Page 96 of Forbidden Kisses
Grace turned to her. “He fixed up the house my mom has been staying at. He invited her to come today. Why would he do that?”
Abby laughed under her breath. “You two are like stupid teenagers. You know why he did it.”
Grace stared at her.
Then someone tapped the microphone again. Jack stood at the front of the applauding crowd. Grace couldn’t help but smile watching him. She’d registered at the local community college this week. She’s gotten herself a dog. Those were baby steps in getting what she wanted in life. But Jack was the biggest desire of her heart.
He cleared his throat into the microphone. “I appreciate everyone coming out. I’m going to make this short and sweet here today. There’s someone very important to me missing up here behind this ribbon. Chris Watson was my best friend. He’s the one that dreamed up this business, not me. He should be here. I have no doubt that somewhere he’s cheering us on, though.” He paused for a long moment, tipping his chin to his chest as if swallowing down his emotion. Grace wished she could put her arms around him and provide him some comfort. “There’s someone else who should be here beside me.” He looked up into the crowd, his gaze quickly zeroing in on Grace.
Her entire body warmed as their eyes connected.
“Grace. You want to come up here for a moment?” he asked.
She shook her head without thinking. She didn’t do crowds. She liked to disappear into them.
“Please,” he asked, lowering his voice. Everyone turned to look at her.
Grace swallowed and started walking toward the front of the crowd. She dipped below the ribbon to take her place beside him, then looked up. “What are you doing, Jack?” she asked in a whisper. Tears burned her eyes.
He grabbed her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. Then instead of answering her question, he addressed the crowd again. “This woman is another reason this business is opening today. She believed I could do this. She encouraged me and never gave up on me.” He looked at her. “This woman is amazing. And that’s why the first boat ever constructed by Watson and Sawyer is namedGrace. What do you think?” he asked the crowd.
In response, everyone cheered.
Grace laughed, even as tears slid down her cheeks. “You named a boat after me?” she asked, noticing the small boat off to the side now. It appeared to be made of oak wood. Her name was painted in calligraphy on the bow. “Oh my God. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” She knew he’d been working on a boat in his garage, but they’d rarely gotten out of the bedroom and the kitchen.
“I’m glad you approve.” Jack grinned at her. Then he held up a pair of silver scissors ceremoniously and cut the large red ribbon in front of them. The crowd went wild, and after a few more words from Jack, they started to disperse. The ceremony was over, short and sweet as promised.
And Grace was more confused than ever. He’d fixed her mom’s place, invited them here today, named a boat after her. What did it mean?
“Hey,” he said, turning to her.
“Hi.” She swallowed and dared to meet his blue eyes. She’d always loved those eyes, that mouth, that man. “Thanks for inviting me here today.”
The corner of his mouth lifted. “I want you here for all the important moments in my life. Our lives.”
Grace swallowed thickly, stepping toward him. Krista was right. There was a pull between them, like magnets. It was an undeniable force. “You and my mom?”
“You were right. She’s changed,” he said, running a hand down the length of Grace’s arm. “I have, too.”
Grace tore her gaze from his, reminding herself of why they couldn’t be together.Why was that again?She sucked in a deep breath. “This is a really great location. Your business is going to thrive here. I’m sure you’ll have more work than you can handle.” She was rambling.
“Grace?”
“Hmmm?” She looked up at him again.
“I’m sorry. I was a huge idiot.”
She lifted both brows in surprise. “I won’t argue with you on that.”
The other side of his mouth kicked up now, too. “And it probably won’t be the last time. But I can promise you that if you give me another chance, giveusanother chance, I’ll never let anything come between us again.”
“Not even my mother?” she asked.
“I’m starting to tolerate your mother. Maybe even like her a little bit.”
Tears flooded Grace’s eyes. “You’re just saying that because you know that’s what I want to hear.”
He smoothed Grace’s hair off her cheek and stepped closer, until their bodies pressed against each other. He draped his arms around her waist, holding her captive, but she didn’t mind. “Tammy is headstrong and opinionated, and impossible to love sometimes. Her heart is in the right place, though. And she’s pretty damn funny.”
