Always on My Mind Page 0,80

her free.

Grayson didn't have one single doubt that she was right for him...but he couldn't ignore the question of whether he was right for her.

When it was just the two of them, working to mix oil and water was a challenge they both relished, and it meant that they'd certainly never lack for spark. But they couldn't hide out on his farm forever. Lori would need to dance in cities with crowds and strangers, and she deserved to have a partner who could support her, she deserved to be in a relationship with a man who could be there for her. Not a man who, since his wife's death, hadn't been able to go back to New York, and had completely avoided San Francisco as well, since the people from his old world shuttled easily between the two.

The women were now chattering and playing with the babies, while her brothers were silently glaring at him.

Fuck.

If these guys had been anyone else, he would have just waited out the silence. Only for Lori would he have moved toward the group and said, "Lori talks a lot about all of you."

Smith spoke first. "She hasn't told any of us about you." The movie star's expression was glacial. "Why do you think that is? Our sister isn't exactly the silent type."

Grayson shook his head and agreed, "No, she's not."

"Then what the hell has gone on the past two weeks?"

He understood her brother's anger, their frustration. If Lori had been his sister, he would have felt exactly the same way. "I can't tell you what your sister is thinking or feeling. I can only tell you what I feel." For years he hadn't spoken of feelings, even when he was married and life had still been rolling forward normally. It wasn't until Lori came and kept poking him with her sharp stick of a tongue that the floodgates had burst open. "I love her." Clearly, her brothers were stunned by what he'd just told them. "I want what's best for her, just like you do."

Just then, Lori's twin came over to save him. Grayson had always pictured himself with women like Sophie - quiet, sweet, soft. Much like his wife had been, in fact. Whereas Lori laughed too loudly, talked too much, moved too fast...and yet, he couldn't imagine himself with anyone but her.

"You look like you could use a beer." Sophie took his arm and gently led him away from her brothers. "Ignore them. They're just upset that Lori didn't confide in them, and they've always thought it was their duty to play mean-and-scary with our boyfriends." She reached into the ice chest and handed him a bottle. "But you should know that if you hurt one hair on my sister's head, they won't get a chance to take you down - because I'll have already done it myself."

Despite how elegantly pretty and soft Sophie looked, Grayson had no doubt at all that she would tear him to shreds if he messed with her sister. "She's lucky to have you."

He was surprised when she sighed. "I don't know if she'll agree with that, especially once she finds out that Jake and I made a couple of calls to Chicago and pulled in some favors to deal with her ex before she could do it herself."

"What are you two whispering about over here?" Lori asked, suddenly appearing beside them without making even the slightest sound.

Her twin jumped. "How many times have I told you," Sophie said, her hand over her heart, "don't do that!"

Just then, Mary called out, "Lunch is ready," and everyone went to take a seat. But the second everyone's plates were filled, Lori's brothers started in again. Only, this time, Lori was their target.

"Where have you been for two weeks, Lori?" Ryan asked her, point blank. On the pitcher's mound, he was as easygoing - and lethal - as they came. Now he was just lethal. "What the hell happened to make you pull out of your show in Chicago like that and not tell any of us?"

Grayson's first instinct was to protect her. He put his arm around her waist and pulled both her and her chair as close to him as they could get. Instead of answering her brother's question, she turned to Grayson and pressed a soft kiss to his mouth.

"It's okay," she reassured him, before finally turning to her brother. "All of you warned me for almost two years about what a scumbag Victor was. Now's your