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Grayson
With each property I had stopped at that morning, I thought about Michelle. About how she could bring comfort to these people as they rejoiced in this newfound property Anton had gifted them with. They threw their arms around me and cried into my shoulder, and I dipped into a well of emotion I hadn’t touched in years. Michelle was better at that kind of shit than I was. She was better at empathizing with people than I was. And as each stop in the county rolled by, I looked over at the empty passenger seat and wished she was there.
In fact, I couldn’t stop thinking about her at all. Not for one damn minute. The closer I got to the last property, the more I didn’t want to leave. The closer I inched to flying home, the more I wanted to go back to that house, take Michelle in my arms.
My desire to leave Illinois without her was nonexistent, so after delivering the good news to Anton’s last piece of property he owned, I headed back to Stillsville.
“Mr. MacDonald! Why are you calling? Are you on a plane? Please tell me you’re on a plane,” Maria said.
“I’m going to give you a great big bonus for this,” I said.
“You’re not on a plane, are you?” she said.
“I am not. I’ll be staying in Stillsville longer than planned.”
“Has something happened with the estate?”
“There’s a certain aspect of it that hasn’t been settled to my satisfaction,” I said. “I’ll have to stay until at least the end of the week.”
“Well then, I need to get off here and make some calls. Though I can’t guarantee these men will be free. I might play phone tag with them for another two months.”
“You tell them that if they want their business forever changed by my product, that they’ll make the time. I’m Grayson MacDonald, and not only the support of the NFL comes with me, but the influence of my vineyard comes as well. They won’t be yanking your chain any longer, and if they don’t want to reschedule, then you tell them the deal is off.”
“Yes, sir. I can do that. Anything else?”
“Keep an eye out on things for me at the vineyard.”
“You know I always do. I’ll stop by and make sure things are running smoothly,” she said. “Now, what’s going on out there, Grayson?”
I drew in a deep breath as I sped down country backroads.
Maria had been my personal assistant for years. She was older. An immigrant. Taking care of two children after their father was killed trying to migrate into the country across the border. And in a lot of ways, she became my own mother. She replaced the mother that had abandoned me as a teenager and stepped in to bestow wisdom whenever she saw fit. Her youthful attitude always added wit to our bantering back and forth, but when she used my full name I knew she had switched gears.
I was no longer talking to my personal assistant.
I was talking to my godmother.
“There’s something out here that’s become very important to me, and it came into my life because of Anton. I have to make sure every part of his estate is settled, that piece included,” I said. “I still have things to do out here, Maria.”
“Where are you staying?” she asked.
“My old home. Anton’s home.”
“What all has been done with his estate so far?”
“I’ve been dividing it up and giving it away to the people he’s willed it to. Property. Gifts. Things stowed away in the attic.”
Flashes of Michelle crashed into my mind as I turned down the main road that led into Stillsville.
“Grayson, you’re hiding something from me. Come on. Tell me what’s going on,” Maria said.
I chuckled as I weaved through town, passing by the local gift shop. It wasn’t an actual gift shop, but everyone in town called it that. The place had all sorts of things, from antique jewelry to fresh flowers to those waxy, disgusting chocolates. I pulled into a free parking space and parked my car, then shut off the engine as I drew in a deep breath.
“You’re my assistant, not my mother. Remember?” I asked.
“And as your assistant, I need to be kept up to date on any developments involving you that alter the way I do my job.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t pull the age card.”
“I haven’t tossed it out the window yet.”
“I’ve always enjoyed that fire in you, Maria. It’s inspiring.”
“Compliments won’t get you out of answering the question,” she said.
I leaned back into my seat and closed my eyes, preparing myself for the story.
“You know Anton’s my godfather,” I said.
“I do.”
“Well, when I got into town, I found out that he had employed someone to keep up his property. She continued after he found himself in the nursing home. A young woman by the name of Michelle.”
“And what does this young woman have to do with anything?” she asked.
“Everything,” I said with a sigh. “She’s incredible, Maria. Level-headed. Down to earth. Grieving Anton the same way I am. In a lot of ways, Anton took her in when she needed it the most. Like he did me. And there’s this draw I can’t shake. This pull towards her I can’t rid myself of. But she’s not in a good place right now. She has no job now that Anton’s passed, and I get the distinct feeling that she’s homeless.”
“Oh my gosh, Grayson.”
“She meant something to Anton, and he meant something to her. And she means something to me, I just don’t know what yet. But I can’t leave her like this. It feels—wrong.”
“Then you have to pursue it,” Maria said. “Whatever becomes of it, you have to at least make sure she’s okay before you come home.”
“But I don’t even really know her, Maria. What’s going on with me?”
“It’s Anton,” she said. “You had a kindred spirit with him, and he had one with her. So, by association, you also have a kindred spirit with her.”
I finally got out of my car and started into the shop.
“You’ve always gone with your gut, Grayson. And it’s never led you astray. Don’t change that now simply because you don’t understand all the things in play right now,” Maria said. “If your gut is telling her she’s the one, then go for it.”
“Wait, what? I never said that,” I said. “We’ve only gotten to know one another a tiny bit over the past few days.”
It was Maria’s turn to laugh as I started up and down the aisles of the dusty old shop.
“If I know you, Grayson MacDonald, I know you know her in a biblical sense at this point. So if the pull is that strong and you’re actually talking about staying longer, then I think you should pursue it.”
“All right. Enough with this conversation,” I said. “Get the meeting rescheduled, check up on the vineyard, and I’ll talk to you later.”
She laughed through the phone as I hung up on her. I bit down onto the inside of my cheek as I walked around the shop. My eyes swept across a box of sweets that didn’t look as if they would suck royally. Not the waxy chocolate, but not the kind I would usually bring a woman either. But it would have to do in this decrepit town. I picked up the chocolate and paid for it, then headed back to my car.
I sped all the way back to Anton’s before I barged in through the front door.
“Michelle!”
I shut the door behind me as the darkness of the house settled onto my body.
“Michelle, are you still here?”
Panic wafted through my veins as the house stood still. At the very least, I still needed to pay her for her time. Had she already packed up and left?
“Michelle!”
“What is it?”
My head whipped over to where the voice came from and I saw her emerge from the darkness. Relief flooded my veins as I grinned at her, watching her tired eyes come into view. I swept my gaze over her body. She looked exhausted. Haggard even. Like she could slump against a wall and fall asleep at any second. Her eyes looked down at the chocolates in my hand as I walked towards her, my hand rising to cup her cheek.
“Want some cocoa?” I asked.
She furrowed her brow, but allowed me the opportunity to lead her into the kitchen. I set the box of chocolates in front of her at the kitchen table, then started pulling out ingredients to make us both a mug. I stirred the milk and added the condensed milk, then dumped the cocoa in and stirred. I stole a glance over my shoulder every once in a while, and every single time I found her eyeing me with curiosity.
“Are you all packed and ready to leave?” Michelle asked.
I placed a mug of cocoa in front of her before I sat down beside her, taking a sip of the decadent drink.
“When does your flight leave?” she asked.
I waved my hand in the air, discarding the question as I studied her beautiful green eyes.
“Have you booked a ticket yet?” she asked.
“I’m playing it by ear for now,” I said.
“I don’t understand.”
“Drink up. And yes, those chocolates are for you. I figured you might enjoy them.”
“Chocolate with chocolate. Did you do something wrong I haven’t figured out yet?” she asked.
I grinned at her and took another sip of my drink as she unwrapped the box and plucked a chocolate from its cradle. The silence that hung between us was thick, and I used the time to rake my eyes along her beautiful edges. It felt right, being next to her. It felt good, being encompassed by her heat. Her eyes looked over at me from time to time as she sipped on her cocoa, moaning with every touch the liquid made to her lips.
Fuck. I really enjoyed those sounds of hers.
“Look, about what happened yesterday,” Michelle said.
“What happened was wonderful, and I don’t regret a thing,” I said.
Her eyes whipped over to me as they widened with shock. It made me sick to think that I could have given her the impression that I did.
“You don’t?” she asked.
“I don’t. In fact, I wouldn’t mind doing it again.”
“But aren’t you leaving?”
I set my mug down and settled my hand onto her bare knee. The contact alone was enough to flush her cheeks, and I watched her cheeks stain with that beautiful color as my thumb stroked her skin.
“I’ve postponed my trip,” I said. “So I’m not leaving tonight. And before you ask, if you want to stay you’re more than welcome to.”
Her jaw stopped chewing and I watched her throat bob as she swallowed. Her eyes danced along my face as she turned towards me, her beautiful curves cocked in my direction. I slid my knees between hers, feeling her body cradle my etched lines within her pliable curves. I smoothed both of my hands along her bare knees, rubbing my thumbs along her soft, sensitive skin.
And I knew by the way excitement washed over my body that I had made the right choice.
