“I’m not lying, Brian.” Her voice dropped an octave. “If you don’t want to listen, then I’ll find someone else.”
Oh, I would hear her out. My thick brain was more than curious about what she had to say. Whatever it was had to be something that would send Duke over the edge. Of that much, I was certain. Otherwise, she would’ve asked him or one of her other two brothers for help, Dillon in particular. She was closer to him than she was to Denim or Duke.
I had to wrap this up quickly because I could hear Duke finishing up his call. Not to mention, my damn groin wasn’t cooperating with Grace so close to me.
“Calm down,” I said. “I’ll listen. But I don’t keep secrets from Duke.”
Before she could respond, Duke called her name, shattering the bubble Grace and I were in. Whatever was happening between Grace and me, I had no doubt I was fucked, especially because of those big brown eyes and curves that would tempt a saint. I needed air and a shot of bourbon or, rather, a few bottles of the amber liquor.
She brushed my arm with her hand as she left me standing as stiff as a board, my mind whirling and the floor beneath me seemingly spinning.
I had to take a minute to gain my composure before I turned around. I was more relieved than ever that Duke had to postpone our reunion until later that evening. It would give me time to process Grace Hart’s intentions, if I even could.
“That was Kelton,” Duke said. “You have a meeting with the judge on Monday next week.”
Their voices droned on as I pulled out my phone to read the texts that had been pinging in my pocket for the last five minutes.
Sabine:We need to talk. Call me.
The second text was from Hunt:I just got word that all the background checks on the students at Oakwood Academy are clean. No need to worry. I should be arriving soon. I’ll update you later tonight.
I slumped my shoulders at Hunt’s text. Thank fuck. Arturo was the type to enroll any kid into the school to watch Fran.
Now to deal with Sabine. I typed out a text to her.
Me:Arturo told me about your night with him. No need to talk. Just make sure you’re present on Thursday when I hand the keys over to the new owner.
I didn’t want to hear about her sexcapades with the head of the Mexican cartel. I was damn happy that I made the decision to move out of Nashville. Then again, maybe I shouldn’t be. Given what had just transpired between Grace and me, I might be walking out of one fire and into a blazing inferno.
7
GRACE
Since I had left the gym that morning, I couldn’t concentrate at all. The conversation Andie and I had in the women’s locker room was a blur, except the part when she urged me to go after what I want.
“You deserve a good man in your life,” she’d said. “If you like Brian, then don’t let your brothers stop you.”
It wasn’t that simple. I heard Brian. He was so right about Duke cutting off his balls. But as Dillon mentioned, it was none of Duke’s business who I liked.
Still, the minute I laid eyes on Brian, something snapped in me. Maybe it was the way he’d looked at me with admiration in his eyes. Or even his admission that he would beat whoever hurt me.
I sighed quietly, entering the items ordered by one of my tables into the computer at my server station. I was halfway through my shift at Yvonne’s, and I still couldn’t stop thinking about Brian.
Brian looked more handsome than ever with scruff on his jaw. His deep-green eyes set my lady parts on fire—something that had hardly happened before. Maybe because of what he’dwhispered in my ear.I will not deny that you’re fucking beautiful and that I could get lost in you.
That crush I had on him was back with a vengeance, and his admission of how he felt gave me hope for the first time that I might be able to settle down with a good man who would treat me well.
“Grace, you haven’t been yourself all night.” Brittany, a dear friend and confidant, laid a hand on my shoulder as I finalized the tab for table six. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“Maybe after our shift.”
I was one big mess. I’d dropped a tray of food and tripped over a person’s foot that had been sticking out from under the table, and I probably looked as if I’d been through a war. I couldn’t say how many times patrons looked at my black eyes in horror. I’d covered the bruises with makeup, but wiping the sweat off my face every now and then had taken away the mask.
“I’m holding you to it,” she said with a smile, eager to know my truths.
Britt, Andie, and I were great friends and told one another everything. We had a lot of catching up to do with Britt.
“Break it up, you two,” Harry said. “We have customers to take care of.”
