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  “On?” He leaned forward slightly, searching her eyes. Something had changed with her, and he was determined to get to the bottom of it. He just needed to know how much time he had to convince her to open up again.

  “I’ve rented a small place until the end of the month,” she answered.

  “Where? Here in Surf Breeze?” She nodded. “What happens after that?” He held his breath, waiting.

  “I’m hoping, I’ll find a place of my own.” Her eyes moved around the inside of the building. “A job.” She shrugged. “A place that I fit in.”

  Just then, Blake, one of the other bartenders, walked over to their table. “Alan, Leigh Ann called.” Blake set the note on the table and walked away. Alan scanned the note and tucked it into his pocket quickly.

  Turning back to Grace, he smiled. “I’m manager here, well, for another couple of weeks. We have a few job openings,” he suggested.

  Her eyes returned to his. “Thank you, but… I’m not really…” She looked around. “I went back to school and finished my degree in enology and viticulture.”

  Alan knew that his eyebrows shot up a little in question.

  “You could say that I’ve decided to go into the family business after all. What I’d really like to do is to purchase some land around here and start my own winery.”

  This time, his eyebrows were all the way up. “Seriously?” He smiled. “But I thought you said your family was in bourbon?”

  She sighed. “Bourbon, wine, vodka, you name it, they do it.”

  His eyes narrowed. “Who’s your family? What’s your last name?” he asked.

  “Hamilton,” she answered after a pause.

  “As in—” he stopped when she nodded and closed her eyes. More than a dozen bottles behind his bar had the Hamilton name on them. “No wonder.” He groaned as he thought of all the power her family wielded.

  Suddenly, there was a sinking feeling in the bottom of his stomach.

  “This is why I never tell anyone.”

  He locked eyes with her.

  “What?” he asked.

  “That look in your eyes says it all.” She frowned.

  Shaking off the thoughts he was having about how powerful her family was, he reached across the table and took her hand in his. “It doesn’t change the way I feel about you.”

  After she searched his eyes, he saw a hint of a smile on her lips. “Thank you.”

  “Listen, I need to go take over for Wendy. I’m sure she’s dying to get back to the baby.” He slid his cell phone across the table. “Put your info in here. I’m not making the same mistake this time and letting you slip out on me without at least getting digits.”

  She chuckled and entered her information on his phone.

  “Do you need a ride somewhere?” he asked before getting up.

  “No, I rented a car this time.” She followed him out of the booth.

  He stayed still, wishing he could pull her into another hug. Instead, he reached up and brushed a finger down her arm. “You look tired. Go get some rest. If you want, I’d like to take you out to breakfast. I know all the good places around.”

  She smiled and nodded. “Sounds perfect. I put my address in your phone. Pick me up at seven?”

  He inwardly groaned about having to wake up that early since he knew he was working the late shift, which meant he’d be getting home around two. Still, he was too eager to miss the chance. “I’ll see you.” She turned to go, but he stopped her. “It’s so good to have you back.”

  “It’s so good to be back.” She waved to Wendy as she walked out.

  “So…” Wendy leaned against the bar top and smiled at him. “She’s back.”

  “Yes.” He started filling a new order, hoping Wendy wouldn’t notice the huge smile on his face.

  “So…” She moved in front of him and stopped him from walking around her. “Soooooo.”

  He set the glass down and sighed loudly. “So, yeah, she’s back.”

  “Who’s back?” Cole said as he walked up to the bar, pushing a stroller with a very small bundle that looked somewhat like a burrito to Alan. The sleeping kid was wrapped up tight, even though it was a million degrees outside.

  “Grace,” Wendy answered for him, still waiting for him to talk.

  “Grace, Grace?” Cole asked, moving over to sit at the bar while still rocking the stroller.

  “Yeah. You must have walked past her on the way in.” Wendy finally moved around the bar when her son started fussing. She bent over and picked the bundle up and then sat down next to her husband while rocking their son.

  “For good?” Cole asked while Alan went back to filling his drink orders.

  “For a month at least,” he answered.

  “That’s good,” Wendy said as Kaden started crying. “He’s hungry.” She stood up and narrowed her eyes. “We’ll talk later.” He knew it was a warning, not a promise.

  He watched the new family head out the front door and held back the need that had been building in him since the first moment he’d laid eyes on Grace Hamilton.

  9

  It had been over a year since Grace had slept so well. She hated rolling out of the bed when her phone chimed, but desperately wanted to start her new life quickly.

  After showering, she took her time deciding on the right outfit. She’d chickened out last night, but she knew she couldn’t wait too much longer to tell Alan everything.

  She was a little concerned about the note he’d gotten yesterday from Leigh Ann. Was that his girlfriend? It had been over a year. Maybe he had invited her out today just as friends.

  She tried to convince herself that none of that really mattered. Even if he was seeing someone, she still had to follow through with everything. Just thinking about it caused her stomach to roll.

  Her hands shook as she opened the door to the cottage.

  Alan looked tired. It was the first thing she noticed about him. Then she noticed the bundle of flowers he was holding and forgot about anything else.

  “They’re beautiful.” She smiled and took them when he held them out for her.

  She buried her nose into the white petals and inhaled deeply.

  It had been too long since she’d received flowers from anyone. She motioned for him to come in and stepped aside to make room for him.

  “Nice,” he said as he walked in.

  She laughed. “It’ll do for now.” She moved to the small kitchen and pulled out a glass for the flowers. “No view of the ocean, only one bed and bathroom,” she said as she moved around. “But, still, it’s better than where I’ve been.” She’d lost track of who she was talking to and stilled when she realized it. Taking a deep breath, she pasted a big smile on her lips and turned around. “These are beautiful.”

  Alan didn’t seem to notice her slip. He was looking at the unique artwork on the walls.

  “Still, you have it for an entire month.” He smiled at her when she moved closer. “Are you hungry?”

  “Yes.” She set the flowers on the small dining table and grabbed her handbag.

  She enjoyed riding in Alan’s Jeep. He’d taken the doors and windows off, so the air on her face cooled her as the sun rose higher in the sky.

  She watched for views of the beach along the ride, but she could only see trees.

  “Tell me about where you’ve been staying in the past year that was worse than this place?” Alan asked over the sound of the wind.

  Damn, she’d hoped he hadn’t been paying attention.

  “I moved out of my parent’s place, got my own apartment.” She hoped to keep it vague.

  “Have you always lived at home? Before?” he asked.

  “Yes, I wanted to move out, after high school, but…” She sighed and looked out the window. “College happened instead.” She didn’t say it out loud, but her parents had demanded she remain under their roof if they were to pay for her college. She would find out later that it was to make sure she and Corey remained separated. “What about you?”<
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  “I joined the marines fresh out of school, then came here.” He slowed the Jeep and pulled off the main road.

  “You aren’t one for long stories,” she joked.

  Alan parked the Jeep near a small downtown area, and they walked from there to a two-story white building.

  “It’s just up these stairs,” he said, motioning for her to go ahead of him.

  She walked with him up steep stairs. At the top, the view opened up and there before her was the emerald green water of the Gulf.

  The brightness of the greens and blues caused her eyes to squint and her breath to stick in her throat.

  “It’s something, isn’t it?” he said softly next to her ear. “Never gets old.”

  They were seated on a high-top table on a deck overlooking the white sandy beach.

  “Whenever anyone asks me why I stick around here, doing what I do…” He smiled as his eyes ran over the view in front of them. “It’s hard to describe this to them.”

  She nodded in agreement. “You have to see it firsthand.”

  They ordered drinks and enjoyed the view, watching seagulls dart around the shoreline and large groups of gray pelicans fly across the sky in formation.

  “There.” Alan pointed. “Two o’clock,” She followed his finger and smiled when she saw a dolphin jump out of the water playfully.

  She took another sip of her mimosa and watched the pod of dolphins disappear down the coastline.

  “Are you going to talk to me?” Alan asked finally, interrupting her thoughts.

  She turned slightly towards him. The sun was hitting him full force. His skin was tan, and he had the slightest of natural blond highlights in his hair. He looked like he belonged on the beach.

  Glancing down at her hand, she realized just how pale she was. She felt totally out of place, with the exception of her attire. She still had the sundresses from what would have been her honeymoon trip.

  Other than the dresses and sandals, she had only a few pairs of shorts. Most of the clothes she had left were designed for northern weather.

  “I’m not even really sure what I’m doing here.” She glanced around again. “I feel like a fraud.”

  “You’re following your dreams. Like everyone else around here. Including me.” Alan smiled over at her and took her hand in his.

  Grace closed her eyes and took a deep breath, the truth of who she was, why she was back here, on the tip of her tongue.

  “Alan?” They both turned to see an older man approach their table.

  “Mark.” Alan stood up and shook the man’s hand, then turned towards her. “This is Grace Hamilton. And this is Mark Grayton. He is Cassey, Marcus, Cole, Roman, and Marissa’s father.” He took a comical breath.

  Mark chuckled. “And grandfather to Reagan, Lizzy, Rose, and Kade.”

  Alan motioned to their table. “Join us?”

  “No, I can’t. I’m meeting Missy, Roman, and Reagan for breakfast.” He glanced around. “It appears that I’m early.”

  “I thought Missy and Rowan were married?” Grace asked. She’d met Marcus and Cole, but didn’t think she’d met Roman or Missy yet.

  “Yes, married early last year.” Mark’s smile grew.

  “They were raised as brother and sister, but no real relation,” Alan added.

  “Elizabeth, my late wife, and I adopted our kids, except Julie and Karen. Karen passed on many years ago. Julie’s a retired teacher. She’s the reason, really, that we started fostering kids.” Mark’s smile grew, and Grace could see pride behind the old man’s eyes. Pride unlike any she’d ever witnessed in her own parents’ eyes, at least not towards her. “She’s currently on a trip to China for a mission trip.”

  Just then, they heard the pattering of feet as an eight-year-old boy rushed towards the older man and wrapped his arms around him. “Grandpa!”

  For the next few minutes, introductions were made. They moved another table closer to theirs, so they could join their table.

  Everyone ordered food. Watching the family caused her nerves to spike. She sat silently, soaking in as much as she could.

  The more she watched the family together, the more she grew jealous of their closeness and the obvious bond they had.

  It was after they had all finished eating and their empty dishes were removed that Rowan cleared his throat to get everyone’s attention.

  “We had something to tell Dad, but”—his eyes moved over to her and Alan—“since we bumped into you guys, you get to be amongst the first to hear.” Rowan reached over and grabbed Missy’s hand. The pair of them nodded to their son, Reagan, who looked like he was about to burst with secrets.

  “I’m getting a brother,” he called out, a little too loudly, gaining the attention of several other tables.

  “Or sister,” Missy added.

  “Or sister,” Reagan repeated in a not-so-excited tone.

  Mark jumped up from this chair, shockingly limber for a man of his age, and quickly hugged Missy.

  “Wow, congrats!” Alan shook Rowan’s hand, then hugged Missy.

  “Thanks, we’re planning on telling the rest of the family later today at the family dinner,” Missy said. “We wanted to tell Dad first.”

  “We figured since he was the last one to find out about Reagan…” Rowan ruffled his son’s hair as the boy giggled and looked at her.

  “I was a secret. Even my dad didn’t know about me,” Reagan supplied.

  “Long story,” Missy added, taking her husband’s hand in her own. “What about you?” she asked, causing Grace to cough on the sip of drink she’d just taken. “Do you have siblings?”

  Grace’s heart settled in her chest. “Yes, three brothers.” She took another large sip of her water. She’d run out of mimosa and didn’t want to appear like a lush and order a second.

  “See, I knew there was something about you.” Missy smiled. “I can always tell a woman who’s been tortured by older brothers.” She poked a finger into her husband’s arm. He wrapped his arm around her and held her close as they smiled stupidly at one another.

  Torture didn’t describe the hell she’d gone through with three older brothers who could do no wrong in her parents’ eyes. Or the fact that she’d been sheltered and protected to the point of being smothered.

  “Congratulations,” she added.

  “Thanks. Alan, you two should join us tonight.” Missy shifted and tilted her head. “You’re family.”

  “We adopt any strays we find,” Rowan joked as he put an arm around Missy’s shoulders.

  “Dad, can we find another spot at the table?” Missy asked.

  “The more the merrier.” Mark moved to get up. “I’ve got some things to do before tonight.” He hugged Missy and Rowan then leaned down and took a hug from Reagan. “I’ll see you all tonight.”

  “We’ll walk out with you. Missy wanted to swing by the outlet mall and look at cribs.”

  “Already?” Mark chuckled.

  “It’s never too early to start planning.” Missy put a hand over her flat belly.

  Something deep inside Grace broke at the slight move. She had to glance away, towards the beautiful scene beyond the white sand, to clear the sadness from her heart.

  While Alan said his goodbyes and got the details for dinner, she held back the emotions that had built up after the lunch with the perfect family.

  * * *

  Alan paid the bill and took Grace’s hand. “Why don’t we head down and walk off our food.” He nodded towards the beach.

  He could see the sadness in Grace’s eyes and wondered what had put the look there. Had he overstepped his bounds, planning dinner with the Graytons?

  Was she upset at him? They made their way down the beach steps and he pulled off his flip-flops. Grace removed her sandals and set them by his along the stairs.

  “So?” he said, taking her hand again, “which way?” He nodded to the left then to the right.

  “You decide,” she said softly.

  They st
arted slowly walking away from the sunlight.

  “Want to talk about it?” he asked after a few minutes.

  She turned and looked at him. “I like them, your adopted family.” Her smile didn’t reach her eyes, where the sadness still dominated.

  “Thanks, they like you too.” He stopped and moved closer. “Something’s caused you to be sad. Is it me? Them? What?”

  She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. “It’s just… so hard seeing how families should be.”

  “Unlike yours?” He frowned when she nodded in agreement. “They couldn’t have been that bad.”

  “They disowned me after that trip last year.”

  “Disowned?” He moved closer to her as she nodded again.

  “They kicked me out, took everything away, my bank accounts, my car, school, everything.”

  His back teeth clenched. “Because of us?”

  “Partially.” She sat down in the soft sand and waited until he sat beside her. Then she looked around. “I had meant to tell you… before, but…”

  He reached over and took her hand. “Grace, you can tell me anything.” He shifted and watched emotions cross her eyes. How could he tell her that when she’d left, she’d taken part of him he’d never known existed?

  “My parents… when we returned home, put me on lockdown, then…” She dropped his hand and tucked her legs up tight to her chest and hugged them. “Then, when they found out”—her eyes moved to him—“that I was pregnant, they went off the deep end.”

  His entire body tensed, and his vision actually grayed.

  “Alan?” Grace’s voice broke through the haze.

  “You…”

  “Yes,” she said softly.

  “A baby? My baby? How? We were… we used protection.” He blinked a few times, everything around him forgotten except her.

  “I… I’m not… sure.” She sighed

  Then his mind sharpened, and he looked around them, half expecting someone to walk up and hand him a small bundle that looked like Grace and him.

  “No.” She laid an arm on his. “Yes, I mean, yours, ours.” She sighed, and he zoned in on her sadness and it hit him like a truck.