“I can’t believe you did it.” Steph drapes her arm around my shoulders as we glance around the completed studio. “You ready for tomorrow night?”
I wrap my arm around her waist. “I really am. Couldn’t have done all this without you, though.”
“Food’s here!” she says walking over to open the door to retrieve our Chinese takeout.
We’ve rolled out a few yoga mats to sit on for our floor picnic. We dish some food onto our plates and dig in.
“So what’s the plan, Steph? Does Glen know you’re planning to quit the bar and manage the studio?” I take a big bite of my veggie lo mein.
“Yup. He was all for it. I promised him I’d help him hire my replacement, though, so he’s not just left hanging.”
“Janelle from my Boulder studio will be out here helping me until you’re here full-time, so no rush. Oh, and I also meant to give this to you earlier.” I lean over and pull a folder out of my bag.
“Here’s the information to get certified,” I say, handing it to her.
“Oh, amazing. Thank you,” she says, flipping through the packet.
Even though she’s been clear about the fact that staying here in Grand Lake forever isn’t her plan because of the situation with her ex-husband Daryl, I still want to give her the chance to find a career she loves. I promised her I’d pay for her certification if she decided she wanted to be an instructor as well.
I look around the space, tears threatening to fall as I think about how hard I’ve worked to get my second studio off the ground at 25, just two days shy of my 26th birthday.
The pop of the champagne bottle Steph opened brings me back to the moment. She pours us each a glass and we lift them in a toast.
“To the soft launch tomorrow night—to another successful studio and your birthday.”
The launch is amazing. The turnout was bigger than expected, we had several people already sign up for memberships, dozens bought class packages, and most importantly, my family made the drive from Boulder to help me celebrate.
I glance around the room, and the whole scene is playing out like a movie. I see my friends and family laughing and smiling, drinking champagne and mingling. My heart feels so full, but as I look around, I can’t ignore the niggling feeling that something is missing.
I pull my phone out of my pocket for the hundredth time, hoping to see a missed call or text from Grant, but still nothing. Only a few texts from friends back in Boulder congratulating me or apologizing for not making it to the launch.
“Sweetheart, your mother and I couldn’t be more proud of you.” My dad hugs me, planting a kiss on the top of my head. I shove the phone back into my pocket and turn to hug him.
“Thank you, Daddy, for everything.”
“Your mother and I are going to head home. You know how she gets nervous on the roads after dark.”
I say goodbye to my parents, and within another hour or so, everyone else. Now it’s just Steph lingering to help me clean up.
“I’d say it was a pretty damn good success,” Steph says, leaning against the door frame of the office.
“Yeah, I agree.” I stand, following her as we walk around and pick up empty cups and bottles.
“I kind of thought that—”She stops mid-sentence and I glance up to see why.
That’s when my eyes land on Grant standing in the entrance with a bouquet of roses in his hands. His hair looks disheveled in the sexy way it always does, a small curl hanging down his forehead over one eye. His smile looks lopsided, like he’s unsure if he should fully commit to it or if I’ll throw him out the moment I see him.
He looks effortlessly seductive, and the dark stubble on his jaw looks a little longer than normal. He drags his eyes deliberately up my body, settling on my lips for a second before meeting my gaze. I’m suddenly very self-aware.
“Hey, Grant,” my words come out uncharacteristically breathy.
“Leigh. Stephanie.” He says our names in a low rumbling voice that instantly has my body in need.
“Hey, Dr. Rossi.” Steph smiles, grabbing the two trash bags after slipping on her jacket. “I’ll just be heading out,” she says, giving me a huge smile out of Grant’s view before ducking out.
“What are you doing here?” I go back to sweeping the floor even though I’ve gone over the same spot about five times.
“Thought I might stop by and get in a workout and tell you congrats and happy early birthday.”
He takes a few steps forward, but I don’t want to look at him. His tone was heavy with innuendo. I do it anyway. I glance to my right, and my eyes land right on his belt buckle. My mouth goes dry and I swallow down the lump that forms. His black dress pants are fitted, sitting just below his waist. His hands are shoved deep in his pockets, stretching the material even tighter across his ample crotch. My mouth salivates, images of his girthy manhood begging to spring free. I jerk my eyes back to the broom, redness blooming on my cheeks.
I feel him behind me as he takes another step closer. He places the flowers on the countertop before reaching around me and grabbing the broom.
“Leigh.” My name on his lips has my stomach doing flips. I can smell his cologne—spicy and rich.
I turn around to face him and my eyes are chest-level. The top two buttons of his Oxford are undone, exposing his tanned olive skin. My tongue darts out instinctively, wetting my lips, which have gone dry.
I’m so close.
So tempted.
All I have to do is reach out a few inches and grab his shirt, pulling him to my lips. But I can’t. I can’t keep putting myself in this position.
“Look at me.” His voice is barely above a whisper. His places the very tip of his finger beneath my chin, lifting slightly till my eyes meet his.
His eyes darken, hungry with need. His hand snakes around my body, pressing against my lower back as he closes the distance between us and his lips devour mine.
I want to resist him but I can’t; I’m completely at his mercy. My mouth opens, allowing his tongue to slide inside and explore. He steps us backward until my back hits the high countertop, snapping me back to reality.
I push against his chest, turning my head to break the kiss and stepping away from him.
“No. No, Grant. You can’t keep playing with my emotions like this.” I shake my head but he reaches out to grab my hand and pulls me back against him. He spins us around, his hands straddling my head as he plants them against the wall behind me.
“Look at me,” he growls. His voice is demanding this time and my eyes snap to his.
“I’m not playing with your emotions, Leigh. I want you.”
18
Grant
She stares up at me, not knowing if she should trust me. I get it, but I’m not playing anymore, and it’s time she finds out just how serious I am.
I run my nose up her neck, stopping to suck her earlobe into my mouth. Her hands shoot out to grab at my chest.
“I know you don’t want to throw something so good away,” I murmur in her ear. “Something so earth-shattering you only experience it once in a lifetime.”
I slide one hand up her neck, wrapping it around her jaw to keep her head still while my other hand slides down her body, over her breasts and stomach until I reach the waistband of her pants.