7. Grace
Grace
After two rounds of pool where I nearly damaged a certain appendage of Caleb’s, I came to the conclusion the game was not for me. The round of shots that Caleb had ordered certainly didn’t help my coordination.
“You’ll learn. It just takes time,” Caleb kept reassuring me, but something told me, it was not going to stick.
We did, on the other hand, have great banter and he made me laugh. I couldn’t even remember the last time I laughed. Really laughed.
Caleb leaned against the pool table, holding the pool stick thingy straight up. It was his turn to show me how it was done.
Just as he was about to take his shot, somebody called his name from behind us. “Caleb,” the woman repeated, which gave me time to give her a once-over. She was in her mid-twenties, with teal hair and a fake designer crossbody.
“Hey, Jena!” Caleb chimed, setting down the stick on the table as he went to hug the woman. They had to have been close, judging by the hug. There was a familiarity that was evidenced by the way she held on to him.
I never had experienced jealousy when it came to guys.
If they left or were pulled in another direction, I brushed it off.
Another one bit the dust, I’d say. So what was so different now?
Why was I staring this lady down, furious she was talking to Caleb?
I needed to get out of here before I lost my ever-loving mind. What were they putting in the drinks?
Caleb was funny, and not in the traditional sense. No, his was a more mature, nuanced humor, almost quirky. He was so real, wholesome, and charming. What you saw was definitely what you got with a man like him.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” the bitch—I mean woman—Jena said as she giggled at Caleb. “Who’s your friend?” Jena looked at me, giving me a once-over of her own. I silently prayed that she wouldn’t recognize me and blow this whole thing apart.
My eyes narrowed and my lips turned down into a frown as my frustration grew. I had no control over my own actions when it came to this pull toward Mr. Bartender.
Caleb gestured to me and introduced us. “This is Grace. She’s new around here.”
“Hello, nice to meet you.” I tried to muster a smile despite the green-eyed monster rearing its ugly head.
“I love your shoes!” Jena complimented. Her eyes went straight to my sparkly shoes.
At least she had good taste. Hopefully her affinity for attractive things didn’t transfer to ruggedly handsome men who were apparently good with their hands.
“Thank you! They are one of my favorite pairs,” I offered in an attempt to seem friendly.
I shifted my attention and glanced over at Caleb. “I think I’m going to head out.”
He came to my side and took my hand in his.
“Please stay until I’m done mixing Jena’s drinks.
She is mad at Nicky and won’t let him make them for her, and she thinks Max is infantile.
” He rolled his eyes and rubbed my hand with his thumb.
“It shouldn’t take long. Promise you won’t leave without saying goodbye. ”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak and sound convincing.
“Thank you.” He breathed and kissed my hand before he walked out of the pool room to the bar and began making drinks.
I followed but didn’t take a seat at the bar. Instead, I wandered around doing anything but sitting down and making small talk with Jena, knowing I would be stuck choosing between lying or laying all my cards out on the table. I wasn’t ready for either scenario.
Glancing back to see whether she was following me, I saw she’d moved across the room.
It was a quieter corner of the bar with two high-top tables.
She stealthily slipped into the empty chair across from the man who gave me a ride to The Grand earlier.
Keith, the mayor. My eyebrows rose in surprise at the unlikely pair.
A little while passed, and I bit my fingernail, trying to figure out what I was still doing here.
Normally, I would have cut and run already, but there was something about the soft way Caleb spoke, the tenderness in his expression when he asked me to stay, to wait for him, that I couldn’t say no to.
I was having a good time, and I wasn’t ready for it to end.
And if I were being honest with myself, I was becoming attached.
To Bar. To Caleb. To being Just Grace. This wasn’t good.
In fact, this was the opposite of good. But I couldn’t say it was bad because that man behind the bar was anything but bad.
I had to leave. Leave while I still had a semblance of myself left. Prior to tonight, I hadn’t had a connection with anyone like the one I instantly had with Caleb, and it scared me. Nothing was supposed to scare Grace Harrington. Maybe Just Grace was different.
The chime on the door rang out and a crowd of people entered the bar. While they lingered in the doorway, blocking the view to the street, I took the opportunity to make my escape.
This was for the best. Someone like Caleb didn’t need someone like me in their life. The best way to describe me right now was a mess. And who wanted a mess? My life was in shambles and boxes.
I didn’t want to linger outside Bar. Those windows were big, and one look out onto the street would reveal me to him.
I started walking down the block, looking for Maple so I could return to the bed-and-breakfast then catch the first train back to the city in the morning.
Then I’d return to The Plaza and hide myself away.
Pretend like none of this ever happened.
But then I heard him.
“Hey, Grace, wait up!” Caleb called from behind me.
I was already running away, desperately hoping to find a taxi or even a friendly civilian to give me a ride to the B&B.
Stupid town not having Uber. As I hurried along the sidewalk, I cringed with each stride, knowing I was ruining my sparkly shoes.
They were a gift from the designer himself. Double cringe.
I tried to recall how many blocks Lucy said to walk before making a turn.
Sighing, I continued on, and then I turned back to glance at the beautiful man, who had been following me for the past block, and who was currently staring at me with expectant eyes.
The same man who I needed to get some distance from.
Sure, I’d flirted with him after I spilled my martini all over him. He was a man, and I was bored. This was typically what I did for sport. But this man wasn’t like my usual playthings. Which made sense because I wasn’t the same girl anymore.
I slowed my steps slightly as I took him in.
Eyeing him up and down, I let out the breath I’d been holding since I’d left the bar without saying goodbye, breaking my promise to find him before I did.
As much as I was drawn to him, I knew I needed to keep running, so I turned to head in the opposite direction once again.
Problem was, it didn’t matter how far or fast I ran. I wanted him. I wanted to keep him.
Just this once.
Sure, I had all the luxuries money could buy, and I used to have the notoriety too. But I never really wanted a guy before. Guys used to line up for the opportunity to talk to me, hoping for the chance at a date.
They all wanted me. To them, I was a beautiful, perfect object. An accessory to their success. To their name. To me, they were something fun to pass the time. Something that could be discarded when I eventually got bored. The long blonde hair, green eyes, and toned body were easy bait for them.
All my life, I’d done what was expected of me. I went through the prep schools, attended charity galas, and then when I was old enough, I modeled for the Who’s Who, having dinner and making connections with whomever my mother deemed best.
I was flying high off the money, the fame, and the status. That was until it all came crashing down with one wrong move. There was no forgiveness. Nobody looked at everything I’d done right, but then again, had I done anything right in my twenty-five years?
Caleb’s footsteps echoed off the pavement, and I could tell that he’d picked up his pace, moving on from walking to jogging behind me.
However, I was fast even in my four-inch heels, so I sped along, hoping to keep some distance between us.
For both of our sanities. I’d never felt a connection with someone so quickly and so intensely.
If I dared to want him, what would that mean?
Our worlds were so different. His was a small town and a bar. Mine was Barney’s and baguette bags. We might as well be oil and water—two things that just can’t mix. Except I wanted to see if I could shake things up enough to try.
My steps slowed as I decided it was time to finally stop running. From this man. From the things haunting my past. From myself. I turned to face him and said his name in a whisper. “Caleb.” I was unsure what to say next, how to put into words all the thoughts swirling in my head.
I paused and found this gorgeous creature looking at me like he really saw me and not just my beauty.
Caleb was a ruggedly handsome, blue-eyed man.
A man who had no clue who I was or what I’d done.
Or at least I hoped he didn’t. Throughout our conversation at the bar, he never let on that he’d heard my name, knew who my family was, or discovered why I’d been ostracized.
To him, I was just Grace, and it was liberating.
To finally be myself, and to not worry about being judged.
Taking in the yearning in his eyes, I decided at that moment that if he wanted me enough to chase me down the streets of Grand Haven for an opportunity for more, then I could want something too.