Just One Reason Read online

  He was right about his lack of interior decorating skills. The living room had a couch, a huge TV, and a coffee table. There was a room in the basement with a treadmill and various free weights. Every other room in the house was bare, except for the master bedroom. The last room on our tour, and Grady guided me in with his hand on my lower back. Like the other three bedrooms, it was on the second floor. But while the other bedrooms had views out the sides and back of the house, the master bedroom and bathroom spanned the entire front of the house.

  The rest of the house clearly reflected the bachelor that lived here, but this room was set up for a couple. A man and a woman. I walked slowly around the room, my fingertips trailing over the ivory down comforter and along the footboard of the heavy dark wood king size sleigh bed. The bed was positioned on the wall opposite from the windows, and I could imagine us lying in bed watching the waves in the lake. The other furniture was the same dark wood as the bed, but everything else in the room was light and peaceful. The walls were painted a pale grayish blue, very much like Grady’s eyes, and the linens were ivory. The dark wood of the furniture and the hardwood floors and the navy blue throw pillows kept the room from being too feminine. It was the perfect balance for a couple to share. The windows were bare, but the thick trees on either side of the property shielded the house from the neighbors. And the lack of window coverings allowed for an unobstructed view of the lake from everywhere in the room.

  The bathroom was similarly decorated, and there were dual sinks, a huge glass shower, and a large soaking tub. I walked back out into the bedroom and turned a circle in the middle of the floor taking it all in. Grady still stood in the doorway to the bedroom, leaning against the doorjamb watching me in amusement.

  “The rest of the house looks like a bachelor pad, but this room…this room is a sanctuary,” I said to him.

  He shrugged one shoulder. “Up until yesterday it looked like the rest of the house. I didn’t even have a bed, just an air mattress.”

  I scrunched my eyebrows in confusion. “You had this room done yesterday? For me?” I asked in amazement.

  Grady crossed the room in three long strides to take my hands in his. “For us, Lindsay. I wanted to do the whole house, but there wasn’t time for that. And I thought you might want to do it. You know…decorate, pick out what you like.”

  I squeezed his hands and looked up at him. “Are you asking me to move in with you?”

  He looked down at the ground, his hair falling in his face. When he looked back up his eyes were full of emotion that was hard to distinguish.

  “When you’re ready, Lindsay. I want you here with me yesterday, but the house will be here when you’re ready. I will be here.”

  I bit my bottom lip as I pondered his request. As much as my heart was screaming at me to go to Lana’s right this second and pack my bags, I knew we should wait. A little while. A very short while. When I arrived in town a month ago, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. Today I knew I wanted Grady in it, but other than that I was no closer to figuring out my purpose. Rushing into living together might derail my progress on that front.

  “How about January?” I asked. “We could start 2012 together, here in our house. Besides, it will take me that long to furnish all the rooms.”

  Grady grinned and grabbed me around the waist, hauling me up against him and kissing me hard and fast. I pulled back until he set me back on the ground.

  “Do you have dinner ready?” I asked trailing one finger down his chest. He looked confused at my sudden subject change.

  “Uh, no. Honestly I don’t cook. So I picked up some food earlier that we can heat up when we’re ready.”

  “Perfect,” I purred. “We need to work up an appetite first. And we need to try out our new bed.” Grady waggled his eyebrows and smirked when he picked up on where my thoughts were headed.

  When he reached for me, I backed away wiggling my finger at him. “No, no, no. It’s my turn to do a little exploring.” I stepped forward again and circled his forearms with my fingers, sliding them up to his biceps. “I want to see these tattoos up close and personal.” My fingertips continued upward over his shoulders and into his hair.

  “I want to grab this hair,” I breathed close to his ear. “I want to take my time reacquainting myself with everything I missed over the last five years.”

  Grady inhaled sharply but didn’t move, letting me take the lead. I reached down and grasped the hem of his t-shirt, pulling it up over his head. He lifted his arms and helped me strip his shirt off, then dropped them back to his side. His arms were completely covered in tattoos from his wrists to his shoulders. There were also a few random tattoos over his chest and on his side. All were in solid black ink and most were designs, although I picked out a few words and dates swirled in with the designs, each one having to do with our time together.

  I kissed each one that had to do with us, and Grady’s breathing was harsh by the time I was finished. His hands were clenched into fists at his sides, probably to stop himself from touching me. I trailed my fingers over his abs, which quivered at my touch and hooked them into the waistband of his jeans. Just before he could lean forward to kiss me I dropped to my knees and flipped open the button and slid the zipper down.

  “Lindsay,” he groaned, his hands sliding through my hair.

  “Sshhh, Grady. Just relax and enjoy. This is something I’ve never done, so don’t get your expectations too high.”

  His hand stilled in my hair. “You’ve never done this with someone else?” He asked gruffly.

  I sat back on my heels and looked up at him. “No. I’ve slept with a couple other guys.” He grimaced. “Sorry, not exactly good pillow talk, I know. But this was something I never cared about anyone enough to bother with. But you…I love you.”

  He shut his eyes tightly, and I took that as my cue to continue. Sliding his jeans and boxers down, his erection sprang free, and I briefly ran my hand over the hard length of him before pushing his pants down the rest of the way. He stepped out of them and kicked them away. Grady stood before me naked and I was still fully clothed.

  I pushed him backwards until he sat on the edge of the bed, and then I slowly peeled off my sweater and jeans. There, that was much better. Settling back on my knees between his legs, I ran my hands up his thighs and over the soft skin of his cock. Grady’s head fell back and he gripped the comforter on either side in his hands. Leaning forward, my hair falling in a curtain around my face, I took the tip of him in my mouth and sucked ever so gently. Grady hissed out a breath between clenched teeth, and I knew I was doing something right.

  Swirling my tongue around the head of his cock I drew him deeply into my mouth. I took him as deep as I could, but I still needed to use my hand on the base of his cock. Finding my rhythm I alternated between licking like he was a delicious ice cream cone and sucking him deep while pumping him with my fist.

  “Jesus Fuck, Lindsay!” Grady groaned, his hands leaving the bed and tangling in my hair. He gently guided my head to the pace he wanted, and very soon he was tugging my head back.

  “I’m going to come, Linz,” he breathed. I didn’t stop even when he tugged again. I wanted the full experience, and I wanted him to have it too. When he realized I wasn’t going to stop, he called out, “Shit, Lindsay!” as he spurted hot and hard into my mouth. I continued to suck and lick until he was done and took my hands to pull me up.

  I stood before him in my blue lace bra and panties, and he wrapped his arms around my waist and pressed his lips to my stomach. “I love you too, Lindsay. So much.” And for the next hour he returned the favor and showed me just how much he loved me.

  ***

  Having worked up an appetite, we dressed - me in my underwear and Grady’s t-shirt and him in a pair of pajama pants - and ate our dinner on the deck. The sky was clear and we could see the stars if we looked straight up through the trees.

  “So, you’re back to work on Monday?” Grady asked me.

 
“Yeah, for the next two months until Leah is back. Then I don’t know what I’ll do.”

  Grady cleared his throat and said, “You know, you don’t have to work if you don’t want to. I’m doing well at the shop.”

  I motioned to the house behind us. “I can tell. And that’s a sweet offer, and I already know I don’t have to work. But I want to. I can’t just sit around forever doing nothing. And…it’s not like I’ll be having any kids to take care of.”

  I looked over at Grady and asked the question I was afraid might be a deal breaker for him. “You do remember me saying I can’t have kids, right? Is that going to be a problem for you?” Please don’t let it be a problem. Please.

  His answer was so quick that I didn’t doubt his sincerity. “No, Lindsay. That is absolutely not a problem for me. I want you just the way you are. Besides, we could always adopt if we decide we want kids in the future. Taryn is adopted, and look how great that turned out. We’re still young and don’t even need to think about that yet.” He had a point there. I relaxed back into my chair and enjoyed the rest of our night together. The first of many in this house.

  Chapter Twenty One

  Grady

  “Come on, Linz. Get your ass out here. We were supposed to be there ten minutes ago,” I shouted from outside of her bathroom door.

  “I just need three more minutes, Sweet Cheeks,” she called back. Jesus Christ, not another stupid nickname. I fell backwards onto her bed - might as well get comfortable. Three minutes in Lindsay time was equal to at least fifteen minutes of normal time.

  It was Halloween, and we were meeting everyone at the pub for their annual costume party. The last six weeks had flown by, probably because Lindsay and I had spent every available minute together. We both worked during the day, but spent most nights at my house. The weekends were reserved for hanging out with Leah and Josh or Lana and my dad or doing touristy shit, like wine tasting and hiking to the falls at Watkins Glen.

  We were still on track for Lindsay to move in with me in January, and she was slowly but surely furnishing every room of the house. It made me happy to walk in and see her style reflected everywhere. And she was equally concerned with making sure the house suited both of us.

  Many evenings over dinner we talked about what Lindsay wanted to do once she was finished working for Lana. I threw out ideas that she inevitably shot down, and the only thing she knew for sure was that she didn’t want to be a lawyer. That was her career track before she moved here, and I couldn’t see her doing it any more than she could.

  The one thing she kept coming back to was nursing. It had been one of my suggestions, and she had originally blown it off. But recently she had mentioned it more than once, even going so far as to schedule a visit to the nursing program at the local college. That was happening tomorrow, and I was going with her. But right now, I needed to get her out of the bathroom and down to the pub.

  I was so lost in my thoughts I hadn’t realized the bathroom door had opened until I heard the sound of heels tapping on the wood floors. Tilting my head up to see the secret costume she refused to let me see before, I nearly swallowed my tongue.

  Lindsay was standing in the doorway, one hand on her hip and the other stretched up against the doorjamb. My eyes started at her toes and slowly swept up her body. She was wearing bright red high heels and white fishnet stockings. Even though she wasn’t more than 5’2” tall, her legs looked miles long. Probably because her skirt was almost indecently short. Her dress was a white sexy nurse outfit with short sleeves and buttons down the front. The skirt was full and way too short. Her light blonde hair was curled and fluffed and topped with a little white nurse’s hat.

  “What do you think?” She asked, turning a full circle and shaking her butt at me.

  When I regained the ability to speak I said, “I think you’re not leaving the house like that.” Lindsay rolled her eyes and came over to where I was still laying on her bed. She straddled me and pressed herself down on my raging hard-on.

  “It’s just a costume, Grady. From what Leah told me about this party I won’t be the only one showing some skin. And,” she said, trailing her fingers down my chest and rocking her hips against mine. “Think about how much fun we’ll have later playing doctor when we get home.” Oh, I was definitely thinking about that already. But I was also thinking about all the other guys at the party who would be thinking the same thing.

  “Come on. We’re already late,” Lindsay said, pulling me off the bed. Now it was my turn to roll my eyes.

  We took her car instead of my bike, because Lindsay was taking Ford’s costume with her. Apparently he had lost a bet and Lindsay got to choose his costume for tonight. Like me, Ford never dressed up for Halloween. Partly because he was working and partly because he just didn’t do it.

  But tonight he would be dressed as some sort of cowboy judging from the supplies Lindsay had in her bag. I patted my pocket to make sure I had my phone. There was no way I was going to miss taking a picture of this.

  The pub was already packed, but Leah and Josh had secured a high top in the back corner right next to the bar. Leah’s mom had Maddy for the night, and she was taking full advantage of it judging by the number of empty glasses already on the table. Lindsay was right about the mass quantity of sexy costumes. We passed angels and devils, schoolgirls and cheerleaders, and even a showgirl. Leah was dressed as a sailor, and I really hoped her boobs stayed in her dress tonight. It was questionable at the moment the way she was drunkenly leaning over the table.

  I kept my arm around Lindsay’s waist as I ushered her through the crowd. She might not be the only sexy girl here tonight, but she was my sexy girl. And there was no way in hell I was letting anyone else touch her. I couldn’t stop them from looking, but touching I could take care of.

  “Ford!” Lindsay yelled down the bar. As he made his way down to us, Lindsay pulled out a cowboy hat, a pair of cowboy boots and a belt with a huge silver belt buckle. Ford took one look at what she set on the bar and turned to walk away. Lindsay skirted around the bar and grabbed a handful of his shirt. “Oh, no you don’t. A bet’s a bet, big guy.”

  As much as he wanted to, I knew Ford wouldn’t back out of a bet. So, under Lindsay’s direction he replaced his shoes with the boots, put the hat on his head, the belt around his waist, and took off his shirt. He looked at her expectantly. “Where’s my shirt?”

  Lindsay smirked and said, “What shirt?” At his murderous expression she laughed. “Come on, Ford. I’m helping you make killer tips tonight.” And judging by the sudden swarm of drunken girls to the bar, she was right.

  Ford brought over two beers for Lindsay and me, but she pushed hers towards me. “Can I have a water instead?” She asked.

  I pulled her close to my side. “Of course. You feeling all right?” She had been complaining of headaches all week, and I was worried about her. I wanted her to go see a doctor, but she kept putting it off.

  She rested her head against my shoulder. “Yeah, I’m fine. My stomach’s just a little unsettled and I don’t feel like drinking tonight.” She tweaked my nose with her finger. “And don’t you drink too much. I want you sober for what I have planned for you later.”

  “Mmmm…Ford! Two waters down here,” I yelled.

  Ford took his time getting back to our end of the bar, stopping to serve everyone along the way. Lindsay sat on an open bar stool while we waited and I stood behind her, caging her in with my hands on the bar on either side of her. I passed the time waiting on Ford by nibbling on Lindsay’s neck and ear.

  Ford was finally serving the two girls next to us, or one of them at least. The girl sitting right next to Lindsay had flaming red hair and was wearing a short black dress with cat ears and a furry tail. She was turning on the charm, trying to get Ford to serve her friend.

  “Come on. She forgot her ID, but she’s definitely twenty-one,” she said, batting her eyelashes. But Ford wasn’t paying her any attention. He was glaring at her friend, a petite
brunette dressed as a schoolgirl, complete with short plaid skirt and pigtails. The costume was not helping her cause.

  Ford set a beer down in front of the cat lady and said, “I’m not serving her without ID.” The redhead continued to argue with him, while her friend looked embarrassed and tried to drag her away.

  “I’ll just give you mine and come back for another,” the redhead whispered to her friend. Unfortunately she was a little too drunk already to whisper quietly enough, and Ford heard her.

  He slapped his palm down on the bar and leaned toward the brunette. “If I see you drinking anything other than water or soda, I will not hesitate to throw your ass out of here.” She almost looked like she was going to cry before she successfully pulled the redhead away with her.

  “Geez, Ford, lighten up,” Lindsay said. Ford gave her a dirty look and then rolled his eyes at me when I gave him a silent warning. It wasn’t Lindsay’s fault he had a stick up his ass.

  There was a local band playing, and usually Lindsay loved to dance. Even when no one else was dancing she would pull me up with her. Her carefree spirit was one of the things I loved most about her. But tonight she didn’t feel like dancing and just wanted to sit at our table. Leah was smashed by midnight, so Josh dragged her home before she passed out. Thanks to Lindsay’s costume choice, Ford’s tip jar was overflowing and he was filling drinks nonstop. Right after Leah and Josh left I caught Lindsay stifling a yawn.

  “Okay. Time to go,” I said, helping her down off the tall chair.

  “Are you sure? It’s still kind of early. We can stay,” she said half-heartedly. I shook my head and led her out to the car. She was already keeping some clothes at my house, so I didn’t bother stopping at Lana’s to pick anything up. By the time we pulled in my driveway she was sound asleep. So much for making use of the sexy nurse costume.