Good with His Hands(28)

Before she could answer, Mr. Grayson joined them in the foyer. He was  as tall as Dani's father, which was saying something, had graying blond  hair and hound-dog eyes, the kind Dani thought gave people an  indefinably sad expression even when they were perfectly happy.  Physically at least, husband and wife were polar opposites.

"Danica, these are my parents, Steve and Keely Grayson. Mom, Dad, this is my...Dani."

"It's so wonderful to meet you." Keely shook her hand enthusiastically.  To her son, she said in a stage whisper, "The flowers worked?"

Dani grinned. "The flowers were lovely."

Behind them, there was a quick rap at the door, then Bryce stepped  inside. "Hey, sorry I'm-" He drew up short at the sight of Dani,  obviously not expecting to see her.

Keely waved everyone into the kitchen. "Dinner's almost ready. To get  us in the mood for the Hawaiian pictures, I made pineapple-glazed pork.  Dani, you aren't vegetarian or anything, are you?"

Thinking about the steak salad she'd polished off for lunch, she almost laughed. "No, ma'am."

They all pitched in to help carry dishes to the table and fill glasses.  It was a different dynamic than the boisterous family dinners Dani had  experienced with the Raffertys, and not just because Meg had a bigger  family than Sean. There were no introverts in the Rafferty household.  Everyone was talking and laughing and, occasionally, arguing at once.  Here, it quickly became clear that Sean and his mother were used to  carrying conversation. Mr. Grayson listened, his affection for both of  them obvious, but didn't contribute much. Bryce was quiet, too.

"So, Dani," Keely began, "how did you and Sean meet?"

Dani swallowed her bite of homemade roll with a gulp. "I, uh...I work  in the same building as Bryce." Across the table, the architect was  studying her with an unreadable expression. Surely he wouldn't mention  that Dani hadn't been able to tell the twins apart?

Sean squeezed her shoulder. "I had the good luck to run into her when I was dropping off a birthday present."

"Which I've been meaning to thank you for," Bryce said gruffly. "It...means a lot to me."

Next to her, Sean went rigid with surprise. "You're welcome."

There was a pause, as if even Keely didn't know what to say. Or maybe  she was so glad to see her sons share a courteous moment that she wanted  to savor it. But then she asked if Dani had ever been to Hawaii, and  conversation turned to vacation stories, including the ill-advised Grand  Canyon road trip when Major Yates had thought ten days in a car with  his preteen daughter was a good bonding opportunity.

When they were done with the meal, Sean volunteered himself and Dani to  clean up the kitchen while his mom readied the picture presentation.  "It's the least we can do, since you cooked." Beneath the table, his  hand dropped to Dani's thigh and she knew he was trying to get a few  minutes alone with her.

"Oh, I can't ask Dani to do dishes," Keely protested. "She's a guest."

"I really don't mind," Dani said.

Keely beamed. "And here I was afraid he'd never meet a nice girl. Sean, you feel free to bring her back anytime."

Their bid for a few minutes alone went awry when Bryce didn't follow  his parents to the living room. Instead, he remained in the kitchen with  them, awkwardly silent.

Sean and Dani exchanged glances. "Doesn't Mom need your help hooking her computer to the TV?" Sean prompted.

Bryce shook his head, looking distracted. "I only had to show her how the first time. She's got it now."

Dani had heard Sean talk about his brother being "the smart one," but  it occurred to her that Bryce was pretty damn clueless in some matters.

"I really did like the print," Bryce said, handing his brother an empty casserole dish.                       
       
           



       

"So you mentioned." There was a note of suspicion in Sean's tone, as if  he questioned why his aloof twin was suddenly being nice. "Something on  your mind, bro?"

"Someone. I've...I can't stop thinking about a woman I met."

Sean broke into a wide grin. "Really? It's hell, isn't it? No offense," he told Dani.

"None taken." She arched an eyebrow. "You think I was overjoyed when my brain turned into the all-Sean, all-the-time channel?"

"I still can't believe you forgave him," Bryce mused. "After the way he-"

"She was there," Sean interrupted. "She doesn't need the recap."

"Sorry." Bryce leaned against a kitchen counter. "My point is, there  were obstacles and you overcame them. I've never done anything unkind  toward this woman, but she said she shouldn't even talk to me. That's  not a good sign, right?"

"So you need my help." Sean looked equal parts flabbergasted and smug  over this turn of events. "Advice on how to win her over?"

"No. Actually, I was hoping for Danica's help. It's your friend," he told her. "Meg. We chatted at the charity dinner."

Her eyes widened. "You did?" Frankly, she couldn't imagine Bryce, the  architect of few words, casually chatting with anyone-much less her  extroverted friend who'd erred on the side of inebriation that night.

"She's beautiful. And funny." He didn't smile, but the corners of his  eyes crinkled. "And very loyal to you. It's obvious the two of you are  close. Would you be willing to give me her number? Or, at the very  least, her last name?"

Was that such a good idea? Meg had been through a rough time already.  And she'd dated more than one guy who'd decided her effusive personality  was too much for him. Bryce was naturally reserved and skewed toward  the judgmental.

"I don't know." The disappointment in his expression gave her a  moment's guilt, but her allegiance was to Meg, not him. Inspiration  struck in the form of a compromise. "I'll tell you where she works,  though. Vivien's Armoire. You can find her there just about every day of  the week."

If he was man enough to track her down amid the push-up bras and crotchless tap pants, then maybe he deserved a shot.

* * *

"I'M GLAD YOU came with me tonight," Sean said as he turned into the  parking lot of Dani's apartment complex. "My parents really liked you."

No kidding, she thought numbly. At first, she'd appreciated how welcome  Mrs. Grayson made her feel. But by the end of the evening, Keely had  been dropping unsubtle hints that, when Dani got married, Hawaii would  make a lovely honeymoon destination. Even hearing the word honeymoon, so  soon after the one she hadn't taken, was discomfiting.

She'd debated telling Sean's mom they weren't that serious-tonight was  only their second date!-but it didn't seem like a reminder that should  come from her. So she'd waited to see if Sean would good-naturedly ask  his mom to knock it off. He, on the other hand, hadn't seemed bothered.  Perhaps he was just more laid-back on the topic of weddings, not being  the one who'd recently returned a bunch of bridal-shower and engagement  gifts, but she'd suddenly wondered if they were both on the same page.

"Your parents are nice." She stared out her window, searching for a way  to voice her feelings that didn't make her sound as if she were  overreacting. "And I had a good time. On the subject of us, though...  You're okay with taking this slow, right?"

He parked near the corner of the building, a few yards from her front  door. "Of course. I'm grateful you're no longer angry with me, but I  know earning trust is a process. I don't want to rush you." He got out  of the car and came around to open her door. "Besides, your apartment's  pretty much at maximum capacity. I wasn't expecting you to invite me to  stay the night with Meg here recuperating."

Wait, did he think her request to take things slow meant she wasn't ready to have sex again? Because actually-

"Did you have any idea she and my brother had talked?" he asked. "Have to say, Bryce caught me off guard with that."

"Me, too."

"If he asks her out, I hope she doesn't say yes right away." Sean  snickered. "He was so pompous about my being hung up on you. Couldn't  understand why I just didn't walk away."

Despite her reservations about making any long-term romantic plans, she  was touched by his reluctance to give up on her. She grazed her  knuckles over his cheek. "I'm glad you don't give up easily."                       
       
           



       

He turned his head, pressing a quick kiss against her hand. "Not when the reward for perseverance is you."





      12

"SO?" MEG STOOD in the doorway to Dani's room, where she'd apparently  been waiting while Dani changed into pajamas and brushed her teeth. "How  did it go? Were you able to avoid mention of how you seduced their son  the day you met him? After you'd been gone a couple of hours, I figured  it was safe to assume they hadn't labeled you a harlot and booted you  out of their house."