Rm w/a Vu(84)

Chuckling, Greyston rubs my upper arm. “Easy, tiger.”

I look behind me to see Toby and Callie walking toward the pool, and then back at Greyston, who looks a little uncomfortable. “I’m sorry,” I whisper, feeling incredibly guilty that he’s going to have to suffer.

Greyston smiles reassuringly and shakes his head before turning his attention to Toby. “I thought you were coming by at eleven?”

I turn around to see Toby arch an eyebrow at him before looking down at his watch. “It’s eleven-thirty.”

“It is?” Greyston inquires, looking at me, seemingly shocked. “Damn. Okay, why don’t you give me a few minutes to finish up out here and get changed?” Greyston asks Toby, who nods in response before heading back inside with Callie.

“Sorry,” Greyston apologizes. “I didn’t realize what time it was. I thought you had to work, so Toby and Callie were going to come over to go over a few things for my trip to Chicago.”

“Oh.” I nod. “Okay.”

“It shouldn’t take long,” he’s quick to assure me, pulling me back into his arms. “And then maybe we could pick up where we left off?”

“Perhaps,” I contemplate playfully before remembering something. “Oh… Our parents are coming for dinner today, remember?”

Greyston nods. “We’ve got plenty of time. Though, I will have to run into the store to pick up a few things. Care to tag along?”

“As if you even have to ask,” I tell him.

Greyston kisses me softly before we exit the pool. We grab our towels off the lounge chair, wrap them around our waists after drying our upper bodies, and head for the patio door hand-in-hand.

“I’m going to go and get dressed,” I announce.

Greyston leans forward and kisses the tip of my nose. It’s a small, innocent gesture, but it always serves to take my breath away while making me feel special and adored.

Leaning in, I ghost my lips over his. “But you better make good on your promise to make it up to me, Masters.”

His eyelids drop slightly, and he groans. It pleases me to know I have a very similar effect to the one he has on me. “I assure you, I will.”

“You two gonna spend all day making googly eyes and kissy faces at each other?” Toby says, closing the fridge behind me.

“Thought about it,” I joke, shooting a friendly wink Toby’s way.

Greyston looks to Callie, and then shakes his head at Toby. “I’m going to go and get dressed. I’ll be right down, and we can go over Mills’s contract.”

Once we’re in the hall between our rooms, I turn to Greyston. “I’m going to go and shower. You should head downstairs and do what it is you have to so I can have you all to myself for a bit before dinner.” Before tearing myself from his warm embrace, I pop up on my toes and kiss him softly.

He groans as I step away, and I can feel Greyston’s eyes on me as I make my way to my room. My newfound confidence stirs, and I reach for the bikini tie around my neck and tug it free. It falls slack around my neck. I clutch it to my chest before it falls and then turn to find Greyston gawking.

Smiling, I reach behind me and untie the other string. “You know, for every minute you stand there staring, you could be doing your work.” Feeling emboldened, I tear the top from my body and toss it at him, closing my door before he can get a good look.

I lean my back against the door and stifle a giggle when I hear him start to grumble. “That’s just mean,” he says loud enough for me to hear. “Thanks for the souvenir, though. I’ll be sure to keep it somewhere safe.”

His bedroom door closes across the hall, and I push myself off the door to hop in the shower quickly. Dressed in jeans and a fitted tee, I head downstairs to find Greyston, Toby, and Callie still at the kitchen table going over the folder splayed before them. “Hey,” I greet. “I’m kind of hungry, do you guys want lunch?”

Greyston’s the first to look up, smiling wide. “Sounds great, babe.”

It’s the first time he’s referred to me as anything but my name in front of others, and my breath catches slightly. My cheeks warm, and I avert my eyes when Callie and Toby exchange a glance between them. “Anything in particular?” I inquire, opening the fridge and rifling through it. “I could make soup and sandwiches?”

No one objects, so I set out making lunch. By the time it’s ready, they’re just finishing up with work, and we all sit around the kitchen table. I take a seat next to Greyston, Toby sits on his other side, and Callie next to him.

“So, about Xander’s trip next week…” Greyston interjects. “Juliette suggested paintballing. Are the two of you up for it?”