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“I wonder what it would be like to work in an art gallery – with Parker.” Tanya swiveled her gaze to Grace.
“Pardon?” Grace blinked. She’d just been wrapped up in reliving Sam’s kiss – his firm, sensual lips on hers, when she’d noticed Tanya looking at her.
Amusement danced across Tanya’s face. “I said, I wonder what it would be like to work with Parker – in an art gallery.” She giggled. “But maybe I should ask you what it was like to work there with Sam instead.”
Grace’s cheeks heated.
“He wasn’t there much,” she told her.
Tanya glanced around the empty store. “Why isn’t Sam here today?”
“He had to go back to Seattle.”
“Parker told me about the exhibition they’re holding next week. It sounds fun.”
“That’s one way of looking at it,” Grace replied. Yes, some of the exhibitions had been “fun” when everything had run smoothly, but others had seemed to have one problem after another, until the opening night, when all the hitches were usually resolved at the last moment.
“Is Sam coming back – here?” Tanya asked.
“Maybe,” Grace replied, fidgeting with the pen she held. Yesterday afternoon, Sam had told her he would – he’d even made it sound like a vow – but would he really be able to? Would he still want to? She thought once more of all the times she’d seen his photo in the paper at one of the fancy events he’d attended, a glamorous woman on his arm. He might have said that those events bored him, but wouldn’t he find Spring River Bend and staying on the ranch even more boring? The fanciest event here, apart from the farmers’ market at the town square, was when the local wine bar had a ladies’ night.
“I bet he is.” Tanya grinned, then she became thoughtful. “I wonder if Parker will come here again?”
“He’s got the gallery to run,” Grace told her.
“I know. We’ve been talking on the phone every day.”
“You have?” Grace stared at her. When Tanya and Parker had gone for coffee the other day, she hadn’t expected the two of them to stay in touch now they were in separate states.
“Uh huh.” A small smile tilted her lips. “I’d love to visit Seattle one day.”
“Then you’d better start saving.”
“Uh-huh.” Tanya nodded. “Tell me what it was like working with Parker.”
Grace highlighted Parker’s good points, making light of the mundane jobs she’d had to do as his assistant. Parker was a pretty good guy overall but she didn’t want to see Tanya get hurt.
“It sounds like fun,” Tanya enthused. “Not that working here isn’t fun,” she added hastily.
“This is your first day.” Grace checked her watch. “You’ve only been working here for two hours.”
“And I love it already.” Tanya beamed.
The day passed more quickly than Grace would have imagined that morning when she woke up and realized Sam was gone – back to Seattle and his old life.
But when she returned to the ranch that evening, she couldn’t deny the disappointment in her heart when she realized she hadn’t heard from Sam all day. Not even a text.
But why would he keep in contact with her? He probably didn’t even have time for lunch, if his assistant had left him so suddenly.
Why would he text her? To say he was so busy he’d skipped lunch? A giggle threatened to burst out of her lips at the ridiculous thought.
The only thing she should do right now was concentrate on the bookshop – nothing else. If Sam did return next week, she’d deal with his reappearance then.
But if he didn’t come back, she’d deal with that too. After all, until a few days ago she hadn’t seen him for one year and seven weeks (including the time he’d spent out of the country before she’d moved to the ranch)h and she’d coped. She could do that again – she had to do that again. Because the alternative was being a drooping shadow of herself – maybe forever.
***
Exactly one week later, Sam came back to Spring River Bend. Not that she’d been counting the days, Grace told herself. A thrill ran through her at the thought that he’d returned, just as he said he would.
His tall frame appeared in the glass door of the bookshop, then the door jangled as he entered.
“Grace.” He nodded to her.
“Sam.” She returned his nod.
Why were they being so formal with each other? Had he forgotten he’d kissed her?
She hadn’t heard from him at all since he’d flown back to Seattle, apart from a check in the mail for his stay in their bed and breakfast cabin. The amount he’d paid was more than they charged their guests. She wouldn’t have charged him at all.
In fact, she’d resigned herself to the inevitable – that he’d forgotten all about her and had resumed his sophisticated city life.
“Was the exhibition a success?” She cleared her throat.
He smiled, and her heart melted. Why did he have the power to make her feel feminine and tingly all over, just by smiling at her? It wasn’t fair.
“It was one of our most successful – because of you.” He looked at her with quiet intensity.
“Me?” She crinkled her brow.
“Emmett’s centerpiece sold on the night, and so did most of his other paintings. One of the critics said he thought it was Emmett’s most important work. And that’s because of you, Grace.”
Her cheeks flamed.
“I didn’t do much,” she protested.
“You did more than Parker or I could do,” he countered.
“It was fun visiting Emmett,” she murmured, not sure what else to say. She wanted to ask Sam why he hadn’t contacted her in the last week, but couldn’t.
She supposed, if she’d been brave enough, she could have contacted him. But she didn’t want to bother him if he was occupied with business – and, she couldn’t deny, the thought had occurred to her that maybe someone else might answer his phone – a woman.
When he’d returned to Seattle, she’d realized he hadn’t told her if he was single. He hadn’t given the impression he was seeing anyone but guys were pretty much a mystery to her.
“How’s the store going?” He scanned the space, as if expecting to see customers jump out from behind the bookshelves.
“Okay.” She shrugged. “Business has picked up a little and Tanya’s working out well.” In fact, Tanya had urged her friends to check out the cute bookmarks as well as all the books, and since taking over, Grace had made a nice profit.
“You know Parker and Tanya are still in contact, don’t you?” He quirked an eyebrow.
“Yes.” Tanya had just told her yesterday that she’d booked a weekend flight to Seattle for next week, bubbling over with excitement. “I just hope she doesn’t get hurt.”
“So do I.” Sam’s expression grew concerned. “But Tanya could be exactly what he needs.”
“You think so?” She hoped her voice didn’t sound doubtful.
“I guess time will tell.”
“I guess,” she echoed.
Grace shifted her feet. Was it just her, or was this awkward?
All she wanted to do was gaze at his face, catalog every feature, and fill her senses with his spicy citrus scent and the attractive male timbre of his voice. But if she stared at him much longer, he would think she was crazy.
“Oh!” She reached under the counter and pulled out a paperback. “You left this here last week.” It was the book he’d bought and had been reading when he’d received the urgent phone call from his assistant.
“Thanks.” His fingers grazed hers as he took it from her.
Electricity rippled through her arm at the contact.
A hint of crimson stained his cheekbones. “I’m going to need a place to stay while I’m here – is one of your B & B cabins vacant?”
She bit her lip as she stared at him. Last week, she’d anxiously looked at the bookings, wondering if he’d want to stay on the ranch if he came back. And until yesterday there had been a vacancy for this week. But last night Harriet had taken a booking for the one vacant cabin for the next four nights.
“We’re fully booked.” She shook her head regretfully.
Disappointment creased his face, which he swiftly masked.
“No problem. I’ll find a hotel in Billings.”
She nodded, knowing she couldn’t ask him to stay in the farmhouse – with her – alone. Unless one of her sisters thought it their duty to play chaperone.
“You don’t have any other artists you want me to talk to?” she blurted out. She’d asked him this question before, which he’d denied, but Sam coming back to Spring River Bend just to see her – in a romantic sense – just seemed too fantastic.
“No.” A glimmer of amusement reached his eyes. “I’m here because I wanted to see you – no other reason.”
Now it was her turn to blush – again. Silently cursing her fair skin, she waited for him to say something else. She hadn’t expected it to be:
“Hell.” He leaned across the counter and captured her lips.
This was becoming a habit, Grace thought, and then she was kissing him back, her mind total mush.
***
After kissing her senseless, Sam departed, telling her he’d take her to the wine bar for dinner that evening.
Just as well she didn’t have any other plans, she thought wryly, staring after him as he strode across the square to a shop that had become vacant a few weeks ago.
Because if she had, she knew she’d cancel them in a heartbeat, just to spend time with Sam.
She watched him walk inside the empty store. That was strange. What was he doing in there? He hadn’t mentioned anything about it to her.
But why would he?
Why wouldn’t he?
Grace frowned. He’d kissed her twice and they were going on a date tonight – their first date. She didn’t consider the day they visited Emmett in Wyoming a date – that was a work thing – even though she no longer worked for Sam.
But – if they were dating now – why hadn’t he mentioned he had some interest in a business on the other side of the square?
She pondered the question all afternoon, until finally at five o’clock, she breathed a sigh of relief as she locked up for the night. Tanya wasn’t working today, which she was grateful for. She was sure the other girl would have noticed her pre-occupied air and would have been curious as to what had caused it.
And right now, Grace preferred to keep her thoughts – and longings – about Sam to herself.
She drove home, took a shower, and then stared at her closet. What could she wear tonight? There was no sign of Harriet, and Tess spent most of her time with her husband Garth in their log mansion on another part of the ranch. She hadn’t even had a chance to tell them she was having dinner with Sam tonight! It was just Grace – and a closet full of clothes, none of which seemed just right.
She finally decided on a pastel blue dress with cap sleeves and a floaty skirt, and took her time with her hair, even getting out the curling wand and putting in a few loose waves. By the time she’d finished, she was satisfied with the pretty but natural effect she’d achieved, despite her shaking hand.
Sam said he would pick her up at the ranch at seven. Grace looked at her watch – she had fifteen minutes to go.
When he arrived, she was a bundle of nerves.
The question came back to her though, when he stood before her on the doorstep, looking sexily handsome in charcoal slacks, a matching blazer, and a white shirt. Why had he entered the vacant shop on the other side of the square?
“Hi,” she said, hoping she didn’t sound breathless. She still couldn’t quite believe that he’d invited her to dinner.
“Hi.” He smiled at her, his brown eyes crinkling at the corners. It was so unfair that when he did that she just turned to jelly.
“I’ll just get my purse.” She fled to the living room where she’d placed her handbag on the sofa. Breathe, she ordered herself.
Trying to regain her composure, she headed back to the front door.
“All set.”
Sam ushered her into his sleek, black SUV that looked exactly the same as the one he’d rented the first time he’d arrived in Spring River Bend. As they drove out of the gate, her sister Harriet drove in. Grace waved to her sister, noting Harriet’s surprised, then pleased expression as their vehicles passed.
Sam chatted to her about the bookshop on the way to Spring River Bend, Grace realizing he was asking her all the questions, and seemed to be listening to her answers.
But what she really wanted to talk about was what he’d been doing all afternoon – on the other side of the town square.
Once they were seated at the wine bar, Grace took a deep breath. “Did you do anything interesting this afternoon?” She put down her menu so she could look at him full in the face.
He hesitated. “I was going to tell you later, but I might as well talk about it now. There’s an empty storefront for rent opposite your bookshop.”
She nodded.
“I noticed it just before I had to fly back to Seattle, but didn’t have time to do anything about it until now.”
His mention of Seattle reminded her of why he’d returned there.
“How’s your assistant? Did her daughter have the baby?”
“Yes.” He smiled. “A six-pound girl. They’re both fine, and my assistant has come back to the office.”
“That’s great.” She returned his smile, then finally realized he hadn’t fully answered her question. Clearing her throat, she asked, “About the storefront?”
“Right.” He blinked, appearing to refocus on her question. “Yeah. I thought I might do something with the space.”
“Like what?” she asked curiously.
“Don’t worry,” he said reassuringly, “I’m not opening a bookstore. I wouldn’t compete with you.”
“That’s good.” She gave him a relieved smile. There was no way a town the size of Spring River Bend could support two bookshops.
But had she really thought he’d set up a competing business?
The problem was, although she’d sighed over him for the last three years, she didn’t know him very well – yet. She wondered if tonight would begin to change that.
“So what are you doing with the space?” She couldn’t help asking.
A smile edged the corner of his mouth. “I’m still working on it. But once I decide what to do, you’ll be the first person I tell.”
Pleasure quickened inside her at his words. Before she could say anything though, the waitress came and took their orders.
After they shared a plate of stuffed mushrooms, and received their entrees of steak, salad and baked potato for Sam, and Hawaiian chicken for Grace, he steered the conversation to Grace’s plans for the future of the bookshop.
That was a subject she liked talking about, and she only realized after they’d finished their coffee – both too satisfied for dessert – that he was looking at her with a tender expression on his face.
“What?” She asked softly. She didn’t have a food smudge on her face, did she? That would be so embarrassing.
“Nothing,” he murmured. “I just like hearing you talk.”
“Oh.” Her feelings for him deepened. Usually she was shy and quiet – she’d been that way all her life – until she was comfortable talking about a subject she was knowledgeable or enthusiastic about.
When they finally left the wine bar, it was late.
Sam checked his watch. “I’m going to take you home, Grace Lockhart. Then drive back to my hotel.”
She nodded, thinking with a pang how much easier it would be if he was staying at one of their B & B cabins – or in the farmhouse – with her – in her bed. But she wasn’t ready for that – she didn’t know if their fledgling relationship or whatever it was – was ready for that. And she wasn’t a one night stand kind of girl, no matter how many nights she’d eventually drifted off to sleep, imagining herself in Sam’s strong arms, being kissed and caressed to the point of exquisite torture.
Sam’s headlights broke up the inky night as they drove back to the ranch.
Would Harriet be at the farmhouse tonight? Or would she be spending the night with her fiancé Coop as she usually did?
Grace hoped that if Sam kissed her goodnight, her sister, if she was around, would give her some privacy.
When they reached the farmhouse, the place was quiet. The two B & B cabins were occupied, and it looked like the guests were tucked up inside, their cars parked next to the cabins and no lights showing in the little cottages.
The yellow glow from the porch light shone, inviting one to sit and relax on the pink floral swing.
Sam pulled up next to the porch and turned off the engine. It was suddenly very quiet inside the confines of the vehicle.
“Thank you,” Grace murmured, shy in his presence once more. She hadn’t felt that way when she’d been telling him of her future plans for the bookstore at dinner.
“Thank you,” he returned, his voice serious. After a moment, he added, “I’ll walk you up.”
Before she could say anything, he was out of the car and opening her door. She smiled at him and together they walked up the porch steps, one of the treads creaking.
“You should get that fixed.” He frowned.
“It’s on the to-do list,” she told him.
“Hmm,” he uttered.
Once they stood at the front door, Grace opened her purse and fished inside for her keys.
They clinked in her hand as she clutched them tightly.
“Thank you,” she repeated, turning her face up to his. Immediately she knew it was a mistake. She felt hot and cold all over at the tenderness, desire, and passion etched on his face.
“Grace,” he murmured, threading his fingers through her hair.
With a small sigh, she parted her lips, knowing she would die if he didn’t kiss her right now.
He didn’t disappoint her.
His lips teased and tormented her, until she didn’t know where she was – she just knew she was right where she wanted to be, in Sam’s arms.
Her fingers grazed the nape of his neck as the kiss continued, slowly growing hotter and heavier, until she knew that very soon she would have to take a breath. Because if she didn’t, she was sure she would spontaneously combust.
“Ahem.”
Grace barely heard the polite cough, intent on the feel of Sam’s lips on hers.
“AHEM!”
This time there was no mistaking the noise – a much louder fake cough.
The porch light flickered on and off a few times – Grace could sense it behind her closed eyelids.
Reluctantly, she opened her eyes.
She was still snuggled in Sam’s arms, but in her peripheral vision she caught a glimpse of Harriet with a humorous look on her face, standing in the glow of the porch light.
“Why don’t I give you two a few moments alone.” Harriet grinned and went back inside the house, pushing the front door over, but leaving it ajar.
“She’s right,” Sam said gruffly, slowing loosening his arms around her.
“Is she?” Grace said softly, wondering at her daring. But she didn’t want Sam to go back to his lonely hotel room – she wanted him here, with her.
“Yeah.” He cleared his throat and took a step back from her, as if resisting temptation to draw her into his arms once more. “It’s late. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He looked at her regretfully, then strode down the porch steps to his vehicle.
Grace stood there, watching him drive off, feeling bereft.
“Sorry.” Harriet’s head popped around the door. She looked contrite. “But I wasn’t sure how long you wanted to stay out here with him – and I believe you did something similar a couple of months ago with me and Coop.”
“Did I?” Grace said vaguely, reliving the feel of Sam’s lips on hers.
“Yep.” Harriet nodded. “I thought I’d sleep here tonight – Coop has to get up extra early tomorrow – and thought you might want the company.” She suddenly looked unsure of herself. “But maybe I shouldn’t have interfered. You might have wanted the house to yourself tonight.”
“No, it’s okay.” Grace touched her sister’s arm. “I know you were only looking out for me.”
“I promise I won’t interfere again,” Harriet vowed. “Unless you want me to.”
“Deal.”
They smiled at each other, then Harriet urged her inside the house. “Let’s have something to drink and you can tell me all about your date.”
