the first time, I’m getting that. And that changes everything.” His full and swollen lips bent into a smile full of wonder as he reached up and smoothed back a few strands of hair from my face.
“You’re romantic when you want to be,” I said as I met his warm gaze.
“Anyone can be with the proper inspiration.” He kissed my nose then got up, reaching out to help me stand as well. As I stood a soft noise caused us both to glance down.
“Hey, you dropped something.” Greyson picked up a piece of paper. Its weak fold came undone and his brow furrowed as he read the writing.
“Sophia… why do you have Dr. Solomon’s address and phone number?” Greyson’s eyes narrowed slightly, studying me. “And please answer quickly because right now I’m not thinking too rationally.”
“Relax, Greyson.” I shook my head and snatched the paper from his hands, a teasing smile gracing my lips. His possessive nature was endearing.
He glared.
“Dr. Solomon invited a few nurses and doctors to his beach house for a barbeque he also invited me and my roommate. This—” I held up the piece of paper. “—is in case we can make it and I need directions.” Reaching out I touched his arm. His muscles bunched under my touch
“So…jealousy?” I raised an eyebrow. Seriously, the guy had nothing to worry about. Didn’t my actions speak loudly?
“Yeah, hot and unforgiving.” He stood and rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m just a little tense… It’s not that I don’t trust you, Sophia, it’s that I don’t trust myself to be enough to keep you. Which is really hard for me to say, because well, …I’m Greyson Bentley.” He shrugged.
“Humble too.” I raised my eyebrows and shook my head, not offended but amused.
“That came out wrong.”
“No… I think you said it quite perfectly,” I teased.
“Not funny.” Greyson glared at me once more.
“Yeah, glaring is not helping. You’re sulking again. What happened to the Greyson that I’ve come to know these past few weeks, the one that wasn’t always frowning?” I leaned against the wall and waited.
“He’s kinda freaking out and not knowing how to deal with it without the drugs,” Greyson said quietly, closing his eyes and sinking into the couch.
“Greyson…” I pushed off from the wall and walked over to him, placing a hand on his tight shoulder. “You can’t control life, that’s not your job, and all you’re going to do is stress yourself out. Whether you believe it or not, God is in control of everything. He’s the only one able to handle it all. When
you
try, you’re trying to be God… and as much as the world might think you’re Him…” I rocked and bumped his shoulder playfully. “You’re not. Nor can you ever be. Stop trying to take His place. Be Greyson. Let God be God.” I laid my head down on his shoulder, listening to the sound of his breathing and inhaling his familiar scent.
“How do you feel so calm about it though? I mean, you can’t control life, you can’t control God…What the hell can you control then?” he asked quietly, laying his head on mine.
“You can control what you think, what you believe and how you react to whatever life holds.”
“But what if it hurts? What if it sucks and I can’t…”
“Then you are learning a really important lesson. We aren’t made to deal with it on our own. God doesn’t always take away the bad; but he does make us able to grow through it. He promises to take whatever ashes we have and create beauty, good from the bad.”
Greyson was quiet and I waited, knowing that he was struggling.
“I’m sorry about jumping to conclusions about Dr. Solomon,” he whispered after a moment.
“Forgiven.”
“Thanks.” His strong arms wrapped around me and held me tightly as his head lowered so that his nose was buried in my hair. His breathing tickled, sending goose bumps down my arms.
When he released me, I stepped back, feeling the distance. Each step away was cooler as I drew away from his warmth. Is that would it would be like when he left? Cold? As if confirming my fear, I shivered.
“I’ll need to address a few issues with the company, and do some positive PR.” Greyson held up his hands and did quotation marks in the air over the last word. A wry grin tipped his full lips.
“Exciting,” I teased.
“You have no idea.”
“But after that, I’ll come and see you. Sound okay?” His gray eyes narrowed slightly, studying me.
“Sounds great.” I smiled bravely. Though I knew it would be just a few days till I saw him again, I struggled to be at peace with it. Greyson would go back to his life and realize how I didn’t fit in with it. Wouldn’t he? As much as his words tried to convince me, only actions would. And that took time. My anxious heart winced at the thought of having to wait through it.
“Okay. And I have your phone number…” Greyson winked. “But what I am missing is your address… it might be nice to know where you live.”
“Hmm… for some reason this conversation seems familiar.” I tapped my chin playfully.
“Oh?”
“Yeah.” I grinned, remembering his surly attitude when he first arrived, him asking if I ever smiled and my response. How could so much have changed in such a short amount of time?
“Yeah… I remember that. Not my smoothest approach, that I’ll admit. But you gotta give a guy a break. I was dealing with some serious pain at that point.”
“I don’t know…” I teased.
“Sophia… really? You seriously think that I can’t find out on my own? One phone call, Sophia. One phone call and I’d have your address, grandparents’ middle names and your favorite breakfast cereal the year you turned seven. All itemized and highlighted in a file within twenty-four hours.”
“So we’ve become a stalker?” I tilted my chin.
“Absolutely. But I’d much rather just get the information from you.” Greyson grinned, a relaxed expression overtaking his features as he studied my face.
“I’ll text it to you.”
He reached for his phone.
“Later.”
“Really?” Greyson groaned. “You seriously are playing hard to get? Now?” He shot me a disbelieving gaze.
I rolled my eyes and walked to the door. “Nope. Playing hard to get implies that I’m just leading you on…”
“Gee, thanks.” Greyson called as I opened the door.
“I’ll be by to check on you later,” I called over my shoulder.
Greyson saluted me, shaking his head afterward and ambling over to the couch.
Chapter Twelve
The next morning when I arrived at Greyson’s room there was a flurry of activity. Various people were ducking in and out while several women were packing his belongings. I glanced about the room for him. A few men in perfectly tailored and pressed suits were talking next to the large picture window. I didn’t notice Greyson and turned to leave.
“Sophia!” Greyson’s voice stopped my progress and I turned, my eyes widening at the sight. Greyson strode toward me with purpose in every step. The concentration of his gray gaze was magnified by mimicking color of his dove gray suit. His hair wasn’t tousled, but combed neatly and there was no remnant of a beard, but smooth, perfect skin that accented the strong length of his jaw. His full lips appeared fuller against his clean-shaven skin and I swallowed, not quite believing my eyes. As he drew closer his presence seemed to fill up all the empty space, taking it captive and overwhelming it. The spicy scent of his aftershave hung in the air.
“Greyson.” I swallowed.
“Hey, there’s no reason for you to leave. I’m just having everything packed and set up for when I leave tonight. Please… don’t go.” His eyes pleaded and his expression became more familiar, less of a stranger and I relaxed slightly.
“Okay, I don’t want to be in the way.”
“Sophia, they…” He gestured to the people in the room. “…are the ones in the way.”
“Okay…” I eyed them cautiously, not quite believing his affirmation.
“Come in, let me introduce you to my assistant, Gregory Pines. He’s usually my right hand.” He placed his hand on the small of my back, leading me toward the group of men dressed in a similar fashion to Greyson.
“Gregory, this is Sophia Holton.”
A slender man with dark brown hair separated himself from the group and extended a hand. His shrewd gaze quickly evaluated me as he offered a politely restrained smile.
“Nice to meet you.” I tried to smile warmly, but felt far too lacking to appear confident.
“So this is the lovely Sophia. I’ve been waiting to meet you. Greyson speaks highly of you.” He released my hand but didn’t pause in his open study of me.
“Thank you.”
“Excuse me, sir? You have a call.” Another man in a suit addressed Greyson and he held up his hand to me and gave me a pleading expression to wait.
I nodded.
“So Miss Holton, how long have you worked here at the Willow and Oak?” Gregory asked.
“Not long, Greyson was my first assignment.”
“Ah, forgive me but that seems a bit odd.”
“No, you’re correct. It
was
strange. Greyson requested it.” A smile tipped my lips at the memory of our first… encounter. How things had changed. How he had changed!
“Greyson? Well, that doesn’t surprise me. What Greyson wants, he gets.” Gregory exhaled heavily and shook his head.
“He tends to have a compelling personality,” I agreed.
“You have no idea, Miss Holton.” Gregory speared me with an intense gaze that created a strange curious stir in my heart.
“Sorry. Have you two gotten to know each other a bit better?” Greyson asked with a grin.
“Yes.” Gregory nodded.
“Wonderful.”
“Greyson? Even though you’re leaving here soon, I need to get a final reading on your vitals. Do you mind?”
“No, not at all. Here.” Greyson gestured to the couch and I sat, feeling strangely out of place, especially since I had spent so much time in that same spot.
I took his readings while he spoke with various people and took another phone call. Feeling like an intruder, I stood when I finished and typed the information into my iPad. I wanted to say goodbye, but it was too crowded, he was too distracted, and everything felt wrong. So, with heaviness in my heart, I slipped out the door unnoticed, feeling like that just might be what was really happening.
It was easy to pretend, to not realize the full extent of Greyson’s lifestyle, until it was overwhelming me in a single day. As I took heavy steps down the hall to my next assignment, I realized that I should have known all along. While Greyson’s words were great, his actions were what would bear the truth. And that would take time, and time was the very thing I knew would try me the most. Because time wasn’t a respecter of persons or emotions, it was raw, unfeeling and cruel at stages. Especially when you were the one waiting and your heart was hanging in the balance. Like mine. I wanted to believe what Greyson had said… but in the end… words were just that. Words.
I was leaving my shift and heading to my car when my phone buzzed. I took it out and glanced at the screen.
Gardens, now, please?
I tossed my stuff in the car and went around the building to where I knew Greyson was waiting. My heart picked up its pace as I realized he hadn’t forgotten to see me one last time before he left. I rounded the large building and took a grassy path to the grove of oak trees where we had gone to talk before. As I came closer, I saw him waiting with his back to me. He stood straight, appearing taller in his gray suit, his shoulders even more accented by the cut of the jacket.
“Hey,” I called, as I got a little closer. Immediately he turned, a wide grin spreading across his face.
“Hey yourself.” He nodded his chin and reached out toward me. Without hesitation I went into his arms, inhaling deeply the familiar fragrance of his clothes, his skin, committing it once again to memory.
“I’m not saying goodbye,” Greyson whispered into my hair, tickling the strands with his hot breath.
“Hmm?” I murmured.
“This. It’s not goodbye. You pulled one over on me this morning. You’re going to pay for it too.” He pulled me back from the embrace and gave me a stern glare.
“What?”
“You. You snuck out this morning. I turned around and you were just… gone… without saying anything.” His expression was hurt, but he quickly recovered. “Some girlfriend you are.”
“You were busy! It’s not like was going to go over there and interrupt—”
“Interrupting is exactly what you should have done. All those people, they are great and valuable to my company, and to me. But they’re not nearly as important as you. Remember that. I saw your face, the hesitant gleam in your eye. You’re seriously wondering if I know what I’m doing or saying when I’m with you. But I do. End of story. Believe it. Okay?” He pulled me back into a hug and clung to me.
“Okay,” I mumbled against his starchy white shirt, hoping I didn’t leave makeup on it.
“Good. Now.” He pulled me back, tracing my lips with his finger. “I have to leave, but I’m planning on seeing you soon, hopefully Friday. Will that work?” His eyes searched mine.
“That will be wonderful.”
“Good. I’m glad,” he whispered before leaning forward to drop a light kiss on my lips, as if tasting them.
“Me too,” I murmured.
“It will be torture.” Greyson groaned and leaned his forehead against mine.
“It will go by fast,” I said, unsure whether I was reassuring him or myself. Maybe both.
He leaned back and gave me a disbelieving expression.
“Okay, it might not be fast, but it will go by… That better?”