Never Let Me Go: The Complete Set (19 page)

I snatched it away with a grin. “It’s been a busy morning.”

Smith and Faith were getting into the car ahead of us, but Logan put a hand on mine when I started to climb in after.

“Are you okay with this?” He searched my eyes.

“Yeah, as long as he doesn’t screw with her heart, I’m totally okay with it.” I smiled brightly and kissed him before sliding into the car.

“Grace, it’s great to see you again.” Smith had his arm draped around Faith in the seat across from me.

“You as well.” I smiled.

Logan slid in next to me, his legs touching mine on the seat. He put his hand on my thigh, not in a sexual way, just in an affectionate way. It didn’t matter his intent, the man could turn me on with a whisper.

He caught my shift in expression and smirked. “I promise we’ll have fun after work,” he said softly so only I could hear.

“I’m going to hold you to that,” I whispered back.

“What are you two whispering about over there,” Faith questioned with a knowing look.

My cheeks went beet red. “Nothing,” I said quickly.

“Sure.” Faith laughed. Logan tightened his grip on my thigh.

“Stop that,” I hissed. We would never get through this meal with him touching me all the time.

“I don’t know what you’re referring to, Kitten. Stop what?” His voice was like silk, a predatory look in his eyes. His hand slid further up my thigh.

“Do you guys want us to get out?” Smith looked amused.

“No!” I squeaked. “Logan will behave.” I shot him a dirty look. I changed the subject. “Faith, have you decided what to wear to the wedding?” I knew this would get her going for a while.

“Oh my gosh, I have so many options.” She started naming different dresses she had seen. “What do you think, Smith?” She turned and gave him an expectant look.

“I’m sure whatever you wear will be amazing, darling.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek.

“Grace, what are you wearing? You never told me.”

I flushed at the memory of the shopping trip a couple of weeks ago. “A really beautiful dress that Logan helped me pick out.”

“Beautiful does not begin to describe the way you look in it.” He brought my fingers to his lips.

“Oh God, you two are disgusting. You know that, right?” Faith rolled her eyes.

“You say disgusting, I say happy.” I grinned.

Logan and Smith started up a conversation about the wedding and plans for after. I spent most of the time watching Smith and Faith. She had her body leaned into him, his arm snug around her shoulders. They seemed to be into each other in a big way. I made a mental note to call my mom later. It was time for Smith’s trial by fire.

I WAS CUTTING IT CLOSE
. We were slated to leave in the morning, and I still hadn’t finished packing. It didn’t help that half my stuff was still in the apartment I shared with Faith. I rushed around my room, well I guess it was my room, but I never slept in it. It was where most of my clothes slept, snug in their drawers or on their hangers.

My phone buzzed on the dresser.

Mom: What time today, honey?

Me: Give me an hour? Are we having Hope grab him or am I?

Mom: Okay sweetie. Better be you. Hope is not exactly the best person for that job at the moment.

Me: I’ll text when I have him.

Mom: See you soon xoxo

I sighed and sat on the bed. My heart hurt for Hope. I wanted to fix it so she wouldn’t ever have to be sad again. I hated that she was going through this.

I grabbed a few more things and threw them into a bag before snatching my phone off the bed again.

Me: Hey baby, can you tell me where Smith is staying?

A few minutes later, I got his reply.

Logan: I assumed it was with Faith. He’s here now with me. Did you need him?

Me: It’s his turn in the hot seat.

Logan: Poor bastard. You DeLeo women are a force to be reckoned with. When do you need him downstairs?

Me: Fifteen minutes. I’m still packing. No lectures :P

Logan: Who me? Okay get your stuff done, and I’ll have him waiting. Hurry home to me tonight.

I smiled at my phone and threw it back on the bed. Hurricane Grace was in full force as I tossed things into bags. Procrastination was a bitch.

Twenty minutes later, I had Smith in my passenger seat looking incredibly nervous.

“So...” he started.

“Nervous?” I shot him a grin.

“A bit. Logan’s been giving me the four-one-one on your family,” he said carefully.

“Oh yeah? And what did he say?” I glanced in his direction.

“Just that if I don’t have the support of the DeLeo women it was pointless to try and date Faith.”

“He’s not entirely wrong there. But Faith is strong willed. She would probably date you even if we hated you.”

“Do you?” he asked, his knee bounced anxiously.

“Do I what?”

“Hate me?” His tone was soft.

“Don’t be stupid, Smith. I like you just fine. I just want to be sure my sister isn’t going to be a casualty of your lifestyle.” I eyed him as we sat in traffic.

“My lifestyle?”

“Okay, play dumb if you want. I know the kind of life Logan led, and he’s told me some stories about the two of you. I just need to know you’re serious.”

“Would I be here if I wasn’t,” he snapped.

“Don’t take it personally.” I smiled. He was already giving me the right answers.

“How can I not? You’re basically telling me I’m a man whore who isn’t worthy of your sister.”

“First of all, no one is worthy of Faith. She’s one of a kind and far too good for anyone. Second of all, I’m not saying your past is who you are. I know people can change, Logan is living proof. My question to you is how badly do you want this to work?”

We pulled up in front of the restaurant with the question hanging between us.

“Come on then, let’s get this over with so I can go home to my man.” I grinned and climbed out onto the street.

“Out of the frying pan and into the fire,” he mumbled as we walked inside.

My mom was sitting at a table with Hope, Grayson sleeping in her arms. “You must be Smith. Faith has told me a lot about you.” Her smile was warm and inviting.

Smith smiled and sat across from her. I slid in next to Hope.

“I’m Love, this is Hope.” She gestured to my sister who gave a weak smile. I squeezed her hand.

“Smith, but you already know that.” He folded his hands on the table, trying to appear calm.

“Is this a casual thing you have with my daughter, or do you see a future?”

“I can see where Faith gets it from.” He smiled. “I honestly don’t know. This relationship thing isn’t something I’m used to. I’m sort of playing it by ear.”

My mom nodded. “But you like her enough to endure this?”

“Yes. I really do.”

We all fired off questions. Wanting to know more about him. By the end of it, I was satisfied for now. He was honest, and that was all I could ask for.

When we emerged from the restaurant, Faith and Logan were talking by Logan’s limo.

Smith wrapped Faith in his arms and kissed her. “Was it that bad?” she asked.

“No, not that bad,” he murmured.

I motioned for Logan to follow me and headed toward my car.

“Seems like he made it through okay.” He slid into the passenger seat.

“He’s a good guy. And you know Mom, she’s a sucker for a project.” I grinned.

“Is that what I was?” He tucked my hair behind my ear.

“No, you weren’t so much of a project. Mom adored you from the second you walked into the restaurant.”

“Could you blame her? I’m pretty likable.” He winked and gave me a smile that melted me from the inside out.

“God, you are so full of yourself sometimes. You know that right?” I glanced over at him before pulling into the road.

“I’m well aware. Did you finish packing?” He ran his fingers through my hair casually.

“Would you hate me if I said we needed to go back to my apartment and finish?” I smiled.

“I wouldn’t hate you, no, but it sort of puts a damper on my plans for the evening. You know, we really just need to move your stuff in already. We could have packed together.” He shot me a dark look.

This had been a bone of contention with us for a week. He wanted me to move in fully, and I was fine with my stuff staying where it was for the time being.

“We’ll talk about it when we get back from California.” I didn’t want to argue about it anymore.

“Fine, I’m going to hold you to that.”

When we got to my apartment, I was back in hurricane mode. Throwing things inside of my suitcases and looking for shoes.

“Is this how you normally pack?”

“Sometimes, it depends. Why?”

“I guess I imagined you as more organized.” He laughed and gestured to the mess on top of my bed.

“This is not normal.” I grinned and shoved another pair of shoes into a suitcase.

Logan pitched in, and we were out of the apartment twenty minutes later and on our way back to his place.

“I’m still really nervous about meeting Shaileen.” I glanced at him as I drove.

“Why? I already told you she’s going to love you.”

“She’s your family. I would be just as nervous about meeting your sister. And Shaileen is so much more than your sister.”

He nodded. “She is. Family has to accept you no matter what because they’re family. Shaileen and Smith accept me because they choose to. Don’t stress about it. You’ll love her.” He leaned over and pressed a kiss to my cheek.

I put on a smile and took a few deep breaths.

CALIFORNIA, THE HOME OF SILICONE
and spray tans. It was never my favorite place, but I came often after Shai moved a few years ago.

Grace looked like she wanted to throw up. I kind of liked it that she was this nervous about making a good impression.

“Deep breaths, Kitten. Shaileen doesn’t bite, I promise.” My fingers grazed the bare skin of her back trying to calm her nerves. I slid her across the seat so she fit perfectly against me and kissed the top of her head, inhaling the floral scent of her shampoo.

She smiled weakly and looked out the window at the sea of red lights on the freeway. L.A. traffic sucked.

Faith leaned in close to Grace.

“I’m nervous, too, honey.”

“Oh thank God. You’ve seemed so under control.”

“I’m just better at hiding it than you.”

Smith grinned at me and tucked Faith firmly against him, pressing a kiss to her temple. This was all new for us. Being in relationships. Actually caring about someone else.

Shaileen was waiting in the lobby when we pulled up to The Beverly Wilshire and parked under the immense white overhang. She looked amazing. Her skin glowed like it was lit from the inside with a candle. God, she looked happy, too. My heart clenched.

Even pregnant, she was magnificent. She wore a skintight knit dress that fell just above her knees. Her blond hair was piled on top of her head in a knot. Chris was by her side, his hand on the small of her back. They were a perfect match and very California. Blond hair and tan skin.

“Logan!” she squealed and waddled over to us as I helped Grace out of the car. She was all baby, thin with a huge baby bump out front.

“Shai, you look amazing.” I pulled her into my arms and hugged her tight.

“Oh, shut up. I’m huge. I can’t believe I have two months of this left.” She gestured to her stomach. “You’re Grace.” She stepped away from me and took Grace’s hands in her own. “It’s so good to meet you. Logan has talked my ear off singing your praises. Thank you for being here with him. “

A flush crept up Grace’s cheeks, and she smiled. “He’s told me a lot about you, too. I’m happy to be here.”

Smith and Faith walked up hand in hand a moment later.

“I leave you boys alone for three years and you go and grow up on me.” She grinned and pulled Smith into a hug.

“It was bound to happen sooner or later.” He shrugged, not letting go of Faith’s hand. “This is Faith.” The way he said her name held meaning. Both Shaileen and I caught it.

“You’re Grace’s sister.” She looked from one to the other.

“I am. Her older sister. Smith didn’t tell you?” She laughed and released Smith’s hand before taking the hand Shaileen offered. She pulled her into a hug a moment later. “We’re huggers in my family.”

“No, he didn’t tell me you were sisters. He only told me he was bringing a date.” She shot Smith a look and popped a hand on her hip.

“And miss this little exchange? I would do it again.” He laughed.

“You’re such a dick sometimes, you know that right?” Shaileen punched him in the arm.

“I know, but you love me anyway.” He kissed her cheek.

“Come on, let’s go up to the room and you can tell us what we’re in store for this week.”

An hour after Shai left, Grace and I were finally alone in our room. I watched as she unpacked, flitting here and there with bags and piles of clothes.

“We’re only here for a couple days, you know that, right?” I nodded at the already full dresser.

“I know. I like to have options.” She shrugged and stuck her tongue out at me.

After everything was unpacked, she hung her gown on a hook by the bathroom, running her hands along the smooth satin.

“I’ll never get used to this,” she sighed wistfully.

“Get used to what?” I got up from the bed and took her in my arms.

“All of this. Private planes, swanky hotels, thousand dollar evening gowns. This room is as big as my first apartment.” She waved her hands expansively.