Page 43 of Forbidden Kisses
Jack stopped and looked at his brother. He should just tell Noah the truth, man to man. That’s what they both deserved. It was also what he and Grace deserved.
“Actually, I’m here to see Grace,” Jack said, bracing himself in case he decided to lay everything out there.
Noah’s brow dipped. “Yeah? She seems to be holding down the fort pretty good in there. Hate to burst your ego bubble, but Grace doesn’t need any more help from you.” He clapped a hand across Jack’s shoulder.
Jack shook his head. “No, I know she doesn’t need me.”Not in the office at least.“She’s doing a great job as our new manager.”
“Even Dad thinks so. Says it’s like he found his long-lost daughter.”
Jack frowned.Not his father, too.Next thing he knew, Sam would also be calling Grace sis.
Noah started walking toward his truck.
“Where’re you going?” Jack called after him.
“I have a date tonight. Not sure if you even remember what that is,” Noah teased. “Oh, wait. You’ve been seeing some chick behind people’s backs. Everyone knows it. Either she’s so hot you don’t want anyone to steal her away, or she’s so ungodly ugly you’re embarrassed to be seen with her in public.” Noah waggled his eyebrows.
Jack ignored him. “I was thinking we should take theSummerlyout with Grace tomorrow morning. What do you think? We could do another trial run before the tournament and actually catch some fish this time.”
Noah stopped walking and shoved a hand on his hip. “Yeah? First you agree to do the tournament. Now you’re willing to go out on extra runs just for kicks? This is progress.”
“Not for kicks. To show Grace what it looks and feels like to hook a hundred-pound tuna. We didn’t fish the other day, remember?”
“Right.” Noah grinned and pulled the sunglasses on his head over his eyes. “Well, count me in. See you tomorrow morning, bro.”
Jack watched his brother get into his truck, then proceeded up the steps. He hadn’t laid everything out there just yet, but he’d wanted to. “I’m tired of keeping this thing between us quiet,” he said as soon as he opened the door.
Grace whirled around in her desk chair to look at him. She quickly glanced around the room as if to make sure they were alone. “Only until after the tournament. I thought we agreed.”
“And then what? Until after the holidays, so we don’t ruffle feathers during the merriest time of the year?”
Grace shook her head. “Where is this even coming from?” She laughed, then got up and crossed the room to kiss him lightly. “We’ve barely had our first date, Jack,” she said, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Who says we’ll even be together at Christmas?”
Gut punch.
“I don’t like sneaking around.” He felt needy, which was not his usual MO. He didn’t want to need anyone like this. Especially someone who was likely to run from him. He inhaled and started backtracking. “You’re probably right. Christmas is a few months off. We might not even be—”
Her eyes narrowed.Damned if he did and damned if he didn’t.“We should focus on winning the tournament first.”
She nodded. “Do you think we have a shot at actually winning?”
“Not with a captain who’s never caught a fish.”
A frown settled on her mouth. “I’ve caught pinfish.”
“Come out with Noah and me tomorrow morning. We’ll show you what it means to catch a real fish.”
Her eyes lit up. “But what about the office?”
“It can stay locked up for a few hours. We have voicemail. Say yes.”
Grace smiled, still wrapped snugly in his arms, exactly where he wanted her. “Sounds like fun. I can’t wait.”
“Good.”
Grace started to glance worriedly around the room, but he stopped her and kept her face directed at him.
“Don’t worry, we’re alone. So now that we’ve planned for tomorrow, I was wondering if you had plans for tonight. I got an offer for another job this afternoon.”
