In Too Deep (Grayton Series Book 4) (5 page)

“
Well, sure I am. And you’re a stupid girl.” He smiled and nodded his head, feeling accomplished.

She glared back at him. “Let go of me!” she screamed in his face. He dropped his hands.

“
Don’t kick me.” He took a step back when she made a move. She just glared back at him.

“
I don’t like boys. I never want to be around another one for as long as I live.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

He laughed. “Well, then you’re going to have a very boring life. Boys are a lot of fun. Besides, you’ve got three brothers now.” He leaned closer and whispered. “You can’t avoid us.”

Chapter Four

R
oman’s alarm woke him from the dream, so he rolled out of bed, wishing he’d had a few more hours of sleep.

Pulling on a clean pair of swim trunks and a tank top, he slipped into his shoes as he made his way out the door. He could get used to the easy life. Not that he didn’t love wearing his normal attire of suits and ties. But, underneath it all, he had always loved the ease of beach shorts and flip-flops.

When he walked up to the store, he frowned when he didn’t spot Missy’s red beauty in the parking lot.

The bell chimed when he walked in and he smiled and sighed with relief when she called from the back room, “Be there in a minute.”

Making his way to the back, he was rewarded when he walked into the supply room and bumped solidly into the back of her. She’d climbed up a small stepladder and had both of her arms over her head, holding a large box. It didn’t look heavy, just awkward.

Instantly, his hands reached out and steadied her before she fell from the perch. Her hips were smaller than he remembered and he had a nice view of her backside, which he didn’t want to give up just yet. Holding her still, he felt her stiffen when his fingers tightened on her hips.

“I’m fine,” she said without turning around. “You can let go of me now.”

“Can’t.” It came out as a whisper and he closed his eyes for just one moment. When he felt her move in his arms, his eyes opened and he watched her set the box down on the shelf. His fingers tightened for just a moment before he released her so she could turn around.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, looking down at him.

“I’m here for you.” His voice had fled and he sounded like he’d just run a marathon. His breathing was uneven and his chest rose and fell quickly as he tried to keep in check.

She shook her head from side to side slowly. “I… I can’t do this.” She moved to take a step away from him. His hands went automatically to her hips again, keeping her steady on the small ladder.

“Easy,” he frowned.

“Roman,” she started to say just as the bell chimed. She blinked a few times and then pulled away and walked out of the small supply room without saying anything more.

Gripping the shelves, his knuckles turned white as he prayed that he’d be able to convince her.

He’d dreamed of a million ways to talk her into returning home. To his family. To him. But every time she was around him, none of them came to mind.

Sighing, he turned and walked out of the small room to walk in on Missy hugging a large, very tan, very muscular man. He felt every muscle in his body tense with jealousy.

When he cleared his throat, Missy pulled away from the man, her smile still in place as her eyes met his.

He’d never once thought there was a possibility that she had a lover. He’d learned from his sources that she was unmarried, but they hadn’t been able to find out anything more. The fact that it had taken a private detective almost two years to find her had baffled him. Especially considering she was less than a hundred miles away, still going by Marissa, and he’d given the man a few dozen pictures of her. She had changed her last name from Grayton to Wright, which hadn’t been even her real mother’s name.

As he watched, she reached up on her toes and kissed the man on his cheek. “I’ll see you later tonight.” She squeezed his shoulder. The man glanced at him with a stern look in his eyes, then back at Missy.

“Is everything okay?” he asked.

Missy didn’t even glance his way before answering. “It’s fine. I was just showing our newest employee the supplies.” She walked behind the counter, dismissing them both.

“New around here, eh?” the man said, taking a few steps towards him. “I’m Clay. I’m one of the ferry captains.”

He felt some of the jealousy shift. “Roman.” He shook the man’s hand when he offered it. “So far I’ve been on parasailing.”

Clay nodded. “Jenny mentioned that the two of you knew each other.” He nodded to where Missy was busy behind the counter near the back of the store.

He nodded slowly. “Grew up together.” He crossed his arms over his chest.

“You’d better get going. I know Julie will be waiting for you,” she called from behind the counter.

He watched Clay turn pale and then nod his head and rush out.

Roman walked over to where Missy was putting all of the cash back into the register.

“What was that about?” he asked, trying to keep his voice level.

She glanced up at him, her eyebrows squished together in question.

“Clay was just coming in to tell me that he needed next month off.”

“Oh?” he asked, leaning against the counter, trying to look casual. What he really wanted to do was ask her why she was hugging her employee.

She nodded her head, not even looking up at him this time.

“So, sounds like you’ll be needing someone to help out with the ferry.” He waited as she sighed and closed her eyes. When she rolled her shoulders, he watched the movement and appreciated the view. She was wearing a black tank top and tan shorts that fit her just right. He wished he could get his hands on her again.

“I hadn’t thought that far ahead yet.” She turned and glanced at a sheet of paper hanging behind the counter. “Marv is supposed to be on for the next few days.”

“Maybe I can ride with him. From the looks of it, John and Bob have things under control with the parasailing.”

She looked over at him and thought about it for a while. “Why?”

He smiled. “Why, what?”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “Are you going to…” Just then the bell chimed again and she groaned with frustration. “Later,” she warned. “Do whatever you want. If I remember correctly, you will anyway.”

He chuckled as he turned and walked out. They knew each other too well to pretend. Even though they’d been apart almost eight years, he still knew her better than anyone else did.

He stood on the dock, waiting for the ferry to come back from its first run of the day. He’d told Bob and John that he was training with Marv today. The two men had smiled and slapped him on his back.

“Couldn’t cut it, huh?”

He’d chuckled. “Well, I just figured that you two had everything under control. Besides, Cole’s supposed to be out for a month.”

“Oh?” They both looked at each other. “Julie must have had the baby.”

He’d been relieved to find out that Cole was married and a new father, which had explained the hug. Still, he spent a few minutes probing the older guys into telling him that Missy was not seeing anyone.

“Actually, come to think of it, she hasn’t mentioned dating, ever,” Bob had said.

“You know,” John said and scratched his chin, “I don’t think that girl’s been out on a date for years.” They both shook their heads and then turned as a group of people lined up to get on the boat.

It was almost half an hour later when Missy walked to the end of the dock, dragging behind her a cart.

“What’s all that?” He motioned to the cart full of boxes.

“Deliveries,” she’d said and sat next to him.

“For?” He waited patiently.

“Customers.” She waved his next question aside. “It’s groceries for customers on Dog Island,” she finally said. “Now, are you going to tell me what you’re doing here?”

Their knees were almost touching. He leaned closer and enjoyed watching her eyes heat when skin touched skin.

“I told you. I’m here for you.”

She turned to him, scooting her knee away.

“I’m not going to go back. I couldn’t…” She turned and watched the ferry making its way towards them.

“What?” he asked, putting his arm around her.

She sighed and glanced at him. “I couldn’t face them. Not after everything.” She turned her face into the wind and sun.

“Missy,” he said, playing with her hair like he used to. It was still soft and smelled like strawberries like it always had. “No matter what you did in the past”—he used his finger to pull her chin until she looked at him—“we forgive you. We’re your family. We love you.”

***

Roman’s words played over in her head as she sat back and watched Marv teach him everything he would need to know about running the ferry.

She wanted to believe him and wished more than anything that her family could understand why she’d had to leave. Why she couldn’t go back.

When her eyes grew damp thinking about it, she stood up and walked outside and leaned against the railing, watching the crystal teal water below her. There was just too much at stake now. She wasn’t willing to give up her life. Her career. Even more important, Reagan.

At just the thought of her family finding out her secret, she shivered in the warm air, so she wrapped her arms around herself and leaned against the railing.

No, she wouldn’t be going back. She needed to work on a plan to get Roman to leave.

When the ferry docked, Roman helped her unload her cart. Even though there were only two deliveries for the day, she still had four large boxes to lug around. She knew she’d be done in time to catch the next ferry ride home but thought about taking some time to enjoy a walk along the beach first.

Roman showing up had changed so much in her life, she still hadn’t had time to think through all the possibilities.

Reagan had been too full of energy last night for her to have a moment to herself. Dinnertime ran into bath time, which of course ran into her reading him a story before bed. Then she’d been too tired to even relax in a hot bath, which she had fantasized about all day.

Her first delivery was to the newest members of Dog Island. The Chen’s were newlyweds, direct from San Diego. They were one of the cutest couples Missy had ever had the privilege to meet.

Huan Chen was a local dentist and in his mid-thirties. His wife, Sue, had just graduated and worked out of the home with online legal advice sites.

Sue was one of the nicest clients Missy had ever had. The woman went out of her way to help her unload their groceries and always chatted with her.

By the time she made her other delivery, she was in a better mood, thanks to Sue. She took her time driving to one of her favorite spots on the island where there weren’t many homes. She liked the seclusion and the quiet.

Pulling off her shoes, she walked for a few minutes and then found a soft spot in the white sugar sand to sit down. Tucking her knees up to her chest, she sat and watched the crystal-clear teal water lap on the shore and thought about Roman.

So much had changed since she’d seen him last. Even though he looked pretty much the same, so much had changed about him. His hair for one. She held in a giggle, then glanced around and, realizing she was truly alone, let it out anyway.

She’d never seen it as long as it was now. He looked like a beach bum, more like Cole than the Roman she’d known. Roman had always been neat and tidy. Perfect.

She sighed and rested her head against her knees. Perfect. She thought about that word. So many years ago, she’d thought that’s exactly what he was. Perfect.

Hadn’t that been the reason she’d fallen for him right away? And also the reason she’d left in such haste.

She’d been a mess when she’d arrived at the Grayton’s, not knowing who to trust or even if she could trust herself.

Even with all of her current indecision, she was far better off now than she’d been as a child.

Brainwashing was a hard thing to get over. Especially if it was done by people you loved and trusted and it started before you could walk.

Shaking her head clear of the horror that was her life growing up in a polygamous sect, she moved back to thoughts of Roman. How he’d been the one to help her grow out of her fear of the opposite sex.

He’d earned her trust, her friendship, then her love, all within the first year of knowing him.

Then she’d betrayed him and left him and her family in the dark as she ran. Looking back at her life, she realized that all the reasons she’d piled up didn’t really account for the hurt she’d caused them.

She cared too much about them. When she’d heard that Cole had been in an accident, she’d rushed to the hospital to check up on him, afraid that she’d be seen, but more afraid that her brother had been seriously injured.