2. Ford
2
FORD
I watch the waitress leave as a man comes over to finish taking our order. My men are around me talking, but I’m not really tuning in. My mind is on the woman who just disappeared into the kitchen area of the diner.
No, not woman.
Gracie. That doesn’t really fit her, though. Grace. She’s the epitome of that. Hell, she seems almost regal. She’s definitely too good for this place. Southern Gals Family Restaurant. It’s nice, with a quaint atmosphere, but my Grace shouldn’t be waiting tables.
Wait. My? Where the hell did that come from? I’ve been flying solo my whole life. I’ve never even had the urge to claim a woman. They only have one purpose, and I’m good with that. I have my daughter, Lyla, and now my grandbaby, Tamsin. Life is good. There’s no need to fuck it up now and with my experience, women always fuck shit up and make it complicated.
There’s something about her though. Something in her eyes that makes me feel protective. I have the strangest urge to take her in my arms and tell her she doesn’t need to worry anymore. I shake my head, trying to clear those thoughts. I sound insane. I don’t even know this woman. She’d probably call the law on me if I tried to hold her. That doesn’t change the urge to do so, however.
“You okay, Ford?”
I turn around to look at King. I have a feeling I’m going to lose him. He’s not totally decided, but I’m almost positive he’s planning on staying with the Saints. I think even that’s temporary, though. He’s drifting right now. I know he needs something different after the mess with his old lady, Shelby. I can’t blame him. King is a good man and hasn’t had the best of luck in life. Hell, life kicks us all in the balls at one point or another. King’s definitely had more than his fair share, though.
“Yeah, fine,” I lie. Squirrely is still being annoying, but he’s quietened down. I wanted to punch him in the fucking face for acting like a horny teen around Grace. The man can be stupid as shit sometimes. There’s a reason he’s been overlooked as an officer when one came open within the club. It’s frustrating as hell. He’s younger, but I’m beginning to wonder if he’ll ever grow up. Losing King will be a big hit. I have Grunt—who is sitting beside me—I trust him, but other than T, King is the only other one in the club. That’s kind of fucked up. I need to move our prospects up and find more good men to put around me. It was on my list, but then all hell broke loose with King and T’s family. I’ve found myself working with Dragon and the Savage Brothers MC once again. I used to not be able to stand the man, but the damn asshole is starting to grow on me.
We’re halfway through our meal before Grace comes back. I sense her right away—which sounds insane, but still true. She’s laughing and talking to some women in the corner. Her laugh is sweet to the ear and calming. This woman does things to me I’ve never experienced before. It’s so surprising that I find myself reluctant to leave. Watching as she walks back over to talk with the man in the kitchen, I decide to try to approach her one last time. I pick up my coffee cup and head over to the counter, without telling my men.
Grace turns around and I hate the guarded look on her face. I give her a smile trying to cajole her into relaxing. I’m pretty sure it has the opposite effect. “Can I get a refill?” I ask.
She wipes her hands against her black-and-white checkered apron and nods. “Sure thing,” she mumbles, reaching over for the coffeepot that’s on the burner of a double stacked unit. I slide my cup closer to her and she pours it in. “Sorry about that. I should have checked in on your table. I?—”
“You don’t have to apologize. Squirrely is an idiot. Some days, the boy makes me wonder why I let him be a member.”
Grace surprises me by smiling. “Maybe he’s just living up to his road name. It might change if you give him a better name.”
“I could change it to idiot. That fits better.”
“Maybe try Einstein,” she suggests.
“Now, that’s funny. You know, a lot of clubs do pick road names that are completely opposite from the man. When my dad ran the club, his vice president was a big motherfucker. I’m talking this son of a bitch could block out the sun when he stood in front of you.”
“That’s big.”
I look at her, entranced. I swear she comes close to giggling. I suddenly feel the need to not stop until she freely lets her laughter loose in front of me.
“Yeah.”
“Was he bigger than you?” she asks quietly.
I laugh. “Yeah, babe. I’m not that big really.”
“Maybe you need a new mirror,” she counters.
“Not this again. Do you know one of my men thought I weighed three hundred pounds?”
“Was it Einstein?”
I laughed. I couldn’t help myself. “You’re damn cute, Grace. I might be big, but it’s muscle, by the way.”
“Think I had that figured out. Your coffee is getting cold.”
“My name is Ford,” I say, needing to hear my name pass through her sweet lips.
“Is that because you drive a Ford or because you drive a Chevy?”
“You catch on quick, but in this case, you’re wrong. It’s my actual last name.”
“Oh,” she murmurs, sounding surprised. “What’s your first name?”
“Carter, but the only person who truly knows that is my daughter.”
“You have a daughter?”
“Lyla, yeah. She’s beautiful, funny, smart, and the best mother to my granddaughter.”
“Granddaughter? You don’t look old enough to be a grandfather.”
I grin. “She’s a baby. I’m not too old for you, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
Her body jerks as if I’ve slapped her. “I-I wasn’t thinking anything close to that,” she stutters. “I better get back to work.”
I watch as she turns away from me. On instinct, I reach out and grab her arm. “Hey, don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“I want to get to know you, Grace.”
“Why?”
“Why?” I ask. “Why would any man want to get to know you? You’re beautiful.”
She gives me a sad smile. “Beauty doesn’t mean anything, and there are a lot more women out there who are prettier. You don’t know me. I could be a horrible person.”
“You’re not, and that’s why I want to get to know you. To see if the rest of you appeals to me, too. We have to get to know one another to see if there’s anything deeper. Isn’t that how it’s always done?”
Fuck, I’m laying it on thick, but I don’t give a damn. I already know I want her. It’s not all to do with her looks, either. There’s just something about her that instantly draws me in. I’ve never felt that before. I want to spend time with her. I also want her in my bed, begging me for more—not that I can say that yet.
“I’ve no idea. I’m off the market. Have been for a while,” she says, and motherfucker, her words inflict pain and anger inside me at the same time.
“You’re married?” The words come out stilted, almost as if I’m fighting them. If she truly belongs to someone else. I might be tempted to kill him.
She sighs. “I’m not married. I have no desire to ever be married again. I do, however, have a man in my life and there’s no room for another one. Now, enjoy the rest of your meal. I need to check on other customers,” she answers, turning and dismissing me.
“Never thought I’d see the day you’d strike out with a woman,” Grunt laughs, coming up behind me.
“This is just strike one. The game ain’t over yet, boy,” I mumble, eyes still trained on Grace.
“I think that’s technically strike two, since she went to the kitchen to get away from you earlier.”
“Doesn’t matter. The only thing that does count is she said she has a man in her life. I need him to be history.”
“Boss—”
“She’s not married, and I think we both can see she’s not happy. Do that shit you boys do. Find out everything you can on a Grace that lives in the Robbinsville area and works here.”
“You sure?”
“Positive.”
“Alright, I’ll have info for you soon,” Grunt says.
We walk back to the table, and I throw a couple hundred on the table, making sure she has a damn good tip. That will probably piss her off, but I don’t actually give a fuck. I think even an angry Grace would be fun. When we walk out, I find myself looking over my shoulder. I find her staring right at me.
I don’t care how long it takes … Grace is going to be mine.