The Barrington Brothers: When Opposites Attract... / Single Man Meets Single Mom / Carrying the Lost Heir's Child

She shook off thoughts of her ex and met Grant’s hard stare. “What’s that?”

That wicked grin of his widened, deepening his dimples. “Flirting. Is that something you need to figure in, or should I add that into my two-hour time slot? I am a master at multitasking, you know.”

“So you’ve mentioned before.”

“I think I’ll keep my two hours to work, and throw in a little flirting when you least expect it.”

Had the heat kicked on in here? Tessa resisted the urge to undo a button on her shirt for some extra air. She also refused to rub her damp palms along her pants. She would not give Grant the satisfaction of knowing he was getting to her.

“So I need to be ready for you at any time?” she asked, forcing her eyes to remain locked on his.

“Ready? You could never be ready, Country.”

She studied his tanned face, his chocolate eyes beneath thick brows. “Why is it I have a feeling you have a problem with controlling your hormones?”

“Oh, I can control them,” he assured her. “Because if I couldn’t, I would’ve already kissed you.”

That simple declaration weakened her knees. She leaned back against the counter and took a deep breath. If she couldn’t avoid the roller coaster of emotions, she may as well enjoy the ride.

“Then it’s a good thing you have control, because kissing me would be a mistake.”

Yeah, that was a gauntlet she knew he’d pick up. Why was she flirting, purposely provoking him? She did not have time for this. Beyond that, she didn’t like him—or didn’t want to like him—and she sure as hell didn’t like this whole movie idea. But there was nothing she could do about it at this point.

Damn, she was attracted, and she hated every blasted nerve that sizzled for him.

“That so?” Holding that mesmerizing smile, he inched closer and whispered, “And why would kissing be a mistake?”

“For one thing, I’m not comfortable with this movie.”

His lips turned up slightly. “Anything else?”

“I don’t have time. In case you’re unaware of how the season works, I’m gearing up for the first of many races, which I hope will lead me down the path to the coveted Triple Crown.”

“I don’t think a kiss would throw off your rigorous routine.” He laughed, still continuing to invade her personal space. “And I’m more than aware of how the season works. I did thorough research for this film.”

“You don’t seem like the type of guy who would do thorough research on anything,” she retorted. “You seem too laid-back.”

In a flash, his hands came up, framed her face, and he had her all but bent over onto the island. The hard planes of his body molded against hers. Sweat trickled between her shoulder blades as she waited to see what he would do. And that wait only made her more aware of just how sexy, how powerful this man was. Her breath caught in her throat as his face hovered mere inches from hers.

“Baby, I’m thorough...with everything.”

His mouth slid over hers, and Tessa was glad she was wedged between his hard body and the counter, or she would’ve withered to the floor. The full-on attack sent shivers through her entire being, affecting areas never touched.

And there it was. That click. A click of something so perfect sliding into place, but Tessa couldn’t focus on it because Grant was consuming every bit of her thoughts, her body, with one single kiss.

He coaxed her lips apart with his tongue, leaving her no choice but to accept him. How could a kiss be felt in your entire body? Such a simple act sent tremors racing one after the other through her.

A slight groan escaped her as Tessa gripped his thick biceps.

Before she could revel in the sensations sweeping through her overheated body, Grant lifted his head, met her gaze and smiled.

“Sorry. Guess I can’t control my hormones.”

“What about that clause?” she asked, cursing her breathless tone.

That sultry grin spread across his face. “I didn’t come close to violating the clause.”

Grant walked out the back door, and it took Tessa a moment to realize that she still had over an hour left in the time she’d allotted for him. And she hadn’t given him his copy of the spreadsheet.

With a sigh, she sank onto the nearest bar stool and came to a conclusion. Grant Carter had caught her off guard, and he’d been right. She would never be ready for him.

Seven (#u69b6edb5-ba8e-58d8-8726-83cba9e35667)

The feed store showed promise. Maybe not for an entire scene, but most definitely for a backdrop or even during the opening credits.

But the little white church, complete with bell in the steeple and a picturesque cemetery amid a grove of trees, would without a doubt be in at least one pivotal scene.

“This is where my parents were married,” Tessa told Grant as she pulled her Jeep to the side of the gravel road. “It’s small, but my mom wanted an intimate wedding. She was very private.”

“Sounds like someone else I know,” Grant said, throwing Tessa a smile before stepping out of the vehicle.

She came around and joined him as he stared up at the simple structure. Tall, narrow stained glass windows adorned either side of the arched double doors. A narrow set of steps led up the embankment toward the church, and Grant could easily see Damon Barrington and his young bride marrying here.

With a director’s eye, he could see a smiling, maybe tearful couple exiting the church, while rice sprayed them and lined the path to an awaiting car.

Key to the start of the movie was the whirlwind romance of Tessa’s parents. They’d known each other for only six weeks, but according to Damon, he didn’t need to know Rose a moment longer to be sure she was the woman he wanted to spend his life with.

Unfortunately, she’d passed all too soon.

Grant’s eyes drifted to the cemetery, then back to Tessa, who was also looking toward the graves...and he knew.

“You want to go see her?” he asked softly.

A brief smile spread across Tessa’s face as she nodded. “You don’t have to come, but I can’t drive out here and not go visit.”

Without a word, Grant slid his hand into hers and headed up the slope. He let her take the lead and found himself standing in the shade of a large oak tree. The sunny spring day had a bit of chill to the air, so he slipped his arm around Tessa’s shoulders.

Or that’s what he told himself. Honestly, he wanted her to know she wasn’t alone, wanted her to know he was here. He couldn’t fathom the heartache of losing his mother. Nearly losing his sister had crushed him, leaving him in a world he couldn’t even describe.

“This never seems real,” Tessa whispered. “I should be used to not having her, but I always feel... I don’t know. I guess I feel something is missing.”

Grant stared down at the polished black stone with a single rose emblem beside the name Rose Barrington.

“I can’t imagine the void that slips into your life,” he told her. “Nothing replaces that.”

The hole in his heart for his sister had never been filled...never would be unless he faced her.

“You just learn to cope,” Tessa said softly. “There’s no other choice.”