The Borrowed Boyfriend (13 page)

By the time Allison returned with their coffees, Grady was dressed in a sweater and jeans and seated in the chair by the hearth. He’d rolled up the sleeping bag and bedroll and stashed them in the closet, while he was at it. He’d also made the bed, and hung more female outfits than he could count in the closet. While Grady hadn’t been invasive enough to touch anything still in Allison’s suitcase, he’d felt fully justified in nabbing stuff off the floor. The room had been a minefield, with little traps lying around everywhere. It was a miracle Allison could safely navigate her own space back home and hadn’t yet landed in the hospital. Grady congratulated himself for getting so much accomplished caffeine-free. He normally didn’t function well without his java.

“Well…” Allison face brightened as she looked around the room. “I see you picked up in here.”

“And got dressed.”

“Hmm, yes.” Grady didn’t know why, but he detected a hint of disapproval.

“Don’t tell me,” he said, only half teasing. “My sweater’s a fashion fail?”

She kicked the door shut with her foot, juggling the two mugs of coffee. “That’s not it at all.”

Grady rose and reached for the mug she extended in his direction, preparing to offer his thanks, but Allison unexpectedly pulled it back. “I was thinking maybe you should apologize.”

Grady couldn’t believe she was stuck on that hand-holding thing. He thought they had that settled. He knew he’d done wrong, two times. But he’d already admitted his mistake. What did Allison want him to do? Grovel? Grady really wasn’t the groveling kind, but in the interest of fake couple harmony, he supposed he could make an exception. They’d be sharing this room together for six more nights. “Allison, I apologize. I’m generally quick on the uptake, but in this case, I hope you’ll forgive me for being a slow learner.”

“Slow learner? What are you talking about?”

“Well…I…uh… What are
you
talking about?” he asked cautiously.

“Your comment, of course!”

“Comment?” Grady asked, stupefied. He reached desperately for the coffee, but Allison held it away from him.

“I want you to apologize for calling me a party pooper.”

“I didn’t call you that.” Grady repressed a grin. “To your face.”

“No, you said it to your pillow.”

“So, maybe my pillow’s a good listener.”

Allison smirked and waved his coffee temptingly in front of him. He tried to snatch it, but she pulled it back. “Ah!” He grabbed for it again, but she lifted it higher. “Ah-uh!”

Grady ran a hand through his hair. “Allison, you’re killing me.”

“Then say you’re sorry.”

“Okay,” he said like a petulant child. “I’m sorry for calling you a party pooper.”

“Good.”

Finally, she handed him his coffee. Grady took a grateful swallow, then murmured, “Even though you are one…”

Allison’s eyebrows shot up. “I most certainly am not.”

“I thought we were having a pajama party,” Grady said brazenly. “You made me take my pajamas off.”

Allison blew out a breath. “You weren’t
wearing
pajamas, Grady.”

His lips twitched. “Minor detail.”

“I can see why you drive Kate nuts,” Allison said. “You’re really irritating in the morning.”

Grady took a giant step backward, defending his mug with his other hand. “That’s better than being a….”

Allison looked like she wanted to tackle him. Grady questioned whether he’d really mind that. If he were unattached that might not pose a problem. In fact, he’d probably enjoy it. Then the picture of him and Kate on his phone popped into his head. Grady couldn’t even remember why he’d saved it as his wallpaper. That’s right! Kate had done it for him during their layover in the airport between their connecting flights. She’d saved the same photo as the wallpaper on her phone as well. He was pretty sure she’d also texted a copy to Marie.
 

Allison was still standing there, glaring at him, issuing a silent dare. It was too much. He couldn’t resist. He stepped past her and shot for the bathroom, shouting, “…party pooper!” Then he slammed the door shut and locked it.

“Grady!” She pounded it hard from the other side. “Unlock this door!”

“No!”

“Why? What are you doing?”

He casually lifted his electric razor off the sink and switched it on. He held it out to the side in one hand while slowly sipping his coffee. “Shaving!” he lied, savoring the moment.

Allison sat down on the bed in a huff and folded her arms. She was
not
a party pooper. She absolutely wasn’t. Just ask her friends! Everyone knew Allison was a lot of fun! And she was going to prove it. Just as soon as she got done strangling Grady. He was such a pain. Allison massaged the side of her neck, realizing it felt sore. She must have gotten a crick from sleeping on the floor.
 

Tonight she’d let Grady take a turn and see how he liked it. Maybe then he wouldn’t wake up in such an aggravating mood.
 

Allison lifted her gaze to the windows facing the sea, absorbing the fabulous view. Beyond the patio and rolling dunes, waves crashed against the shore of the tiny inlet. The small private beach was ringed by craggy boulders and steep drop-offs overlooking the churning ocean. And slightly to the north, a sandy footpath led through mossy hills dotted with occasional wildflowers. Allison stood and walked to the window, peering out as far as her eyes could see. There, on a faraway spit of land, she found the treasure she sought: the spindly tower of a lighthouse.

While she and her friends came to Maine each March, they’d made a pact to investigate a different section of the coast each year. So this landscape was breathtakingly new to her. She couldn’t wait to get out and explore it. With—or without—Grady, she thought with a surly pout.

The sound of Grady’s razor clicked off, then Allison heard water running. Great, now he was taking his shower. Allison flopped back on the bed, thinking this was going to take a while. This was the thanks Allison got for bringing Grady his coffee. Tomorrow, she was not only waking up refreshed after having slept in the bed—
alone
— she was also getting first dibs on the bathroom.

Chapter Seventeen

By the time Allison finished her shower and got dressed, Grady was holding a captive audience around the dining table. She found him there, his coffee mug at his elbow, eagerly answering questions from the others. Allison’s stomach clenched with worry. She hoped he wasn’t revealing things about their “relationship” that would trip her up later.

“Morning!” Carla called brightly from beside Bruce at the table. The couple shared a knowing look, then Carla grinned at Allison. “Sleep well?”

Deb and Patrick were also at the table, as were Queenie and Brevard. All of them exchanged glances, while Queenie giggled behind her hand. Allison noticed Deb’s lips firmly pressed together, as if she was going to burst into giggles any moment herself.

Grady, on the other hand, appeared dead serious—and very proud of himself. He sat up straighter, flexing the muscles of his chest as he inhaled deeply. “Nothing like exposure to the night air to help one sleep more soundly.” Was it her imagination, or had Grady not really shaved? Dark stubble covered his chin when he stroked it. He shot her a playful look and his deep-blue eyes twinkled. “Right, darling?”

Allison grinned tightly and went to pour herself more coffee before joining them at the table. “I’m not sure how I’d know.”

“She’s just embarrassed,” Queenie whispered to the others.

“I don’t see why,” Carla returned.

“We all only want what’s best for her,” added Deb.

Allison spun on her heel toward them and the chatter stopped. Grady glanced at her friends and shrugged. He lowered his voice and spoke confidentially. “Allison’s always been the modest type. Doesn’t like to brag.”

“Hmm, that’s true,” the group seemed to agree in unison.

Allison approached the table, feeling her cheeks burn. There was only one seat left and, thankfully, it wasn’t next to Grady. He was still being obnoxious enough for her to want to pinch him. Okay, so yeah, she wanted her friends to think they were an item, but did Grady have to carry things so far? She settled herself in at the free spot across from him instead. He was facing the great room with his back to an oceanside window, and the bright blue sky brought out the hue of his eyes.

“What does everyone have planned for today?” she asked, changing the subject. She noticed bagels and cream cheese laid out on the table along with a plate of pastries. She picked out a cheese Danish and set it on a napkin by her mug.

“Brevard and I are going shopping,” Queenie said. “We’re cooking tonight.”

Brevard nodded. “Beer-braised short ribs slow-cooked on the grill.” He stopped and surveyed their faces with a worried frown. “Everyone’s okay with that? No vegetarians among us?”

“Just make sure the beef is free-range,” Deb said between bites of her whole wheat bagel.

Queenie, who was to Allison’s right, leaned toward Brevard beside her and quietly whispered, “It’s all right. She’ll never know the difference.”

Brevard cleared his throat, and Bruce piped up. “Carla and I were going to take a drive into Portland. Tool around the town. Anyone want to join us?”

Though Allison had been there before and found it lovely, what she really wanted to do during this trip was spend time in nature. “I was thinking I’d take a long walk on the beach, maybe head up to the lighthouse.”

Grady smiled at Allison. “I love how we think alike.” He reached his arm toward her, almost like he was ready to take her hand. She stealthily slid hers back from where it rested on the table.

“Can you please pass the sugar, Patrick?” Grady asked innocently, like that was what he’d been after all along. “I can’t quite reach it.”

Allison fumed, realizing he’d been razzing her on purpose. She narrowed her eyes at Grady, but he just smiled pleasantly in return.

Patrick complied with Grady’s request, then said, “Deb and I discussed going biking later. We can get some rentals in town.”

“We’ve heard colder weather’s moving in tomorrow,” Deb offered. “So we thought it might be good to go today. Anyone else interested?”

“I’m taking a vacation from exercise this break!” Queenie declared.

Everyone laughed and Carla said, “Me too. Sightseeing at a slow pace is about my speed.”

“As long as we can stop for beer,” Bruce put in.

“He just wants to stop into a sports bar to check on March Madness,” Carla said in a mock whisper.

Grady scanned the great room, his eyes landing on a large flat-screen TV. “We don’t get ESPN here?”

“We don’t turn on the television,” Allison explained. “It’s something we all agreed to in the beginning. No one monopolizes the TV and everyone gets to enjoy the sound of the waves.”

“We do watch movies as a group sometimes,” Carla said.

Deb nodded. “But only by popular vote.”

“So!” Queenie took a sip of coffee. “It sounds like we’re all going our separate ways today. What time should we meet back here for dinner?”

Everyone agreed on seven, before Allison asked casually, “What were you all talking about earlier?”

“Earlier?” Grady asked innocently.

“When I walked in?”

“Oh, that!” Patrick’s green eyes lit up. “Grady was just telling us about Total Wines.”

“And its plans for world domination,” Bruce said with a laugh.

Allison couldn’t mask the disapproval in her voice. “Oh really?”

“You remember, darling,” Grady said. “I told you about it on the drive here.”

No… No, he didn’t. What’s more, Allison wished he’d stop calling her
darling
. It was getting on her nerves.

“Grady’s company is expanding,” Carla explained gently, as if reminding her. “I think it’s fantastic he’s exploring an international angle. Just think, Allison! Italy! I’d love to go back someday, wouldn’t you? Maybe you could go there with Grady.”

“Or maybe we could all go together!” Bruce suggested. “Next year, when I’m done with my residency, I’ll be ready to celebrate. I mean, assuming I nail down a job.”

“Of course you will, honey.” Carla reassuringly patted his hand. “A really brilliant one too.”

Deb cocked her head to the side. “I like that idea, actually.” She glanced at the others. “All of us going to Italy. We could rent a villa.”

“Sounds good,” Patrick said.

Brevard lifted a shoulder. “Well, maybe if my book sells…”

“I think we should
save the date
!” Queenie declared.

Wait a minute. How did they go from a discussion about Grady’s job to all eight of them going to Italy? This deal was for
one week.
One week only! Allison and Grady weren’t supposed to making plans beyond that. Especially not as a couple.

Allison folded her face in her hands.

Queenie tenderly laid a hand on her shoulder. “What’s wrong, sugar?”

“She’s just overwhelmed,” Grady said warmly. “By everyone’s love and support. To imagine you’d all want to come with us to Tuscany! I think that’s awesome! What a great plan!”