Chapter Twenty-Three

At best, families were challenging. At worst, they were dangerous. Having Colton Savage for an older brother was challenging on the best days. Still Blaise loved his brother. Which was why he had no problem setting up the guest room for his indefinite stay. He had been able to put up with the years of Colton running the band as if he were a dictator. From the very first backyard party they played, Colton decided where the band would be seen, which interviews they did, when the gigs would happen, and even how much they got paid. As the band’s popularity took off, Colton decided they wouldn’t play other bands’ music. They would play the music Colton wrote.

Colton was a smart businessman and a genius on the guitar, and Blaise had benefited from his brother’s dictatorship. He was tired of being bossed around, though. A man his age should certainly be able to make his own career decisions. He had his own creative needs to fill. He couldn’t walk away from the band. He needed the tour, and even though Colton would never say it out loud, he needed Blaise too. There wasn’t a drummer out there who could copy Blaise’s beats—and no one dumb enough to sit behind Colton’s gigantic ego.

Blaise did have a major problem with his big brother, one that could affect how long he stayed at Blaise’s. Colton’s interest in Grace.

“You have to share the bathroom with Cash.” Blaise tossed the extra pillows at him. “And next time don’t drive down the street making all that noise. You’ll scare the neighbors. I don’t need the sheriff knocking on my door.”

“I was trying to stop you from making a big mistake.”

He’d seen. Blaise was worried about that. “Don’t worry about my mistakes. Worry about your own.” Colton had definitely made his share. A battlefield of scorned women was left around the world, thanks to Colton. He’d even broken the heart of his high school sweetheart, Harley. “I’m going to bed.”

“I thought you were done getting involved with women? Too complicated, you said.”

Blaise leaned against the doorframe. “She isn’t staying. Once her house is done, she’s moving back to New Jersey.”

“So she’s safe, then.”

“I’m not looking to get involved with anyone. She helped me the other day. I was just taking her to dinner to thank her.”

“Looked liked more than that from where I was sitting.”

“Yeah, well, you were sitting on your brains, so what the hell do you know?”

“You were always in love with the idea of love.”

Blaise pushed off the wall. “Who said anything about love? You’re an ass. Good night.” He marched into the hallway.

“So you won’t care, then, if I ask her out?” Colton called after him.

****

Blaise woke to the sound of banging and someone yelling. The sun was already making its way into the sky and bringing with it a trunkful of heat. His wrist hurt from lying on it all night. He tore off the brace and rubbed the skin.

He dragged himself into the kitchen for a strong cup of coffee. He went to the window and pulled back the curtain. Beau stood on Grace’s porch, barking orders. Cash and Jud balanced debris down the steps and tossed them into the almost-full dumpster. Colton came out of the house holding what looked like house plans. He wore a tool belt around his waist.

“That bastard.” Blaise threw on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt he grabbed off the floor. He grabbed the coffee in case he needed something to hit Colton with and marched across the lawn to the construction.

Beau met him halfway. “’Morning, Blaise.”

“Beau.” He sipped the coffee just to have something to do. “Looks like you keep adding to your crew.” Blaise hated to admit it, but Colton was good with his hands. That should be obvious with all the guitar playing, but he could build anything. Colton was like their dad that way. Blaise never took much of an interest. He was sorry now. And there was the little problem of his hand.

“The ladies are fine for demolishing things, but I need some experience to put it back together again. Cash is a quick learner. Not so sure about your nephew. He’s too busy trying to flex his muscles for Miss Grace’s daughter. I spent half the day yesterday swatting him away. I was about to call in some favors, but Colton showed up this morning. I put him right to work. The boy hasn’t forgotten a thing.”

When they were kids, Colton had spent summers working with Beau to make extra money to buy guitars and pedal boards. Blaise preferred cutting grass and planting bushes. He even spent a summer painting houses. But he never built anything except his drum kits.

“Are you going to retire after this?” Blaise tried to do the math quickly. Beau had to be near eighty by now.

“That’s the plan. Jud, knock it off.” Beau marched away, swinging his hand in the air.

There wasn’t a place for him there, but he refused to leave. He’d be underfoot if he went inside, but he wanted to know what Grace was up to. More importantly, he wanted to know what his brother was up to.

A car swung in and parked at the curb. He headed over to the driver’s door. “What are you doing here?” He held the door open for his sister.

Savannah pushed her way out of the car. “Well, rumor has it my big brother is in town. I wanted to see for myself, and I needed Grace’s help with some fundraiser stuff. I know she’s busy with the house, so I thought I’d stop by. What are you up to? How’s the hand?” She yanked a large tote out of the back seat and slung it over her shoulder.

“Healing, I guess. Colton has strapped on his hammer. He’s helping out with the renovation.”

“Are you kidding me? I ask that man to play a few lousy songs at my fundraiser and he says no, but Beau asks him to break a sweat and he can’t say yes fast enough? Colton Thomas.” She shouted from her spot on the curb.

“Someone is shouting my name as if they’re my mother, and I know my mother can’t be here because she’s been gone for many years.” Colton laughed from an open window. “That leaves only one person. I’m still not playing at your fundraiser.”

“He makes me so mad sometimes.” Savannah banged her legs with her clenched fists.

“No kidding.” Blaise took another sip of his coffee.

She shifted her bag on her shoulder and marched up the front walk. “I don’t want you at my fundraiser, you egomaniacal oaf. I have the brother I really like already playing.”

Colton met Savannah at the door, scooped her in his arms, and twirled her around. She yelled something about still being mad at him and pounded his shoulders, but by the time he put her down, they were hugging. She never could stay mad at him.

Where was Grace? Was Colton wielding his charms on her too? Blaise wished he had kissed her, but he’d tried to be a gentleman last night and not rush her. If the red blotches on her neck and cheeks were any indication, she was more than a little nervous with him, and he didn’t want to seem like an overeager teenager. Since he usually jumped first and asked questions later, it took a lot of restraint to keep from tasting her lips. He could still feel the softness of her skin against his rough hands and smell her scent of vanilla and cinnamon. He wanted to drink that scent in, to taste it on her skin, but he hesitated, and now his brother was playing construction man on her house.

His coffee tasted bitter. He dumped the rest on the lawn. He waved to Cash who was dragging large pieces of Sheetrock down the steps. His wave was met with a slight nod and a scowl. Now what? Was Cash mad at him? Or mad at Jud? Or Beau? Just when Blaise started to get a grip on having a seventeen-almost-eighteen-year-old son, the chords changed and no one warned him. Colton bounded down the steps, helped Cash with the plaster, and then showed him the plans. Blaise couldn’t hear what they were saying over the banging that had begun again, but the smile grew on Cash’s face while Colton spoke. His insides heated up like the summer day. When was he going to stop being jealous of his brother?

He marched past them into the house. Grace had to be somewhere. The house’s layout was the flip of his. Her front room was empty except for dust on the floors and spackle on the walls. The kitchen sat to the right and through the dining room. The kitchen walls were new. Jud covered seams with spackle. He wore as much as he scraped on the walls. Blaise could help with that. He had one good hand. Beau was going to need more help, or they’d be here until Christmas finishing this house. Not that he’d mind having Grace around until then.

“Morning, Jud.”

“Hey, Uncle Blaise.”

The hall bathroom was down to the studs. Beau sat on the floor rerouting the plumbing. “Blaise, hand me that wrench, would you?”

Blaise did as he was told. “You need any other help?” He looked over his shoulder for Grace, hoping for a reason to stay.

“I’ll let you know if I do.”

“If you want, I can handle a little spackle.”

Beau unfolded himself from the floor. “It’s about all I can give Jud to do for now. When we’re lifting the heavy stuff, I’ll have him do that and you can step in and be my goffer.” Beau patted him on the shoulder and turned back to the bathroom. “Need to get this finished today, or Miss Grace and Chloe will be using the facilities at your place.”

It looked like they might anyway. “Do you have enough help?”

“I called some of my old guys. They’re coming next week. A final favor for me. We’ll be done by the end of summer, just like Grace wants.”

Blaise went down the hall toward the bedrooms. Hers had two on the left and one on the right, the master with a second bath. She wants to be gone by the end of summer? He’d be on tour by then. He liked the idea of Christmas. Then she’d be here when he got back.

The rooms were empty, so he headed back to the kitchen and out the slider onto the patio. Grace sat with her back to him at a glass table with Savannah and Chloe. He watched for a second without moving. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a ponytail, exposing her slender neck. He wanted to kiss that neck even with his sister watching, but probably not a good idea in front of Chloe. Not that Grace would let him. They hadn’t gotten to the necking yet. He laughed at his own stupid joke.

Grace turned at the muffled sound of his guffaw. Her smile spilled across her face, and her blue eyes lit up. A tightness spread across his low belly. This woman was starting to wreak havoc on him.

Savannah looked from him to Grace before she leaned back in her seat with a smirk. Chloe kept her face in her phone and didn’t even notice him.

“What are you doing here?” Grace stood. “I mean, that didn’t come out right.” She laughed, and her cheeks turned red. She smoothed out the bottom of her shirt. “Hi. We’re talking about the fundraiser. Did you come by to discuss something with Savannah?”

He opened his mouth to say something and realized he didn’t know what to say. What was he doing stalking around the house? He couldn’t help, or better yet Beau didn’t want him to. Everyone had something to do except him, and his excuse for looking around for her died on his lips. “Um, that thing you asked me to do last night. I have an idea that might help. I’ll come back later to discuss it with you.”

Savannah stood and shoved folders into her bag. “I was just leaving. You stay. Grace, I’ll call you. Blaise, tell Cash he needs to be at the library later today, in case I don’t catch him on the way out.” She offered Grace a quick hug and leaned up to give him a kiss on the cheek. “You have that look,” she whispered against his face.

He squinted back at her. She smiled and patted his arm. “Bye, Chloe,” Savannah yelled over her shoulder.

“Chloe,” Beau pushed past as Savannah went inside. “I’ve got something for you to do, love.” He pulled money from his pocket. “Run over to May’s and get me one of those cruller things she makes and another cup of coffee. Ask the blockheads what they want too, but go alone. I don’t want anyone taking a break unless I say so.”

Blaise had never heard Beau use a term of endearment on anyone. Chloe must’ve warmed that old cold heart of his.

“Looks like it’s just us. Do you want to sit? You can tell me what you know.” Grace pulled out a chair for him. “Do you like the patio table? Sady Bucknell was getting rid of it and thought I could use it.”

He sat beside her and stretched out his legs. He took the brace off and rubbed at his wrist. “Sady and Mo are good neighbors. Always helping out.”

“I have neighbors right next door back in Silverside who I’ve never spoken to. Sad. How much longer do you have to wear the brace?”

“A few weeks. Maybe longer. I remembered something last night after I dropped you off.” The thought came to him while he tossed and turned, coming up with ways to keep Colton away from Grace.

She pulled a notebook and pen into her hand and leaned forward with all her attention on him, as if he were a teacher or something. He laughed.

“What?” She wiped at her face. “Do I have something on my nose?”

He leaned closer too and could smell her sweet scent. “Yeah, right here.” He dragged his thumb across her lips, unable to ignore the pull in his belly for much longer. He didn’t think about what he was doing. He leaned in the rest of the way and placed a quick kiss on her lips. She didn’t pull away, and he let the kiss linger. She tasted as sweet as her scent, but unlike anything he ever did, he stopped the kiss. He didn’t want to embarrass her making out with him on the patio while his son and nephew were a few feet away on the other side of that window.

“Oh.” She placed her fingers against her lips. Her cheeks and neck blossomed red. She looked into her lap. “Is that what you wanted to tell me?”

“No.”

She looked back at him. He winked, hoping to ease her nerves. What was this woman like in bed, if a simple kiss got her flustered? She had never been loved the right way. He could tell. He wanted to show her what it was like to let go.

“I remembered Nancy Templeton has a niece, her sister’s daughter. Her name is Claire Phillips. I wasn’t in town when Nancy moved out, but I had heard her niece came and helped her. We could try and find Claire. She might know who Nancy sold to, or if Nancy was already sick, it might be Claire who sold.”

“How do we find Claire Phillips? I don’t want to ask around town.”

“I hear there’s this thing called the internet. We could try using that.”

She gave him a full, rich laugh, like the crescendo of a song. Blaise liked that laugh and the ease that settled over her when she did it. He laughed along with her because it felt good, and being with her felt good. He thought of what Colton said last night about Blaise being in love with love. He was wrong about that. He wasn’t sure if he was ever in love. Not really. He wasn’t feeling that with Grace either. He wasn’t dumb enough to fall in love with a woman who had one foot out of the state already.

If he did fall in love, it would have to be with someone who could stay in Heritage River. This was his only home now and where Cash wanted to live. And probably the only place he could get a job if Colton kicked him out of the band. Which might happen if Blaise continued to insist they play new music.

“Um, Chloe and I were going to get dinner at Jake’s tonight. Would you and Cash like to come along? After dinner we could try and research Claire Phillips.” She stood. “You don’t have to answer now. You can think about it. I really need to get back to helping Beau.”

“Grace, there you are.” Colton appeared in the doorway right on cue. Was he listening? “Beau’s been looking for you.”

“Thanks.” She had to sidestep to get by Colton. She offered him a half smile as she tried to keep from rubbing up against his brother blocking the doorway.

Blaise’s blood cooked.

“Hey, Grace,” Colton called her back. “You and Chloe can’t really have dinner in this house. Why don’t you both come over to our place tonight?”

Our place? Blaise wanted to deck him.

“Thanks, Colton, but Chloe and I have plans. Maybe some other time.” She pressed her lips together and turned away.

Colton messed with the measuring tape on his tool belt. “I’ll get her next time.” He shrugged.

“Why are you so interested in her? She isn’t really your type.”

Colton gazed off in the direction Grace went. “I don’t know. Maybe I like her because she isn’t my type. Time for something different.”

He saw the dare in Colton’s eyes. He wanted Grace simply because he suspected Blaise did.

“What’s with you helping out Beau?” Blaise said. Colton hadn’t mentioned anything about wanting to work while he was here. There had to be a reason.

“The man needs a crew. He can’t expect to build a house with Jud and Cash. The girls aren’t much help. I think he might be losing his mind, taking on this job at his age without the regular guys who work for him. Figured I’d do the right thing. I’m just marking time here anyway.”

It was odd that Beau had agreed to this job without sufficient help. “Don’t take on this job and leave the man standing with his pants down because you’re ready to move on to something else.”

“I don’t plan on spending six months on this job. When it’s time, I have to go. I already told Beau that. He was okay with it.” Colton squinted at him. “You trying to take care of everyone? That’s not like you.”

Savannah usually took care of everyone. She was always the mother hen even when she was little. She would write plays and assign parts and then make herself the director and boss everyone around. Colton would last about an hour before something more interesting caught his attention. Blaise stayed until Savannah said time was up. Even back then, he adored his little sister.

“I’m not taking care of everyone. I’m just trying to make sure the right thing happens with Beau.” Blaise certainly had made enough mistakes in his life. He didn’t want to make any more big ones. “When are we getting back on the road?”

“I don’t know. Maybe Joe can hold those dates, after all. I think I’d like to stick around for a while. Give your hand time to heal. Get Grace to go on that date with me.” Colton turned and went back in the house, leaving Blaise standing in the hot sun, his skin burning from the inside out. Colton didn’t mean that. There was no way on earth he would postpone that tour for a woman. Never happen.

Grace stuck her head back out the door. “Oh, good. You’re still here.” She met him on the lawn. Plaster dust coated her cheeks. She looked like a teenager in her sweat shorts and loose T-shirt with her hair pulled back and no makeup on.

He was starting to notice too many things about this woman, and yet he didn’t want to stop. “I was just about to walk around to the front. You guys are pretty busy today.”

“Thanks for coming up with the Claire Phillips idea. That might be the big break I’m looking for. If you want, I can look her up myself. I still have Wi-Fi here, even if most of my rooms have turned to rubble.” She looked down at her hands, then back up at him, the light in her blue eyes bright. “I’m sorry. I’m rambling.”

“It’s fine. I like it.”

“My offer for dinner still stands.” Grace glanced over her shoulder. “Your brother is welcome to come too, if he’d like.”

Maybe Blaise could smack Colton over the head with a hammer first. “I’ll ask him.”