Authors: Robyn Neeley
Listen to Coop.
She’d admit she’d enjoyed chatting with her new employee over lunch, even if it was in the one place in Guac Olé she’d sworn she’d never step foot in again. He had encouraged her to run with her idea for a healthier dip. Maybe she should talk to him more. Grayson seemed to think highly of his college buddy, so perhaps befriending Coop would be a great strategy to get Grayson to listen to her.
“Would you like a tour?” Grayson asked, nodding to the ceiling.
That question took her aback, causing her arms to shiver. He wanted to show her the house he grew up in? “Sure.” She gave her arms an encouraging rub. “I’d love it. Unless you plan on taking me up there and torturing me until I sell you my shares.”
Grayson’s hand went to the small of her back, causing a jolt to go through her. “I won’t do anything up there that you wouldn’t enjoy.”
Becca gulped at his suggestive comeback. Was he hitting on her?
He reached for her wine, which she’d placed on the counter, handing it to her. “Did I tell you that you look very ni—”
“Hey, bro.” Gage came into the kitchen, giving his brother a slap on the back. “Quit hogging Becca.”
“Get lost,” Grayson joked. “I’m showing her the house, and there’s only room for one on this tour.”
Becca smiled, watching the two brothers in their friendly square-off. Had Grayson been about to tell her she looked beautiful before Gage interrupted?
“If anyone is going to show her around this place, it’s me.” Gage pushed Grayson to the side and wrapped his arm around her, giving her shoulder a squeeze. “Becca, sweetheart, the only tour you’re getting with that guy is of his bedroom.”
Grayson rolled his eyes but conceded, motioning for Gage and Becca to go ahead of him. “I’ll catch up with you later. Oh, and Becca, don’t believe his crap that losing his scholarship in college wasn’t his fault.”
She could only laugh as Gage gave his brother the middle finger and whisked her away.
True to his word, Gage gave her the full tour, explaining not only the history of the old Southern house, but making it a point to show her the place where Grayson had banged his head from flying off the stairs pretending he was Superman, the closet where his brother would often hide from his father to get out of doing his chores, and the area of the upstairs attic where Grayson would pretend to hold Guac Olé board meetings when he was ten, bossing around his stuffed animals.
The way Gage brought up Grayson around every turn, he was clearly another member of Team Becca and could probably make a run for president of the fan club, bumping Eleanor or Gavin out of that position.
Climbing down the attic’s stairs, Gage escorted her into the first room off the landing. He explained that it once was his bedroom but was now used for guests.
She walked over to a beautiful oak bookshelf, admiring all the trophies and pictures on display.
“Are these trophies yours?”
“Yeah.” He picked up a huge silver one on the top shelf. “Dad liked to show them off when he’d give house tours. I’m sure he’d hoped that one day there would be a Heisman added to the collection, but that wasn’t in the cards.” He placed the trophy back. “Dad spent a lot of time in this room when he first got sick. It gets a lot of natural sunlight, and he loved to spend his days reading. Eventually, we moved his room to the first floor.”
Her heart broke at the thought of Jack being so ill he had to be moved to a downstairs room. She much preferred to think of the man in the smiling portrait in the Legacy conference room. That was the Jack she’d always remember.
That must have been so hard for Jack’s sons to watch their father’s health decline, knowing there wasn’t a damn thing they could do to make him better. She’d likely assume that role one day with her own mother—she just hoped it wasn’t any time soon.
She picked up another trophy that had a silver football etched into it. It was time to lighten the mood. “Not only do I remember you being quite the athlete in high school, but I also recall several cheerleaders having a crush on you.”
“What can I say? I got the looks in the family.” He paused, sticking his hands in his pockets. “You know, I’ve been meaning to tell you. You look like someone I recently met. I’ve been racking my brain, but I can’t for the life of me figure it out. Do you have a sister?”
“Nope. I’m an only child.”
“Hmm ... I probably just remember you from high school—checking me out,” he joked.
“Ha-ha.” She returned the trophy to its spot on the shelf, next picking up a picture of Jack and his sons. Gavin was in his dark blue high school graduation robe, looking rather distraught. “Your brother looks like this was the worst day of his life.”
“Well, that’s because it was. Macy beat him out as class valedictorian. He hated her for robbing him of his moment.”
“Wow.” She glanced down at the photo again, this time concentrating on a teenage Grayson. She’d forgotten how cute he’d been even back then. “Hate can be a confusing emotion,” she said, her voice soft.
“Yeah,” Gage agreed and touched her arm. “And sometimes it’s not hate that you’re feeling all along.” He paused for a second then added, “Grayson can be a huge pain in the ass, but he doesn’t hate you.”
“He just blames me for taking his birthright.” She studied the frame in her hands for a few seconds, wishing she understood why Jack hadn’t given Grayson the shares. “Why do you think Jack chose Charlotte for you?”
“I wish I could go back in time and ask him that very question.” He lifted his chin to the ceiling and smiled. “And thank him. I’d like to believe that when he met Charlotte, he just knew she was my match. I think he had some experience of his own in the soul mates department.”
“Soul mates,” she whispered. “Is that how it was for Jack and your mother?”
“I thought so at one time. We all did, but now I’m not so sure. When he died, I was given a key. I had no clue what it opened, but a couple of months later I found this old box upstairs on my”—he stopped, correcting himself—“on the property Dad left Charlotte. In the box were several love letters between my dad and some woman who wasn’t our mom. She broke his heart.”
“So look who brought Becca up to
his
room. Figures.” Grayson suddenly joined them, touching Becca’s arm. “Enjoy the tour?”
“Yes, especially seeing where you held your board meetings when you were ten years old.” She winked at Gage. “I think Kermit and Miss Piggy both deserve raises.”
Grayson smirked, his hand resting on the metal wooden bedpost. “Some of my best negotiations happened up there.”
That comment caused Gage to snicker. “I thought you lost your virginity in college.”
“Get out.” Grayson pointed to the door.
“It was a pleasure to tour with you, darlin’.” Gage leaned in. “Watch out for this one.”
“I will.” She returned the family photo to the bookshelf, not quite sure what to say now that she was alone with Grayson. “This is quite a collection of trophies,” was the best comment she could come up with.
“Yeah, Gage was the sports guy.”
“And you weren’t?”
“Not really. I was more interested in business.”
“So, did you really want to run Guac Olé when you were ten?”
“Yeah. It’s all I’ve ever wanted. I guess you could say avocados are in my blood.”
She was starting to believe that, but the fruit was, metaphorically, in hers, too. Maybe not as long as it had been pulsing through his, but it was just as much a part of her, too. “So, Grayson …” Maybe the wine was starting to take effect, or maybe it was the pretty dress and strappy shoes boosting her confidence to get her flirt on. “If you’re such an expert on all things avocado, when is National Guacamole Day?”
“Oh, please. September sixteenth. The day’s practically a national holiday for my family.” He raised a playful eyebrow. “Bet you can’t answer this. When is National Nachos Day?”
She folded her hands across her heart. “Only my favorite day of the year. November sixth.”
“Impressive.”
“It looks like we have a tie.”
His lips curled up. “Not so fast.” He slid off one shoe and lifted his foot onto the bed, rolling up his jeans. “Check these out.”
Becca bent down to get a better look. “Are those avocados on your socks?”
“Yep, and I have six other pairs, one for every day of the week,” he said proudly.
“Wow. That
is
something.”
“It’s okay if you have to concede.” He fixed his jean cuff and slid his shoe back on. “I won’t tell anyone. Shall we continue the tour?”
“Not so fast, Avocado Man. I can top that.”
That declaration got one big ol’ suggestive eyebrow. “How? Bra? Panties?” He stepped a little closer, causing her limbs to shake. She steadied herself, but it was no use. His closing into her space was also causing her heart to pound.
“Neither.” She pressed her top lip into her bottom one. “Avocado lip gloss.”
His gaze rested unmistakably on her mouth. Becca brought up her clutch, unzipping the top. “I have it right here if you don’t believe me. You could try it yourself.”
“I
would
like a taste.” He brought his finger underneath her chin, tilting her head up. “But I have a much better way, if you’ll indulge me.”
“If you must.” She tried to play all cool, lowering her lashes. “I mean, my reputation
is
on the line as the biggest fan of the avocado in this room and all.” She closed her eyes at the moment Grayson’s lips made impact, a fireball exploding through her.
The soft kiss ended, and her eyelids flew open.
“Definitely could be avocado.” His hands moved up and down her arms.
“Told you.”
“I’m not quite sure. I think I might need a little more.” He grinned and lowered his lips to hers, this time coaxing her mouth open with his for a long, deep kiss.
She looped her arms around his neck, losing herself in his arms and his amazing kiss and ignoring the sound of heels clicking in the hallway.
“Gage, are you in here?”
They broke apart and Grayson stepped back, swiping his lip with his knuckle.
Becca spun around to see Gage’s horrified wife standing in the doorway.
“Oh my God! I’m so sorry.” Charlotte covered her eyes and backed out of the room. “I was coming to get Gage and Becca. Macy and Gavin are about to say a few words. I didn’t see anything. Carry on.” She rushed out.
Grayson stared at Becca for a couple of awkward seconds, not saying a word. “I’m sorry,” he started. “I got carried away. I didn’t mean … um … I shouldn’t have …” He stopped and raked his hand through his hair.
“Right.” Was he going to say that he shouldn’t have kissed her? She did her best to brush off the humiliation. “Don’t give it a second thought. It was just a silly challenge. We can pretend it never happened.”
“Never happened,” he repeated. His expression went cold. “Sure. Why don’t we join the others outside?” He motioned for her to go ahead of him.
“No.”
“You don’t want to go downstairs?” he asked.
She shook her head. “I mean, yes, but not to the party. I think I need to go home. It’s been a long night.”
“Becca, I’m sorry. Don’t let what happened—”
“It’s fine,” she lied. It was so not fine. She really didn’t want to stand here any longer, listening to Grayson say he was sorry for kissing her. If he regretted it, so be it. She didn’t need to hear him apologize all night. The kiss never should have happened in the first place.
She needed to get a handle on the situation, and luckily she’d had enough wine to do so. “Please tell Macy and Gavin congratulations for me. I’ll see you on September first.” She tore out of the room and raced down the stairs and out the door before anyone could see her.
Reaching her truck, she exhaled the breath she’d been holding and glanced up at the house, the light still on in the second-floor guest room. What the hell had happened up there?
How could she let him kiss her like that, and for God’s sake, why did she kiss him back? How was she going to face him when her shareholder status took effect? Maybe she should just give him the shares and save herself the humiliation. If she did that, she could go back to being Becca Nash, working-class factory worker who did not spend her Saturday night in high hair and four-inch heels at the Cooper estate.
She unlocked the door and hopped in, kicking off her heels and slipping on the more comfortable flip-flops she’d left in the passenger seat.
She pulled her hair back in a ponytail, and started Blue Baby—the roar of her engine another reminder that she and her broken-down truck did not belong in this upper-class neighborhood.
She straightened her arms on the wheel. And that was fine by her. Jack Cooper had gotten it wrong. She and his son didn’t belong together.
Grayson finished peeling his last avocado and gave a short good-bye to the night-shift employees. It was all he could do since he didn’t speak Spanish. He hadn’t realized how poorly they spoke English until he’d tried to engage in small talk with two of them earlier.
Now it was nearly 9 p.m. He’d stayed late to help some of the guys with a large shipment, and when that was done, he decided to peel some avocados. It was his second week as Coop, and he could honestly say he loved everything he’d been asked to do. Yeah, he went home barely able to crawl into his bed, but with each day, he was also feeling an enormous sense of accomplishment and pride. His dad had always said the factory gave him a boost of energy when he needed it. Grayson finally understood why.
He hadn’t expected to feel this way when he first came up with the crazy plan, but he’d found the heart of the company, and damn, it was good to feel that pulse.
He stopped by his spot on the line and grabbed his water bottle he’d left earlier. Tangie had given it to him on his first day, noticing he looked a little dehydrated. He’d certainly needed the water to keep up with all the kids running around earlier this afternoon when Franco’s son stopped in with his five grandchildren, three of them being nine-year-old triplets.
While Franco gave his son a quick tour of some of the new equipment, Grayson had showed the kids how to lid the guacamole, and then let them each seal one container that they could keep. When their grandpa returned, they were so proud to show off their dip.