All I Ever Wanted(58)

"We're looking forward to the concert. I won't deny that. We love performing. But that's where it ends. Right here in Sea Breeze." He pointed down at the deck. "I have my hands full running the foundation."

"I think your brothers will feel differently after this Saturday. You too."

"No, Arabella, we've already talked about it. We settled this from the beginning. Jimmy flat-out refuses. It will never happen," he insisted, but in truth, the interviews, the music, performing together, did feel better than he'd anticipated. He didn't realize how much he'd missed singing with his brothers. What if she was right? They were born performers. No . . .

Something of what he felt must have registered on his face, because she nodded. "You deserve to consider any opportunity that comes your way. And I don't want you to include me in that decision."

"You know that's impossible."

"No, it's not."

Grady took a step forward and put his hands on her shoulders. "Arabella, just stay. The concert is two days away. And you've worked hard too. You deserve recognition. Can you do that? Please? Seriously, you can't miss this event." He felt panic rise in his chest. He hadn't meant for it to come to this. If she left again, Grady feared she wouldn't come back. "I'm sorry, I handled this all wrong." He gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze.

"No, you didn't. I put myself in your shoes for the past few days."

"You hardly ever wear shoes," Grady said with a slight smile. He looked down at her cute red toenails. "And mine would be way too big," he added, trying desperately to lighten the mood. 

She just couldn't leave.

"Arabella . . ."





 CHAPTER SIXTEEN



INCOMPLETE

Grady's pleading tone and serious eyes were hard to dismiss. When he pulled her into his arms and she rested her face against his chest, he was impossible to resist. Her cool cheek absorbed the warmth of his skin through his T-shirt. The solid beat of his heart, the ripple of muscle when he hugged her tighter, made her feel safe and eased some of her inner turmoil. He smelled of soap combined with the musk of his aftershave, which always lingered throughout the house even after he was gone.

Rays of sunshine cut through the cool breeze. The salty scent of the sea and sand surrounded them, and the rhythmic sound of waves crashing to the shore felt like a reassuring presence amid her scattered thoughts.

Arabella tried not to respond to Grady holding her close, but her body had other ideas. When he tilted her head up for a lingering kiss, she sank into the sweetness. She'd missed him so much. Not just for the past few days but over the years. The night she'd fled, she'd tucked her memories away, creating a Grady Heart file in her brain. But when a Heartbeat song would come on the radio, she'd slide back in time, sometimes sing along, but more often she'd cry and switch the channel. All the collected Heartbeat memorabilia from the tours remained packed away in Granny York's attic.

The kiss enveloped Arabella in a warm cocoon of tender emotion, pushing away the rest of the world, eclipsing the constant worry in her heart. She gave into the need, the comfort, and pressed even closer.

Still kissing her, Grady lifted her up. Arabella wrapped her arms and legs around him, clinging like kudzu as he carried her into the beach house. The surroundings became a colorful blur while he walked through the house until she found herself resting against the pile of pillows on the bed. With her pulse pounding in her ears, she watched him tug his shirt over his head, loving the golden skin kissed by the sun. When he shed the rest of his clothes and tossed them to the side, her pulse quickened.

Honed by weeks of rehearsal, his body was even more toned, muscular, powerful. A light dusting of dark hair covered his chest, narrowing to an enticing line that led to his full erection. Arabella felt a hot shiver at the erotic sight. Heat pooled between her thighs; her braless breasts felt sensitive, heavy, and when her tightened nipples brushed her soft sweater, she barely held back a moan.

When Grady moved closer to the bed, she drew in a breath. She craved his naked body next to hers and wanted to raise her arms in invitation. But she sat against the pillows, transfixed, unable to take her eyes off him. He moved forward with the grace of a dancer, yet powerfully masculine, insanely sexy.

Grady's longer hair gave him a sensual, bohemian look, and Arabella's fingers itched to delve into the thick layers. Dark stubble shaded his cheeks, making his full mouth appear even more enticing. He looked down at her with those piercing blue eyes that seemed to see into the secret places she wanted to keep hidden, and they tumbled out, invading her brain, swirling around like shadows in the night. Hoping to hide her fears, her vulnerable emotions, Arabella wanted to glance away but couldn't. She felt raw, exposed, fighting against telling him how much she loved him, how she wanted to be by his side no matter what he did or where he traveled. And yet she didn't know if she could ever endure sharing him with the world again and be truly content.