“Oh yes. I think it was clear enough when I dropped the ring in his soufflé and told him to—well, stuff it, basically.”
“How long were you together?”Why do I want to know that?
Guilt flashes over her face although I have no idea why. “Four years. Engaged for two. Biggest mistake of my life.”
Fouryears?“At least you’re rid of him now.”
Her cell beeps. She checks it and shakes her head before tossing it onto the counter.
“So now he’s texting you?” I’m pissed, and don’t even bother trying to figure out why. “Want me to speak with him?”
“He’ll get the message when I don’t answer him. It’s only his pride, anyway. He doesn’t really want to try again. Well, not unless I agree to do everything he wants, andthat’snot going to happen.”
She looks real mad. If it wasn’t for the fact it’s her jerk of an ex that’s got her like this, she’d look cute with that fierce expression on her face. “What did he want you to do? Kinky shit?”
At least that makes her laugh. “You’ve got a one track mind. No, it was nothing to do with sex. I wouldn’t have minded doing some…well, anyway. No, it was more his objection to my obsession with the kitchen.”
I’m more interested in what she wouldn’t mind doing when it comes to sex. Now probably isn’t the best time to ask her about that. “He didn’t want you to open your cupcake shop?”
“That’s right.” She looks amazed that I guessed. “Obviously, he never took my dream seriously, but the final straw was on Friday night.” She checks on the lasagna while I’m trying to figure out why her ex never took her dream seriously. “He informed me once we were married he didn’t want memessing aboutin the kitchen at all, because that’s what the staff were for.”
She says it so matter of fact, as though having staff is nothing out of the ordinary. “He sounds a real dick,” I tell her, while my brain’s still chewing over the whole staff business. “Surprised you didn’t leave him years ago.”
“Better late than never, and at least I did it before the wedding.” She flashes me a smile. “This is the new and improved Grace Mulholland. Watch out, world.”
I laugh, even as I file her surname away. “Tattooed and dangerous.”
“You better believe it.” She waves her hand around as she admires her tat. “I’m so badass. I might get a body piercing next.”
I grab her waist and swing her around to face me. “I know just where you can get a piercing.”
She gives an exaggerated shudder. “I can guess. And no thanks.”
I’m kissing her before I know it, and only the sound of her fucking cell ringing again pulls us apart. “Give it to me.” I hold out my hand, more than ready to give that jackass a piece of my mind.
She pulls a face as she sees the ID. “Ugh. Can’t ignore this one, sorry.” She sighs and half turns away from me. “Hi, Mom.”
I lean against the counter and fold my arms. After a few moments she takes a deep breath. “Ididtell you that the other night. And no, there’s no chance of us getting back together. He’s—”
She bites her lip, catches my gaze, and gives a faint smile. Jesus, her mom sounds like a right bitch.
“I’m fine,” she says. “I’m staying with a friend. No, you don’t know them.” She gives me another smile, but this time it’s downright filthy. “Yes, I’ll see you soon.” She ends the call and lets out a long breath. “Sorry about that. Russell called my parents, thinking I was there, and of course they panicked because I’m not. Although, it proves one thing. He doesn’t know anything about me if he really thought I wasthere.”
I grunt, because her mother seemed more worried about Grace getting back with her ex rather than where the hell she’d been over the weekend. “Do they know what a jerk he is?”
“They think he’s wonderful. Our parents were more thrilled than we were the night we became engaged.”
I don’t want to talk about her ex, or her parents, or anything about her life, which sounds so different than mine, and it’s not because I never talk about that kind of shit when I’m with a woman. For a few moments I watch her as she clears up the cooking mess, but I can’t shift the unease that’s winding through me. Finally, the reason hits me.
It’s because there’s no chance in hell that her family would ever bethrilledby the fact that Grace was dating a guy like me. It takes a couple of seconds before that thought fully penetrates, and shock blasts through me.
I don’t date. I screw around, and that suits me just fine. This thing with Grace is weird, but in another day, maybe two, it’ll be over.
That shouldn’t fill me with a dull sense of emptiness. I rake my hand through my hair. It must be hunger affecting my gut or something. Sure doesn’t have anything to do with the fact I’ll never see Grace again once she leaves.
This is crazy. I take a step back. “Gonna have a shower,” I tell her before I make my escape.
Chapter Nine
