Claiming the Single Mom's Heart (14 page)

“I'm sorry, Grady. She'll do about anything to avoid turning out the lights and being left in her room at bedtime. But I don't dare let her sleep with me and get that started.”

“Don't be sorry. I'm not. She's a sweet kid.”

But they both knew he didn't want to get attached to a kid. At least not one that didn't belong to him or his family.

“I've seen quite a bit of activity next door this week.” She moved to turn down Tessa's bed. Plumped a pillow. “So how are things going for the grand opening?”

She couldn't bring herself to ask him again if he'd looked at her presentation for his photography proposal, afraid it might not be what he'd hoped.

“Going good. Or as good as you can expect with it only a week away. The website is up and running and our team is processing orders.”

“Wonderful.”

Grady folded his arms. “So has there been any more talk of a petition to put us out of business?”

“Not to my knowledge.”

“Gideon is keeping his distance?” Grady's eyes narrowed. “And his hands to himself?”

“He is.” She didn't dare mention his rant at the last Co-op meeting.

“Here I am!” Dressed in her baby blue flannel and eyelet-trimmed nightwear, a beaming Tessa appeared in the doorway, arms outstretched like a miniature diva.

“Now, don't you look beautiful.”

Tessa's smile broadened at Grady's praise. Then she stepped toward him and lifted her arm. “It's soft. See?”

His big hand brushed the delicate flannel sleeve. “Oh, wow, it is. I'm sure that keeps you warm, too.”

“Uh-huh.” She made a dive for her bed and scrambled to get herself situated. “You can tuck me in, Grady.”

His surprised gaze met Sunshine's, searching hers for direction, permission. When she nodded, he sat on the edge of the bed, looking huge next to the tiny girl. After a moment's hesitation, he tucked the covers around her, then leaned in to place a kiss on her forehead.

Not unexpectedly, Tessa cast an apprehensive look around the room. “I forgot to close the closet door. Mommy?”

“I'll do it.” For whatever reason, Tessa couldn't sleep without the door firmly closed and her night-light on. “But there's no reason to be afraid.”

Tessa's hand crept out from under the covers to reach for Grady's hand and his big one swallowed up her tiny one. “So you're scared of something, are you, Tessa? Something that might come out of your closet?”

She nodded solemnly.

“I understand what it's like to be afraid.”

“You do?”

“Sure. I've been scared lots of times.”

“Mommy says there's nothing to be afraid of.” Tessa darted a doubtful look in her direction.

“You know,” Grady continued, his voice soothing, “there's nothing in that closet that can hurt you, don't you? Your mom wouldn't allow that and she wouldn't tell you there was nothing in there if there was. So you
know
there's nothing in there, right? But you
feel
scared anyway.”

He ran a finger down the upper part of her flannel-clad arm. “And it's as if something has a hold of you right here, isn't it? Squeezing tight. And maybe your knees and your tummy hurt, too.”

Tessa nodded again and he gently brushed her hair back from her face. “That's what I thought. But we both agree with your mom, right? Nothing is in the closet. So what I want you to do now is settle back on your pillow and close your eyes, okay?”

“'Kay.”

But Tessa's eyes immediately flew open when he turned off the bedside lamp, leaving the room illuminated only by the light coming through the bedroom door.

He gave her hand a squeeze. “Eyes closed, remember?”

Nodding again, she obeyed.

And then, in a low, gentle voice, he began to pray.

“Father God, Tessa is scared. She knows there's nothing in her closet, but it
feels
as if there is. As You know, feelings are powerful things. You gave them to us so we can enjoy the good things You give us and so they can warn us when there's danger. There's no danger here, but Tessa's feelings are mixed up and telling her there is.”

Tears pricked Sunshine's eyes. This dear man, going before his Heavenly Father on her daughter's behalf. Understanding a little girl's fears. Not telling her, as Sunshine had repeatedly done, to stop being afraid.

“So we're here tonight asking in the name of Your son, Jesus,” he continued, “that You grab hold of the feelings that are telling Tessa fibs. That You will make the scary things she's seeing in her mind go away. That You will make the feelings that are squeezing her body let go. Thank You.”

Eyes still closed, Tessa nodded her agreement and once more Grady brushed back her hair, his voice gentle but firm. “Now, when bad feelings try to sneak in and start to squeeze you, I want you to say in your mind or out loud, ‘Jesus says, “Stop!”' Okay?”

“'Kay.”

“Say it for me now.”

“Jesus says, ‘Stop!'” she murmured.

“Good girl. And after you say that, I want you to think about other things. Don't look at what those bad feelings want you to look at. Think about something happy. Like watching a butterfly flit from flower to flower. Or Goldie swimming in his bowl. Or your mommy holding your hand as you go for a walk. Can you do that for me right now?”

“'Kay.”

Sunshine could see Tessa's features relaxing. Then, before long, amazingly, her breathing evened out and she was asleep.

Grady remained seated on the bed another five minutes, then carefully released Tessa's hand and stood. Wordlessly, they both left the room, Grady quietly closing the bedroom door behind them.

Chapter Fourteen

“Y
ou may have to do that with her nightly for a while.” Grady moved to the apartment door, his own feelings of tenderness toward Sunshine's daughter leaving him unsettled and ill at ease in the presence of the little girl's mom. “You know, to remind her. To help her make calling on Jesus and thinking about something else a habit.”

“I know we're not out of the woods on this, Grady, but I can't thank you enough.” Her beautiful eyes reflected her gratefulness. “I'm ashamed, though, that I thought buying her a fish to keep her company would solve anything. That I never recognized that while she knows there's nothing in the closet, she
feels
as if there is.”

“Don't beat yourself up. It's an easy enough mistake to make. It's helpful, though, to remember there's no wrong in a feeling itself. God gave them to us for a purpose. But we're not supposed to let them rule us—or control us—in a negative way.”

Like running from Sunshine because she, like the woman who'd betrayed him, had a daughter? As Sunshine was doing because she didn't want to be abandoned again, hurt as her ex-husband had hurt her?

She stepped closer, a spark of affection clearly in her eyes. “How'd you get to be so smart about little girls and things that go bump in the night?”

He chuckled. “My baby sister. When Rio was about four, the son of one of our employees thought it would be funny to lock her in a utility closet. It was only about fifteen or twenty minutes, but after that she was skittish and had trouble sleeping without a night-light. After a few weeks of prayer and guidance, she worked through those fears.”

Sunshine tilted her head. “You talked to her like you did Tessa tonight?”

“I can't take credit for that. But that's how my mother handled it, letting the rest of us know so we could reinforce it if we sensed Rio becoming anxious about anything.”

“Your mother is a wise woman. But at least she could pinpoint the origin of your sister's fears. I think that would help. I'm at a loss.”

“You said this began shortly before school started, so maybe it's related to that? Or something unrelated happened about that time that frightened her? Something's buried there. Maybe you can get her to talk about it now.”

“She spent several days with her grandmother—my mom—the week before school started, but Mom didn't mention anything out of the ordinary when I picked Tessa up.”

“Something has her rattled. Worrying. And it's manifesting in that closet.”

What was he doing anyway, coming across like some renowned child psychologist to a woman who had five years of parenting under her belt while he had zilch?

Leaving the apartment door open so she'd hear Tessa if she cried out, she escorted him down the stairs, then led him through the dim gallery. He paused in front of the faintly illuminated watercolor of Tessa, more reluctant now than before to see it sold to a stranger.

“I'd like to buy this.”

Sunshine's eyes rounded.

“Not right this minute. But hold it for me, okay?”

“I'm glad you like it.” Her eyes met his in obvious puzzlement. “But I admit this surprises me.”

“Why?”

“Because I know that you don't...”

“Don't want to get attached to someone else's kids?” He could give her a song and dance about giving it to someone as a gift, about donating it to an upcoming cancer fund-raiser for a silent auction. But the truth was, he wanted it hanging on his own wall. To be reminded of Tessa. And her mother.

Why did Sunshine have to look so beautiful tonight? Her features softly lit by a faint streetlight coming through the windows. His heart rate ramped up a notch.

“Maybe I was wrong about that.” His words came softly. “You know, about the kid thing. There's more to the story and, maybe, I'm...wrong.”

“More to what story?”

“The one I fed you last weekend. About the woman I broke up with who had a kid. Yeah, that left me feeling lousy. As if I'd let her daughter down. But even more...”

Sunshine's gaze never left his face.

“Even more, I got hurt because of her betrayal.”

“She cheated on you?”

“Not with another man. But she used me—used my family—for financial gain.”

Uneasiness flickered through Sunshine's eyes. Obviously he wasn't making himself clear. But how could he explain that mess?

“I won't bore you with the details, but Jasmine was a successful real estate agent who I'd met through an online photography club. Unbeknownst to me, she was working with clients and their big-time lawyers, wheeling and dealing to get some forest service property deeded to the county and zoned for commercial use.”

He could tell by the anxious look on her face that Sunshine still wasn't following. “To make a long story short, she was throwing my name—and that of my family—around as backers of a plan to commercialize a property that we would never have agreed should be commercialized. We're an influential family in these parts, known for our interest in protecting the environment. She was taking advantage of that, playing the odds that no one would come to me for verification when she'd made certain it was widely known that we were seeing each other.”

He drew a breath. “When the whole story came out, I learned it was no accident that she'd approached me online to begin with. She'd recognized my name and initiated a chat, which progressed from there. When all was said and done, I ended up feeling as if I'd let my whole family down. And her little girl got hurt, as well.”

A stricken look flashed through Sunshine's eyes. “I'm sorry, Grady.”

“Thanks. But when you're played for a fool, you can't help but wonder what part was your own fault. If maybe you deserved what you got because you were too stupid to see that you'd let your ego and your too-easily-led-astray heart rule your head.”

“You didn't deserve that, Grady.” Her words came softly. “You didn't.”

“That's debatable. But the point is—” his gaze captured hers “—I've let that betrayal spook me. Let it run my life the past six years. Sort of like Tessa is allowing whatever she imagines is in that closet to control hers. And—as I suspect—how you're letting that ex-husband rule yours.”

He heard a startled intake of breath and reached for her hand. “What I'm trying to say here, Sunshine, is—”

“That you,” she offered hesitantly, “like the watercolor of Tessa?”

“I do. And I'd like to buy it. I'd also like...” Heart hammering, he tugged gently on her hand to move her closer, deeper into the shadows. “I'd very much like to kiss you.”

Her eyes widened but, not hearing any objections, he leaned in and touched his lips to hers.

Lightly. Ever so lightly. Not daring to ask for more, but savoring the sweet sensation of her mouth on his. Sunshine. So like her namesake, a ray of warmth piercing the icy lock he'd secured on his heart, melting the frozen, off-limits regions he'd allowed to harden over time.

“Grady.” Her lips moved softly against his as her hands slipped behind his neck. Drew him closer.

He'd dated a lot of women. Kissed his fair share. But never, ever, had he felt the way he was feeling now with Sunshine in his arms. This overwhelming desire to hold her, cherish her, protect her.

Forever.

* * *

Breathless, Sunshine drew back slightly. What was she doing? Not only allowing him to kiss her as she'd never before been kissed, but kissing him back with a zeal she wouldn't later be able to deny.

And she
had
to deny it. Had to convince him they'd gotten carried away in the moment. That it didn't mean anything.
Couldn't
mean anything. And yet... Again she pressed her lips to his warm, inviting mouth as his arms tightened around her.

He'd been betrayed
.

Taken advantage of. Hurt deeply. Wasn't she equally as guilty as that other woman? Wasn't she trying to find a way to obtain compensation from the Hunters and, indirectly, from Grady, too?

She drew back again. Found her voice, although it came not much louder than a whisper. A breath. “Grady?”

“So sweet,” he murmured as his lips brushed her cheek, obviously loath to let her go.

“Grady. We can't do this.”

“Do what?” His gaze met hers, clouded with—what? Surely not love. No, not love.

“We can't—”

“Why not?”

He again touched his lips to hers but, with a willpower she didn't know she possessed, she firmly pressed her palms to his solid chest to gently push him away.

“This won't work, and we both know it.”

His forehead puckered as her words sank in. “What are you talking about?”

“Us. You and me. I'm your mother's opponent for town council, or have you forgotten?”

“I can't say that was on my mind these past few minutes, no.”

Offering a hard-to-resist smile, he tried to pull her closer, but she resisted, firmly removing his hands from her waist.

“Listen to me, Grady.”

“Okay, okay. I'm listening.”

He sounded somewhat cross. Which was fine. Maybe his irritation would provoke him into paying closer attention to what she was trying to say.

“Your mother and I are running against each other for a seat on the town council. How do you think your family will feel about me if we start seeing each other? It's a disaster waiting to happen.”

Seeing the bewilderment in his eyes, warmth heated her cheeks, flaming hot as realization dawned. Grady hadn't said anything about seeing each other. About dating or love or anything of the kind. He'd only admitted to wanting to
kiss
her.

Which he'd done quite capably.

No wonder he looked confused. Almost dazed. She'd jumped to conclusions. Made a fool of herself.

“Never mind. I think it's time for you to go. I'll have Benton drop off the painting at Hunter's Hideaway. You can give me your credit card number whenever you have time.” She grasped him by his rock-solid biceps, attempting to turn him toward the door. But he didn't budge.

“Wait.” He held up his hand. “What's going on here, Sunshine? One moment you're kissing me as if there's no tomorrow and the next you're rambling about my family and disasters and trying to boot me out the door. What disasters are you talking about?”

“It's not important. I misspoke.”

“What am I not understanding here?” He studied her for a long moment. “Maybe I'm dense, but I thought that not only is there a mutual attraction between us, but that there might be something more substantial.”

“Substantial?”

“You know, important. Yeah, physical attraction, but the enjoying each other's company thing, the spiritual bond, too. Maybe something on down the road?” He looked at her doubtfully. “Did I make that up?”

It was tempting to let him think he had. But she couldn't do that to him, especially with relief flooding through her that she hadn't misunderstood the intention of the kiss.

“I do think there's a connection, Grady.” As much as she didn't want there to be.

He grinned, and passed the back of his hand across his forehead. “Whew. I thought I was losing it for a minute there. So what's the deal with my family? The disaster stuff?”

“You don't think if we start seeing each other, your family might have a problem with it? And what about Gideon? He already has a target on my back for fraternizing with the enemy.”

“The election will be over the second Tuesday in November. A little over three weeks. Then everything goes back to normal.”

He took it for granted that Elaine would win. Which she undoubtedly would. “But don't you think—?”

His eyes smiling, he placed a gentle finger momentarily to her lips. “Jesus says, ‘Stop.' Remember?”

She laughed, recalling his time with Tessa.

Of course, he was right. The election would be behind them before they knew it. But still...he didn't know about her original intention for coming to Hunter Ridge. What was the likelihood, though, that Tori would find the indisputable evidence she sought? Why not give it up? Let it go? See where things went with Grady?

A murmur of hope rose up in her spirit. Did God have a bigger plan in bringing her and Tessa to Hunter Ridge than simply chasing after some family legend?

“Hey,” he whispered. “Tonight Rio and Luke both told me they like you. I think Grandma admires your spunk. Mom feels protective of you. Who cares what the rest of the family thinks?”

“So the rest of your family doesn't like me?”

“Sunshine?” He cocked a brow. “Remember, Jesus says—”

“Stop.”

He reached for her hand. “We don't have to make a big deal out of this right now. Nobody has to know where we might be headed when we don't even know ourselves. A few more weeks won't matter. That will give us both time to get used to the idea. Get to know each other better.”

He was making sense.

“And behind the scenes—” He wiggled his eyebrows and leaned in close. “We can sneak in a few more kisses.”

Laughing, she pulled away. “I think it's time for you to go.”

“Just when things are starting to get interesting?”

“For that exact reason.”

He let out a disappointed groan. Was this a dream? Grady Hunter was attracted to her? Wanted to get to know her better?

He moved reluctantly toward the door. “Things are going to be crazy this week for both of us. The upcoming election. The grand opening. But I'd like to see you if we can work it out.”

“I imagine we could arrange that.”

“Good.” A quick stolen kiss caught her by surprise.

Laughing at her expression, he slipped into the chilly night. She locked the door behind him and then, with an almost giddy laugh, she crossed the gallery to climb the stairs with a light step. But she'd barely reached the apartment door when the walking-on-air feeling evaporated.