Page 55 of First Bride to Fall
Heat flooded Nell’s face. “Uh, Grant?”
“Yeah?”
“About the camping…”
“It’s okay if you’re not really expert level.” His eyes twinkled. “The important thing is that you enjoy it.”
She felt trapped. “I, uh, do,” she said, because she knew she was going to totally love it once she started going with him. “It will be fun for us to go sometime.” She bit her bottom lip. “But, um, maybe without my sisters?”
His grin was so sexy, she felt it in her bones. “I like that idea even better.”
But before she could completely melt, Grant glanced at his mug, which was empty. “Would you like some more tea?”
“Sure. Why not?”
“Why not indeed?” He got up and collected both their mugs, walking to the kitchen. “Susan was another story,” he said when he turned on the kettle. He took the tea and honey from the cabinet, then came back to sit with Nell while the water heated up. She noticed he didn’t have a microwave. It was a very basic kitchen, but it suited the cabin’s vibe.
He sat down on the sofa and sighed. “Susan and I dated off and on for about two years.”
Nell swallowed hard. It was the off and on part that she didn’t like so much. What if Grant was only temporarilyoffwith plans to goonagain? “And?”
“And.” He exhaled sharply. “I decided I liked things better when we were ‘off.’”
Whew.
“She was…” He stroked his chin and continued. “Difficult to be around sometimes. Mega bossy. It was her way or the highway, so I took the highway. Finally, I took it for good.”
“I’m sorry.” She was, too. Even though she was glad he was firmly over Susan, she detected a hint of hurt in his voice. It had to have been hard to finally make the split. She waded into her next question carefully. “How long ago did it end?”
“July?” He set his chin. “No, wait. Early August.”
Nell’s heart hammered. “Like a month ago?”
Oh, nooo. I’m his rebound girl?
“Yeah.” He nodded. “That’s right.”
Nausea bubbled in her belly. That didn’t sound like being “off again” for very long.
What if his glamorous ex resurfaced?
“Funny thing is,” Grant said, “she’s already engaged.”
Whew!“That fast?”
He nodded. “Turns out, when she wasn’t with me, she was back with her old boyfriend, Paul.”
“She was kind of a boomerang, huh?”
Grant laughed. “You know what? She was.” He raked a hand through his hair. “And, after a while, I got pretty tired of playing games. I guess Paul’s all-in, though.” There was no rancor in his tone, only reflection. “Good for him.”
Nell felt like a huge weight had been lifted. She shrugged. “Good for them both.”
Grant reached out and took her hand, and her whole body heated at his touch.
“Good for them both,” he repeated, his gaze on the fire. He held her hand firmly, and she squeezed his back, feeling so united. Like they were a team against the boomerang women and butchers of this world.
The kettle whistled shrilly, and Nell regretted letting go of his hand.
