An Ounce of Hope(60)

You bet your ass we will.





"So, do you have plans for July Fourth?"

Grace looked over at Ruby, who was running at her side. She was red in the cheeks and breathing hard, but she kept up with Grace, stride for stride, despite the two of them being running buddies for a grand total of four days.

From the ass crack of dawn until late every night, Max had been working with his uncle Vince out of town and, as a result, was too tired to do anything, least of all run. It wasn't good news for Grace's libido, but she tried to be understanding. Ruby had eagerly stepped in as Grace's partner, citing the need to get rid of her muffin top and get ready for new bikinis. Grace couldn't see even a hint of a muffin top on Ruby's petite frame, but kept quiet. Ruby had always been nice to her, with the added extra of being really fun to be around.

"July Fourth? Not that I'm aware of."

"Great! Wanna come to my dad's cabin for a few days? There's a group of us goin'. We do it every year. It's by the lake so you can swim every day, we go out on the boat, we grill, cook s'mores, get drunk, fool around, plus the fireworks are incredible. It's good fun."

It sure did sound it; still, caution itched at Grace's neck. She wasn't working and she'd made no plans with Kai, knowing that he'd be jetting off somewhere with his new set of boobs or his buddies. "Um, I don't know."

"Oh, come on!" Ruby encouraged. "It'll be fantastic. You'll know most of the people there." She started lifting fingers with each name. "Me, Josh, Dad and Mom, obviously, Caleb, Buck and a couple of his lady friends, and Max."

That piqued her interest. Grace slowed to a walk, placing her hands on her hips. "Max is going?" She tried to hide the obvious curiosity in her voice, but from the glint in Ruby's eye, she'd failed miserably.

"Mmhm," Ruby replied with a smirk, still jogging on the spot. The cute, pink, bow-shaped clips she had in her hair to keep her short bangs back bounced as she did. "What's going on with you two anyhow?"

Grace shook her head, the image of his orgasm all over her still fresh and still sexy as all get-out. "Nothing's going on. We're friends."

Ruby's mile widened. "You like him, don't you?"

Grace cleared her throat and avoided Ruby's smiling eyes by pretending to stretch. "Who are we talking about?"

Ruby snorted. "My cousin. Max. You know, the guy you're always with, the guy you can't stop looking at, the guy who lights up every time you walk into the room."

Grace's head snapped up. "He does not."

"Ah!" Ruby retorted with a grin and a pointing finger. "But you'd like him to."

Grace exhaled, not knowing whether to be relieved or hurt that Ruby was playing with her. She rubbed a palm down her face and kicked at a nearby stone, confusion drying her throat. Over the weeks, and with all the time she'd spent with him, it had slowly become apparent that her investment in the agreement she had with Max was tilting toward something less friends-only and more dangerous, something scary and new.

"Yeah," she murmured toward the ground. "I like him." The confession should have been freeing-it was the truth, after all-yet the words made Grace hollow. She looked up.

Ruby was standing closer, no longer moving. She smiled gently. "Max is a decent guy. He's messed up, which isn't surprising given what he's been through, but he has a good heart."




 

 

Grace nodded in agreement. "He does."

Ruby crossed her arms. "You could be good for him."

"I don't know." Grace sighed.

He'd told her, in no uncertain terms, that he couldn't give her anything but his body. A few weeks ago, Grace had been fine with that-and she still was. Sometimes. Other times, when his hands were on her . . . She gave her head a shake and breathed. She knew she was being ridiculous. It wasn't anything other than excitement she was feeling. Excitement about the progress she was making with intimacy, at the leaps she'd made being with a man. Besides, she knew, deep down, she wasn't ready for anything serious, either. It was just . . . Max made her feel ready.

"Look, come to the cabin," Ruby said quietly. "See what happens. Max is always chill when he's at the lake. You two can maybe have some fun." She cocked an eyebrow. "If you get my meaning."

Grace laughed, shielding her heated cheeks with her hands. Yeah, she got Ruby's meaning and, she had to admit, if going to the cabin meant she and Max could be alone to have some more "fun," then she was all for it. She could brush aside her confusion and treacherous emotions for now.

Hiding her feelings, good or bad, was not a new thing for her or her heart.

The drive up to the cabin was as long and hot as it always was. Max was grateful he wasn't the one behind the wheel for once. He was sitting in the back of his uncle's pickup, alongside Ruby and Josh, admiring the views and looking forward to a few days of rest and relaxation. He couldn't wait to get in the lake. It was amazing this time of year, and the treks into the mountains were great for walks or runs. He'd have to show Grace. She'd appreciate it for the photography potential.