In It to Win It Read online

  She was dead-to-the-world asleep, her back against the barn wall, her feet stretched out in front of her, crossed at the ankles. Her chin was lowered, resting on her chest. She had her jacket over her upper body to protect her from the slight chill in the air. Her lashes were a dark crescent against her pale cheeks. Her freckles were more obvious than when she was awake. Her lips were parted slightly. She looked so sweet, so innocent.

  Unable to resist any longer, Grayson silently sat down next to Jane and eased an arm behind her, guiding her sleeping body against his very awake one. She sighed and relaxed, snuggling into him. Her head came to rest on the sweet spot between his shoulder and his pectoral and her arm draped around his middle.

  He tightened his hold, closed his eyes and dropped his head to rest on the top of hers. He then fell asleep with a big ol’ smile on his face.

  Life didn’t get any better than this.

  JANE WAS HAVING THE BEST DREAM. SHE wasn’t sure how many dreams she’d had last night—four, five … a dozen?—and Grayson starred in them all. This latest one felt so real. She could actually smell him; a combination of straw and horse and man. The musky scent caused her cognitive mind to pause.

  Beneath her ear a heartbeat was strong. There was a slight pressure on the top of her head. Her fingers moved to form a fist around the sheet under her hand—which seemed to rise and fall in a steady rhythm. Then the entire bed moved—and moaned. The side came up in a wave, crushing her against a hard unforgiving shore. Her eyes flipped open and her mind came on track in a flash.

  “Grayson,” she squealed.

  Holy crap!

  It hadn’t been a dream—at least, not this part of it.

  They were still in the barn. The stall where, what seemed like only moments ago, Daisy and her baby had been was now empty, fresh straw on the floor.

  “Where…?”

  “The next stall over.” Man, his voice was sexy first thing in the morning; deep and full of gravel. His grip loosened, but not completely. She liked that he still held her against him, yet gave her the option of getting up. She didn’t, nor did she want to. She snuggled deeper into him, he squeezed her gently. “Did you sleep okay?”

  “Yeah, I did.” Actually she hadn’t slept that well in a really long time. Not that she would think about that. It wasn’t like she could make Grayson her new pillow every night from now on.

  “I hope you don’t mind, but you looked so cute I didn’t have the heart to wake you.” He didn’t bother to give her the how’s and why’s of their current entwined state. “You hungry?”

  “Starving.”

  He stood and offered her his hand. When she was on her feet, he tugged her against him. “Thanks for your help last night. I’m glad you were here.” He tipped her chin with his forefinger and pressed a chaste kiss to her lips. “Let’s get some breakfast.”

  It was in that moment she realized she was done.

  She’d fallen head over heels.

  Her heart, every single red and white blood cell, belonged to Grayson Pierce.

  Heaven help her!

  10

  AFTER BREAKFAST THEY PARTED WAYS TO shower and get cleaned up. Jane had just finished dressing in jeans and a black and pink argyle v-neck sweater when a knock on the door made her jump.

  “Come in,” she hollered.

  The door cracked and Grayson stuck his head in. He grinned. “You ready to go?”

  “Yeah.” She pulled her hair up and stretched a rubber band around it. “Where we goin’?”

  “To town. Since you haven’t been home in a while then you’ve missed all the changes.”

  Jane laughed and shook her head. “Because Salina is such a growing metropolis.”

  He rolled his eyes, his head jerking toward the door. “Come on. I’ve got a lot planned for today. And I promise you’ve never seen the Salina I’m gonna show you today.”

  It was her turn to roll her eyes and the motion made his grin. She grabbed her camera off the dresser and headed out the door, fast on Grayson’s heels. He may have vetoed her ability to capture moving pictures for her piece, but he couldn’t stop her from getting still ones.

  Okay, so maybe he could … but he didn’t make a move to take the camera from her.

  “I’ve been thinking,” Grayson said as they climbed into the Jeep.

  “And just what have you been thinking about?” she asked, wondering if she really wanted to know.

  “Well, Daisy’s colt needs a name.”

  “My grandpa always just named his animals what they were. Ya know, cat or dog or … horse.”

  Grayson laughed. “Your grandpa was a very creative man. But I was thinking of something else.”

  “Like what?”

  “Alexander,” he said.

  Jane felt heat rise in her cheeks and knew they were flaming with a blush.

  “It seems only fitting that the little guy be named after the woman who welcomed him into the world. What do you think?”

  What did she think?

  What did she think?

  She thought she didn’t like any of this. She’d been hanging with Grayson for only a few hours and she was already invested. She didn’t like being invested with a love-‘em-and-leave-‘em man.

  “It’s your horse,” she all but snapped.

  Nonplussed, he smiled. “Yes, he is. And I’m going to name him Alexander, so I can always remember the night of his birth.”

  Jane didn’t need a constant reminder of last night. Sleeping curled up in Grayson’s arms would forever be embossed on her soul. She would never forget. Ever.

  Jane had been so intent on the conversation—and lost in her thoughts—she hadn’t paid attention to where they were going. Grayson pulled into the dirt parking lot of the Redmond airstrip and stopped. The ‘airport’ could be described as an asphalt strip, a dirt lot for parking and a windsock. There was a plane here now—that was a new addition. As was the ‘hanger’ which consisted of a corrugated metal structure just big enough to shelter the little plane.

  The Jeep eased to a stop and Grayson turned it off. She looked at him with a brow raised in question. He smiled and reached over to tap her lightly on the tip of the nose.

  “While you were off getting a college degree, I got my pilot’s license.”

  Hopping out of his door, he was around and opening hers before his words sank in. “Wait a minute,” she said, “you’re gonna fly us around in that thing?”

  “Yep.”

  Her head darted around so fast, in search of fuel stations, she nearly gave herself whiplash. “What about fuel? I mean you can’t just fly on a wing and a prayer.”

  “Trent takes care of that for me. He takes care of a lot of things for me.”

  “Because he’s your friend?”

  “Because I pay him really well.” He grabbed her hand and led her toward the plane. “And because he’s my friend. There isn’t another guy alive I trust more than Trent.”

  Jane felt like she was in some kind of really surreal dream. She was sitting in a plane with a headset over her ears and the only person that would hear her if she spoke into the microphone at her mouth was Grayson. They were at the end of the airstrip and the engines roared in protest and Grayson urged them airborne.

  Jane’s stomach jumped as the wheels lifted off the ground. She wasn’t afraid to fly like Nate was. She smiled as she thought of how he’d react to this experience. He’d probably start crying like a baby.

  When the plane leveled out, Grayson reached over and took her hand from where it was white-knuckled on her lap. “You okay? You’re not afraid to fly, are you? I guess I should have probably asked. I didn’t even think—”

  She squeezed his hand. “I’m fine. I have to admit that I’m a little nervous … but that doesn’t seem to be anything new when I’m around you.” As soon as the words left her mouth she wanted to suck them back and then bite down hard on her tongue for confessing too much.

  He chanced a quick look at her and Jane th
ought she saw hurt in his eyes. “You’re nervous around me?” he asked when his eyes were locked on the front windshield again.

  “No. Of course not,” she lied. “We’re just a couple of old friends catching up.”

  “We’re more than old friends, Jane.”

  Not wanting to let the conversation progress any further on the track it was going, Jane blurted, “Do you think you could take Nate up in this thing?”

  The muscle in his jaw jumped, but he didn’t react further to her derailing the conversation train. “Sure. Would he like that?”

  “No.” She laughed out loud, a guffaw that ricocheted around the cabin. Grayson started to chuckle too. Jane’s sides ached and tears ran down her cheeks. “He hates … to fly,” she gasped.

  “I don’t understand. Why would you want me to give him a ride?”

  “He gets all freaked out whenever we get on the plane. He cracks every bone in his body. He rolls his head on his neck.” She giggled some more and used a hand to stifle it. “He has a whole ritual he does for take-off and landing.”

  Grayson’s expression hardened, the muscle jumping in his jaw. “You seem to know a lot about your photographer.”

  “We spend a lot of time together,” she answered. “You did know he’s happily married, right?”

  His face softened a bit. “I didn’t know.”

  “I planned Roxy’s birthday party.” The next words burst from her mouth before she could censor them. “Believe me, Nate Hughes is not the man I dream about at night.”

  The corner of Grayson’s mouth quirked and his brow rose. He glanced over and his eyes twinkled with mischief. “Who is the man you dream about at night, Janie?”

  Sweat broke out on her brow, under her arms and between her breasts. She cocked a brow at him and grinned back, challenging him.

  “A girl has to have secrets, Grayson. That’s one secret I’ll never tell.”

  TWICE HE’D STRUCK A NERVE WITH JANE. Both times Grayson had to nearly bite his tongue off to keep from forcing her into furthering the conversation. He knew that he made her nervous. Hell, she made him nervous, too. Every time she was near him, he forgot how to speak in full sentences and his thoughts turned to the things he wanted to do to her—with her.

  He flew in the direction of the Redmond Lake, which was nothing more than a pond that grew wider with the spring run-off. The thing that made it famous amongst the local teens though was the submarine races. More than one of his buddies had been busted by local law enforcement while making out with their girlfriends. Grayson had managed to avoid that kind of embarrassment.

  She laughed and pointed down. “Oh my gosh! It’s really not very deep, is it?”

  “No. Have you ever been there?”

  “Who hasn’t?” she answered, a little too defensively.

  “You?” he guessed.

  “I have too.” Still on the defense.

  Color seeped up into her cheeks, making her even more adorable. She was always beautiful, but man, put jeans on those long legs and pull all that brown hair back and Grayson fought the need to drool.

  She was still looking out her window when she admitted softly, “I went swimming there a couple of times when I was a kid, but never to make out.”

  She sounded so disappointed. He, on the other hand, couldn’t be happier about the fact that no other guy he knew had kissed her lips.

  Or had they?

  “Who was your first kiss?” he blurted.

  She whirled around in her seat and stared at him, open-mouthed.

  “I’m just curious.” He shrugged. “Mine was with Lizzy Mortenson in second grade.”

  She laughed a little, the soft chuckled made louder through his headset. She looked at him and made a point to roll her eyes with added exaggeration. “That doesn’t count. When and with whom was your first real kiss?”

  “Last night,” he heard himself say without a second of pause.

  The smile died on her face. Her entire body went stiff and she settled back in her seat, turning to stare out the window. By all appearances she was relaxed, but Grayson could tell by the set of her back that she was far from it. She was rigid with tension and it had been two little words that slipped from his tongue that had done it to her.

  He would not apologize for them. He meant them. Kissing Jane last night had been better than any other kiss prior to it. Unwilling to push her further he continued to fly around their small community. There was no need to point anything out; she knew all the landmarks as well as he did.

  Eventually she would learn to trust him. He hoped.

  THE RODEO GROUNDS IN SALINA LOOKED SO small. The cemetery where her grandparents were buried looked so peaceful. She would like to see it in the summertime when the grass was green. They flew over the high school and Jane could see the faded white lines from a long ago played football game.

  There were so many memories that accompanied this town. Good ones … and bad ones. Mostly they consisted of wanting the boy who didn’t realize she was alive except for the brains that would help him ace whatever class he needed help with. Back then, she’d jumped at any chance to spend more time with him, even if they were only talking protons and neutrons or subjects and verbs.

  Before long they were back at the airstrip and with expertise Grayson brought the plane to a safe landing. Jane stood at the doorway of the hanger and watched as Grayson did a final check of the plane and locked everything up. He dropped the padlock and it clanked against the metal it kept secure.

  He walked toward her with long, purposeful strides and Jane’s heart jumped up into her throat. She was frozen where she stood, her eyes locked on his. He grabbed her hand in his and tugged her against him. She went willingly, although a little stiffly. She loved the feel of his chest, so hard and solid, against hers. He pressed a quick kiss to her forehead.

  “Did you have fun?”

  She nodded, holding tightly around his waist. He was so warm. She leaned her head against his shoulder and reveled in the feel of having him so close. When the time came for her to walk away, it would be moments like this that she would cherish forever.

  “Where are we going next?” Her voice was shaky and she inwardly cringed. There was no reason to give Grayson more ammunition to use against her. It was bad enough that he was making forward statements like his first real kiss being the one they shared last night. She hadn’t been able to figure out what kind of game he was playing. She had to admit that whatever it was, he was playing it really well.

  “I was thinking we could stop by the drive-in and get some burgers.”

  “You’re gonna let me eat in your Jeep?”

  “Hell, no,” he said with a laugh. “They’ve added a new dining room for people who don’t want to eat in their cars or take their dinner home.”

  Ten minutes later they were seated inside the drive-in. He led her to a table that was tucked back in the corner, which wasn’t visible from the door or from the windows outside. Of all the tables in the place this one was the most secluded.

  Jane wondered for a moment if he was embarrassed to be seen with her. Her stomach flipped; it was high school all over again. She was just getting ready to excuse herself to go to the bathroom when Grayson reached across and took her hand.

  “This is my usual table.” He squeezed her hand reassuringly, and pointed to a small plaque that read: ‘reserved for Grayson Pierce’. “Most people are good to just leave me alone, but sometimes an out-of-towner strolls in and thinks they can interrupt my dinner because they need my autograph. That’s when Bailey added some extra walls to hinder the view of this table.”

  “Why would he…?”

  Grayson laughed and shrugged. “He just likes me, I guess. But what’s not to like?”

  “I’ve been asking myself that same question,” she muttered.

  Dinner went fairly smoothly. She and Grayson talked about everything—and nothing. Bailey made an appearance, making sure that they were happy with their burgers. The now-e
lderly man still stood over six feet and was built like a brick shithouse. His abdomen was now soft and had a paunch, but his shoulders were still wide enough to warrant going through doorways sideways.

  “You remember Jane Alexander?” Grayson said.

  Bailey stood back and stared at her. “My, my, you are truly a beauty,” he said. Jane blushed as he continued to stare. “You are now as beautiful on the outside as you always were on the inside.” He turned to Grayson. “She’s too good for you, my boy.”

  “I know,” Grayson said, smiling.

  “It’s good to have you both home. Dessert’s on me. Apple or cherry?”

  “Cherry,” she and Grayson said at the same time.

  Bailey grinned, shooting an approving look between them. “I’ll send it right out.”

  

  BY THE TIME THEY GOT HOME, JANE WAS exhausted, not necessarily physically either. Emotionally, she was drained. She and Grayson had fallen into an easy togetherness that both thrilled and terrified her.

  Both of them changed into pajamas and plopped down into a chair in front of the TV. Grayson reached across and plucked her hand out of her lap. His hands were much larger than hers—and so much warmer. A fire crackled romantically in the fireplace. The lights from the tree twinkled brightly. They sat in companionable silence, until finally Grayson released her hand and shot to his feet. His fingers formed a fist and he cursed under his breath.

  “What’s wrong?” Her adrenaline shot through the roof.

  He spun his arm in the shoulder joint like he was a big, handsome windmill. “My damn arm’s asleep.” He sucked a breath in through his teeth in a hiss, and then massaged his upper arm.

  Then the remodeling began.

  Grayson lifted the tiny table from between their chairs and put it against the far wall. With no effort at all he moved her recliner until it was side by side with his. He eased her back into her chair and sat down himself, taking her hand in his once again, as if nothing out of the norm had happened.