Finding Bliss (Bliss #1) Read online

  I brushed it aside and turned, breaking our connection, as I grabbed the diaper bag and my purse. “Me too. I think it’ll work out for the best.”

  “Yeah,” I heard him whisper. “For the best.”

  Wondering what that meant, I turned to catch his gaze, but he was already heading for the front door with Bella.

  Interesting.

  I grabbed the car seat and followed him out the door, locking it behind me. We didn’t speak as we walked to the main house to drop off Bella. My mind kept going over his last words.

  What did that mean?

  “There’s that sweetie,” Mrs. Birdie gushed when she saw Grey and me walking into the kitchen. She was standing at the counter chopping vegetables. “Let me wash up and I’ll take her.”

  I sat the diaper bag and car seat on the kitchen table and took Bella and her blanket from Grey. After I had draped the blanket over my shoulder, she put her head there and let out a sigh. I hated leaving her. The feeling seemed to be mutual – Bella gripped my shirt tightly in her hands. I kissed her soft hair and murmured, “I’m gonna miss you, sweet girl. Be good for Mrs. Birdie.”

  Her response was to spit up on me.

  That wasn’t a good sign.

  “Hey, y’all,” Sam cheered as she meandered into the kitchen.

  Grey and I both called out our hello as Mrs. Birdie came around the kitchen island to get Bella. “There she is,” she murmured as she took Bella from me.

  “She had a bottle about fifteen minutes ago, and I changed her right before Grey came and got us. I think she’ll be good for a while…probably ready for a nap soon.” I went through the mental checklist of what I needed to tell her again. I threw the dirty blanket in the diaper bag and found a new one, handing it off to Mrs. Birdie. “If you-”

  “Shew! Both of you, go,” she chided and motioned for us to leave. “I’ve got this covered, Clara. You don’t have to do this every time, you know?”

  I bit my lip, embarrassed, but I couldn’t help it. I hated leaving Bella. “Sorry,” I told her.

  She clucked at me. “You’re a new momma, dearie. You’re just worried. But we’re gonna take good care of this doll, aren’t we?” She peered down at Bella and made a funny face. Bella squealed in delight and took fistfuls of Mrs. Birdie’s apron, trying to shove it into her mouth.

  I liked the momma comparison. I wish I was her real mother.

  I sighed at that.

  Moving on.

  I’d resigned myself to never having children and couldn’t go down that heartbreaking road again. No use in crying over spilled milk and all that.

  “Just call if you need anything, either of you. I’ll have my phone on me at all times.” I checked my purse one more time to make sure it was there.

  “Stop worryin’,” Sam chimed in, grinning as she popped a carrot Mrs. Birdie chopped into her mouth. “We’ve got her covered.”

  “Fine.” I huffed playfully and threw my hands in the air.

  “Come on, Clara.” Grey caught my hand and tugged me toward the hall as the two ladies laughed. I ignored the effects of his touch…again. Whenever he did this, it felt like a bolt of lightning zapped me, shooting straight to my core.

  I was so losing this war with attraction.

  ♥♥♥

  “Where are you lookin’ to buy?” Grey asked after we were on the road for a bit.

  I’d been looking out the window, trying to not stare at Grey. It helped that the world outside was so beautiful. Still, it was tough because there was another kind of beautiful sitting in the SUV next to me.

  Ugh!

  I glanced at him, confused, and asked, “What?”

  Grey’s fingers tapped the steering wheel softly, keeping the beat with the soft music playing through the speakers. “What kind of house do you want? Where do you want to live?”

  “Oh, um… There are a lot of cabins available that are gorgeous, but they are too far. I’m looking for something that’s either in town or close to it.”

  “You know, I think I remember Mrs. Cline tellin’ me she was goin’ to put her place on the market. She moved to Charlotte last year to be closer to her son and grandchildren. She comes back at least once a month to see her cronies.” He tossed me a little smirk. “The house has been in her family for generations, so she wasn’t sure if she wanted to part with it or leave it for her son. Brian and I went to school together, but he got out of town as soon as he could. He hated livin’ in a small town. I don’t see him ever comin’ back.”

  “Really?” That was an exciting prospect. I’d seen a lot of the older homes around the B&B. They were gorgeous. I liked the history behind them, the tales hidden in the walls from the generations before us. “Where is it?”

  “It’s on the street behind the B&B. It’s a pretty place with a huge yard. I can call her for you if you’d like.”

  “That would be great.” I paused, considering it. “But I think I need to find a relator. I’m clueless when it comes to real estate.”

  “Gavin Bishop’s a good guy. He helped my parents find their place a while back.”

  Was there anything Grey couldn’t do?

  “Thanks, Grey. I appreciate it. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”

  Color blossomed on his cheeks, and he shifted in his seat uncomfortably. “Uh, it’s…it’s nothin’. Don’t worry about it, darlin’.”

  I bit back a laugh. It was quite endearing to watch him blush.

  “I wanted to talk to you about Jon.”

  Holy curveball!

  I was sure I had whiplash from the sudden change in subject.

  “Um, what about him?” I asked carefully.

  Hearing the uneasiness in my tone, he reached over and squeezed my hand. “Nothin’ bad. At least, I hope it won’t be.” He released my hand so that he could guide the SUV around a curve. “I figured it was time to sell his house.”

  Oh.

  I waved my hand at him dismissively. “Do whatever you want with it. I don’t care.”

  He quirked a brow at me, then shook his head like he didn’t know what to do with me. “I’ve been readin’ through the financials Lyndon gave us. The house is ours, free and clear, as well as the church – there’s no mortgage on either.” Galen had mentioned that, as well. He’d been looking through the paperwork for me. “I don’t know what to do with the church. I mean, what do you do with a church?” He bit his lip apprehensively. “I’m in over my head here, Clara. I’m dealin’ with a lot of money, and quite frankly, I’m uncomfortable with it. The decisions that need to be made...” He blew out a nervous breath. “I figured we’d start with Jon’s place before we did anythin’ else. There is no reason for it to sit there, collecting dust. I need to clear it out this weekend and get rid of the furniture.”

  “That’s fine. I’ll sign whatever I have to. You can have my portion of the sale or give it to charity.”

  He let out a bark of laughter. “You really don’t want anythin’ from him?”

  Shaking my head, I told him, “No, I don’t.”

  “I don’t wanna overstep any boundaries here, Clara, and you are more than welcome to tell me to go to hell if you need to.” He was serious, which surprised me. “If you don’t want his money and you don’t have a job, how are you goin’ to support yourself and Bella? How are you goin’ to buy a house? I’m about to sell Jon’s place, Clara. That’s worth a lot of money, money that will help with all of that, and you want me to give it away? That doesn’t seem like the most responsible choice to me.”

  We hadn’t ever discussed money. If it were someone else, I probably would have told them to go to take a flying leap for asking that type of question. But this was Grey. I trusted him.

  “I’m independently wealthy, Grey. Where do you think Jonathan got his money?”

  “Good point,” he admitted, chuckling softly.

  “My parents were from very influential families in Chicago going back generations, and our family came from old money. T
hey were smart and invested their trust funds, rather than blowing them. They had very high paying careers, too. I told you we lived a very cushioned life. When they died, they left all of that to Jonathan and me.”

  He glanced at me quickly before looking back at the road, baffled. “So you worked for Galen when you didn’t have to?”

  “Yeah, I guess. Galen asked, and I had nothing better to do” I shrugged, not thinking it was a big deal. “I never was like the other high society debutantes in Chicago. My parent’s death put a type of stigma, you can say, on my reputation when I was younger. Rumors spiraled out of control after my parent’s death, and I lost a lot of friends because of it. No one stuck around. It carried on even after that. When I had to go to parties with Galen, I would still hear the whispers sometimes. Remember what her mother did to her father…”

  I pushed those memories aside. They never really did matter since I knew the truth.

  “I don’t like to think about the money. Money is an evil in itself. You’d be surprised the types of cases I’ve seen, thanks to working for Galen, because of money. It can hold too much value for certain people. Not to me, though. It’s there as a tool. Yes, it makes life easier to not have to worry about bills and stuff, but I don’t mind working. It’s good for the soul….keeps you grounded. I might find something part time later on, when Bella’s older, but not right now.”

  He chuckled. “You’re one of a kind, Clara. I’ve…” He stopped himself, shaking off whatever he was about to say. “Uh… So, money isn’t a factor for you, and whatever Jon left you, you’re gonna give away. Am I right?”

  “Pretty much. I’ve looked into some charities, but haven’t made any final decisions. I want something good to come…” I stopped myself. This had become a habit with Grey. I had to be careful not to divulge too much sometimes. It was easy to slip on little things that were extremely revealing. “So, yes, whatever it is that you decide to do with the money from the sale, I’m fine with your decision. You can call Galen if there’s anything on my part that needs to be done.”

  “Hmmm.” He nodded and seemed to get lost in his thoughts.

  Grey had become wealthy from Jonathan’s death. I wondered if it would change him. So far it hadn’t. I hadn’t heard his family say anything about it, either, but that wasn’t something you talked about socially.

  I stared at Grey, contemplating his new found wealth. No, it wouldn’t change him. From what I’d seen so far, he was too good for that.

  Chapter 11

  Clara

  “We’ll have your new vehicle delivered as soon as the weather clears up, Miss Vincent,” the salesman, Randy, explained.

  “Weather?” I asked and looked outside, not understanding. Snow was falling heavily.

  Oh, no.

  “Yes, ma’am. It looks like it’s gonna be a nasty evenin’. The roads back to Bliss won’t be safe.”

  “I guess you’re right,” I murmured offhandedly, my mind on Bella.

  I caught sight of Grey as he came through the door to the dealership, brushing the snow off his jacket. He noticed me watching him and started sauntering my way.

  “Thank you for your business, Miss Vincent. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me. I’ll have the driver call before they leave, so you’ll know when to expect him,” Randy continued and shook my hand.

  “Thank you, Randy. I appreciate that.”

  We’d had a busy day, going from dealership to dealership to find the right SUV for me. I’d made a list of the safest ones manufactured this year and wanted to look at them all before I made a decision. In the end, I fell in love with a red Cadillac SRX Crossover. Grey talked me into having them deliver it so that I didn’t have to drive back alone. Even though I was itching to drive it again, I saw Grey’s point, especially now that it was snowing.

  Grey approached as Randy said a goodbye. “How bad is it out there?” I questioned.

  “Pretty bad. We can’t go home tonight.”

  “But Bella?” I groaned, hating that I had to spend a night away from her. It would be a first for me.

  “I’ve already called Sam. She said she didn’t mind keepin’ her. I made reservations at a hotel down the street.”

  “Grey-”

  “Let’s grab some dinner. You can call Sam while we wait if you want.”

  “Grey-”

  He leaned in and tapped my nose, his eyes deadly serious, even though his words were light. “Cut it out, Clara. There’s nothin’ we can do about it. I won’t put your safety in jeopardy by drivin’ back tonight.”

  “Fine,” I grumbled and pouted, giving him puppy dog eyes.

  He chuckled and snaked an arm around my shoulders, shepherding me out the door. My skin tingled, but it had nothing do with the frigid temperature or the heavily falling snow.

  “It’s not that bad, Clara. Don’t be such a baby.”

  Playfully, I elbowed him in the stomach. “I’m not a baby.”

  His chuckle transformed into full laughter. “You’re a feisty little thing when you wanna be.”

  I rolled my eyes as he opened the door to his Tahoe. “Whatever,” I grumbled again, enjoying our banter.

  He shook his head at me as he closed the door and rushed around to the other side.

  “What sounds good?” he asked as soon as he was buckled in.

  “You’re the one that’s lived here all your life – you tell me.” Since my thoughts were still partially on Bella, my appetite was nonexistent.

  “Works for me,” he muttered, and away we went.

  We pulled into a parking lot ten minutes later. There was a restaurant at the end of a shopping center called Aunt Betty’s Southern Kitchen.

  “Aunt Betty’s, huh?” I questioned as we walked toward the door.

  “Just wait ’til you try their chicken fried steak.” He waggled his eyebrows at me. I laughed as we entered the front door and shook off the snow. “Best thing you’ll ever taste.”

  “Hmm,” I hummed, not commenting on that.

  There was something else I was sure tasted better…like his lips and skin.

  Stop thinking like that, Clara!

  A waitress seated us and took our drink orders immediately. The place was small and dated, but the aromas wafting from the kitchen were enticing and oh so tantalizing.

  Yep, I was officially hungry.

  “I know you’re chompin’ at the bit to talk to Sam. Go ahead before we order,” Grey urged, his eyes twinkling. “I don’t mind waitin’.”

  “Thanks, Grey.” I dug my phone out of my purse, thankful that he understood.

  After dialing, Sam picked up right away. “I knew you’d be callin’. Couldn’t help it, could ya?”

  I smiled as I said, “Nope.”

  “She’s fine, Clara. We’re gonna have a little sleep over tonight, just her and me. Don’t worry about it.”

  I sighed, my smile faltering. “I know, Sam. Give me a break, at least. This is my first full night away from her.”

  “Enjoy it.”

  I sighed again. “I will, I will… How is she?”

  “She’s great. Hittin’ the bottle right now.”

  My brows rose at her wording. Only Sam. “I see…”

  “Mom came by earlier and wore her out, too. She’s been gettin’ all sorts of attention, and the little doodlebug’s been eatin’ it up.”

  “I bet she has…”

  “The weather looks like it’ll clear early in the mornin’. You should be fine to head back then, so don’t get too down.”

  “Okay, Sam. I’ll be fine.” Grey’s smirk teased me as he listened to my side of the conversation. “Give her a kiss for me. Call me if you need anything.”

  “God, Clara…relax! I’ve got this.” She tried to sound exasperated, but I heard the humor in her voice.

  “Fine. I’ll call later. Bye.”

  “Bye, Clara. And don’t get into too much trouble with Grey!”

  She hung up before I could rep
ly.

  “Okay?” Grey questioned knowingly.

  Keeping my face blank, I stated simply, “Yes.” I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of knowing he was right.

  He chuckled, catching onto my game, but I decided to ignore him. Grey was over that after our orders were taken, though.

  “So…” he said.

  “So…”

  “I’ve decided it’s on to stage three of loosenin’ Clara up.”

  I blinked at him a couple of times. “Say what?”

  “Tonight, me and you… We’re goin’ dancin’.” He rubbed his hands together in excitement.

  “Dance…dancing?” I spluttered, my voice somewhat shrilled.

  “Yep.”

  “I’m not going dancing,” I argued.

  He flashed his pearly whites. “Sure you are.”

  “No, I’m not.”

  He rolled his eyes at me. “See, loosen you up. You can be a tight ass sometimes.”

  “Excuse me?” I couldn’t believe he’d just said that.

  “You heard me.” He was doing his best to hold in a laugh.

  “I’m not a tight ass!”

  “Prove it. Go dancin’ with me,” he taunted.

  “I know what you’re doing, Grey. You’re trying to goad me into agreeing.”

  “So you’re not gonna go?”

  “I don’t dance. I…I can’t remember the last time I tried.”

  He frowned briefly. “Really?” I shrugged in response. “See!” He tapped his finger against the table a few times. “All the more reason to go. Remember, you agreed. You said I could show you how to have fun. Have I steered you wrong?”

  “No,” I begrudgingly admitted.

  “Have you had fun?”

  My lips twitched as I forced myself not to smile. “Yes.”

  “Go dancin’ with me, Clara.”

  “Is that a demand or a question?” I teased.

  His tone was earnest and sweet. “Please, Clara, will you go dancin’ with me?”

  “Fine,” I grumbled playfully.

  The smile he gave me was broad and excited, like he was really anticipating this.

  Me, I was shaking in my boots as I envisioned the night. Not only were we going dancing, but we were also staying at a hotel together. I’d shoved that fact aside since I’d found out. It was smacking me right in the face now.