Slow Down
By Misha
Disclaimer- Not mine.
Author’s Notes- I am loving Grant in Veil of Secrets but part of me feels like the romance is happening very fast, especially with everything else that is happening, so I was inspired to rewrite the diamond scene in Chapter 5 to fit my MC a little better.
Rating- PG
Pairing- Grant/MC
Summary- Shelby tries to force herself to slow down, but it’s hard when Grant is so damned tempting.
Words- 490
Grant’s lips felt amazing against mine, warm and just enough pressure and it was so easy to respond.
Or at least it should have been, but something held me back and after a moment I stiffened and pulled away.
“Shelby, what’s wrong?” Grant asked, his eyes full of concern, “did I misread–”
“No!” I assured him, placing a hand on his arm. “I wanted…” I shook my head. “I don’t do this, I don’t rush into things and then, there’s just so much.”
I wrapped my arms around myself. “We barely know each other. Your sister decided on sight that she hated me. I’m here for Kate and she’s missing and… It’s just a lot.”
I could see the sympathy and tenderness on Grant’s face. “It is a lot,” he said, reaching out to cup my face. I let him, enjoying his touch. “We can take this as slow as you want, I just want to get to know you better, Shelby.”
“I want that too,” I admitted. It was the truth. I liked Grant, I liked him a lot and that was one of the things that scared me. It had been a long time since I’d been so attracted to someone and that on its own would have scared me. In a situation like this? It was utterly terrifying.
Grant looked like he was going to say anything but suddenly we were both aware of a burning smell.
“The crab cakes!”
After assessing the damage, Grant started on a new batch, playfully kicking me out of the kitchen. I took my wine and walked into the living room, taking a moment to focus and just pull myself together.
It’s ok to be attracted to him, I reminded myself, You just can’t lose focus of why you are here.
And there was Kate and the investigation. I understood why Grant hadn’t said anything about Scarlett and Tanner, of course, I did. Kate might be his friend, but Scarlett was his sister and I was a stranger, though one he seemed to be attracted to, and I didn’t fault Grant for his loyalties, however, it made things more complicated.
I needed to help Kate. That was my reason for still being in Birchport. I wasn’t sure I should let myself get distracted and… I was an outsider here, one who was hell-bent on stirring things up and getting answers, while this was Grant’s home. I didn’t know that our agendas were the same, though every instinct I had was telling me I could trust him. Or at least that I wanted to trust him.
“Dinner is served,” Grant announced a moment later, jolting me out of my thoughts.
I smiled as I joined him at the table, determined to enjoy the evening, but to take it one moment at a time. There was too much at stake to rush into anything, no matter how much I might want to.
- End,
