A Promise Kept (16 page)

E
van woke
up and gazed at the woman sleeping in his arms. He shifted slowly in an effort not to disturb her slumber. The rosy color on her cheeks, her dark lashes and the way they fluttered—she looked like a porcelain doll—and the last thing he wanted to do was wake her from the valuable sleep she never seemed to get.

Those nightmares were intense. He hadn’t thought they would still haunt her the way they did, but he wasn’t so sure anyone could get over something that harrowing. He had wanted to ask about that promise she mentioned, but he didn’t want to pry, and if his instincts were correct, which they usually were, he already knew what that promise was.

The asshole—this Kyle guy—seemed to be behind a huge part of Grace’s issues. He put the thoughts aside and watched her for a moment longer. She whimpered in her sleep as she stirred, and he inwardly groaned at the discomfort he felt near his groin. She was too beautiful, and he was horny as hell. But he would be patient with her because he figured the guys she dated weren’t willing to tolerate her standards, and they had let her down. Their loss was his gain.

Her phone chimed on the dresser next to him and he quickly reached for it so she wouldn’t wake. He glanced at the screen and saw a text from her mother.

It was good that her mother made contact. There must have been a way to salvage this relationship somehow. Perhaps Grace was being harder on herself than they were. He moved to the kitchen, letting her sleep. Evan took his time fixing his coffee and worked his way through emails and eventually began reading the John Whitford script Mike had sent him.

When Evan closed it, he exhaled from the mental exhaustion and ran a hand through his hair. It was a fantastic story, and it was a character he could play well. It wasn’t a typical role, nor a typical movie, and he never wanted more than to take the part. He reflected over what this meant for him and the woman sleeping in his bed that he craved terribly. Long distance was a bitch. He wasn’t so sure he could deal with her absence from his life, nor was he sure that she would be willing to commit to someone who never stayed put.

He reached for his phone and began to text Mike.

His finger hovered over the send button as his mind battled with his heart. He had never put a woman over his career, but if he was going to commit to Grace—which he was very much considering—he’d have to make some type of compromise. Hesitating, he finally hit send.

The response from Mike was instantaneous.

“Morning. Happy Thanksgiving.” The lilt of Grace’s croaky voice pulled Evan away from the phone. Watching her stumble to the kitchen made him instantly regret sending that text message to Mike, and his feeling of compromise didn’t actually seem like he would be. Not when he was spending time with her. She was swimming in his sweatshirt and her hair was piled up on her head with tufts sticking out all over the place, but she looked perfect.

She served herself a cup of coffee and took out the creamer Evan had instructed Zach to buy. She yawned as she sleepily poured what must have been half a cup of it into her coffee. He laughed as she took a sip and gave a small sigh of content. “Happy Thanksgiving, snow angel. How’d you sleep?”

“The best I’ve slept in a long time.”

“And we didn’t even have sex,” he joked as he made his way to serve himself another cup of coffee. Before he did that, he swooped over and wrapped his arms around her center, pressing his chest to her back. Lowering his head, he nibbled her neck and trailed his lips to her ear.

Grace wrapped her arm around the back of his neck and gave him better access to her skin that smelled like strawberry and honey. Her moan made him tighten his grip on her waist as he showered her with slow and light kisses. His body responded, but he set to control himself as she breathlessly spoke. “Why didn’t you wake me earlier?”

“You looked so peaceful. I didn’t have the heart to do it.”

Her hand in his hair spurred him on and he cupped her jaw, guiding her body to face his. Circling his arms around her back, he pressed her to him as he took her mouth with eagerness. Grace let her arms cloak his neck as she stood on her toes, trying to get better access as he bent low and encased her body.

Their mouths fused with heat and lust, their tongues dancing against each other in a perfect waltz that made him feel like he was floating. Her hips bucked against him in a move that surprised and aroused him to an ache almost unbearable.

Her taste was an intoxicating blend of mint and coffee, and he was ready to go caveman, hoist her over his shoulders, drop her on his bed, and see how great she tasted on the rest of her body, specifically between her thighs. She coveted him just as much. He knew she did. Impatient fingers stroked his shoulders, and the way her lips trailed his jaw to his neck told him she did. And he was sure if he stuck his hand down her panties, he’d feel just how turned on she was by him.

Grace enraptured him, made him lose his senses—made him want every single bit of her with a ferocity he couldn’t understand. How was this girl knocking him off his feet and creating sensations in him that were beyond unexpected? He forced himself to gain control, recollecting how vital it was for her to feel full confidence with him. And as much as he thought that perhaps she might feel ready, he guaranteed she wasn’t. And he promised he wouldn’t pressure her.

With heavy reluctance, he pulled his mouth away from hers as they both caught their breath. Her rose petal lips were puffed and she sulked as she reached forward trying to take his mouth again. He chuckled and embraced her jaw with his hands holding her back. “Gracie, we gotta slow it, babe. My body might not be able to take too much of this right now without wanting more.”

“Oh.” She looked down, her eyes widening as she saw his evident erection through his sweatpants. Her cheeks and neck flushed a deep crimson as she spluttered her regret. “I’m…I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Evan.”

“Don’t be sorry for turning me on, doll.” He laughed and kissed the tip of her nose, letting his hands caress her cheeks.

“No, I mean, I should’ve stopped. I knew better, and I didn’t mean to tease…I’ll just get ready.” She maneuvered her way around him as she continued to uncomfortably fumble through her words. “I’m sure you need to get ready too, and I need to…you know, um, get-get r-ready.”

“Yeah, I’m gonna need one hell of a cold shower, Gracie Lynn.”

He watched as she shuffled toward him and picked up her coffee mug. “I’m going to take this with me. Because, well, because, I want to drink it. And, um, yeah. We’ll get ready.”

He laughed as he watched her walk away. This woman was driving him mad, and he was enjoying every single minute of this whole foreplay thing that would eventually lead to some amazing sex. But for now…
Patience.
Keep your promise, Matthews. You asshat.

* * *

T
he drive
to his hometown of Cohasset was almost an hour commute, and it was one Evan was accustomed to making. Grace was enjoying the scenery, but he could sense the anxiety that ran through her. Her leg bounced as she stared at the snow covered trees that surrounded the highways. He reached his hand out and clasped hers. “Don’t be nervous, Grace. My family will adore you.”

She nodded, a crinkle in her forehead showcasing that what he said didn’t make a bit of difference. “Jonah hates
Star Trek
,” she recalled.

“Oh, yeah, he
hates
it. Says I’m way cooler than Captain Kirk. Don’t ever mention you dressed up as him for Halloween. He’ll hold it against you forever.”

Grace became apprehensive. “Okay, then. Um, Hilary runs her own blog
.
Katie is a drama teacher. Her husband, James, is a dentist.”

“Yeah, he’ll probably ask you when you had your last dental appointment.” He heard her groan and he laughed. “No dental insurance?”

“I’m a writer. What do you think?”

“Honey, as long as you floss and brush, I’m not judging.”

“I do take very good care of my teeth, thank you very much.”

“You do have a gorgeous smile, Grace Lynn.”

She picked his hand up and kissed his knuckles. “And you have the straightest teeth I’ve ever seen. Spill it, Matthews. Are they caps?”

He busted out laughing, but kept his eyes on the road. “No, pumpkin, they’re all mine, but I did have braces. They pulled into a grocery store and Evan unbuckled his seatbelt after parking. “My mom needed a few things. It’s cold, so I can just run in and out.”

“I wanna go inside.”

“You want to see the inside of a grocery store?”

“Yeah. I like grocery stores. I like any stores, actually.”

He grasped her hand in his as they walked the length of the parking lot. It was crazy that an act as simple as holding her hand to guide her into the store felt so natural and comfortable. They entered and Grace looked around. “It’s pretty in here!”

“You’re so weird.”

“You like it,” she retorted sassily.

He did. There was no denying that. They walked to the bakery department where he searched for the typical dinner rolls they ate during the holidays. He threw the bag at her and she caught them. “My reflexes are fast, Matthews.”

“Oh, really?” He began to poke her sides and tickle her as they walked toward the dairy section. “You don’t seem that quick to me, baby cakes.”

“I’m letting you have your way for now, Hollywood,” she yelped as they tussled.

“Give me bedroom time, and then I’ll have my way in there, Gracie Lynn.” He clasped her close to him and gave her a kiss on her temple as she wrapped her arms around his waist.

“Evan?” He saw a woman from his past standing with a cart full of food. Sitting on the seat was a little girl of about two years old with mousy brown hair that matched hers. “Oh my god, Evan. How are you?”

“Christy, hi.” He moved forward and embraced her, the familiarity was still there, but different, and he gave a genuine smile her way. “I’m good. How are you?”

Memories flooded through him as she answered. She looked the same, just older. Much more mature and serious. Then again, she’d always been serious. Her green eyes focused on Grace, and Evan knew her curiosity had been piqued.

“This is Grace Clark. My girlfriend. Gracie, this is Christy Shaw.”

“It’s Nelson now,” she corrected with a grin and shook Grace’s hand. “Hello, Grace. This is my daughter, Clara.” He waved to the little girl, pinching her soft cheek as Christy spoke. “You look wonderful, Evan. Congratulations on all your success. You seem happy.”

“Thanks. I am. You?”

“Yes. My boys love
The Ending Series
.” She handed the squirming toddler a bag of yogurt bites to sustain her.

Evan asked their ages, names, and how everything was going with her family. It was a pleasant exchange of catching up as Christy spoke with animation. “Please give your sisters and mom my love.”

He nodded as she and Grace exchanged pleasantries and she walked away. They finished their grocery shopping and walked to the car, Evan contemplating how different his life would have been if he had stayed with Christy.

“So, you going to tell me about her, Matthews? Or will I have to dig for dirt?” He glanced at Grace’s expectant eyes, and he knew he had to explain to her. He couldn’t make her open up to him if he didn’t offer the same consideration.

“That was my ex-fiancé, Grace.”

“You were engaged?” He started the car and let the heater warm them up, but he didn’t drive. Not when she looked at him with her mouth gaping open. “To her? But you guys were so…cordial.”

He chuckled as he rubbed his hand together for warmth. “No need not to be.”