Page 52 of Please, Stay

“You’re here! I thought you weren’t coming until Monday.” Juliana moved to get off the bed, but her legs were tangled in the sheets, and she started to fall.

Grayson grabbed her by the waist and hauled her back into bed and right onto his lap.

She wiggled and squirmed to get her legs out of the sheets.

He stilled her hips with a little more force than necessary. His lips next to her ear as he whispered, “Please. Stop.”

Becky giggled.

Eliza covered her mouth, eyes wide.

Juliana waited patiently as he untangled the sheets to free her legs. He stifled a groan as she slid from his lap. Why the hell did he have an audience right now?

“You look like Tarzan.”

All three women looked down at Carrie. She smiled up at him, a tinge of blue on her lips from candy.

Accepting his fate, and frustration, Grayson winked at her. “Are you, Jane?”

Carrie shook her head. She twirled around in a frilly light blue dress. “No. I’m a princess, but Aunt Jules isn’t dressed yet. She could dress like Jane.”

He caught a smile in Juliana’s reflection before she covered it up. She patted Carrie on the shoulder and gave her a gentle push to the door. “Let’s give Tarzan a few minutes to get his clothes on.”

“Were y’all having a sleepover?” Carrie asked.

Becky didn’t hide her grin. “Good question, sweetie.”

Juliana reached behind her for the doorknob.

“She’d be an idiot if she didn’t,” Eliza added before the door clicked shut.

Grayson laid back down on the bed. It was for the best. Not really, but he’d tell himself that to quell the annoyance. Unless he found a way to lure her back to his room at the bed and breakfast, they probably needed to spend a little time apart to cool down. The one-quarter of one percent of his brain that she’d left functioning as a responsible human being knew that having sex with her would complicate an already complicated situation.

Besides, Eliza’s first time back home had to be emotional. Eliza needed her sister. All he wanted to do was steal Juliana away for himself.

He’d make himself scarce. Maybe he’d catch a glimpse of her tonight. Would it be wrong to ask her to sneak out from her house to meet him?

Yes. It would.

She still had a life to live after he left, and he didn’t need to take her away from it now. Not away from her family or friends.

Grayson saw himself in the mirror. With his hair wild and the short-trimmed beard, he did look a little like Tarzan. Or at least a man left out in the jungle. His lion tattoo stared back at him. He’d always remember the tender way she’d kissed him there as if she understood the real emotion behind what it stood for. The women he’d been with before had noticed it, but he always left out the meaning, asking them not to discuss it with the media. Since they were all in the spotlight, they’d kept their promises so far.

He dressed in the same, gray shirt he’d worn yesterday and left in search of Juliana. She met him in the hallway.

“I’m so sorry about all this.” She held up a new packaged toothbrush. “I found an extra one.”

He grabbed it. “Thanks.”

She closed the door to the bedroom, and he found the bathroom at the end of the hall and brushed his teeth. How far would she have let it go this morning? He’d probably scared her after reassuring her last night that nothing between them should happen. He’d apologize before he left.

The sounds of cartoons drifted back from the living room where Carrie’s tiny voice sang along to a theme song. In the kitchen, the two women huddled over the sink, whispering. Keeping his amusement hidden, he poured himself a cup of coffee and sat at the table. He hummed softly and scanned the news on his phone. They sat down. Eliza on one side, her eyes identical to Juliana’s, and Becky on the other, her crystal blue gaze that looked far more innocent than she could ever claim to be. He’d figured that much out by now.

“Good morning.” Grayson sipped his coffee, a little amazed they called it coffee. It was weak and sweet. Did they add the sugar when they brewed it?

“Is it?” Eliza asked.

“Agoodmorning?” Becky added.

---