Chapter 3

GRAY SAT in his brother’s kitchen, his feet propped on the chair across from him. He’d been up since five o’clock and had already exercised in Trent’s home gym, showered, and watched the morning news. Now, he was working on his first cup of coffee while he ate a bowl of cereal and toast. He had another two hours to kill before he picked up Kiera for breakfast, and he knew he’d never last that long without some food. He’d considered a cupcake instead of the toast and cereal, but decided he should stick with something a little healthier since he planned to order a Belgian waffle topped with strawberries, whipped cream, and syrup.

That didn’t mean he wouldn’t have any cupcakes today. He had five left, and he did enjoy a snack before bed.

Soon his thoughts of eating cupcakes changed to memories of Kiera making cupcakes. When he’d landed in Providence, he’d had two things in mind: his brother’s wedding and time with his family. Starting up a relationship with someone hadn’t been on his radar, yet he hadn’t been able to stop himself with Kiera. When he’d watched her lick the batter from her finger, desire rolled over him and he’d gone on autopilot. Even later, when he knew he should play it cool and let her set the pace, he’d kissed her as if he needed her lips to survive.

He reviewed yesterday’s events once more and smiled. He’d surprised her, no questions about it. However, she’d wanted him, too. He might have instigated their first kiss, but she’d been a willing participant and she started their second one.

With a little luck, they’d get the opportunity for a repeat performance today. Sure, they planned to go ice-skating, but they couldn’t skate all day. Once they came off the ice, they would need a way to warm up. He couldn’t think of a better way than coming back here or her place for a few hours of adult activities.

He let himself picture Kiera in sexy lingerie. Before he could enjoy the image too much, though he forced it away. If he wanted to pursue things with Kiera, he needed to take it slow. He couldn’t pull a love-’em-and-leave-’em with her. Not that he made a habit of doing that with any woman. Still, he’d had a few one-night stands and brief flings. He’d known Kiera too long to treat her that way.

If he pursued a relationship with Kiera, he had to do it right. Thanks to his crazy-ass work schedule, he realized that wouldn’t be easy. Regardless, he intended to make the effort

Gray drained his coffee and went to get another, but the ringing of his phone stopped him. Over the past nine months, he’d come to hate that particular ringtone. This morning he had no intention of answering it. Work could wait until tomorrow.

The ringing stopped but immediately started back up again.

Apparently, it couldn’t wait or his boss would have left a message.

“Damn it to hell.” Gray grabbed the phone. The sinking stone in his gut told him he was going to have to cancel his breakfast plans.

“Gray, it’s Randall.” Randall Hunter started every phone conversation the same way. “How was your brother’s wedding?”

He’d worked for Randall Hunter for almost four years now and had noticed a long time ago that the man cared about his people’s personal lives, even if he was often responsible for ruining them. Regardless of the seriousness of a phone call or meeting, he always asked about Gray’s life. An outsider might assume they were co-workers who spent time together outside the office, but Randall didn’t know what a life outside the office was.

“The wedding was great.” Gray propped his feet back up while he waited for Randall to drop the pleasantries and reveal the purpose of his call.

“Good. Good. My daughter said everyone is talking about it on social media.”

The comment didn’t require a response, so Gray took another sip of coffee.

“Are you still in Providence?”

As if the guy didn’t know. “I decided to spend a few extra days visiting family.”

“I understand that. Family is important.”

What did Randall know about family? Work was his life, which explained why he was on his fourth marriage.

“We have a situation in Cozumel. I need you to fly out there and handle it.”

Gray had expected something like this, but still… He swore under his breath. “Can you send someone else?”

Under normal circumstances he never passed his work on to someone else. However, the past several months hadn’t been what he considered normal.

“I haven’t slept in my own bed in weeks. I planned to spend at least the weekend here. I’ll be back in New York no later than next Tuesday and ready for anything you toss at me then.”

The world wouldn’t end if he stayed on vacation for a few more days.

“You’re it, Gray. There’s no one else who can handle this situation.”

Gray rubbed the tension in his neck “Okay. I’ll fly out tomorrow morning. I’ll call my flight crew and tell them to prepare.”

“No good. I need you there ASAP. I’ve got you booked on a private charter leaving Green this morning. If you leave the airport by 10:30, you’ll arrive in time for phase one of my plan.”

Randall’s comment confirmed Gray’s earlier assumption that his handler had known where he was before he’d asked.

“Have your flight crew meet you in Cozumel when you’re ready to come home.”

At least his flight crew could enjoy their stay in New England a few more days.

“There will be a courier at the airport with the briefing package.”

Gray gave up rubbing his neck. No amount of massaging would get rid of this headache. “Anything else I need to know?”

“The report should be sufficient.”

“Fine. I’ll be airborne by 10:30 then.”

Gray ended his call and wished he’d been talking on one of those old-fashioned phones so he could slam the receiver down rather than hit the End button. The last thing he wanted was to fly out to Cozumel.

After taking a final bite of toast, he cleaned up his breakfast dishes and headed back upstairs to make phone calls. Besides arranging a ride to the airport, he needed to cancel his plans for the day.

Kiera turned on the dishwasher. She’d spent the morning making soup that she and Gray could take with them. It’d make a nice warm lunch after ice-skating outside.

With the kitchen once again clean, she grabbed the crossword puzzle and was sitting down to wait for Gray when the intercom buzzed.

She glanced at her wall clock. Either it was off or Gray was thirty minutes early.

A nervous flutter settled in her chest as she let him in downstairs.

Squeezing her eyes tight, she reached for the doorknob. “Relax, you idiot,” she whispered to herself. Kiera opened her eyes and pulled the door open.

“Gray.” She’d expected him to be on the other side of the door, but she hadn’t expected him to be standing there in a suit and long wool coat. “Come on in.” She took a step backward. “Did you change your mind about ice-skating?”

Gray closed the door behind him, but made no indication he planned to stay.

“I can’t make it today. Work called this morning and there’s an emergency with a hotel deal that I need to take care of.” He pulled off his leather gloves and stuck them into his pocket. “I’m really sorry.”

He stepped toward her and put his hands on her shoulders. “Trust me, if it wasn’t an absolute emergency, I wouldn’t go. I’d much rather stay here with you.”

I shouldn’t be disappointed. Sadly, her heart refused to listen to her inner monologue. “I understand. Don’t worry about it. It’s no big deal.” The lie sounded convincing to her ears; she hoped it did to his as well.

Kiera shoved her hands into her pockets. “Where are you off to? Someplace warm and sunny?”

Gray’s hand traveled up her neck, and she fought the urge to touch him as well.

“Cozumel. And it is a big deal. I wanted to spend the day with you.”

“This morning I made some carrot soup. I thought we could have it for lunch. I’ll get you some to take with you.”

She doubted he planned to travel via a commercial airline, which regulated what could and couldn’t come on board. Kiera tried to step away, but his hands kept her in place.

“I’d love a rain check for today.” His fingers made tiny circles on her skin beneath her ponytail. “I don’t know how long I’ll be gone, but I’ll come back as soon as I can.”

Kiera shifted her weight to her other foot. “Sure. No problem.”

The corner of his mouth inched upward. “Thank you.”

She intended to ask if he wanted some soup again, but before she got a sound out, he kissed her. Thoughts of soup and skating got pushed aside as heat built up where his hands touched her.

Unlike the kisses they shared the day before, this one remained tender. And quick.

“I need to go,” Gray whispered when he ended their kiss.

Kiera nodded. “Give me one minute and I’ll get you the soup.”

When she pulled away, he didn’t try to stop her. Without looking at him, she walked into the kitchen. She’d already filled one container up, so she grabbed it off the counter.

“Here you go. I hope you enjoy it. It’s a new recipe I’ve been experimenting with.”

“Kiera, I really am sorry about today.” He ran a finger down her cheek.

The disappointment she heard in his voice echoed the feeling in her chest. “Rain check, remember?”

“Right.” Despite his agreement, Gray’s frown remained. “I can’t say when, but I’ll call you sometime this week, okay?”

She forced a smile. “Of course. And have a safe trip. At least you’ll be warm down there.”

Kiera moved in to kiss his cheek, but Gray beat her to it, and brushed his lips across hers one final time.

She closed the door behind him and dropped her fake smile. So much for a fun day ice-skating. What should she spend her day doing now? She glanced around the apartment. The place could use a thorough cleaning, but this was her day off. Did she want to spend it dusting and vacuuming? It wasn’t like a messy apartment would kill her or anything, and she didn’t get many visitors. In fact Gray had been her first visitor in weeks.

Yeah, housework could wait. She needed something fun to do. Maybe Joanna and Stephanie were free. They could go to the movies and maybe lunch.

Kiera’s stomach rumbled as she locked the door. She’d call her friends and then make breakfast. Since she thought they were going out she only had a glass of cranberry juice that morning. Evidently her stomach wasn’t satisfied with that. She moved away from the door and stopped when she spotted the black leather glove on the floor.

Gray had been wearing gloves when he came in but not when he touched her cheek. She touched the soft leather. He’d figure out he dropped it here soon enough. For now she’d put it in a safe place. When he claimed his rain check, she’d give it back to him. She hoped he did that soon.

Gray tossed his coat onto an empty seat and sat down.

“Should I let the pilot know you’re ready to leave?”

Gray looked over at the flight attendant. “Yes. Did you ask him about our arrival time?”

“He said winds should be favorable, so we should still reach Cozumel on time. Once we are in the air, I’ll serve coffee.” The flight attendant smiled and walked away.

Relieved, Gray pulled out his laptop, annoyed at himself for being late that morning, something that wouldn’t have happened if he hadn’t stopped at Kiera’s place first. He’d realized that a trip to Lincoln might make him late and that a phone call would be his best bet. He’d also known that he’d be kicking himself later if he canceled their plans via a simple phone call. So, rather than head straight to the airport Gray had insisted the driver bring him by Kiera’s apartment first even though Lincoln was twenty minutes in the opposite direction of the airport.

While he hadn’t lingered at her apartment, he’d spent more time there than he should have. Then, he’d hit traffic going though the city, which meant they arrived at the airport fifteen minutes late. He couldn’t believe he jeopardized an assignment to satisfy his personal life. That wasn’t like him.

Gray set his laptop on the table. As soon as he got the go-ahead from the pilot, he’d turn it on. Then, he pulled out the package the courier had handed him. He needed to read through everything before they landed. Rather than wait for coffee, Gray grabbed his bottle of water and spotted the container of soup Kiera gave him.

Thanks to his lifestyle and what he did for work, he spent a lot of time around women. None made him soup for lunch and asked him to go ice-skating. In truth, he didn’t want them to.

“Mr. Sherbrooke,” said the pilot via the intercom. “We’ve reached cruising altitude. Feel free to use any electronic devices.”

Gray didn’t waste any time powering on his computer and plugging in the thumb drive from Randall. Typing in his password, he opened the files he needed. He read through the first two pages, and then had to stop when he got to a section that made reference to something in the beginning of the report. Something he’d either missed or forgotten.

Most days, he considered himself an attentive person. Someone who could concentrate even in a room full of distractions. This morning, rather than focusing on the words in front of him, his mind kept wandering back to Kiera.

She’d appeared unaffected by their canceled plans. She’d even smiled and joked a little. Had she not been disappointed at all or had she been acting?

He wanted to think she’d been as disappointed as he was. The way she responded to him yesterday made him believe his attraction wasn’t one-sided. Unfortunately, he couldn’t ask her. He also couldn’t do much about the situation now. Until he took care of this situation in Cozumel, his personal life was on hold. As soon as he finished up, though, he planned to claim that rain check.

“How are things going with Steve?” Kiera asked her friend, Stephanie, later that afternoon while they waited for the movie to start. They’d arrived extra early so that they got good seats.

“I don’t want to talk about my love life. I want all the details about the Sherbrooke wedding.” Stephanie reached for her soda. “And I mean everything. Who was there? What color did the bridesmaids wear?”

“Yeah, Kiera, spill it.” Joanna chimed in from Kiera’s other side. “No photos have shown up anywhere.”

She’d expected questions from her friends. Actually, she thought they’d call to bombard her with questions right after the wedding. “I don’t think they allowed any media in, and I doubt they’ll give any magazine the right to publish pictures.”

“Which means you have to tell us everything,” Stephanie said.

Joanna nodded in agreement. “Let us live vicariously through you since you get to live such a glamorous life.”

Kiera laughed. “Me? Glamorous? Joanna, you’re the one dating a major league baseball player, right?”

“John only played in two major league games last summer before he got sent back to Triple A. You, my dear, are the one who gets to rub elbows with the Sherbrookes.”

“Give us something. What was served for dinner?” Stephanie said.

Kiera sighed. Her friends would keep at it until she gave up at least a little information. “I had filet mignon, but there were several choices.” Kiera grabbed a handful of popcorn. “And it was a traditional Catholic ceremony at the cathedral in Providence. The reception was at Cliff House in Newport.” She paused and considered some other non-intrusive details she could share? “It looked like only family and close friends attended.”

“Did you see Curt Sherbrooke?” Stephanie always argued that Gray’s cousin, Curt, was the most handsome of the Sherbrooke men.

“He’s Trent’s cousin. Of course he was there.” She wouldn’t disagree that Curt was handsome, but she’d always believed Gray and his brothers were the best looking of the group.

“Was he a groomsman?” Stephanie asked.

“Who was the best man?” Joanna asked.

“No, Curt wasn’t in the wedding party. And Jake was Trent’s best man.”

Next to her, Joanna smiled and got a faraway look in her eyes. Kiera guessed her friend was thinking of Jake Sherbrooke. When they’d first met in college, Joanna had been obsessed with him. She’d bought every magazine he showed up on and read every article printed about him. While her obsession had lessened over the years, she still considered him her favorite eye candy.

“He didn’t ask one of his brothers to be his best man?” Stephanie asked.

When she saw Jake next to Trent, she hadn’t blinked an eye. “Jake and Trent are like brothers, and all of Trent’s brothers and one of Addison’s were in the wedding party, too.”

“That must have been the hottest wedding party ever! I wish I could’ve seen it.”

Kiera couldn’t disagree with Joanna’s comment. “You’re right; it was.”

Up on the screen, the previews for upcoming movies started as the lights dimmed.

“It’s crazy that the two biggest playboys in that family are married now. Who do you think will be next?” Joanna whispered so that only Kiera and Stephanie heard her.

“I read that Trent’s cousin, Sara, is getting married in the spring.” Kiera ripped open her bag of gummy bears.

“I meant, which Sherbrooke male will be next? Who cares about the women?”

“Maybe Curt. I read somewhere he and his girlfriend moved in together,” Stephanie said.

“Doubt it. I read in The Star Report that they broke up.” Joanna grabbed a handful of popcorn.

“You can’t believe everything that’s printed in magazines.”

“They’re not always wrong, Kiera.”

She wasn’t going to argue with Joanna today.

“Well, Alec is too young. Maybe Gray will be next,” Stephanie said.

Heat swept through Kiera.

“No way. He’s too busy partying to get married. Maybe it will be Brett.”

Joanna had a point. It did appear as if Gray went from one party to another with no intentions of slowing down. Which meant there was a good chance he wouldn’t be knocking on her door again anytime soon.

Kiera held back a sigh, or at least, she thought she did.

“What’s wrong?” Stephanie asked as the lights went out.

“Just thinking how pathetic our lives are that we have to speculate about what other people will do.” Kiera mentally patted herself on the back for the invented excuse.

Joanna elbowed her in the arm. “Speak for yourself. My life is not pathetic.”

The movie started, preventing any further conversation. While the opening scene played, Kiera let her mind wander. She loved spending time with her former college roommates. Today, though, instead of sitting in a dark movie theater, she’d rather be outside skating with Gray.

Kiera closed her eyes and enjoyed the memories of sitting on Gray’s lap as he kissed her. Oh, man what a kisser. If she ever got the opportunity to repeat the experience, she’d take advantage of it because every woman deserved to be kissed like that more than once in her life.