Written in the Stars (15 page)

Mason scooted up next to her and looked up at the ceiling. “Wait—­did I just render Grace Gordon speechless?”

“I...do believe...so.”

He chuckled and then ran his fingertips down her body, making her shiver and gasp. “And we've only just begun.”

Grace groaned. “I'll be more than happy to carry on as soon as my body floats back down to earth. I...I just need a moment to regroup.”

“Maybe I can help rekindle the fire,” he said in her ear.

“Oh please, do go on, then.”

Must Be Doin' Something Right

M
ASON RAN HIS HANDS OVER
G
RACE'S WA
RM, SOFT SKIN,
thinking that touching her, tasting her, was something he could never get enough of. He loved hearing her sighs, her moans of pleasure, her low, sexy rumble of laughter. Most of all he loved having her body wrapped around him like kudzu.

When she left the brewery earlier, he'd felt a sense of panic, afraid to go after her but even more afraid not to. Danny had found him sitting on his couch staring off into space and had talked some sense into him. His little brother, of all people, had been dead-­ass right. If Grace chose to leave, Mason couldn't do anything about it, but he sure as hell was going to do his best to make her want to stay. He knew he was putting his heart on the line and taking a risk, but not taking it wasn't something he could live with. He was falling for her hard, so hard that there wasn't any use fighting his feelings.

Mason came up on one elbow, leaned over, and kissed her. She responded by turning toward him and pressing her body to his. She entwined those long legs with his and moved against him, letting him know that she wanted him too. He hadn't come over here with the goal of making love to her, but once he kissed her, all bets were suddenly off. “Gracie, God, you're driving me wild,” he said, but he paused to give her time to be sure that she wanted to go this far. He didn't want her to have regrets.

She cupped his cheek. “Make love to me.” She looked into his eyes and then smiled. “Please.”

And that was all the encouragement he needed.

Mason paused for protection and then came back to the bed. She opened her arms and beckoned him. Mason somehow knew that the gesture was meant to convey to him that she was taking a chance too but she was willing and ready. And wasn't that what love was all about? Putting your heart out there and taking a chance? Giving Lauren the power to hold him back from finding happiness was giving her something she didn't deserve. Mason had learned by watching his parents that real love wasn't just about the good times but about standing by the one you loved through thick and thin.

Letting go of his fear of getting hurt felt so damned good!

“Ah, Gracie.” He kissed her with the pent-­up passion that had been driving him nuts for days. She responded by threading her fingers through his hair, kissing him back with wild abandon. When he moved his mouth to her neck, she sighed and slid her hands down his back. He could tell by her touch that she wanted this every bit as much as he did. When she reached his ass, she squeezed.

“You have the best bum on the planet.”

“Why, thank you.”

“You're welcome,” she said, but then gasped when Mason caressed her breasts. Taking a nipple in his mouth, he licked, nibbled, and sucked, teasing until he heard her moan. “Dear God...”

Mason wanted to learn every inch of her beautiful body and find out what drove her wild. When he trailed his fingers lightly over her skin, he could feel her shiver. She arched her back, moving sensually against him, letting him know that he was doing something right.

When Mason lightly touched her mound, she gasped. Knowing what she wanted, he slid a finger into her silky heat, exploring, caressing, dipping into her folds until he knew she was close to climaxing. But when she reached between them and wrapped her delicate hand around his cock and stroked, he couldn't wait another second to be sheathed inside her body.

While kissing her deeply Mason entered her with one sure stroke. She gasped and wrapped her arms and legs around him, tilting her hips. “My God, you feel good.”

“I was thinking the same thing.”

Mason moved slowly, holding back, wanting to savor the feeling of being inside her sweet, tight body. But she bucked beneath him, grabbing on to his shoulders. Her teeth found his earlobe, sending a hot shiver down his spine; holding back flew out the window and never looked back.

Gracie made love in a wild and free way that he'd somehow known she would. He loved her taste on his lips, her scent filling his head, and her soft cries of pleasure. When she pressed her head against the pillows and arched her back, Mason thrust deeply, taking her over the edge. A ripple of pure pleasure gripped him, suspended as if in midair, and then rushed through him with an intensity he didn't know existed. In that moment he knew with certainty that this went beyond sex, beyond physical attraction. Mason knew that she felt it too, because she didn't say anything. She didn't need to.

Sometimes words got in the way.

Rolling to his side, Mason held her close, and she clung to him. Breathing deeply, she shuddered once, and Mason understood how she felt. He was blown away too.

Wanting to know her thoughts but unwilling to break the spell, he remained entwined with her for a few more minutes. Mason knew that everything between them had shifted, and he wasn't quite sure how to handle it. Finally, she kissed his shoulder and caressed his skin, drawing patterns over his chest. Damn, he couldn't believe it, but he was getting aroused all over again, and he thought he could do this all night long. Or at least give it a try.

Gracie's fingers circled his half-­hard cock and she chuckled low in her throat. “I'm impressed.”

“As you should be.”

She chuckled again, and he smiled, glad that there was an easy flow between them and not something awkward, another clue that this was perhaps meant to be. But he fell silent, wondering what would come next.

“You're wondering what to tell people, aren't you?” Grace lifted her head and looked at him.

Mason nodded. “What do you suggest? You have to know, however we put it, us being together is going to cause quite a stir.” He wasn't going to bring up the business end of their relationship right now.

“Should we keep it under our hat until we figure it out?”

A stab of disappointment shot through him. “Is that what you want, Gracie?”

Lowering her eyes, Grace ran her fingertip back and forth over his bottom lip. “No.”

“But?”

“We have to figure out what this is first, though, don't you think?”

Mason nodded, and he could feel her pull away a little bit. He understood, though. This was his territory, his home. He was the one who had the most risk of getting hurt. When she glanced away, he put his hand on her cheek. “I know there are complications.”

“I don't want to be the bad guy. I make a really awful bad guy. I have this need to have everybody like me.”

“You're way too pretty to be a bad guy,” he tried to joke, but her eyes turned serious. “Or even a bad girl.”

Mason cupped her chin and rubbed his thumb over her cheek. “Hey, you were up front and honest with me. I'm going into this with my eyes wide-­open. You didn't pull any punches, but I'll throw some punches if anyone talks trash about you.”

“Ah, my bighearted but tough country boy.”

“And don't you forget it,” he said with a grin. While he knew she referred to him as being hers as a joke, he liked the sound of it way too much. He was already in over his head, but his damned heart just wouldn't listen to his need to slow down. “And just so you know, I still hate the whole Broomstick Brewery thing.”

“You won't when you start making piles of money,” she said with some heat behind her words. Good. He wanted to keep the challenge in place for her, because the longer she stayed in town, the better the chance he had to convince her to stay.

“You ready to get something to eat?” he asked lightly. “The storm has let up.”

“I'm suddenly starving. I've worked up quite an appetite.”

When she grinned at him, Mason almost sighed with relief. “You wanna head up to Sully's and grab a bite?” he asked casually, but he really wanted to get her out in public with him. “Maybe do some two-­steppin' with your country boy?”

She winced. “I don't know how.”

“I'm a good teacher.”

“I'm a slow learner when it comes to dancing.”

“Ah, a challenge. I like it.”

“I'll do some steppin' all over your feet. Just fair warn­ing.”

“I won't mind.” In fact, there wasn't much he wouldn't mind her doing to him.

Except leaving. That, he could do without.

But Mason decided not to think about the future at the moment. He was going out on the town with Gracie Gordon on his arm. For now, that was enough.

Honky-­Tonk Heaven

“
O
UCH
, YOU
WEREN
'
T
KIDDIN
',”
M
ASON
SAID
AFTER
Grace
stomped on his foot again.

Grace pulled up short on the dance floor. “Hey, don't go there. I warned you that I was a terrible dancer.”

“Yeah, but there are degrees of terrible.”

Grace smacked his shoulder.

“Okay, one more time. It's quick, quick, slow...slow. And no bobbing up and down. Keep your chin up and look past my shoulder.”

“Too many rules!” Grace shook her head, knowing it was a lost cause. “It's a weird way to dance.”

“It's classic,” Mason responded, clearly affronted. “Want to give it another shot?”

“Did you just say something about doing a shot? Now you're talking. I'll have a pineapple upside-­down cake.”

Mason glanced up at the ceiling and then sighed. “Okay, I'll get you the shot if you promise to slow dance with me.”

Grace winced. “I suck at that too. Slow, fast, or anything in between. The dance floor and I never did get along. Can we just sit down? Where's the corn hole?”

“That's an outdoor game.”

“Oh.”

“Darts, then?”

“I have a feeling you'd maim somebody.”

“True. So let's just go with the shot.”

Mason nodded. “Only if you promise to slow dance.”

She rolled her eyes. “You'll be sorry. What are you? A glutton for punishment?”

“Maybe.” But then he leaned in close and said, “Slow dancing with you in my arms will be worth a little bit of pain.”

“Oh, you say that now,” Grace said, but in truth she felt a flash of pleasure slide down her spine. She knew that there was a charmer behind that broody exterior, but what she didn't know was how it would affect her. All it took was his smile, saying something flirty or sexy, and she was putty in his hands.

When Grace walked over to their high-­top table, he put his hand lightly at the small of her back. She liked the feeling of being with him, being his girl. And when he headed over to the bar to order her shot, she noticed other women giving him the once-­over. Grace sat up a little bit straighter and felt territorial. She couldn't remember when she'd felt this kind of jealous reaction.

Oh boy, I'm getting in deep,
she thought, and swallowed hard. Moving back to the U.S. wouldn't be a big deal, though, would it? She, Sophia, and Garret all had dual citizenship in the States and England. When living in London, Grace used one of her mother's furnished flats, so except for clothes, she had nothing much to ship over here. Although Sophia lived in New York, Grace would be able to visit with her sister much easier from Kentucky than from all the way across the pond.

Grace toyed with her napkin, twisting and rolling it between her fingers while she thought about the crazy turn her life had suddenly taken. She never would have thought that her brief visit to Cricket Creek would turn into a life-­altering event, and yet here she was, sitting in a honky-­tonk tavern with the cutest country boy in the world. The same country boy who had made it clear that he wanted to give their relationship a go.

Grace had noticed curious looks directed their way when they'd first walked in. When she'd asked Mason about it, he'd explained that it had been a long time since he'd been out with a girl. Something in his eyes had suggested more to the story, but tonight wasn't about anything serious, just kicking back and having a good time.

Still deep in thought, Grace was surprised by someone coming up behind her and putting her hands over her eyes.

“Guess who?” Sophia asked, while trying to disguise her voice with a low pitch, but it was a complete fail.

“Sophia!”

“How did you know?”

“Because you're the only one dorky enough to do that.”

“I'm not a dork. I'm super cool.” Sophia pointed to her outfit and did a little spin.

Grace slid from the stool and turned around to hug her sister. “When did you get here?”

“A few minutes ago,” Sophia said, and she did look cute in a pink floral shirt, faded denim skirt, and cowboy boots. Her long toffee-­colored hair was braided in one of those fishtail things that only a hairdresser could do.

“Look at you, all cowgirled up.”

Sophia laughed. “When in Rome?”

Grace tilted her head and gave her pretty sister a once-­over. “Well, you totally pull it off. Where did you get it?”

“At Violet's Vintage Clothing up on Main Street. I need to take you there.”

“Definitely.” Grace gestured toward a stool. “Join us.”

“Okay, whoa, wait a minute.” Sophia arched an eyebrow. “Us?”

“I'm with Mason. He went to get me a pineapple upside-­down shot but got sidetracked with talking to people he knows,” she said casually, trying to ignore Sophia's gasp of surprise followed by a little jig in her boots.

“So are you two seeing each other?”

Grace opened her mouth and then shut it, not sure how she wanted to respond. “It's complicated.”

“Oh, I hate when people say that. It's not complicated. Are you seeing him or not?”

“Yes, sort of, I guess, but—”

“I knew it would happen.”

Grace lifted her palms upward. “Oh, come on, how?”

“The way you look at him like you want to eat him up with a spoon.”

Grace felt heat in her cheeks.

“Oh my God,” Sophia whispered in her ear. “Are you sleeping with him?”

“That's an incredibly rude question.”

“No, it's not. You're my sister. I have the right to know these things.”

“Don't you dare tell anyone—­not even Mum.”

“You know me better than that. But why are you so uptight about it?”

“I know you'll keep it under your hat.” Grace gave Sophia a quick hug. “I'm uptight because Mason is Mattie's brother, for one thing. I don't want to do anything to stir up any family trouble.”

“The Mayfields are cool people. They won't hold a failed relationship with Mason against you. But it won't fail.”

“We're not in a relationship,” Grace said, and looked around to make sure nobody was listening. “So there's nothing to fail.”

“Um, you are or you wouldn't be getting so riled up.”

“I'm not getting riled up!” Grace said in a very riled-­up voice.

“Right,” Sophia said. “And you keep glancing over to where that chick is trying to flirt with Mason.”

“Not fair. But who is that girl, anyway? Should I go over there and bump her out of the way?”

“Yes, I dare you.”

“Oh, stop it,” Grace said, but kind of wanted to.

Sophia laughed. “Oh, Grace, I'm so glad you're here. We need to find time to hang out more.”

Grace smiled at her sister. “Yeah, we do. So do you want to join us?”

Sophia bit her bottom lip.

“What? Oh, are
you
with someone?”

“Not...
with
...with.”

“Ha, meaning, you are.” Grace gave Sophia's shoulder a little shove. “You little minx, you're holding out on me. Who is he?”

Sophia nodded in the direction of the pool tables. “Avery Dean. He comes into the bistro pretty often.”

“Oh, let me think. I wonder why?”

“The food! It is a restaurant, in case you've forgotten. Oh, don't give me that look.”

“What, you mean the look you gave me earlier?”

“He's just a friend, Grace.”

“And super cute,” Grace said. Indeed, Avery Dean was another sexy country boy.

“Stop looking at him or he will know I'm talking about him,” Sophia said in an urgent whisper. “He's a friend of Danny's.”

“Then most likely a good guy, right?”

Sophia flicked a sideways glance in Avery's direction. “Yes, but he's coming off a broken engagement. I don't want to be a rebound girl, so I'm keeping my distance. We're just hanging out now and then.”

Grace looked at Sophia and nodded. “Smart. And you're going back to New York after Mattie can come back to the bistro full-­time, right?”

Sophia nodded, but Grace noticed enough of a hesitation before the nod to wonder if staying in Cricket Creek had crossed her mind as well. “I mean, I've built a big clientele by specializing in weddings and big events. What would I do here in Cricket Creek? There's just one local salon and the regular chains on the outskirts of town.”

“So you've thought about it?”

“Well, Lily sort of changed everything, you know?”

“Oh, I know. I need to get over to see her and pry her out of Mum's arms.” Grace nodded, but then put a hand on Sophia's shoulder. “Wait—­do you think Mum will actually move here?”

Sophia shrugged. “I really don't think she can stay away from Lily for any length of time. I asked her about it yesterday when she helped me out at the bistro, and she said that she is thinking about going back and forth with Mattie and Garret when Garret films
Sing for Me
in London.”

“Wow,” Grace said. “But I guess it makes perfect sense. She'd been cutting way back at BGC, unless you count the new baby line. She's all over that one. But seriously, after all she's been through, maybe it's about time that she sat back and did whatever the hell she wanted to do, or nothing at all, instead of working insane hours.”

“Hey, I agree one hundred percent. And I really wish she could find somebody...a good guy, you know?”

“Oh, me too. Somebody down to earth and not some wanker who wants to be with her for material reasons. Do you think a bloke like that even exists?”

“In a small town like this? Yeah, I think so. I tried to get Mom out with me tonight, but she's watching Lily while Mattie and Garret have dinner at Wine and Diner. Mattie was getting a little bit of cabin fever and needed to get out.”

“Or did Mum convince Mattie she had cabin fever so she could babysit?”

Sophia laughed. “Maybe a little bit of both. Have you been to Wine and Diner yet?”“

“No, but I heard that the food is fabulous. We should go soon, maybe after a day of shopping?”

Sophia nodded. “For sure. Oh hey, Avery is motioning for me. I think he wants me to play some pool with him.”

“Do you play?”

“Not all that well, but yeah, I get a lucky shot in now and then. Do you and Mason want to take us on?”

“No.” Grace shook her head. “I embarrassed myself enough trying to two-­step. The only step I did was on Mason's feet, and it was more than twice. I did, like, the ten-­step.”

Sophia tossed her head back and laughed. “God, I've missed you so much.”

“Me too! You'd be good at line dancing, though, and you're dressed for the part.”

“Oh, I've seen couples doing it here before. It does look like fun.”

“We're still talking about dancing, right?”

“Grace! Do you even have a filter?”

“Chill, I was only kidding.”

“And it does look fun. So does line dancing.”

“Ha, easy for you to say. You possess something called rhythm, and all I got was the blues.”

“Hey.” Sophia tilted her head. “You doing okay?” she asked gently.

“It was a joke,” Grace said. “I'm fine.”

“Good,” Sophia said, and the love and concern in her sister's eyes went straight to her heart. While Sophia always had a pretty even-­keeled disposition, Grace knew now that she suffered from bouts of depression from time to time, and that's when she became restless and needed a change. Her humor and upbeat demeanor masked her moods, and a new project always chased away the clouds and brought her sunny disposition back. “I think I'll sit this one out, but do come over when you're finished and introduce me to cutie-­pie Avery with the dark curly hair.”

“Will do. And don't forget I want to shop. Maybe tomorrow? Shane and Laura Lee are going to work the bistro for me, so I get a day off, and Mattie is coming in for a little while. But yeah, we need to catch up.”

“We do.” Grace pressed her cheek to Sophia's and then watched her sister sashay over there in her cowgirl getup, looking like she fit right in here at Sully's. Although Sophia spent time in London, she'd never lived there for any length of time so never picked up much of an English accent like Grace and Garret. As soon as Grace opened her mouth and spoke anywhere in the States, everyone seemed to want to listen and more often than not try to speak back to her with an accent. It used to drive her bonkers, but she no longer cared about such trivial things. Sweating the small stuff was something her father did, and it was a challenge to purge letting little things get to her, but she'd succeeded.

A moment later, Mason walked her way with her drink. “Sorry it took me so long. I haven't been out lately, and everyone wanted to know how the brewery was coming along. Pete Sully wants to have a couple of varieties on tap here, so we need to keep that in mind.”

“Excellent.”

Mason handed her the shot, which was more the size of a cocktail. When he saw her eyes widen, he laughed. “That's how we do it round here.”

“Are you having one too?”

“Not one of those girly cake things, but yeah.” He held up his glass. “Good Kentucky bourbon. Straight, no chaser.”

“Can we get a taxi?”

Mason laughed. “Well, if you're lucky, Bubba will answer, if he's in the mood.”

“Bubba?”

“The only taxi service in Cricket Creek. Once he falls asleep, you're out of luck.”

“Wow.” Grace found it hard to believe that there were places where you couldn't hail a taxi when you needed one.

“Pete's son, Clint, runs a free shuttle most weekends. It's a little bit of a walk, but we can hoof it to the marina from here.”