Page 100 of Getting Down to Business

“Don’t worry. I’m not going to go into the others with all their problems and baggage. I know you wanted to help them, but you’re an accountant, not a psychiatrist like Izabelle. I’m just glad you’ve found someone normal who isn’t a project.” She smiled at Alyssa again.

Alyssa swallowed as her gaze met Grayson’s. She couldn’t read his expression. It was probably the first time since she’d met him that she didn’t know what he was thinking.

Maybe she didn’t want to know.

Izabelle walked them out, giving Alyssa a hug and a smile.

“It was really nice to get to know you. Thanks for looking out for my brother.”

“Did he tell you about the—”

“Eggs? Yeah. Good job. I wouldn’t have thought of it.” She smiled and walked away as Alyssa got in the SUV.

Mrs. Hollinger talked most of the ride to the train station. She told Alyssa all the things she wanted to do the next time they visited. Most of her plans consisted of shopping, which made Alyssa cringe. Gray gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.

The chances of her ever coming back to Connecticut with Grayson were probably slim. She realized this thought caused sadness. Maybe not about the shopping, but about missing out on being with a genuine family.

She never once doubted her own mother’s love, but it would have been nice if her mother hadn’t spent all her time working. She’d taken on extra jobs so Alyssa wouldn’t have to go without things. It turned out that Alyssa had to go without her mother.

They were quiet on the train for the first ten minutes. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to talk. She did. She just wasn’t sure what to say or how to say it.

Fortunately, Gray took the initiative.

“I can’t help but notice we’re not talking,” he said, leaning over so his breath touched her neck. “We’re going to mess this up if we aren’t honest with each other.”

She nodded in agreement and said the first thing that came to her mind.

“Did it feel different for you last night?” she asked.

“Yes. It was different.” He looked very intense.

“Maybe because there wasn’t a condom?” she reasoned.

He shook his head looking straight ahead. “No. It was something else. Though the no condom thing was freakin’ amazing.”

“Do you think maybe it was the situation? Adrenaline?” She was desperate to come up with any excuse so it couldn’t be the thing she feared.

“Maybe. Do we have to know? Can’t we just go with it?”

“You’re suggesting we ignore our feelings and maybe they’ll go away,” she said. “When has that ever worked?”

“We’ll see what happens when we get home. Maybe it will wear off.” He kissed the back of her hand and smiled.

“Maybe.” She rested her forehead against his shoulder, trying to decide if she wanted that to happen.

When they walked through the door, she waited for her emotions to snap back, but they didn’t.

“Home,” Gray said with a contented sigh.

That one word and the way he said it nearly speared her to the ground. She had made a home with him. He was not just a roommate or a friend.

Before she had a chance to panic, his lips were on hers urgently.

He took the bag from her shoulder and let it drop to the floor without breaking the kiss. Then he pulled her close and started moving them down the hall.

“I’m not sure if this is going to help things go back to normal,” she pointed out.

“Normal is overrated.” His grin was so big it made her laugh, but only for a moment.

When they touched, it was just as intense as the night before. She trembled at the feelings moving through her.

“Liss? What is it?” He rubbed her arms, no doubt thinking she was cold.

“I’m scared,” she whispered the truth, surprised by how easy it was to tell him her fears. When he moved to step back, she held on to him tighter, unable to let him go.

His chest moved under her cheek with a deep breath and his arms curled around her, holding her tightly.

“Tell me what you need and I’ll do it. I made you a promise that I wouldn’t ever ask for more than you were willing to give. Last night…” He pulled away enough to look down at her face. “I thought you wanted it too. I thought you wanted more. If I was wrong—”

“You weren’t wrong.” She pulled away and hung her head. This man was willing to give her space if she needed it or hold her all night if she wanted it. He was watching her, waiting for her to give him some clue of what she needed, and that look on his face…The look that told her he would do anything for her was the thing that scared her the most.

How had she gotten this close and not noticed how much she cared for him? And more importantly, what would she do now?