Page 92 of Grumpy Darling

I let out a giggle that was shockingly similar to my nervous laugh. I’d never seen Grayson the chef before, but I had to admit, it was a seriously good look on him. And I was way too tempted to do what it said on his apron.

“Yeah, I guess it is,” I said, causing a dazzling smile to appear on his lips.

He had absolutely no idea of the devastating effect he had on me when he smiled like that. Grayson didn’t smile often. And when he did, it was rare to see anything more than a subtle curving on his lips. But that was clearly for good reason. His unrestrained smiles made my knees go weak. They always had. Only now, I was beginning to realize that most friends didn’t make you weak at the knees. Most friends didn’t make your heart race. And most friends didn’t make your skin sizzle with a simple glance.

It seemed like my confusing feelings for Gray had appeared out of nowhere. But maybe they’d been building since the first time we met, and he stumbled over my name. I’d always cared so deeply about him, but I figured it was just part of our incredible friendship. Staring at him now, seeing that smile of his, I knew it was so much more than that.

He glanced up at me and frowned. “You okay there, Pidge?”

No wonder he was frowning, I was staring at him in wonder, like I’d just spotted a rainbow after the rain—something beautiful and unexpected that had appeared out of a storm, and I couldn’t drag my eyes away for fear it would disappear.

“Pidge?”

“Uh, yep, I’m okay.” But even the gentle way he said my nickname had my insides softening.

“You don’t look like you’re okay. I know seeing me cook is like a glitch in the matrix, but I’m not bad. I promise.”

“No, it’s not that. I’m fine.” That couldn’t have been further from the truth, and obviously I was doing an awful job of hiding it from him. He wasn’t making it easy though. I needed him to stop with the soft smiles and soothing voice. I needed him to stop looking so hot in his apron, with his sleeves rolled up above his muscular forearms. He was too much for me right now, but I couldn’t let him discover what was bubbling beneath the surface of my charged skin. I couldn’t let him discover that I’d gone and done the worst thing a friend could do. I needed a distraction.

Without another thought, I grabbed a pinch of flour and flicked it in his face.

His mouth dropped open with surprise. “What was that for?”

“I was trying to make you look more the part.”

“Really? You’re throwing flour at the guy who’s cooking your dinner?”

He looked so thoroughly unimpressed that I started to laugh. He’d finally stopped smiling, and it appeared to have broken the bubble we’d been in. Unfortunately, I’d failed to make him look any less appealing. Even with his forehead creased in a scowl, the flour caught in his hair and dusted across his cheek only made me want him more.

“You know, I never took you for the kind of girl who would attack without provocation,” he said.

“I never took you for the kind of guy who would get upset over a little flour in his hair.”

“Oh, I’m not upset,” he replied. “Doesn’t mean I’m above a little retribution though.” A devilish glint flashed in his eyes, and the next thing I knew, a handful of flour came flying at my face.

I squealed as I attempted to duck out of the way, but I wasn’t quick enough. The flour hit me and erupted, creating a thick cloud between us. It was everywhere. “Hey, that’s way more than I threw at you.”

“I never said my revenge would be fair.” He smirked, grabbing another handful from the bowl.

As I backed away, I swiped the bag of flour off the countertop and gathered the biggest handful I could.

“You know this won’t end well for either of us,” I threatened.

“You should have thought of that sooner. Never start a fight with a Darling you don’t intend to fin—”

I launched my flour at him before he could finish and raced for the other side of the kitchen counter. But Grayson was too fast, and he caught me before I could get far, wrapping his arms around me and lifting me off the ground.

“No, no, no.” I laughed as flour rained down on us.

“Yes, yes, yes,” Grayson answered with a deep chuckle as he spun me around. When my feet touched back down, I turned to face him, but he had me pinned against the kitchen counter, his strong arms gripping the marble top tightly on either side of me.

“Okay, I surrender,” I said, lifting my hands up to show him I was out of flour.

“Maybe I don’t accept.” His eyes were shimmering with delight.

My heart thundered. There was almost no space between us, and my back was pressed flat against the kitchen counter. He was leaning close, towering over me, and his dark hair fell across his forehead as he looked down. Every inch of my body felt like it was a live wire sparking, and every part of me wanted us closer still. I wanted him to take his hands off the countertop and grip my waist instead. Mine itched to reach up, touch his cheek and to draw him to me.

His smile was broad and so full of light, my breath hitched as our eyes met. I was looking at the same guy who had been my best friend for so long, but something had truly shifted. I couldn’t tell if it had happened slowly, or all at once, with just one smile, or a thousand heartbeats. But I knew everything had changed. Just when I thought I’d realized the true extent of my feelings for Grayson, I fell deeper. The way I yearned for his smiles, how I relished his scowls, how I admired his strength of heart, and how I adored his quiet kindness. It was clear I’d fallen for Grayson Darling, without even realizing it. I wasn’t confused anymore. I was in love with my best friend. And I think I had been for a long time.

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