Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Taz
I had to be in the studio tomorrow, but tonight was my first official date with Grace and I wanted to keep busy so I didn’t go crazy wondering if she’d come to her senses and cancel at the last minute.
Since I got a six-figure advance when Luc signed me, I could finally finish my house. And I was busting my butt to make the house presentable and make a good impression on her.
That meant storing all my building supplies in the garage, hiring a cleaning service, buying new bedding and towels, because according to my sister, women paid attention to shit like that, and flowers.
I was in the garage trying to organize my mess while the cleaning crew tackled the inside, and my sister called to check in. Of course, she did. She didn’t trust me not to screw this up.
“Relax, Rachel. I’ve got things under control,” I said, by way of greeting.
She giggled. “New sheets and towels?”
“Yes, and the cleaning crew is inside, doing their thing, so I won’t be welcoming her into a pigsty, as you put it.” I didn’t think I was that bad, just a typical bachelor. But given how immaculate Grace’s place had been, that probably wouldn’t fly.
“Good, how about wine? And did you find out what she plans to cook, so you can stop at the grocery store? You can’t expect her to do it, after working all day, Taz. This is supposed to be a date, after all.”
I growled before pulling the phone away from my ear and staring at it. “Are you for real? I’m not an idiot.”
She sighed. “Quit being such a grump. I just want this to go well for you. I know this girl is special, and well, it seems like having someone like Grace in your life could be a gamechanger for you.”
It felt like she’d already changed my life. I went from being a guy who didn’t give a shit about women or hook-ups, to not being able to focus on anything because of this woman. “I know you’re only trying to help, but you can relax, sis. I got this.”
“But you already screwed it up once by—”
“You don’t have to remind me,” I snapped.
“Fine.” She hesitated for a few seconds before she said, “I just love you, and want to see you happy, for once.”
I leaned against the garage wall, closing my eyes. “I know. I feel like I’ve been a miserable S.O.B. since I got out of prison and I’m sorry about that. I’ve just had a lot on my plate, trying to figure shit out. And getting shot down by Quinn month after month…”
“Sucks, I know. And we don’t blame you for being in a bad place, hon. We all get it.” The boys were making noise in the background and she shushed them. “But you finally have a shot at happiness. An amazing career opportunity, a great girl—”
“Don’t get your hopes up, Rachel. This could all be a bust.”
“Why do you do that?” she asked, sounding irritated. “Why the hell do you always assume the worst?”
“Uh, so I won’t be disappointed?”
“Why don’t you, for once, assume that things will work out for you? That fans will love you and your music, and Grace will realize you’re the man she’s been waiting her whole life for?”
“Easy now, girl. You know forever isn’t my thing.”
“Are you telling me you would let your dream girl walk away just because you can’t man up and make a commitment?” When I couldn’t respond, she said, “You’d just let someone else have her—”
“Enough, Rach.”
“Look, I know you haven’t known this woman very long, but I’ve never seen you like this before. You actually care.”
“Yeah, I do. But that doesn’t mean she feels the same way.”
“She’s coming tonight, isn’t she? She’s giving you a second chance, even after your bonehead comment.”
After constant harassment, I’d finally broken down and told my sister about the offensive remark that led to Grace kicking me out on my ass, which meant she also knew we’d slept together.
“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean—”
“It means she likes you, Taz. She. Likes. You.”
I let that sink in. “I guess, but a hell of a lot could go wrong. I could make another dumb comment or get jealous and go off because her ex won’t leave her alone or, hell, take your pick. There are so many ways I could screw this up.”
“Then why bother?”
“Excuse me?”
“Why even bother pursuing her, if you’re so sure it’s not going to go your way?”
“I didn’t say I was sure, just that it was a possibility I could screw it up.”
“And how would you feel if you did screw it up? Better question, how did you feel last time you said the wrong thing and lost your chance with her?”
“Like shit.”
“Right, so why would you do it again? Just to sabotage yourself?”
“What? No! Why the hell would I do that?” I hated it when my sister talked in circles, which she did too often.
“Because you think Grace is too good for you. You’re sure you don’t deserve her. And you say or do something stupid to push her away, you’ll assume life is just kicking you in the teeth, like it always does. Guys like you don’t get a break. Right, Taz?”
How many times had I said that to her? Clearly, too many. “I hear what you’re saying.”
“No, I don’t think you do. I’m telling you that you have to change. You have to start accepting all the good things that are happening to you, and believe you deserve them.”
“But I don’t! I just got lucky.”
She inhaled deeply before releasing it slowly, and I knew I was trying her patience.
“You are not lucky. You’re talented. Do you hear me?
You have a God-given talent for singing and songwriting.
It’s your job, your obligation, to make use of that talent now that this opportunity has fallen into your lap. ”
“Yeah, but it’s still up to the fans to decide if they want to buy my music.”
“Your videos have gotten ten million views, combined, you dumbass! And has Luc Spencer ever signed a dud?”
“I don’t know. Probably not.”
“Then quit assuming you’ll be the first!”
She had a point, but I refused to give her the satisfaction of admitting it.
“As for the girl? You told me she hit on you, and took you home the first night y’all met. You said she’d never done that before. And trust me, girls who look like that don’t have to work to get a guy’s attention.”
“No shit.”
“Yet, she chose you. She could have had any man in the bar that night, but it was you she wanted. What the hell does that tell you?”
“I hear you, and I appreciate what you’re saying. It’s just going to take me some time to get used to all this.”
“Well, you don’t have time. You’ve already signed the contract with Spencer Records and your fantasy girl is coming to your house for dinner in four hours, so get your shit together and start acting like this is your life now, because it is!”
Grace took my breath away, standing on my front porch with a bottle of wine, wearing a pink halter sundress and strappy gold sandals.
“You made it,” I said, grabbing her free hand to tug her inside. I was trying like hell not to manhandle her, but she didn’t make it easy. She looked and smelled incredible.
She tipped her head back. “You didn’t think I would?”
I curled my arm around her waist as I took the bottle of wine from her.
“I thought you might come to your senses, realize you could do a hell of a lot better than me, and cancel.” My sister’s words filtered through my head and I cursed myself for being an idiot.
If I kept saying stupid shit like that, Grace would start to believe I was right.
“No fear of that,” she said, curling her arm around my neck while her slender fingers toyed with my hair. “Are you going to kiss me, or what?”
I dipped my head, whispering against her lips, “I want to devour you. But if I did, we wouldn’t even make it to dinner.”
She kissed me, pulling back with a smile before I could deepen the kiss. “I’ve been craving shrimps and scallops all night and you’re not going to cheat me out of it. You got everything on my list?”
I’d asked her to send me a list so I could stop at the grocery store for her. Some of the seasonings, I’d never even heard of, so it took me awhile, but I wanted to make her happy, so I persevered.
“I think so.”
“You’re the best.” She pointed at the wine bottle in my hand. “You might want to chill that.:”
“Okay. Let’s start with the kitchen.” The house wasn’t finished, and was far from perfect, but it was comfortable and I wanted to share my plans for it with her. “Then I’ll give you a tour before we start dinner.”
“I’d love that.” She ran her hand over the white quartz countertops, admiring the new navy cabinets. “I love this. Did you do it yourself?”
“For the most part,” I said, setting the wine inside the fridge. “But I had a little help from my friends on weekends. Uh, the crew I worked with.”
“So, you did home renovations?” she asked, perching her bottom on a stool at the island.
“Yeah, and some new builds.”
“That must have been fun.”
“It gave me a sense of satisfaction. Developing skills, seeing something through to completion. And the guys I worked with were great.”
“Sounds like you’ll miss it.”
I chuckled as I moved around the island to stand in front of her.
“I guess I will. That must sound crazy to you. Most people would give anything for the chance Luc’s given me.
” I watched her trail her nails up my forearm, tracing my ink.
“I guess it hasn’t sunk in yet, because I never thought I could make a living with music. It was just a way to pass the time…”
I didn’t want to keep reminding her I’d been in prison. I’d been honest. She knew the whole story. But I wanted to focus on the guy I was becoming, not the one I used to be.
“I’m glad you’re getting your shot,” she said, when her eyes finally met mine. “You deserve it. You’re crazy talented.”
“Thanks.”
I had yet to tell her she’d inspired a few songs since we met. I didn’t know how she’d feel about it, and I didn’t want her to think I was an obsessive freak who couldn’t stop thinking about her. Even though it felt like that some days.
“Show me around?” she asked, sliding off the stool.
“Sure.” I linked her hand through mine as I led her through the open concept living and dining room.
“I love what you’ve done with the outside.”
“Thanks.” It was wood clapboard, which I’d painted dark gray. I’d added stone accents, including a new chimney, and added a new sealed wood deck, porch, and dormers. “My buddy is a stone mason, so he did that,” I said, pointing to the refinished stone fireplace.
“It’s gorgeous.” She walked over to the hand-hewn wood mantle and studied the family pictures. “Let me guess,” she said, pointing to each of the framed photos that were lined up. “Your parents, your sister and her husband, and your nephews?”
“Yeah, and that’s Quinn.” I cleared my throat as she studied the photo of my daughter. “My sister pulled it off social media, I guess, and gave it to me, framed, as a birthday present. It may seem kind of weird, since we’ve never even met, but—”
She cut me off with a kiss and a smile. “I don’t think it’s weird at all. It’s beautiful. She’s beautiful.”
“She is, isn’t she?”
“She looks a lot like you,” she said, looking from me to the photo. Same hair and eye color, even the same bone structure.”
“Yeah, my mom and sister say the same thing. Her mom’s a red head with green eyes, so I guess she does look more like me.”
“Did you love her mom?” she asked quietly, still looking at the photos.
“I thought I did, but what the hell does a nineteen-year-old kid know about love, right?”
“Hmm. You haven’t had any contact with Quinn’s mom since you’ve been out?”
“Just through my lawyer.”
“I think it’s really commendable that you took the initiative to get caught up on your child support when you got out.”
“Don’t be so quick to give me a gold star, Grace.
I should have been there all along, paying support, and being a man my daughter could rely on.
” I didn’t realize how sharp my tone was, or that I was clenching my jaw, until she curled her hand around my wrist, concern etched on her pretty face.
“Sorry, I guess I still feel pretty shitty about not being there.”
“Taz, you can’t change the past. You can only move forward from here. And prove to both Quinn and her mom that you’ve changed.”
I nodded. “I know, but it isn’t easy when neither one of them are willing to give me a chance. Not that I blame them. I wouldn’t give me a chance either.”