His Baby Dilemma

“What?” she asked.

“You give hungry a new meaning.” He still didn’t smile, and only gave her that enigmatic, distant look that she’d always assumed to be arrogance.

She grinned, hoping to crack the wall of ice he kept around him. “I’d like to blame the jet lag, but the truth is...I eat like this too often. Definitely not healthy.”

“Why?”

“Because I work for six, maybe eight hours nonstop. I’m so immersed in my designs that I forget to eat. Or sleep.”

“It’s that way for you, too?”

She lowered her fork and wiped her mouth. She kept her eyes on his. “Uh-huh.”

“I thought it was just me. I thought it was depression from the accident.”

“Tell me how it’s been, Mica.”

She’d barely uttered the words and he started talking without taking a breath.

“It’s not the accident—the pain or even this bothersome rehab that’s so hard. It’s like every aspect of my life is withering away. One day I was the hero on the farm, able to fix every piece of equipment. I have more tools in the mechanical shed than they have at Home Depot. Whatever Rafe could do, I could do as well and faster. Once Gabe left, Mom was sure we’d have to cut back on production. But we didn’t. We simply went on.” He snapped his fingers. “Like that. Everything changed. Rafe and Mom want to replace me—”

“You can’t mean that.”

“They do.”

“But you’re Mica. You’re...”

“As insignificant as humanly possible,” he interjected, lowering his gaze.

Grace pushed her chair back and rose slowly. She placed her hands on either side of his face. “Look at me.”

“Grace, you don’t have to say anything. I...thank you for listening.”

“Shut up.”

She kissed him. It was more electric than she’d planned. She didn’t pity Mica. She didn’t think he was looking for a savior. She just wanted to know if what she was feeling right now was more than the vestiges of a teenage crush.

And it was.

If she were smart she’d leave. Walk away from him the way she had all those years ago. Except apparently she’d kept her emotions hidden back then. Even from herself.

She had to face it. She’d always been a fool for Mica.

And she didn’t care about anything except making this moment last.

When she pulled back, Mica gazed into her eyes and gave her a soft smile. “Grace.”

He stood and put his arm around her. She kissed him again, not daring to let him take the lead, afraid he might let his melancholy overcome him.

Though she could sense his strength, she also felt his lost sense of purpose. He was floundering, searching, and she wanted to be the rock in the rushing stream that he held on to.

I’m still in love with him.

He broke the kiss and rested his forehead against hers. “You take my breath away,” he whispered.

“I could say that about you.”

“You mean that?”

“I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t.”

“Grace, I think we have a lot of catching up to do. It could take...well, a long time.”

“Mica...”

He pulled her hand to his lips.

“I’m only here for a month. Just to help Aunt Louise.”

“Then what?”

“I’ll go back to Paris.” He moved closer and she could feel his breath on her cheek. His eyes were unwavering, pinning her, and in that moment she felt the power that was Mica Barzonni. His right arm slipped around her waist and he drew her to him.

“I have to go back...”

“We’ll see about that.”

His lips on hers were nirvana. She was whisked away from the earth. Her heartbeat pounded in her chest and thrummed at her temples. The only sound she heard was Mica’s intake of breath and the deep resonating strains of her name coming from his throat. He kissed her as if he would never kiss her again. She nearly believed he was in love with her. For years she’d daydreamed that one day Mica would love her. This excruciatingly lovely kiss was perfect. It was everything she’d dreamed of and more.

He deepened the kiss and breathed her name again. “Grace.”

“Don’t talk. Just kiss me.”

Her skin tingled as their bodies melded into each other.

Through her hand on his nape, she felt strength surging through his spine and the taut muscles in his shoulders. She sank her fingers into his thick hair and held him. She wanted him to know that she didn’t want him to stop. She didn’t want this dream to fade.

At this moment, Grace believed that even she might find a happily-ever-after. That for her, the fairy tale was coming true.

CHAPTER ONE (#u16093c9a-97f8-5f09-b2e5-858ed1874e7b)

Present day

MICA HEARD IT from his sister-in-law, Maddie, who heard it from Mrs. Beabots, who got it straight from Louise Railton.

Grace Railton was back in town.

He didn’t know which emotion to pick first. Anger came to mind right off the bat, but it was quickly replaced with disappointment, hurt and curiosity.