Suzy looked down at the tray on her lap in shock, “Holy shit, you have got to be kidding me! There is only one thing that I haven’t seen yet that could be wrong with you.”
A smile of supreme masculine confidence crossed Gray’s face as he leaned over her on the couch and put his lips to her ear. “Sweetheart, if you’re looking for a flaw, I promise you, it’s not that as you will soon find out.” Shivers ran down her spine as his warm lips paused to trace the contours of her ear and then dropped a brief kiss onto her lips before straightening up.
Her heart raced, and heat rushed through her body at the feel of his lips on hers. Good grief, girl, get it together. He barely touched you and you’re ready to roll your injured body off the couch and ride him like Sea Biscuit, geez. Suzy hoped the throw would hide the fact that her ni**les were now standing at full attention. If a simple kiss could do this to her, she could only imagine how it would feel to have Gray inside of her. Stop before you experience your first thought-induced orgasm.
Suzy cleared her throat as she looked down at the tray that Gray had arranged on her lap. “I’m impressed, slick, I really am. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you actually cut up all these vegetables yourself.”
Gray sat in his own chair and tried to settle his tray over the throbbing bulge in his jeans. The feel of her lips still burned on his. To think that if not for the accident, he’d already know her body as well as he knew his own. Living with her and being unable to make love to her would be equal parts of heaven and hell.
Gray pointed to the large, flat-panel television that hung over the fireplace and said, “If you aren’t too tired, I thought we could watch a movie after dinner. I’m even willing to do a chick-flick for you. “
“Hey, it’s Thursday, right? What time is it?”
Gray quickly checked his watch, worried by the urgent tone in her voice. “It’s just after seven, did you have prior plans? I’ll grab my phone when we finish dinner if you need to make a call.” Surely, she didn’t have a date. Damned if he’d have her in his home making her apologies to another man.
“No, nothing like that, the Gamecocks are playing tonight on ESPN. Do you mind if we watch that instead? I have season tickets and I never miss a game if possible. If you don’t like football, maybe I could watch it in the bedroom.”
Gray couldn’t help it; he threw his head back and laughed. Here he was trying to earn points with her by watching a romantic movie without complaint, and she wanted to watch a college football game. If he didn’t already love her, this would do it for him. Every time he thought he knew her, he found another layer. What you saw with Suzy wasn’t even close to what you got. “I really had my heart set on Sleepless in Seattle, but for you, I’ll sacrifice. Meg Ryan will always be there tomorrow.”
“You’re messing with me, right?” Suzy took a bite of her soup while waiting for his answer and almost swooned in pleasure. “You know what? I don’t even care if you’re a little light in the loafers, this soup more than makes up for it. Where did you learn to cook like this?”
“Light in the loafers, now that’s something I’ve never been accused of.” Gray couldn’t remember laughing this much in an evening in years. The things that came out of that beautiful mouth were a constant source of amusement. She’d questioned his manhood at least twice this evening. That had to be some type of record. He’d so enjoy showing her that he was all the man she’d ever need.
“My mother believed that we should never be dependent on someone else to take care of us. Nick and I learned to cook at an early age. My parents, although financially secure, didn’t believe in having others take care of them. Nick and I planned, shopped for, and prepared dinner once a week for the family. Everything had to be made from scratch, and sandwiches were not allowed. My mother loved to cook, and I find I enjoy it as well. It’s a great stress reliever. Of course with my busy schedule, I don’t have time to cook every evening, but when I do, I much prefer it to dining out.”
Despite herself, Suzy was impressed. Gray was nothing like she’d imagined. She always pictured him as an uptight, rich guy, with an uptight, rich family. As she enjoyed the rest of her meal, she said, “Tell me more about your parents, what was it like growing up?”
A warm feeling spread through Gray at Suzy’s interest in his life. She’d always been so careful to maintain a distance between them. He knew she was trying to protect herself from being hurt again, and he’d tried to give her the time that she needed. She’d knocked him on his ass the first time they’d met and time had done nothing to change that.
“My parents are wonderful. Nothing like you’d expect. You will love my mother. You never know what’s going to come out of her mouth. She’s outspoken, funny, and always finds a positive in something or someone. She’s very affectionate, but doesn’t mind busting our balls…Um giving us a piece of her mind when she feels we deserve it. She reminds me a lot of you actually, well, minus the leopard skin. My father is her opposite. He’s quiet and dotes on my mother like some poor sap. She in turn treats him like a king. Don’t get me wrong, my father can be ruthless in business and is very shrewd, but where my mother is concerned, he’s putty in her hands. Even after all of these years, you would swear they’re newlyweds.”
Suzy smiled at the love she could hear so plainly in Gray’s voice, and waited for him to continue. “My mother’s favorite quest of the moment is to see her boys, as she still calls us, settled down and happy. She feels that there may be hope for me, but has her work cut out for her with Nick. He’s the baby of the family, and even though he has a hard time keeping his pants zipped, she can’t stay mad at him. Nick’s charm makes him a favorite with all the ladies, even our mother.” Affection was apparent in his voice; there wasn’t a hint of jealously that Suzy could detect.
“It sounds like you have a wonderful family, Gray. You’re very lucky.” With a smile, she continued, “I don’t think anyone could ever accuse our parents of doting on each other or us. Displays of affection make them uncomfortable.” She paused to gather her thoughts and said, “They aren’t bad people. Work is their life, and I accepted that long ago. Like most kids, I rebelled as often as I could, but it doesn’t change anything. I think at one point, they seriously considered trying to get a grant to study me I so confused them. But after many years, we all adapted to each other and the rest, as they say, is history.”