I Wish (24 page)

“I’m all yours.”

It didn’t take long to notice the effect we had as we strolled onto the gym floor. Every pair of female eyes watched him pass. Grant all dressed up was an astonishing sight, and he was with me. For this evening, I would be stared at and talked about. I didn’t mind at all.

The music changed to something more Latin and dreamy. I hesitated. “Do you know how to rumba?”

“I do.”

“Are you any good?”

He smiled. “I am. Quite good.” He took me into his arms, one hand warm and sure against the bare skin of my back. I closed my eyes and drank in his scent, pine-soap freshness mixing with the spicy cologne clinging to my stepfather’s jacket.

This was heavenly. I relaxed against his body and lost myself to the music and the feeling of complete joy.

“Lacey? Are you all right?” Grant asked.

I nodded, too happy to even speak. I loved dancing with him. It felt so safe and sweet.

“May I ask your thoughts?”

“I’m glad you came with me tonight.”

The muscles in his shoulders bunched. “Gratitude is not what I want.”

I quivered at the intensity in his voice. Tilting my head back, I met his gaze squarely. “Gratitude is not what I’m feeling.”

Awareness shimmered between us. We stopped moving and stood there—absorbing each other, breathing in rhythm.

Kimberley’s voice doused me like an icy shower. “Lacey, let’s trade partners.”

“No.” I didn’t want to trade partners. I wanted to stay in the circle of Grant’s arms and explore what was happening between us. I looked at him to see if he agreed, but his expression had turned smoothly neutral.

She either hadn’t heard me or didn’t care, because there they were, standing next to us, smiling expectantly.

“Here, Grant,” she said, holding out her arms.

We exchanged partners.

While they blended into the swaying mass around us, Eli and I stood still, eying each other carefully. The dim light of the gym gave his hazel eyes a golden sheen. I hoped someone got photos of him with Kimberley, because he looked as hot as she did.

If it had been any other day, I would have looked up at him in mute wonder at the thought of dancing with Eli Harper. Instead, I was on my first date with Grant, I wore a gorgeous dress, and I looked amazing. Confidence hummed through my veins. After closing the distance between us, I linked my fingers behind his neck. His hands came to rest lightly at my waist.

He moved stiffly.

“Is there something wrong, Eli?”

“No, just trying to be careful with my knee.”

“Are you tired? Do you want to stop?”

“No, we’re good.” His arms tightened.

It was my turn to be stiff as I tried hard not to bump him.

“You’re okay, Lacey. You’re not going to hurt me.”

I tried to match his steps, but it wasn’t easy. He wasn’t as graceful as Grant. Or maybe it was the brace. “So you found a date.”

“She found me.” He stared over my shoulder. “Apparently, dances
are
your thing.”

He remembered my comment from the cafeteria. That was interesting. “I changed my mind because Kimberley didn’t want to come alone.”

“Oh, yeah?” His gaze met mine. “What about Grant?”

“I invited him fifteen minutes before you picked us up.”

Eli smirked. “He works fast.”

I looked away. Wow. I was going to let that statement pass. “So, when did she ask you out?”

“This morning. She told me that I was her second choice and Sean was her first.”

I didn’t know whether to groan or laugh. “Technically,
I
was the first.”

“Third choice, then.”

When I checked his expression, he seemed more amused than upset.

“It’s okay, Lacey. I don’t mind.” He shifted me closer and laid his cheek against my hair.

I relaxed, glad to be back to our uncomplicated friendship, and enjoyed the song.

A girl shrieked nearby. I glanced over Eli’s shoulder in time to see another couple teetering toward us, a tangle of arms and legs. Both went down at our feet. The girl’s elbow jabbed into Eli’s left leg.

I hardly had sufficient time to prepare, but Eli had no warning at all. He staggered forward, falling into me.

“Oops,” the other girl said with a wave. Her date had already stood and was yanking her into a clinch.

I was more concerned about Eli. His eyes were closed, his lips pinched.

“Did she hurt you?” I asked.

“She got my knee,” he said through gritted teeth.

Crap. I slid my arms around his waist. “Lean on me.”

As he shifted his weight, he hissed pained breaths, in and out. Around us, the dance ended and some couples began to drift away.

“Do you want to sit down?”

A jerky nod.

I rubbed my wrist tattoo and then edged slowly around to Eli’s side. “Drop your arm across my shoulders. We won’t walk until you say.”

“I’m good.”

We took a lurching step toward the side of the gym. Grant materialized at his other side, gave an assessing glance, and pitched in. When we reached the bleachers, we eased Eli down. He stared straight ahead with glazed eyes.

Grant leaned close to be heard over the noise. “What do you need?”

“Ice,” Eli said in a tight voice.

Grant beckoned to Kimberley. “Can you make an ice pack?”

Her eyes widened warily. “I think so. What exactly do I do?”

“Locate a plastic bag or a paper towel. Fill it with ice.”

Her face scrunched with the effort to concentrate. “Where will I get ice and paper towels?”

“I saw some bottled water in the far corner. You should be able to find ice there. You can retrieve paper towels from the bathroom. Wrap the ice securely in the towels and—”

“Stop. Just stop.” When she turned to me, her face had a haunted look to it. “I can’t do it, Lacey. I want to help, but I can’t keep up.”

“Don’t worry.” I rested a reassuring hand on her shoulder. She was trembling. “I’ve got this.”

“I’m sorry. It’s too much—”

“You can help right here with Eli.” I spun her around gently and nudged her over to the bottom bleacher. “Talk to him. It’ll take his mind off the pain.” Once she had settled, I threw a
don’t ask
look at Grant and took off to find the ingredients for an impromptu ice pack.

It didn’t take long for the ice to work. We could see the tension fade from Eli’s face.

“It’s better, thanks,” he said.

Kimberley laid a light hand on his shoulder. “Do you want to leave?”

“That’d be great, if you don’t mind.”

“I don’t.” She rose.

Holding hands, they inched around the edge of the gym. Grant and I followed, unable to talk over the deafening blend of music, laughter, and one hundred pairs of heels hammering the floor.

I fetched the car while the other three waited by the gym doors. Grant helped Kimberley into the passenger side while Eli insisted that he could drive. “My right leg is fine.”

Before I could slide out of the driver’s seat, Kimberley tapped my arm. “Do you want a ride home now? You don’t have to. My mom could come back and get you later.”

“Not necessary. I think Grant and I will stay a little bit longer, and then we can walk home.”

A minute later, Eli and Kimberley were on their way, and Grant and I were alone in the parking lot.

Finally, I could have him all to myself on the dance floor. Eagerly, I tucked my hand into his arm. “Ready?”

“As you wish.”

His voice sounded weary. I studied his expression. In the faint glow of the streetlights, his face seemed strained. “Is there something wrong?”

“The noise in there…” His voice trailed away.

“Is it too much for your senses?” At his nod, I gave his elbow a squeeze. “Why didn’t you say something?”

His lips curved slightly. “I am now.”

“Let’s go.”

The walk home through the silent streets of Magnolia Grove was way lovelier than the dance would’ve been. I took off my shoes and tiptoed through the cool grass of the lawns, pointing out historic houses and award-winning gardens.

It was late by the time we reached my neighborhood. “I don’t want the evening to end. I’ve had so much fun.”

He laughed. “A sentiment I share.”

“Oh, please, Grant,” I said, smiling up at him. “Could you for once drop the British royalty act and lighten up?”

“It is my understanding that American girls admire a British accent.”

“The accent, yes. The aristocratic vocabulary, no.”

The house was dark as we strolled up the driveway. He paused while I unlocked the front door, then said a quiet goodnight and started down the steps.

“Wait.” I wasn’t sure what got into me, but I didn’t want him to leave. “Stay a little longer.”

At his nod, we dropped onto the porch swing. I leaned against his shoulder, linked my fingers through his, and rocked in the dark. Scenes from the dance replayed through my mind, like a slide show. Fading in. Fading out. Eli laughing with one of his soccer mates. Sara on the dance floor, wrapped around the captain of the basketball team. Kimberley hugging Sean as we were leaving, his deep brown jacket a cool contrast to her slippery gold.

It’d been too long since I’d had such a good time.

There was so much to thank Grant for, and there wasn’t much time left to say it. “What happens to you once my assignment is done?”

“You have to make me available to someone else.”

Instant goose bumps. I straightened to see him better. Was I supposed to discard him like a worn-out piece of junk? “How do I do that?”

“Sell the music box.”

Didn’t like that either. “Why the music box?”

“It’s my home.”

I loved the music box too. It brought us together. “Is it part of the magic, or do you just like living there?”

A long pause. “I am not tied to the music box.”

I studied his profile. It came in sharp relief against the blue-gray glow of the moonlit night. Sheer perfection. “May I
give
you away?”

He turned to look at me, his face half in the shadows. “Indeed, although my boss would have to approve the next case in order for me to reveal myself.”

“Would he approve my mother?” I asked in a hopeful rush.

Grant shook his head. “We’re allowed only one month per household. This is the first time I’ve ever regretted that rule.”

I caught my breath. We were so alone. So isolated. How could I be talking about our goodbyes with such calm—as if he didn’t matter to me? Because he did. Too much.

Tonight had been like a real date. Laughing, talking, dancing, holding hands. When my gaze dropped to his mouth, I sighed. How would it feel…?

“I wish you would kiss me,” I said, the words so soft that maybe I could pretend later I hadn’t said them at all.

The look on his face was inscrutable. What was he thinking? Did he pity me? Did he feel obligated?

His arm slid along the back of the swing, drawing him nearer. He hesitated.

Why had he stopped? Our mouths were tantalizingly close. Did he think I would change my mind? Not going to happen. I closed the gap.

His lips moved over mine, firm and sweet. I pressed closer, wanting more. He deepened the kiss, his fingers cupping the base of my head gently.

Shivery sensations raced throughout my body. I didn’t want the kiss to end.

He pulled away first, his breathing ragged.

It wasn’t enough. With trembling hands, I reached for him and found myself pulled onto his lap, cradled in his arms. The second kiss was even more amazing.

Maybe three?

“Lacey,” he said on a groan.

I rested my head against his chest, lips aching, wanting still more. We could never return to our mistress/servant relationship. Not after this. “Did you kiss me because you had to?”

“Kissing you was my choice.”

That was wonderful and frightening. “Why?”

“You enchant me.”

It was my turn for a ragged breath.

If this was a movie, the violins would be swelling, my eyes would be misting, and we’d be walking hand in hand into the sunset. But it wasn’t a movie. This was real life. The handsome hero was Grant, and I had to give him away.

My mother’s words echoed in my brain.
I can’t imagine a future without him
.

Emotions swirled in my chest, overwhelming me. How did I feel about him?

It was more than gratitude. I was grateful to a lot of people. It didn’t feel like this.

It was more than friendship too. He was unlike any friend I’d ever had.

Our relationship was something else—a connection with many dimensions. But what was the right verb?

Did he enchant me?

Did I love him?

Maybe it was better not to know.

He was waiting for me to respond, but I couldn’t identify how I felt. “Good night,” I said and slipped like a coward into the house.

Update to Status Report #22

Dear Boss,

I have fallen in love with a human. What are my options?

Humbly submitted,
Grant

S
aturday morning brought more soccer. Henry’s team played their third game and celebrated their third win.

Grant walked beside me to where the team huddled around the snacks. My brother was obviously the hero, a role he loved.

He ran up to me. “Did you see my goal, Lacey?”

“I did.” Barely. I’d arrived ten minutes ago. Talk about sleeping in. I had to cut out those three AM nights with all the tossing and turning and reliving lovely memories in slow motion.