Taking You (7 page)

Harris’s eyebrows shot up, surprise and pleasure coursing through him. “Gretchen March, are you propositioning me?”

“You’re the one who started the naked talk, Harris Nelson.” Gretchen grinned up at him, the expression on her face reminding him of paintings of troublemaking fairies he’d seen in a museum on his last trip to Ireland.

Suddenly, he wanted to take her there to see those paintings with him. He wanted to plan a trip and take her away from the sadness of the year since her husband’s death, show her that there were still adventures to be had, adventures of the body and soul, and even more mystical adventures of the heart.

“Besides,” she said, with a demure shrug of her shoulders, “after Lark’s announcement and what we were unfortunate enough to interrupt in the boat house, it should be obvious that the women in my family are in touch with certain…appetites.”

Harris laughed until he gave himself a coughing fit.

“Are you all right?” Gretchen asked, thumping him on the back. “Am I going to be able to tease you without giving you a heart attack, Harris Nelson?”

“Yes,” he said clearing his throat. “Please. Tease me. My ticker’s in great shape. I’ve got the cholesterol of a thirty-year-old man.”

“I hope that doesn’t mean that you don’t eat red meat. I’m a fan of steak dinner on Saturdays, and I’m too old to change.”

“You’re not too old to change, and you know it.”

She smiled. “I know that, but my kids don’t. They think I’m a fossil, so stuck in my ways there’s no point in trying to reason with me about anything.”

“Which only makes you more unreasonable, I’m guessing. If I remember correctly, I’m not the only one standing on this path who is a bit of a mess.”

Her eyes twinkled. “Well if they’re going to treat me like a crazy old lady, I feel obliged to play along.”

She laughed softly as she turned back to look at the lake, the water black and mysterious now that dusk had fallen. “Stephen used to get such a kick out of it. Some nights we’d laugh all the way home. Messing with my babies and grandbabies hasn’t been nearly as much fun without an audience to appreciate it. Lately I’ve been wondering if I haven’t gone ahead and become that fussy old bird, after all.”

Harris took her hand. It was soft and warm and fit just perfectly in his. “No way. You’re not that sort, Gretchen March.”

She sighed. “I do like things done a certain way. People shouldn’t drink alcohol in church, or let their children run wild, or get naked in public places before they are legally married.

“But after they’re married, it’s acceptable to get naked in a public place?”

Gretchen winked. “As long as you don’t get caught by your nana.”

He pulled at her hand, drawing her closer. “What about old coots like us? Do you think we should be married before we get naked in public places?”

Gretchen rolled her eyes. “I’m not getting naked in a public ever again. I had my days of splendor in the grass and glory in the flower. If you’re interested in making that kind of a connection, we’ll be doing it in a bedroom, Harris Nelson.”

Harris shivered. “I really like hearing that combination of words coming out of your mouth. I have to confess, I might have had a few fantasies about this evening working out in my favor, but none of them were quite this hopeful.”

This time, she didn’t even seem to be trying to hide the wickedness in her grin. “Well, I’ve been lonely, and I figure I’m old enough that God isn’t really paying much attention to my virtue anymore. Besides, at out age, we don’t know how much time we’ve got. No reason to waste even a single day.”

“Maybe those kids feel the same way,” he said. “Maybe they’re so in love they didn’t want to waste another day not being together.”

Gretchen’s gaze softened. “Guess I’ll have to get used to a tattooed grandson-in-law. They certainly looked like they were in love.”

“They did.” Harris put his arms around her waist, sighing as she placed her arms around his neck with a familiarity that felt just right. “And there’s nothing better than love, even if it comes with a few tattoos.”

Gretchen tipped her head back, lifting her face to his. “I don’t really think every man who has tattoos is a felon, by the way. My children and grandchildren like to think I do, but I’m not that far off my rocker.”

“I’d say you’re pretty firmly in your rocker.”

“Mostly,” she said, running her fingers through his hair, which he also had as much of as a thirty-year-old man, thank you very much. “But I have to have all of my passwords written down on a sheet of paper by my computer, or I forget how to log-in to my email or my Twitter.”

“I’m impressed you’re even doing the Twitter,” Harris said, loving the feel of her assured touch. “The one time I went on there, it looked like a bunch of people with ADHD all yelling at the same time.”

“You just have to get used to it,” she said, swaying closer. “Then it can be nice. If you decide you’re interested in opening an account I can refer you to my followers. I have seventeen thousand of them.”

“Seventeen thousand?”

“My handle is Sassy Southern Nana.”

“Should be Sexy Southern Nana.” He leaned down, wondering if now was an acceptable time to steal his first kiss.

“Oh hush up and kiss me already, Harris Nelson,” she said, drawing his mouth down to hers.

Her lips were whisper soft and warmer than her hands, but not nearly as warm as his own lips. But then, he’d been feeling warm all over ever since she mentioned getting naked together, and he doubted he’d be cooling off any time soon.

Her kiss was as intriguing as Gretchen herself, a mix of timid and assured, gentle and strong that made his heart pound faster. Every ache and pain plaguing his aging body vanished in a wave of warmth as her slim body pressed closer to his and her hands tangled in his hair and the cooling night was suddenly filled with laughter.

He pulled away, grinning before he turned to see who had happened upon them, rather proud of being caught in the act.

When he saw Gretchen’s granddaughter and her beau, he couldn’t help but laugh.

“Nana March,” Melody said, grinning. “Making out in public with a man who isn’t even your boyfriend. Now who’s going to get in trouble with daddy?”

“He is so my boyfriend,” Gretchen said firmly as she stepped out of his arms, making Harris grin all the harder. “And no one is going to get in trouble with your daddy, because no one is telling Bobby anything that happened here tonight.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Melody said, winking at Harris. “Thanks for keeping my nana out of trouble, Mr. Nelson.”

“Oh, I’m afraid I’m going to be working on getting her into trouble, sweetheart,” Harris said, making Gretchen giggle. “I’m planning to ask her to run away to Ireland with me as soon as the wedding festivities are over.”

He glanced down at Gretchen to a see a pleased expression on her face.

“I’ve always wanted to go to Ireland,” she said.

“No time like the present,” Harris said, offering her his arm.

“I’ll start hunting for my passport as soon as I get home,” she said, tucking her hand into his elbow before glancing back at the younger folks. “Well, hurry up, you two. I think I’ve noticed something on Melody’s hand that I’m sure you’re excited to share with the rest of the family.”

“Nothing gets by you, Nana,” Melody said. “Am I forgiven now that I’m engaged?”

“Nothing to be forgiven, baby,” Gretchen said, the love in her voice making Harris even prouder to have her on his arm. “And welcome to the family, felon. I’ll work on learning to like you now that it looks like you’ll be sticking around for awhile.”

“I’ll work on being likable,” the boy said, laughter in his voice.

“You do that,” Gretchen said, lips thinning as she obviously fought a smile.

Harris chuckled as he led her back into the restaurant, excited for the adventures ahead, grateful he’d been brave enough to finally go after the girl who was out of his league.

Aria didn’t cry at weddings. She really didn’t.

She understood that some people found extreme happiness and promises of forever sob-inducing, but she wasn’t that kind of girl.

She had no idea why her eyes had been prickling ever since Lark and Mason finished their vows and turned to walk down the long aisle at the center of the church as husband and wife.

There was nothing to be sniffly about. Lark had fit into her dress (thank God), Mason had been adorably overcome during the vows, and Aria had enjoyed stealing glances at Nash across the aisle where he stood with the groomsmen. The man was sexy as hell on a normal day, but her husband looked
fine
in a tux, so good it almost seemed a shame that all she could think about was getting him out of that tux as soon as possible.

Up until this point, it had been a perfect day.

So why was she hiding on the terrace of the reception hall, staring out at the rolling hills as twilight gave way to night feeling so…melancholy?

“There you are.” Nash’s deep voice rolled over her as he stepped out onto the terrace.

“Here I am.” She turned to watch her husband cross the wooden planks between them, amazed, as always, that this man was hers.

At six-foot four and over two hundred pounds of pure muscle, Nash was the kind of man who drew female eyes wherever he went. He had a commanding presence and an even more commanding sex vibe. Aria couldn’t count the times she’d caught another woman checking Nash out with
that
kind of look in her eye, the one that said she would like to smear Nash Geary with chocolate sauce and lick him clean with her tongue—or just go straight to the licking part, no chocolate sauce required.

But Nash never seemed to notice the feminine attention. He only had eyes for Aria. Incredibly sexy, intense, green eyes that were now sweeping up and down her body, appreciating her skin-tight, blue dress even as he noted that his wife wasn’t herself.

“What’s up, Red?” he asked. “Why so glum?”

She smiled softly. “I’m not glum.”

“You’re not happy.”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m just feeling a little…gray inside.”

“Why?” He stopped in front of her, cupping her cheek in his big hand, making her feel absurdly small.

Still, his touch was never intimidating. He was the gentlest giant she’d ever met, and the answer to all the “knight in shining armor” dreams she had never dared to indulge until she met him. Most days she would lay bets that she was the happiest person she knew. Today, she should have been even happier. Melody was engaged, Lark was married, and even Nana had a new boyfriend. Everyone she loved seemed to be finding their way to happily ever after, so why was she suddenly feeling low?

Aria shook her head as she looped her arms around Nash’s narrow waist and pulled him closer. “I don’t know. Just being dumb, I guess.”

“You are many things, babe, but you’re not dumb. Not even close.” He hesitated, his thumb brushing idly back and forth beneath her chin. “Did I do something?”

Aria looked up, lifting a wry brow. “Well, you have been walking around all day looking like sex on a stick, making me want to pounce on you in the church sanctuary. That was pretty annoying.”

Nash pulled her closer, his eyes darkening. “Then you should let me make it up to you. Your mom is feeding Felicity cake. I’m sure we can find a place to be alone for a little while. I saw a family bathroom on the bottom floor that didn’t look like it was getting much action. And we
are
family…”

Shivers of awareness rippled through Aria at the thought of having Nash naked in her arms, but for some reason she shook her head. “I don’t think so, Meaty. If we get caught doing it at my sister’s wedding, the family will never let me live it down.”

“We’ll be quick,” he said, leaning down to press a kiss to her bare shoulder. “And I’ll be sure to put my hand over your mouth to muffle the sound when you come. No one will ever know.”

Aria let out a ragged breath, desire warring with the strange icky feeling swirling inside of her. In the end, the icky feeling won and she gently pushed Nash away. “Stop,” she said. “I’m serious.”

The heat faded from his expression, replaced by genuine worry. “Aria, what’s wrong? What did I do?”

“Nothing,” she said, frustration in her tone, though she wasn’t sure who she was frustrated with—Nash or herself. “And I told you, I don’t know.”

“Well, when did it start?”

She shook her head, lifting her eyes to the darkening sky. “I guess… I guess I’ve been feeling sad since Lark and Mason said their vows.”

“Why’s that?” Nash asked patiently.

Aria chewed the inside of her cheek for a moment. “The whole time they were talking, I kept thinking about the day we said those same words. But for us they weren’t a promise, they were just…a lie.”

“They were not a lie.”

“They were then,” Aria insisted. “We weren’t even friends when we decided to get married, Nash, let alone in love. It was an arrangement, nothing romantic or sacred or special about it.”

Nash nodded slowly. “And you feel cheated.”

Aria shrugged again, biting her lip as she turned to look back out at the peaceful scenery, wishing she felt as peaceful inside. “Maybe a little. I don’t know. I’m not jealous of Lark, at all. I’m so happy for her. She deserved a perfect, romantic wedding. I guess I just wish I had a different memory of our wedding day.”

“Then let’s get married again,” Nash said, leaning his arms onto the terrace railing beside her.

Aria shook her head. “We can’t. My family would think we were crazy.”

“Then we’ll tell them the truth and explain why we want a do-over.”

“No, we decided not to tell them until our first anniversary,” Aria reminded him. “If we do it before then, it will cause trouble, and we don’t want to cause trouble, especially now that Nick and Melody are engaged.”

Nash grinned, obviously still thrilled that his little brother had proposed. “They’re so cute together.”

“They are,” Aria said.

“But not as cute as we are.” Nash nudged her shoulder with his.

Aria rolled her eyes and said in her driest voice, “Well, of course not. Don’t be ridiculous,” making Nash laugh.