Page 38 of Now and Forever
"Mmm not yet," he hummed, enjoying the sight of her stretching.
"How much time is left?" Not waiting for an answer, she looked toward the display screen mounted on the wall by her seat and gasped. "We still have six hours!"
Grayson nodded with a smirk, wondering where this was going.
Her eyes darted to the wood-lacquered door a few feet away. When she first got on the plane, she spent twenty minutesoohingandahhingover every feature, one being the bedroom in the back.
"Do you want to go lie down?"
Grayson did not react; he kept his features schooled as he stared back at her.
A blush crept over her features and she rushed to explain. "I mean, I saw that the bed can sit up like a recliner. We can watch movies on the TV."
Grayson nodded and stood up. Despite it being his plane, he followed her to the bedroom, letting her take the lead. He knew how this was going to end. Thirty minutes into whatever movie she picked, she was going to be dead asleep in the bed next to him and he would be in hell.
"So, what movie would you like to watch?" he asked.
Chapter seventeen
As exciting as Italy had been, it was nothing compared to the change that had happened between her and Grayson. Each and every time Golden stopped to think about it, really letting it sink in, it made her feel as if she was going to burst with happiness.
It started on the flight to Italy, as merely a consideration she suggested they use the reclining bed in the back room of the jet. At the time, her motives were innocent, naïve even. From Grayson's passive agreement to her eagerly selecting a movie to watch, she never once considered the possible inappropriate nature of her suggestion. The reality of the situation didn't hit her until she found herself waking up in his arms hours later when the captain called to tell them they arrived. Petrified with embarrassment, Golden stayed very still against Grayson's chest as he spoke to the captain on the phone, his eyes never leaving hers. From that moment on, everything between them had changed.
There was a closeness—an intimacy—between them that never quite existed before. When he guided her into restaurants, sheshivered each time his hand settled possessively on her waist. Her heart swelled as he walked with her hand in hand through the tiny yet bustling Italian streets. And she nearly choked when he introduced her as his partner in the business meeting they had with the author they intended to interview for next quarter’s journal.
All the little things that had formed their close relationship over the years were rapidly evolving into something Golden had only ever dreamed of. The gentle watchful look of protector and guardian was gone from Grayson's face and in its place was an expression of growing hunger that made her chest constrict with hope. Was he finally seeing her as something more than just Gaige's childhood friend? She wasn't sure. Honestly, she was too afraid to think too much about it. What if she jinxed it? What if she was wrong?
Golden had wondered if the plane ride back would be the same or would Grayson set some firm boundaries with her on their return but she couldn't have been more wrong. This time they began their trip in the reclining bed. They talked and tried to watch a few thriller movies but spent most of the time analyzing the movies and picking them apart. And this time when sleep began to claim them Grayson made no pretense of maintaining proper distance; instead, he wrapped his arms around her, drawing her close as they drifted off together.
Things were going so well between them that Golden wasn't sure if starting classes was a good idea. Going to school meant fewer hours in the office and less time with Grayson. For the first time in years, things with him were moving in the right direction. She didn't want to mess that up! Maybe she could just start next semester? Yet even as she thought it, she knew that wasn't the answer. She didn't want to push off her degreeany further than she already had and besides she knew Grayson wouldn't want her to.
As the school year developed, however, her doubts disappeared. Between the lectures and assignments, Grayson always found ways to carve out time for them both. After class, he picked her up from the college and brought her back to the publishing company and spent a few hours going over projects. The best days were when they wentrogue,as she liked to call it, and spent the day by the pool instead of working.
Like a fantasy being played out before her eyes, Grayson dressed in his swim shorts took her in his arms and guided her through the water teaching her how to flip and turn in the water with grace to perform another seamless lap. Golden basked in those stolen moments against the powerful feel of his broad chest as they lay side by side in the shade of the loungers and read new submissions for the journal's writing contest. The intimacy between them was growing but there was still a polite divide that neither one of them seemed to want to cross. Despite each moment deepening her feelings for him doubt crept across her mind like a snake gliding on water.
"Hey, are you coming?" Lydia's voice called out from up ahead. Golden blinked, returning to the present. Today, they were at the beach down in Stardust Cove.
The cove of course was the true focal point of the town but the Coveview Pier was its shining beacon. It was the place where all the teens hung out at night and all the families congregated during the day. The long pier jutting out into the blue water divided the beach from the marina. While most of the citizens of Stardust hung out on the long curving expanse of sandy beach and filled the ocean's edge with playful bodies and swimmersthere were some, mostly people from Stardust Heights, who enjoyed their days cruising the cove in their boats.
Catching up to her friend, Golden's flip-flops slapped across the pavement the entire way. Slowing down next to Lydia, she huffed out a sigh and readjusted her beach bag.
"Lord, it's hot out." Golden wiped her brow underneath her sunhat.
Lydia gave her a smug look and lifted her big bag. "And you said we wouldn't need a tent."
Golden nodded and lifted up both hands. "You're right, you're right. We would definitely cook out here without one."
"So," Lydia purred, stretching out the word. "How is it going with you and mister boss man?"
Golden felt her face heat up under Lydia's overly bright gaze. After that night in Holter, it was easy for Lydia to guess how she felt about Grayson. When they talked and Golden finally admitted to her how she felt about Grayson, Lydia had laughed.
"Girl, I knew back then. Anyone with eyes could see how your whole demeanor changed when Mr. Rosebank came into the room. A visit he purposely made for you, mind you."
Golden had shaken her head at that. "No, he -"
"Golden. You were the only one who didn't see it. Mr. Rosebank was practically feral over you."
"He was just protective. He just saw me as some orphan waif Gaige befriended. You know how he is. He was looking after me."
