Page 83 of Grace on the Rocks

“Maybe.Alsocan’t help who secretly stops taking birth control…”

“Ah.”

Way to make it awkward again,Gracie.“Anyway.Wecan just agree that one was all her fault.Doyou know she wanted me to go on a diet before the wedding?Forthe photos?Firsttime in my lifeIgained weight on purpose.”

That surprised another laugh out ofBryan, and it was such an adrenaline rush to pull one out of theStoicScot.

“Thanks for coming tonight.Evenif it was another unmitigated disaster,” he said, his voice a warm rumble that reached deep intoGrace’sbelly like a long sip of whisky.

“Up until the yelling, it was a real nice party,” she quipped, and he grinned at her sideways, and god, how was that bearded smile so devastating?Hewas her brother’s friend!Shewasn’t supposed to have a thing for him.Diegowould never allow it—not that he had any say, but still.

“Fancy another fire?I’vegot a new biochar.Idon’t think it will reek like the wrong end of a donkey this time.”

Now it wasGrace’sturn to burst out laughing. “WellthenI’mdefinitely in.”

He grinned at her.

“There’s your new slogan.Youwon’t hate it, and it’s better than the wrong end of a donkey.Doesthat mean there’s arightend?”

He laughed.

“Got any marshmallows?” she asked.

“Don’t thinkIdo.Youreally want to roast them?”

“Hell yes,Iwant to roast them!Andthen nestle them between graham crackers and chocolate.”

“And you ingest this concoction?”

“Proudly,”Gracesaid with a laugh. “Haveyou really never heard of s’mores?”

“DoIlook like aBoyScout?”

She took in his kilt and turned up cuffs. “MaybeaScottishone.Ican’t believe you never heard of s’mores.”

“Of courseI’veheard of them,” he protested a little grumpily, and that, too, did things to her belly.

But, his pantry was one for three, soGracehad to settle for splitting aCadbury.Luckily, however, the new biochar did have a nice, lightly smoky scent, andBryanpoured her a dram of his special reservedRionnagach.

A deep contentment settled over her, as they sat in companionable silence on the loveseat, looking out across the ocean.

“Thank you for dancing withTeàrlach,” he said after a while, even though she could tell from his face thatthank youwasn’t quite what he meant. “Whenyou live in the town where you grew up, around all the folk you grew up with, they don’t always see you the way you see yourself,” he tried to explain. “Yourentire history can haunt you.”

And perhaps he was talking about his own relationship with the island, not justTeàrlach’s.

In a way,Gracecould relate. “Itcan be lonely when no one really sees you,” she said.

“Aye,” he agreed. “Thefear is you’ll be even more ashamed and lonely once they do see you.”Asif realizing what he’d said, how desperately sad it sounded, he added, “Thetrouble with growing up on a tiny island with your whole family is not learning how to ingratiate yourself to folk who don’t have to love you no matter what.”

He said it with a laugh, but she could hear the loneliness underneath.

Grace tried to think of something encouraging to say, but like a first draft, she was lost for words. “Youseem to be doing okay,” she finally murmured.

Bryan walked out to stoke the fire, more from a restless energy than being cold as far as she could tell.Butwhen he retook his seat, he was very close, his body heat warming her far more than the fire as his words rattled in her head.

The fear is you’ll be even more ashamed and alone once they do.

“If you’re embarrassed about earlier, you needn’t be,” she said, nudging his shoulder.

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