Not Planning on You (7 page)

With Gray staring a hole in her, Beth lowered her head and said, “I know what you’re thinking, and you’re right. In my defense, though, you don’t know how hard it is to say no to my sister when she makes up her mind.”

Gray softened because he knew just exactly what Beth had been up against. Suzy wasn’t a woman to take no for an answer. “I know, Beth. I’d have had a hard time saying no, too. I believe she’s probably learned a lesson. How’s she been today?”

“She’s better. This is the first pain medication she’s taken even though they have stressed that she needs to keep it at a constant level for pain management. I know she’s hurting, but she’s determined to fight it. Were you able to find a house today?”

“Yes, the papers have been signed, and it’s ready to move in. I was able to keep the furnishing so Suzy should be comfortable. Did you bring a suitcase with you for her?

“Yes, I have it in my car. When they release her, we can transfer it to your vehicle. “

“Beth, I meant what I said. You’re more than welcome to stay with us. I don’t want you to feel like you’re being excluded because your sister needs you.”

Touched by his concern for her, Beth smiled and said, “Really Gray
it’s
fine. You don’t have to worry about me. I should be the one worrying about you. This isn’t going to be easy. I’m going to leave you my cell number and when you’re settled in I’d appreciate a phone call to let me know how the patient is faring.”

The doctor arrived at that moment, and with one final check and a list of instructions, Suzy was cleared for discharge. By this time, Suzy was awake, and Gray braced himself for the argument that was surely coming over her living arrangements.

“Oh thank God, I’m so ready to get out of here. The décor is circa 1980s and its smells funny. The nurse keeps giving me an evil look. I think she spat in my fruit cup this morning. Please tell me your place is better than here, although, it must surely be because the bar hasn’t been set very high.”

Gray was temporarily at a loss for words. Prepared to threaten, plead, or bribe her to be reasonable, he was surprised that she was going along with the program so easily. Whatever she was taking must be good stuff. He decided to hurry before it wore off. Luckily, the nurse arrived, and soon they were moving smoothly down the halls. Suzy and the nurse waited at the front door while he and Beth went to collect Suzy’s suitcase and Gray’s car.

Gray thanked Beth and promised to call her that evening. Soon he was pulling his car to the front, and he quickly went around
to help
Suzy into the passenger seat. It took some adjustments with the seat and some colorful cursing from Suzy, but they were finally in the car and heading towards his new home.

 

 

Suzy tried to focus in on her surroundings and wondered when exactly she’d lost her mind. She was in the car with Gray on her way to his house where she’d apparently agreed to live until she recovered. Her hormones kicked into overdrive as she risked a side glance at him. Gray was one major hunk. He looked good and smelled even better. She had the desire to shut her eyes and just inhale his fragrance. He might think it a little strange if she suddenly started sniffing so she controlled the urge.

 

Gray had been wonderful since the accident. A part of her heart that she thought had been broken beyond repair by her sleaze-ball ex-fiancé Jeff had started to heal. Surely Gray had a flaw. She’d yet to find it, but it had to be there. Maybe living with him for a while would truly show her what type of person he was. He probably left the seat up on the toilet, the cap off the toothpaste and his underwear in the floor. She knew she was attracted to him, and even though she didn’t sleep around, she fully planned to make an exception for him. There was just something so powerful between
them,
she was having a hard time walking—or hobbling—away.

 

Suzy jolted out of her thoughts as Gray slowed the car at an intersection. Suzy recognized the tourist area as Garden City Beach. This was one of her favorite areas. Only a few miles from the huge crowds of Myrtle Beach, Garden City was small and quaint and attracted mainly families looking for a vacation spot with more family- friendly amenities and the freedom to enjoy the beach with a little more privacy than Myrtle Beach offered.

They were now heading from the main hub of the hotels of Garden City and to the section with many privately owned beach houses. As they got farther away, the houses were more elaborate and more private. Suzy felt as if her heart would stop as Gray pulled into the drive of what she could only call her dream house.

When she was little, her parents hadn’t really encouraged the whole fairy tale thing. She’d always wanted to be a princess. Her parents only purchased practical, educational books for them and refused to buy any of the more fanciful ones that she and Beth preferred. Luckily, the school library provided an endless supply, and as most little girls do, Suzy had read them and dreamed of one day being the princess in the book.

As she’d grown older, she’d buried the dreams of her childhood behind her and went for the shock value of leather and lace. At least, this was always guaranteed to get a reaction from her parents. Through the years, the provocative dress attire had become her signature and her shield. No one messed with a girl who could run for a mile in six-inch heels.

The house that they pulled up to brought all those hopes and dreams back from where she’d buried them long ago. It was a beautiful Victorian complete with gables and a turret. The façade was a blue-gray with white trim and a veranda that ran the side of the house disappearing around the back. It was quite simply, the house of her dreams and something she’d have never believed that Gray would choose. She pictured him in glass and steel, very contemporary and modern. Come to think of it, that was probably what he thought she’d select. This house was beautiful, unique and, yeah, she had to admit, almost magical. It was a castle for the modern girl who didn’t require a moat or drawbridge.

Suzy realized that Gray had cut off the ignition and was studying her reaction. She forced herself to shut the mouth that she knew was hanging open and gave him a nervous smile. There was simply no way she could insult this house. “Gray, it’s beautiful, but I’ll admit, I’m surprised. “

“Why is that, were you perhaps expecting something with pink flamingos?”

With a chuckle, Suzy said, “Not exactly, I’d have expected something more modern. You’re a big, rich, single guy on the prowl. This type of home might send the wrong message to your female fans. This house, although breathtaking, says, ‘I want two point five kids and a new mini-van in the drive-way.’

Gray studied her intently for a few moments and Suzy was powerless to turn away. He whispered one word that sent shivers down her spine, “Perfect.”

 

 

Gray walked around to the passenger side and opened the door. “I’m going to run unlock the door, and I’ll be back to carry you.” Suzy tried to edge her way towards the door, hoping to at least be standing when Gray returned. The sharp pain took her breath away. When Gray returned, her face was white and her uninjured leg was hanging out the car door. “Damn it, Suzanna, couldn’t you stay still for just two minutes?”

Unable to think of a snappy come-back, Suzy settled instead for sticking her tongue out at him, childish maybe, satisfying, definitely. Gray slid his hands under her as gently as he could and eased her out of the car. Each step he took caused a jarring pain in her ribs, but she kept her lips tightly pursed, determined not to look weak.

If Suzy thought she was in love with the house from the outside, the interior made it pale in comparison. The house had an open floor plan and soaring ceilings. The walls were painted a warm, pale yellow and a chandelier in the foyer bounced light off the shining hard-wood floors. “I know you would like to look around, but I think for now it would be best to get you settled in for some rest. Maybe later if you feel up to it, I’ll carry you around for a tour. Would you prefer the bed or couch in the family room?”

“The couch, I think. I’m tired of lying in the bed.”

Gray carried her through the foyer and into another brightly lit room in the same color scheme. There was a floor to ceiling stone fireplace on one wall with built-in bookshelves on the connecting wall. A row of windows framed in a light-colored wood made up another wall. A set of double French doors were situated in the middle of the windows and appeared to lead out onto a back deck. Suzy could see some lounge chairs and patio furniture arranged in seating areas around a barbeque grill and the sparkling waters of the Atlantic Ocean in the background.

Gray walked over to a tan leather sofa and gently deposited her onto it. He carefully arranged two decorative pillows behind her head and then took another pillow and propped her injured ankle on it. Next he grabbed a chenille throw from a nearby chair and covered her. When he was finished, he stood back to survey his work. Suzy could no longer hide her grimace of pain. Seeing it, Gray squatted down beside of the sofa and took her hand.

“You’re in pain; will you please take some medication now?”

Suzy wanted to say no. She was tired of the drugged feeling that the pain medication was giving her. The ride from the hospital and then the trip into the house was painful though, much worse than she’d imagined. She nodded her head to Gray in agreement and decided that there was always tomorrow to be strong and take a stand, the only person to suffer today for her stubbornness would be her.

Gray soon returned with a glass of water and a pill. He used his hand to support her head so that she wouldn’t have to jar her body again. Suzy murmured a quiet thank you and snuggled back into the couch cushions as best she could. Gray went to collect her luggage, and she was dimly aware of him calling Beth and telling her that they had made it home. When he came back into the room a few moments later, Suzy’s eyes were getting heavy and her thoughts were spinning.

With what she was certain was a dopey smile, she looked at Gray and said, “Thank you for everything. You’ve been so good during this mess, and I’ve never done anything to deserve your kindness.” As if by great effort, she whispered, “I do care about you, though, but you scare me Gray, you scare me so much.”

With those final words, Suzy slipped off to sleep. Gray stood beside the sofa looking down into the face of the woman he loved more than life itself. The words that Suzy had spoken were a great admission for her. She wasn’t likely to remember them when she woke again, but he would. He also knew what she’d said was true. He felt certain that Suzy more than cared for him, she loved him. Her heart, though, was damaged. She gave it years ago to her parents, and they treated it with nothing but criticism and indifference, and then she’d taken one more chance and given it to Jeff, and he shattered it. Repairing that heart and taking it
as his own
had been a long road, and it was far from over. He’d not have wished her harm in a million years, but the one positive to come from this accident was that Suzy’s running days were over. She was here with him now, and he intended to show her that they were each other’s forever after.