“I dabble, that’s all,” she said, clearly embarrassed by all the praise. “Max said he liked it, too.”
“You’ve shown this to Max?” Gracie asked, uncertain how she felt about that. It did explain why he’d left half a dozen messages for her over the past forty-eight hours. She hadn’t returned his calls. Obviously, though, he’d been shaken by the evidence that she was truly settling in Virginia.
Helen nodded. “I faxed all of them to him just to get his opinion. I didn’t want to bring you something that was so far off the mark you’d laugh.”
“Why on earth would we laugh?” Delia demanded. “We’re all winging it here, except for Gracie. She knows the hotel business. The rest of us are just along for the fun of it.”
“What did Max have to say?” Gracie asked, proving once and for all that she cared about Max’s professional opinion.
“He was very encouraging. He seemed a little surprised about the B & B, though.” She studied Gracie worriedly. “I’m sorry if I let the cat out of the bag.”
“Never mind. I suppose he would have found out sooner or later anyway.”
“I was sure you’d mentioned it to him while he was here.”
“No, I hadn’t, but it’s okay, Helen. Really.”
“He wants what’s best for you, you know that, don’t you?”
“Only if it doesn’t inconvenience him,” Gracie said. “I imagine he told you this whole idea was insane.”
“He doesn’t think that at all,” Helen protested. “He thought it was a terrific idea.”
Gracie hadn’t realized she’d been holding her breath until she felt a sigh of relief shudder through her. “He said that?” She glanced up and caught Kevin’s expression. “Okay, so his opinion matters. Sue me.”
“Hey, darlin’, I never said a word.”
“You didn’t have to. Your expression said it all.”
“Could we get back to the point,” Delia coaxed. “Are we going with this ad or not?”
“I vote yes,” Abby said. “I think it’s the best, Aunt Helen.”
“Thank you, sweetie.” She looked at Kevin. “Do you have an opinion, too?”
“An opinion, but no vote,” he said. “I like it.”
“Me, too,” Delia chimed in. “Gracie?”
She nodded slowly. “I love it. As soon as we settle on a name to plug in there, you can finalize it. I’ll come up with a list of publications we need to put it in.”
“When on earth will you have time to do that?” Delia demanded. “You’re here practically twenty-four hours a day.”
“In the middle of the night would be my guess,” Kevin said, his gaze intent. “I’m recommending a break.”
“I don’t have time for a break. I just got back from lunch. There are a million things left on my list for today.”
“Forget the damned list. And I’m not talking about a little break,” he retorted. “I’m talking about an entire afternoon and evening off.” He held out his hand. “Let’s go.”
“I can’t.”
“Of course you can,” Delia said.
“The wallpaper samples,” Gracie protested.
“Will be here in the morning.”
“There are paint chips, too. And I need to go through those catalogues for kitchen appliances.”
“They’ll all be here,” Delia repeated. “Our target date for opening is not until Labor Day weekend.”
“That’s only six weeks away,” Gracie pointed out. “We don’t have time to spare.”
“Abby and I can begin sorting through this stuff,” Delia said.
“And I can help,” Helen added. “I’ve redecorated my house so many times I can do it blindfolded. I think that ad proves we’re on the same wavelength, don’t you? Trust me.”
Kevin’s hand was still outstretched. “Well?” he said.
“You’ll get even more done tomorrow if you’re well rested,” Delia reminded her. “A nice long break will clear the cobwebs.”
“Okay, okay,” Gracie conceded, and placed her hand in Kevin’s.
The minute she did, the instant her skin made contact with his, she knew with absolute certainty that the one thing she wouldn’t be getting that night was rest.
19
The trip back to Gracie’s took only a few minutes, but Kevin used the time to remind himself that it made absolutely no sense whatsoever to sleep with a woman who’d practically stolen something right out from under him.
He told himself Gracie couldn’t be trusted.
He told himself a whole lot of things, but they didn’t add up to a hill of beans when compared to this driving need to make love to her. He’d wanted her for so long now, denied himself for so long that the aching had almost become a part of him.
He parked in front of her house and sat perfectly still, his hands clamped around the steering wheel to prevent himself from reaching for her.
“Gracie, you can say no now.”
She peered at him with wide, innocent eyes. “Oh? What’s the question?”
He glanced over and caught the amused smile tugging on her lips. “If you don’t know that, darlin’, then I really should let you out right here and be on my way.”
She was the one who reached then. She touched her hand lightly to his forearm and sent a jolt straight through him.
“Don’t go,” she pleaded softly.
He felt some of the tension ease out of him then only to be replaced by another sort of tension entirely. “Do you have any idea how much I want you?” he murmured, surprised by it himself. He’d been surrounded by neediness for so long now, he’d never had time to indulge in it himself. He’d always pushed his own desires aside to take care of everyone else.
“Maybe I don’t,” she teased. “You’ve done an excellent job of controlling it.”
“You have no idea.”
“I wish you’d stop.”
“Stop what?”
“Controlling it.”
He grinned at the plaintive note in her voice. He wondered if she even knew it was there. A little anticipation served its purposes apparently. He leaned back against the door and studied her.
She was a mess, with streaks of paint on her clothes and her hair tousled. He thought she looked charming, delectable. She also looked as nervous as a new bride, jittery and excited at
