only saw a split second, but you two were embracing.”
Will the joys of this day ever end? Jaime thought. “Grace and I…” he began, not sure where to start. “We’ve gotten closer.” At Adam’s look, he added, “As friends. We’re friends. I was feeling down, she was being kind to me. That’s it. You don’t have to worry about anything.”
Liar liar liar liar liar liar.
Adam let out a breath, as if he’d been holding it. “I know Grace has held a torch for you for a while now, so any attention from you could make her think there was something going on. You know what I mean?”
Jaime, though, couldn’t respond. Grace has held a torch for me? Of course, now that he thought about it, it made sense, given how she’d always acted around him. Perhaps a part of him had known, but he’d dismissed it as a schoolgirl crush.
“I’m not going to take advantage of your sister,” Jaime ground out, his heart still pounding at Adam’s revelation. “If that’s what you’re asking.”
I’m not going to dream about her, or think about her. Because she isn’t mine to have.
“Okay, yes, that’s what I was asking.” Adam cleared his throat again. “Just, be careful, Jaime. You could break her heart without even realizing it.”
Jaime almost laughed. Adam had no idea—no idea. He had no idea that even if he held Grace’s heart, she was the one who could destroy him with the smallest of smiles.
“Now that this awkward conversation is over, how about a drink? Oh, and I meant to ask you: do you want to come over for Thanksgiving? You know you’re always welcome.” Adam got up without Jaime responding, opening the door. “I think we should open a bottle of that red we just got in.”
“Sure, sounds good.” Jaime followed him, but he hardly heard anything else that was said. He knew that Adam was looking out for Grace. He knew that. At the same time, she was a grown woman who was capable of her own decisions. Did she really need her older brother intervening on her behalf? He couldn’t imagine she’d ask Adam to come talk to him on her behalf.
Adam poured him a glass of the red. “So how about it? Join us for Thanksgiving?”
Jaime took a sip, knowing the answer he should give. But because he seemed incapable of making good decisions lately, he replied, “Yeah, I’ll come.”
Chapter Seven
Grace peeled the potatoes with such force that more than one poor spud was a mere nub of its former self. Quickly tossing the offending potatoes in the trash so her mother wouldn’t see, she forced herself to peel only the brown peels.
I’m not freaking out. I’m not freaking out. I’m. Not. Freaking. Out.
“Grace, do you know where the potholder is?” her mother Julia asked.
Grace jumped, the peeler clattering into the sink.
“Goodness, you’re so on edge today!” Julia plucked the potholder from around her daughter, giving Grace a concerned look. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Just have a lot on my mind.” Grace turned and began peeling, slowly and without destroying the potato in hand.
Julia didn’t say anything, but Grace could feel her mother’s gaze on the back of her neck.
“Well, let me know if you need any help.”
Grace had been like this since Adam had so helpfully told her that they’d be having a guest for Thanksgiving: none other than Jaime himself. Of course he was coming for Thanksgiving, Grace thought, her face turning into one of irritation as she tossed the peeled potato in the nearby bowl. I can’t get away from the man!
Jaime had attended the Danvers’ Thanksgiving before, usually when he was too busy to get home to St. Louis or, in the beginning, couldn’t afford the trip back. From what Grace understood, the Martínez family enjoyed Thanksgiving but didn’t consider it a vital holiday, so they didn’t press Jaime to make it back, that was saved for Christmas.
Grace told herself she could sit far away from Jaime and not even look at him. She didn’t have to say anything. She could serve food and replenish plates and do the dishes and she could sink into her chair and act like nothing was wrong and it would work splendidly.
Looking at the third potato nub in her hand, she had a feeling she was in deep, deep denial.
“How’s the cooking going, ladies?” Carl kissed Julia on the cheek before coming around Grace’s shoulder. “I know I’m no cook, but I’m thinking we’ll need more potatoes