10. Ford
10
FORD
I look down at Grace’s son, Asher. His head is on her lap, facing the television. She’s gently rubbing her fingers through his hair, a faint smile on her full lips. I don’t know what I expected from tonight, but this deep feeling of peace inside of me wasn’t it. This is easily the best night I’ve ever had with a woman. Hell, it’s probably the best night I’ve ever had with anyone—the exception being my daughter. She brings me peace, too. The fact that this feeling is happening with a woman I want in my bed is fucking shocking.
I truly enjoyed every single thing about my evening with these two, including the silly kid’s movie about the fish. Asher is a joy, and it’s clear that Grace is a fantastic mother who dotes on her son. She’s the kind of mother that I always wanted for Lyla. My girl got shortchanged all the way around. She got a shit piece of pussy for a mother thanks to me, and she didn’t exactly win the lottery getting me as her old man. Still, I wouldn’t change the fact that I had my daughter. She’s my world. I do wish that I could go back and give her a mother like Grace, though. It couldn’t have been Grace. I’d wager a bet that Grace isn’t much older than my daughter. I wonder how she’ll feel about that. I probably don’t have the right to claim her as my old lady but fuck it. Nothing is going to stop me from doing exactly that. It's clear she's going to fight it tooth and nail. Grace is building wall after wall to keep me out. I can see it in her eyes. What she doesn’t know about me is that I’m going to knock every damn one of them down. I have my work cut out for me. I also must have to Virginia soon. Before I go, though, I’m going to make sure her walls are gone. I’m not sure how I’m going to manage that, but I will. It’s going to be hard enough to convince her to move back to a state that she probably hates. I’ll do it. I just need to convince her I can take care of her. She’s never going to worry about anything again. I know the hell that she’s gone through, thanks to Detective Garcia. I’ll handle her as carefully as I need to, but I’m not letting her go. Ever.
“I think he’s asleep, Grace.”
“Hmm,” she hums. “I better figure out how to get up and get him in bed. It’s past his bedtime.”
I stand up and bend down to get him. “I’ll help you,” I whisper as I take him from her lap. Asher barely stirs as he curls into me.
“You don’t have to do that,” she argues, but I shake my head.
“Show me to his room, sweetheart.” I see the way her body jerks with the endearment I used. I’m not sorry. Grace doesn’t know what’s in store for her yet. I’ve never been the kind of man who thought things over. I decide what I want, and I go after it. That’s who I am. I’ve just never seen a woman that I wanted to go all in on. Before tonight, I was pretty sure that Grace was everything I’ve ever wanted in a woman. After tonight, while watching the way she and her son interact with one another, I’m positive.
Grace lets out an annoyed sigh, and I fight to keep the smile off my face. I don’t want to risk pissing her off more. I follow her down a small hall that only contains three doors. This house really is tiny. I discovered earlier the bathroom and utility room are combined. Grace deserves so much better. I think she’ll love my house. I know Asher would like the bedroom I have in mind for him. I make a note to get Lyla started on fixing the room up especially for him. She can enlist Jasmine’s help. I want it perfect for the little guy.
As Grace switches on the bedside lamp, I take a quick look around the room. I do grin then. It’s filled with fish. There are giant stickers on the wall of Nemo and Dory. There are some sharks, too, and I figure this must be the Oscar that he was talking about. Grace turns down his covers, and I lay him down. He was already in his pajamas when I got here, so I turn to leave the room, giving her time to tuck her son in.
“Ford?”
I look over my shoulder at the sleepy toddler, who has his eyes open but looks like he’s still half asleep. “Yeah, buddy?”
“Will you come watch Shark Tales with me tomorrow?”
“Asher, I don’t think?—”
“Sure, if that’s what you want. I’ll bring dinner again.”
Grace is shooting daggers at me with her eyes, but I just shrug my shoulders. There’s no way I’m going to disappoint that kid. She finally turns back to Asher while I walk out—going back to the living room. I pick up the pizza box and the other stuff. Carrying it to the kitchen, I throw away the trash, as well as putting Asher’s cup in the sink. I go back to the living room and fold the blanket, putting it in a chair. I’m just sitting down on the sofa when she walks in.
“You didn’t have to clean up,” she murmurs, not really looking at me.
“I know. I wanted to. Being a bachelor, I’ve learned to take care of myself and those important to me. It made me feel good to pick up for you, Grace.”
“I’m not really used to that. I’m not sure how I feel about it.”
“How about you just let me do what I want and see if you can learn to like it?”
Laughter splutters out of her mouth as she rolls her eyes. “You have to be the cockiest man on the face of the earth, Carter Ford.”
“I like that,” I murmur.
“Like what?”
“You happy and saying my name.” She shakes her head as I pat the cushion next to me. “Come over here, Grace.”
“I shouldn’t,” she responds, but slowly walks in my direction. I let her get in front of me before I reach out and pull her down onto my lap. She gasps, immediately stiffening in my arms.
“Shh,” I hum against her ear. “You’re safe with me, Gracie Lou Sutton.”
“You know my whole name?”
“I know a lot about you, Grace. Detective Garcia shared some. The rest I found out on my own.”
She tries to push out of my arms, obviously not liking this conversation at all. I refuse to let her go, holding her tightly against my body. “Calm down, Grace. I’d never hurt you. I’d cut off my own arms before I did that. I have a daughter, and I’d kill any man who hurt her. You have nothing to fear from me. Hell, baby, I’m not here to play games with you. I’m here, because I think you’re a fucking spectacular woman. I want to spend time with you. I want you in my life.”
“What on earth for? I think it’s pretty clear that I’m nothing special and I have more baggage than any man would want to deal with.”
“I’m not just any man, Grace. I want to be your man.”
“Your brain is cracked then,” she squeaks out.
“My men would probably agree with you. What I’m telling you is the truth, though.”
I don’t fail to recognize the way she relaxes against me. She stops fighting me, completely turning sideways to look at my face. I scarcely contain my groan at the way her ass rubs against my stiff cock. If this woman had the faintest idea how much I craved being buried inside her, she’d probably take off running for the hills.
“You’re in a motorcycle club.”
“Yeah, is that a problem?”
“I’m not exactly the club girl type.”
“I think you’re wrong. My daughter’s married to one of my officers. If you think she’s not a good woman who would die for her child and her man, you’re wrong. Something tells me you’re just like that, Grace. You’d kill anyone that threatened to hurt Asher and if some son of a bitch was lucky enough to get past your walls, you’d do the same for him.”
She stares at me. For a moment, I think I broke her. It’s clear she wasn’t expecting my response. “What do you want from me, Ford?”
“A date. I want to spend an evening with you. Let me show you how good we could get along. Let me show you I’m worth at least getting to know before you kick me out of your life.”
“Ford—”
“You had fun tonight, Grace. Admit it.”
“I have a lot of baggage.”
“Most of which I know. I have a hell of a lot of crap in my past, too, sweetheart. It happens. It doesn’t define who we are. It just helped to shape us.”
“Just one date?”
“Just one. Well, two, because I promised the kiddo I was coming back tomorrow with supper. Your next day off, though, I want our date, just you and me. Is there anyone to watch, Asher?”
“Why?”
“Because, if not, I can bring my daughter over tomorrow to get to know Asher and she can watch him if you’re comfortable with her and little Tam, then?—”
“Tam?”
“My grandbaby. Though Thomas will probably be here too. He doesn’t like letting Lyla out of his sight right now. Which is good. They’ll make sure Asher is safe.”
“I can get Joe and Sarah to watch Asher.”
“Who the fuck is Joe?” I growl before I can stop myself.
She smirks, shaking her head. “That’s my boss, and Sarah is his wife.”
“Oh. That works then.”
“Were you really going to bring your family to meet me and Asher?”
“I plan on you spending a lot of time with my family and my club, Grace. The sooner the better in my book.”
“You really might be crazy,” she breathes.
I reach up and place my lips against hers. We kiss. It’s way too short, but it is still damn good. I don’t press for more. I know I’ve pushed her quite a bit tonight. Grace hasn’t thrown me out of her house or called the cops though, so I figure I’m doing okay.
“Perhaps,” I answer with a grin as we pull apart. “When is your next day off?”
“Saturday,” she answers.
“Then make the arrangements, because Saturday I’m taking you out, Gracie Lou.”
“I always hated that name,” she warns.
“I’ll make you like it,” I counter.
“That’s doubtful. It might even make me cancel our date.”
“Now, that would be a damn shame,” I purr, my mouth so close to hers that I can feel her breath.
“It would,” she agrees, her eyes closing, those full lips of her parting. That’s right, baby. Give me a taste.
I take her mouth like a man starving—mostly because that’s exactly what I am. I’ve been needing her kiss all my life. I just never knew before tonight.