Smolder (Georgia Smoke #6)

• Eleven •

He was going to see soon enough that I was a hassle.

Royal

Dad’s barreling into the house last night had surprised me only for a moment. Honestly, I should have expected it. Amory was the one to fix everything else yesterday. He had been thorough.

Grams had been in bed already, so she’d missed his cussing and accusing me of spreading my legs like a whore to get him out of jail. I took it, knowing he’d calm down soon and go to bed. When he stopped with the threatening to kick me out—because we both knew that he’d never do that, that he needed me here—I was free to go back to the bedroom I shared with Grams and send Amory a text, promising I’d pay him back as soon as I could.

He said that if I tried, he’d use the money to have groceries delivered weekly until it was gone. I wanted to argue, but I was too tired, and for once, I could close my eyes without worrying about the bar calling me to get Dad or how we were going to afford groceries after I paid the bills and got Grams’s medication.

Merce had claimed to love me, but not once had he done anything close to even one of the things Amory had done for me yesterday. It was as if someone had dropped a fairy godmother on me, but they’d made it a hot, sexy male.

I had taken the time to go to campus today to deliver the papers I had, but I wasn’t ready to face a class just yet. I was still waiting to see if Amory had really stopped Professor Brereton from turning me in.

My Vespa was running smoother than ever, even when I’d bought it. The slight pull to the right in the steering was gone, the jerk when I sped up after stopping was no longer there, and the wheels made the road smoother. What all he had done to it, I didn’t know, but it wasn’t just new tires.

Amory was going to be picking me up in an hour, and Dad had already left with a friend to go to Miller’s. When I had asked if he’d stay home tonight, he had yelled at me about going out to spread my legs and that he wasn’t helping me do that. If Amory had planned for my dad to stay with Grams, then this date wasn’t going to happen.

I took the slice of pie I hadn’t heated up in the oven out, then placed it in a bowl before adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Grams was in the living room, watching Wheel of Fortune and complaining about Ryan Seacrest again. She’d called out answers twice, then asked me where Pat had gone and if he was on vacation.

Just when I reached the living room, the doorbell rang, and I paused to glance at it, then went on in to give Grams her pie.

“Here, Grams,” I told her.

“What’s this?”

“The apple pie we made together, remember?” I replied, heading for the door.

“Oh, yes. Well, it sure smells good.”

I checked out the window to see an older lady outside. That was odd. I unlocked the door and opened it up. The lady was petite with a white bob and kind eyes. I hoped she wasn’t here to sell me something or tell me about the Lord. I didn’t want to be rude to her, but those folks were often hard to get to leave.

“Can I help you?” I asked.

“If you’re Royal Shelton, you can,” she replied.

I nodded. “That’s me.”

“Wonderful. I’m at the right place,” she told me, then held out her hand. “My name is Maeme. Amory is one of my many grandsons.”

Oh. OH! Why was his grandmother here?

I shook her hand, waiting for her to explain why she was at my house. My head was spinning with reasons and the fact that I might have to let her come inside. I’d not straightened up yet today. And she was probably as rich as Amory.

She looked around me. “He says you need a little help tonight,” she began as she shifted her eyes back to me. “I’m here to meet your Grams and stay with her while the two of you have a night out.”

He’d sent his grandmother to sit with mine. I didn’t know if I wanted to hit him or hug him. It was incredibly sweet, but he’d seen this house. What was she going to think? She’d tell his parents, and that would be the end of that. Just like Merce’s parents didn’t approve of me. I didn’t care if Amory was a grown man; he wouldn’t want to date someone his family disapproved of. But then wasn’t I, just yesterday, trying to get out of going on a date with him? Perhaps this was for the best. End it before I got attached or started feeling things for him.

I stepped back and motioned for her to come inside. “That’s very kind of you,” I said.

She came inside and smiled brightly as her gaze drifted over the place.

“My boys know I’d do anything for them, but from what he tells me, your Grams is a real treat,” she replied.

I guessed that was her way of saying she was aware Grams had dementia.

“You could say that,” I replied.

“Is that Rosie? Tell her to come have some of the pie we made,” Grams called out.

I licked my lips before explaining, “Rosie is her sister, who died when I was three. Grams often lives in the past.”

Maeme’s eyes softened. “I imagine it is easier there anyway. With happy memories.”

Yes, for my Grams, it definitely was.

“Come this way,” I told her and walked into the first room on the right.

“Grams, we have company. Her name is Maeme. Do you remember the attractive man who came to see us yesterday?” I doubted she did, but she nodded, her eyes wide with curiosity. “Well, this is his grandmother, and he told her all about you. She wanted to come for a visit.”

Maeme clasped her hands together with a big smile. “Your home is just lovely. Did you make that afghan yourself? The colors are brilliant.”

Grams’s eyes lit up as Maeme complemented her home and blanket. “Well, yes, I did. I make them for the children’s group home auction every year, don’t I, Royal? They bring them a real nice price too.”

Grams was sitting up straighter with pride sparkling in her eyes. “Royal, dear, go get, uh …” She paused, forgetting her name.

“Maeme,” I offered, and she nodded with a soft laugh.

“Yes, my memory isn’t what it used to be these days,” she explained, having no idea how sadly accurate she was. “Anyway, go fetch her a slice of our pie. We made a delicious one, and you must have some of it.”

Maeme walked over to the sofa across from Grams. “I’d love some,” she said. “Now, tell me about that afghan. I’d love to hear about it. I used to do needlework years ago, but knitting and crocheting I never could get right. Certainly not like that. You’ve got a talent.”

Grams looked so giddy with the praise; her smile was the biggest I’d seen it in years. Maeme glanced at me and winked, then made a movement with her hand slightly to tell me to go on.

“Once you get the hang of it,” Grams began as I left the room quietly.

I stood just inside the kitchen, listening to Grams go on about the yarn quality and color choices before making my way back to the bedroom. Leaving Grams with someone other than my dad and me had never been an option. But it appeared Amory’s grandmother knew exactly how to handle her.

I felt a warmth in my chest, and a smile played across my lips as I stared at myself in the mirror. This guy really liked me. It was intimidating to think about. He was going to see soon enough that I was a hassle. Had he not gotten enough of that yesterday? It had been a day full of hassles.

Reaching up, I took a strand of my hair and wrapped it around my finger. I had good hair. Grams had always loved my hair when I was little. Letting the strand fall, I touched my lips, then my cheeks, and studied my nose. I saw the flaws, but I also knew that no one else looked as closely as I did. I wondered if my mom looked like me at this age. The photo I had, she was older than me now, but there were resemblances. No, I wasn’t going to think about her. She wasn’t my mom or even my mother. Grams was.

Dropping my hand back to my side, I turned around to find something to wear. It seemed this date was happening, and I wanted to at least look nice. He’d put a lot of effort into it getting his grandmother over here to sit with Grams. I was gonna wear something short. Not too short though. I didn’t want his grandmother thinking I was a hussy.

My phone dinged.

How did I do?

That was all Amory texted me.

Biting my lip, I smiled.

The sundress is short, and the heels are high.

I hit Send and waited as the dots appeared.

God, I love Maeme.

A laugh bubbled out of me as I held the phone for a moment more before putting it down and going to do all I could to make that man’s heart flutter.