Grayson's Vow (67)
“Yes,” I said, meeting his eyes.
Happiness filled his expression and he took my hand. We called goodbye to José and then stepped outside into the bright sunshine. We strolled up the hill and when we entered the house a few minutes later, I grabbed my suitcase, which Grayson had placed inside earlier and turned around to return it to my cottage.
“Hey, whoa, where are you going?” he asked.
I turned. “To my cottage.”
“You’re not staying there anymore. I moved you up to the house.”
“You moved me?” I asked, narrowing my eyes. I liked my little cottage. I liked having my own space. And if things were going to advance between Grayson and me in…other ways, it was going to be imperative I had a place that was only mine.
“Yes. Part of the reason you were sick is that you were breathing in all that dusty air, taking cold showers—”
“That’s ridiculous. I had a virus. You don’t get a virus from dusty air or cold showers.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. You’re still moving into the house.”
The nerve of him. “I’m not.”
“You are.”
We stood in a standoff in the foyer for several moments until Grayson crossed his arms, leaning casually against the wall. “You already agreed to stay in my room tonight.”
“Yes, tonight, but that doesn’t mean I’m moving in with you.”
“You are.”
“I’m not,” I ground out. My ire rose. Give this dragon an inch, and he tries to take a mile! The grand staircase caught my eye and I looked at Grayson, an idea coming to me. “I’ll race you,” I said. “Winner gets his or her way.”
He laughed. “Race me? Oh, little witch, you don’t stand a chance in a race against me. You might as well surrender now.”
“I’ll never surrender. And I don’t mean a foot race. I’ll race you down the banister. You take one side, I’ll take the other.” I’d been dying to slide down that banister since I’d first seen it. This was the perfect opportunity. I was a banister-sliding expert. If anyone knew grand stairways, it was me. My father’s home had three.
Grayson laughed again. “You must be joking.”
I raised both brows in answer.
“No, of course you’re not joking. This is ridiculous, you do know that, right?” But he began walking toward the staircase. It appeared he wanted what he wanted and was prepared to fight for it. I followed, and when we’d made it to the top, he moved to the right and I moved to the left. I positioned my butt up on the dark polished wood.
“I can’t even believe I’m doing this,” Grayson muttered, positioning himself on the other rail.
“If you’re nervous, I’ll give you a head start,” I said.
He grinned back devilishly. “No need, witch, let’s do this.”
I wiggled my butt on the rail, settling into place. “On your mark, get set, go!” I squealed as we both took off, sliding quickly down the smooth wood. I balanced precariously, shrieking when I almost tipped off the side but righted myself before I fell. I heard Grayson’s deep laugh next to me but didn’t dare look over at him. Gathering speed faster than I thought I would, the end came quickly, and I went flying forward into empty air, unable to land on my feet and instead catching myself on my hands as I hit the hard marble floor. I felt briefly winded and thought I heard the door open and close in front of me but couldn’t help breaking into peals of giggles when I heard Grayson’s deep laughter from next to me and looked over to see him sprawled on the floor as well. I was pretty sure I’d hit the floor first. Winner!
We both lay there for a moment catching our breath, our laughter fading. I glanced up and realized there were four pairs of shoes standing in front of us and when I raised my head, I saw Walter, one brow raised. Next to him, Charlotte gaped at me, and then moved her eyes to gape at Grayson.
I began standing slowly, the laughter fading entirely as I noticed the equally shocked looks on the faces of the tall, handsome blond man and the stunning blond woman standing next to Walter.
The blond man suddenly broke into a big grin and startled chuckling.
“Hi,” I breathed, coming to my full height and taking a step forward. I held out my hand. “I’m—”
“Shane,” Grayson said, his voice strangely clipped. “Vanessa.”
I swung my gaze to him and saw his expression was very suddenly without humor and instead coldly removed. “What in the hell are you two doing here?”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Kira
Oh my God. Shane: Grayson’s brother. Vanessa: the woman he’d been about to propose to before he’d been sent to prison. Now his brother’s wife. Here. In the flesh. I pulled in a deep breath and then smoothed my hands down my hips and tried my best to look cool, calm, and collected. Or at least as cool, calm, and collected as a person could look after having just removed herself from a sprawled position on the floor after flying off a banister.
“Is this her?” Shane asked, apparently ignoring Grayson and instead looking at me. I wasn’t sure exactly what to make of his question, but the look on his face was decidedly excited, so I smiled and held out my hand again.
“I’m Kira Dallaire,” I said.