Page 38 of Please, Stay

“I’ve moved nowhere near that fast with Juliana.” Not for a lack of wanting to. “We’re meeting at seven to ride up to Atlanta. I didn’t sleep well last night. Get some more sleep, Trevor. I’ll be on my best behavior.”

Trevor grumbled and ended the call. Grayson, more awake than before, jumped back into the shower. He was ready to see Juliana and spend the day with her.

13

Juliana’s hand hovered over the zipper on the back of her navy Merino wool dress. Don’t do it. The last five dresses weren’t any better. She wasn’t a model, after all, but a reporter. She snapped her shoulders back as she looked at herself in the mirror. A professional reporter.

She tore herself away from her closet and grabbed her purse as she jogged out of the house. Her high heels skidded along the gravel driveway as cold air brushed over her bare legs. Awesome for Mother Nature to finally make it feel like winter. She didn’t have time to figure out something warmer to wear. Five after seven already.

While she waited for her window to defrost, she pinned her mom’s broach to her dress. A small, green wreath. Festive, but old fashioned. If there was ever a day she needed her mom’s support, it was today. Screw fashion.

A meeting at the Capitol building might catapult her out of writing nothing but small-town stories. The first step in pushing her career along. Maybe write freelance for a more prominent publication someday. It’d taken a few phone calls to get this interview. She’d left fourteen messages with the front desk until she’d finally gotten an appointment to discuss the new highway expansion withsomeone. The last message seemed the most effective. Apparently, the Governor’s office didn’t like the negative press. Or a slight exaggeration as to the television coverage of a sit-in protest of the new highway the state planned to build only one hundred feet away from Statem’s only park and playground.

That had been her Aunt Tanya’s idea. Cameron’s mom had apparently staged several protests when she was younger.

Juliana turned her small two-door coupe onto Jefferson Street. Grayson, in blue jeans and black boots, leaned against the light pole. The top of his head skimmed the bottom of a tinsel reindeer strapped to the pole. His eyebrows creased together as she stopped. Was he going to get in?

He opened the door. “I’m not sure I’ll fit.”

“It’s roomier than it looks.” She patted the seat. And it hit her. The movie star had disappeared. He’d become just Grayson. Famous actor or farmer or car mechanic. It didn’t matter to her. It’d almost make life easier if he did have a simple job. Then they might have a future together. After last night’s drama, she didn’t know why he stayed. The chemistry in their goodnight kiss might have a little something to do with it.

He stretched his legs as he pushed the seat back to the farthest limit possible. See, he fit. Barely. The muscles in his thighs tightened at the movement. His shoulders took up the entire width of the seat and then some. His dark gray, long sleeve T-shirt clung to his biceps at their thickest point. She closed her mouth and swallowed. He’d invited her back to his place last night.

Would she ever give herself permission to go that far?

With one finger under her chin, he angled her lips until they lined up with his. “If you keep staring at me like that, I might take that as an invitation to kiss you right here in front of anyone who happens to walk by. Last night’s epic kiss is still on my mind.”

She scanned the street. Empty. She wanted so much more than a simple kiss, but she didn’t have time to indulge. Pretending like she oozed sex appeal, she leaned in close until their lips touched for a brief second.

“Good morning,” she whispered as she sat back up.

His dark blue eyes blinked twice before he came back to reality. “Good morning.”

His gaze stayed locked on her. In cavemen days, she suspected his look meant, “You. Me. Bed. Now. Ugg!” But going to bed wouldn’t get her story written.

Blowing out a frustrated, unsatisfied breath, she put the car in Drive and headed to the interstate. Grayson’s subtle cologne played with her senses. Risking a glance, her eyes focused along the edge of where his dark beard met the tan skin of his neck. He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing with the motion. She snapped her attention back to the road.

She drove on in silence. Pine trees flew by in a blur on both sides of the car. A hot flush spread over her face the more she imagined the things she wanted to do to that one spot along his neck. What was wrong with her? She turned the A/C on. Who cared if it was barely forty degrees outside, it was close to one-hundred inside the car now.

Juliana cleared her throat. She had to take her mind off his neck. “Have you ever shot a movie in Georgia?”

“No.” He shifted his back into the corner of the seat and watched her drive. “But I’ve come to Atlanta a few times before. How often do you meet with the Governor for a news story?”

“Never. I’m a little surprised that Dad approved my story idea. Since it has to do with our town, he agreed that our readers might be interested. Everyone wants to know why the highway has to come so close to the park.”

“I hope they answer your questions. Maybe you can get it moved.”

“Maybe. The town has a right to know. I called the Governor’s office several times requesting a briefing on it, but never got a response. So,” she said before pausing and glancing at him. “I annoyed them until they caved in and gave me an official interview.”

His eyebrows shot up. “With the Governor?”

A little of her fake confidence slipped away again. “No. He wouldn’t meet with me. I have an appointment with the assistant.”

“Still, that’s only a step away from the Governor.”

“Assistant to the assistant.”

Grayson’s deep laugh made her smile. She needed accurate information. A personal quote from the Governor would be amazing, but not necessary. The assistant’s assistant would have to do. She’d talk to the janitor if he gave her what she needed, and she might use it to make a change.

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