Chapter 15
I sauntered out the front door of Graces apartment building. I probably looked like the cocky-ass cat that got the cream, but I didnt know how to feel. Kissing Grace…it was like nothing I ever felt before. Nothing I ever expected to feel.
She felt like home.
That scared the ever loving crap out of me. I had nightmares about sleeping in the back of a car. Nothing I would tell anyone about. I didnt need therapy or anything, no way.
Point is, home means everything to me. Its the place youre safe, surrounded by stuff you like and people you love, and all that shit.
Im no poet, but thats how I think it should be.
Kissing Grace felt like forever. Part of me wanted to keep on doing it. The other part… Well, it was glad the cat interrupted and gave me a reason to stop, make excuses and head out the door.
Graciously, of course. Im almost sure she didnt suspect anything funny.
Maybe.
I strolled to where my truck was parked by the side of the road. I upgraded when my first cheque came from the Rapids, so it was pretty sweet, but nothing that stood out too much.
Certainly not compared to the yellow Maserati parked behind it.
A woman sat on the hood, her bare feet dangling. A streetlight illuminated her red hair.
The streets arent safe for a woman out here all alone, I said easily. I walked past my truck and stood a few feet back.
Lucky Im not alone then, Rubie said. If a big, bad football player cant protect me, who can?
I shrugged. I dunno. Any other time, I would have asked her whod protect her from me. The taste of Graces lips still on mine kept me from even wanting to flirt.
That and Id do better to stay away from the world of pain Id be in if her father found out and objected.
Normally, I was a huge advocate of women doing whatever the hell they liked, but I was on the thinnest ice with Carson Thomas as it was. One more crack and Id fall so far Id probably never come back out again.
Besides, I prefer brunettes.
Your car broke down? I nodded toward it. I considered getting one once, but the idea of parting with that much money made my eyes water.
Its working fine. She slid off the hood. I wanted to talk to you.
Lucky you werent waiting all night. I gave her a cocky smile.
I knew you wouldnt be, she said, all confident in that fact.
Ouch. I pretended the comment stung. It had me thinking. How much had Grace told her about me? Enough, apparently.
She didnt even look slightly sorry. She likes you. More than she should if you ask me.
I hadnt asked her, but she seemed like she was going to give her opinion anyway.
She crossed her arms over her chest—were those real—and looked up at me.
I like Grace, she went on. Shes genuine. You dont find too many people like that these days.
Hey, Im genuine, I argued.
Rubie snorted.
Arent you too young to be that cynical? I asked.
Im not cynical, Im a realist, she said firmly.
Whats the difference? I pulled my keys out of my pocket and toyed with them.
Sometimes I see good in the world.
Like me. I grinned.
She gave me a flat stare. If she was trying to tackle my ego to the turf, it was working. Not too much, but some.
Like you could be if you dont screw people around, she said finally. This plan of yours, Im in, but if it goes off the rails, Ill pretend I never heard of it.
It wont go off the rails, I said with every ounce of confidence I had. Not with Grace helping.
Make sure it doesnt, Rubie said. Because if it goes down the toilet, shell be the one going with it. People will look for someone to blame, and since you got her fired, shell be the easy target.
No pressure, I muttered. Honestly I hadnt thought about it that way, but she was right. Chantel and I got into trouble at that bar, but Grace was the one who paid for that, and pretty much everything I did since.
Its a Christmas in July party for sick kids, what could go wrong? Theyll all have fun and well raise a shit ton of money. Grace will be a superstar. She can have all the credit. Ill stand back and watch.
Rubie barked a laugh. As if youll do that. Your ego wont let you.
I wanted to argue, but she was right. My healthy ego sometimes didnt fit comfortably through doorways.
Fine, but itll all work out. I gave her a sly look from under my heavy brows. You said youre helping, right? You can make sure the ball stays in our possession the whole time, if youre so worried. Between you two ladies, itll be a guaranteed touchdown.
She looked thoughtful. I might just get more hands on. Id make a cute elf.
Shed make a hot elf, but I didnt say so. Personally, I thought Grace would be an even hotter elf. Id wear antlers if I could get her to wear a tiny little dress. One tight in the bust and?—
I cleared my throat. Yeah. Or you could be Santa.
She laughed at that and visibly relaxed. You get my point though. If you, or this plan of yours, hurt Grace, Ill personally make your life hell.
So much for relaxing.
I swear I will do my best not to hurt her, I promised. It was the last thing I wanted to do. Id rather throw away my career than do that.
Wait, what was I thinking? I never would have thrown everything away over a woman before. I must be losing my mind.
Or my heart.
Lord help me.
Do more than your best, Rubie said. She slipped her keys out of her pocket and unlocked her car. She slipped them away again, because of course her car was one of those you started by pressing a button. Or maybe she just had to think to get it to start. Who knows what the latest technology was? For all I knew, it was a driverless car too.
Why do you care? I asked as she opened the drivers side door.
She stopped and rested her hand lightly on the top of the door. Like I said, shes genuine. She didnt deserve what my dad did to her. I feel like I need to make it up to her. I was thinking of starting a foundation and giving her a job, but then you got in there first. So Im going to hang round and make sure you dont screw it up. The moment you do, Ill be all over it.
I smirked. Im not gonna screw up, but youre welcome to watch. Do me a favour though. When I do awesome, and everything runs like chocolate out of a chocolate fountain, youll admit you were wrong about me. Shed see I was a good guy. I made a mistake or two, but I was making up for it.
Ill happily admit it, she said easily. But Ive seen too many guys like you. Youll get bored, either way the party goes. In a month or two, you wont even remember her name.
That was one hell of an accusation. I couldnt respond before she climbed in and closed the door behind her.
Music pumped out so loud I wasnt sure how she had any hearing left after a few minutes’ exposure. The engine revved and she was gone before anyone stuck their head out a window to yell at her to turn it down.
I must be getting old if Im worrying about music, I muttered to myself. And now Im talking to myself. Thats great.
I stepped back to my truck, unlocked it and got inside. I pushed my key into the ignition and made sure my music wasnt on too loud.
For all I knew, Grace was trying to sleep. I didnt want her mad at me for disturbing her.
You really are getting old, I told my reflection in the window beside me. Chantel would have a great laugh over that.
I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel. I had to talk to my sister about helping out, but I knew she would. For one thing, she seemed to like Grace. For another, she probably owed me a few favours. If not, Id have to be persuasive. That should be easy enough. I knew all her weaknesses, just like she knew the one or two I had. Minor one, of course. At least, that I would admit to.
I looked up at about where I thought Graces apartment might be.
I could swear I saw the curtain twitch aside and a face appear in the gap.
I gave a little wave, just in case. I almost blew a kiss, but honestly, the more I sat there alone, the more I freaked out over what I felt for Grace.
I was Abraham Bam Clinton, running back for the mighty Storm Valley Rapids. I didnt fall for women, they fell for me. I was good at running, off field and on.
Damn it, I should gun my truck the hell away from here and never look back.
Grace who?
I didnt know who I thought I was fooling here, because I sure as shit wasnt fooling myself. I couldnt forget her even if I tried.
That didnt answer the million dollar question, how did she feel about me? Just because I thought I was pretty amazing, doesnt mean she thought the same about me. On the other hand, she did have very good taste. And you know what? She seemed to be into that kiss as much as I was.
Most women I attracted only wanted a fling. That was all they got. That worked for them and me. When I left, well, they knew it was coming. The lines were on the turf long before we met.
Grace, she was different, wrapped in a classy bow, sprinkled with cat fur.
That was another thing. What if she liked me, but her cats didnt? What if her friends didnt like me? Just because Bec and Ashley did, didnt mean the rest would. There was no accounting for taste after all.
I hit my hand on the steering wheel. All I was doing here was making excuses to run. Lame ones too. Id have to play it cool and see where life took us. If Grace had any kind of feelings for me, Id find out when the time came.
I glanced back up at her window, but the curtain was closed. If she was there at all, looking down at me, she was gone now.
It might have been a cat giving me a death glare, but I preferred to think it was Grace.
Good night, beautiful lady, I said in the direction of that window. Sleep tight. Have sweet dreams.
Would I be in them? I hoped so. Shed be in mine, only wearing a pretty bow.
I pressed my foot down on the pedal and pulled away.