Page 28 of The Secrets We Keep

Heat pools between my thighs and I shoot him an unimpressed look. He holds his hands up defensively and walks out of the room. I give myself one more once over and then walk out to join the boys.

Grayson is dressed in dark jeans, a white t-shirt, and black boots. Asher wanted to dress like his dad, so he’s wearing a similar outfit, and it makes my heart swell in pride. Asher is bouncing in excitement. After meeting his grandpa this morning, he asked Gray everything he could about his family. Grayson’s answers took away his fear and turned it into excitement.

Grayson takes my hand and leads Asher and me out of the suite. The clubhouse is relatively quiet as we walk through, finding only a few of the members in the main room. They wave as we walk outside.

Grayson’s truck is waiting for us. He opens the door for me and then helps Asher into the brand-new booster seat in the back. I smile as Asher looks around the truck with wide eyes. He’s never been in a vehicle this new, so I don’t blame him.

Grayson hops into the driver’s seat and buckles himself in. He turns on the engine and it rumbles to life.

“Did you just buy this?” I ask as he pulls past the gate.

He gives me a wicked smile in answer.Ugh, this man.I know that he bought this truck, so he’d have a safe vehicle for our son to travel in. The thought makes me love him even more.Because I do still love him. Seeing him with our son has only reaffirmed that fact for me. My feelings for him haven’t changed over the last seven years, but since I’ve been back in Silver Springs, those feelings have only grown.

Before I know it, we’re pulling into the Williams’ driveway. The familiar ranch house looms before us. The white siding and black shudders are classic and well kept, as is the beautiful landscaping that Lisa has spent years perfecting. This is home. This house has always been more of a home to me than any house I lived in with my father.

Grayson hasn’t even parked the truck when the front door opens and the whole family files out onto the wrap around porch. The truck rolls to a stop and I feel Grayson’s hand squeeze my thigh. I turn to face him and find him smiling at me. I give him a watery smile in return.

“Can we get out now?” Asher asks impatiently.

“Yeah, bud,” Gray chuckles. “Let me get your door.”

He hops out of the truck and rushes around to our side. He opens the door for me and offers me his hand. I take it and slide down from my seat, smoothing my dress out as he helps Asher from the back seat. I take a deep breath and close the door, not taking my eyes off Grayson and Asher until they’re ready to walk over to the porch.

Grayson takes both of our hands in his and leads us to the porch. I nibble on my lip when we stop in front of everyone. Grayson and Rowan look just like their dad and Ella looks just like Lisa. Kurt has started to gray around his temples and Lisa’s brown hair is a little lighter now, but otherwise, they look the same. Ella has really grown into herself. She was two years younger than us in school, so she was only sixteen when I left. Now, she’s twenty-three and beautiful. Her dark brown hair is cut in a bob which shows off her slender neck. She’s petite but her body has filled in with curves over the years. Her green eyes are alight as they take us in.

Grayson pulls Asher in front of him, placing his hands on both of his shoulders.

“Mom, this is my son, Asher,” he says in a warm tone. “Asher, this is my mom, your grandma, Lisa.”

Asher nervously waves at Lisa.

She gives him a beaming smile in return. “I’m so happy to meet you Asher.”

“And this is your Aunt Ella,” Grayson says as he turns Ash toward her.

Ella smiles and crouches down to Asher’s level. “Hey, buddy. I can’t wait to spoil you.”

Asher’s face breaks into a smile, making the ice officially break. Lisa turns her attention to me. She doesn’t say a word; she just moves forward and wraps me in a hug. I hug her back, reveling in her affection. Something I’ve missed so much over the years.

“I heard that you love french fries,” Ella says as her mom and I break apart.

Asher’s eyes widen and he nods his head excitedly.

We follow them inside where we find, steaks, french fries, and salad waiting for us. We devour our dinners and spend the evening watching Asher get to know his family. He answers all their questions, and they answer all his. Ash makes best friends with their chocolate labrador retriever named Archie and plays with him all night.

As much as I want to talk to them, to explain what happened, this is Asher’s night. He deserves to know his family without any drama. I can wait.

****

When we get back to the clubhouse, we get Asher ready for bed. He’s exhausted after playing with Archie all evening. I have a feeling we’re going to have to talk about getting him a dog before too long. It’s something I always wanted for him, but we were never in a stable enough place to have one.

Asher wants Gray to put him to bed, so after I give him a hug and a kiss goodnight, I leave them to it. I put my hair up in a clip, remove my makeup, and then step out of my clothes, ready to get in the shower to wash away the day. I turn the water to hot and step inside. I shave my legs and underarms and then wash my body with my vanilla body wash.

After I towel off, I apply lotion to every inch of my body and then get dressed in one of Gray’s t-shirts. When I walk back into the bedroom, I stop dead in my tracks. Grayson is near the bed. He’s removed his shirt and jeans and stands there in just a pair of black briefs. My eyes take in his powerful thighs, muscular arms, and ripped stomach. Tattoos pepper his flesh, only enhancing his already enticing physique.

I meet his heated gaze, and I swear I’ll combust on the spot. He strides toward me, eating up the space between us easily. He stops in front of me, towering over my much shorter frame. “You didn’t let me peel that dress off you,” he chides as he reaches out and pulls the clip from my hair, placing it on the dresser as my hair falls in waves around me. My breathing picks up as he leans down, his lips meeting mine in a slow, sensual kiss.

His tongue parts my lips and meets mine in a familiar dance. There’s been no one since Grayson.There’s only ever been Grayson.

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