Page 49 of Crossfire

Grayson’s smile dismantled the thoughts that had been echoing in my head the entire walk to the coffee shop. Things like,I shouldn’t date anyone right now. My life is a complete mess. My ex-boyfriend turned out to be a total jerk. And the last person I trusted tried to kill me.

But that smile. My God, that smile was what truly unraveled me.

Clad in a black shirt that hugged his frame in just the right way, accentuating the lean, muscular contours of his torso, and sleeves bunched to his elbows, he was a vision of casual elegance. The jeans he wore clung to his hips, tracing the lines of his body with an allure that seemed almost criminal in its perfection, while a pair of sleek black shoes, coordinated with a matching belt, completed the ensemble with a touch of sophistication.

His hair, dark and short, was styled in a way that seemed as if he’d just run his hands through it, achieving a level of disheveled charm that was as unfair as it was captivating. His eyes, a shade of green as clear as it was intense, held a glimmer of light that seemed to pull me deeper, reflecting a mix of intrigue and a silent longing as they met mine.

And then there was his cologne—a thick mix of sandalwood and vanilla that was beyond intoxicating, evoking images of warm, sunlit beaches and promises whispered in the breeze.

Grayson tucked his hands in his pockets, his deltoids rounding as coffee cups clinked and a hum of conversations blended into the sharp scent of freshly brewed caffeine.

“I wasn’t sure I would either,” I admitted.

“I’m sorry if I offended you yesterday.” His face tightened.

I shook my head. “I’m just in a weird place in my life.” And I had started to feel things for Grayson that I wasn’t expecting or prepared to feel.

In bed last night, I tried to convince myself whatever I felt was nothing more than a physical attraction, but standing here now, I couldn’t run that denial play anymore.

There was something so calming about his presence, and it wasn’t just the chemistry radiating between us. It wasn’t because he was the most attractive guy I had ever seen—he was—or how I felt the pull to him when he was near. To be honest, whatever eased my muscles and tension when I was in his presence was something I didn’t fully understand.

Grayson arched an eyebrow, his attention fixed on my scrubs.

“You’re a nurse?” he asked with a ghost of a grin.

“I work in the ER.”

He tilted his head back. “So, you spend your days saving lives.”

My lips twitched. “That was my goal when I chose this profession, but the reality is, I spend most of my time making sure patients get the best care they can for things like broken limbs or infections.”

“Well”—Grayson’s gaze glided over my face, inciting a buzz of fireflies in my stomach—“it takes a special kind of person to takecare of the sick. My mother had some incredible nurses before she passed. They made her final days bearable.”

While he was looking at me with a newfound respect, I was looking at him with an ocean of empathy.

“You lost your mom, too?” In addition to his father, who he’d lost to violence?

Grayson nodded, sadness flickering across his face. “Cancer.” His voice was low, like he was trying to bury the pain, but it stretched in the space between us, making my heart sink as I realized the depth of his loss.

Both parents, gone. And here I was, sulking about my own mother giving me a hard time over something as trivial as bills. At least Mom was still alive and loved me, and I could call her or hug her anytime I wanted.

Shame on me for taking her for granted. If Dad’s death taught me anything, it was that we should cherish our loved ones while we had them because we never knew when they might be gone.

“I’m so sorry,” I said.

“It was a long time ago,” he replied, trying to brush off the hurt. But I could see by the slight dropping of his features how much it still haunted him.

My heart swelled because he’d opened up and shared something so deeply personal with me. Locked in a wordless exchange, we lingered, lost in the moment of vulnerability and connection.

“Well…” Grayson’s voice changed to an upbeat tone as his focus swept over the bustling coffee shop, The sound of patrons chatting and milk steaming filled the air. “Looks like no ex today.” He raised an eyebrow mischievously. “Maybe we scared him off.”

I managed a smile, trying to shake off his heavy profession and focus on this lighter topic.

“A girl can dream.”

“We could stay here and see if he shows, but…” Grayson leaned toward me.

My stupid heart gasped a little, over him being a silly few inches closer.

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